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Gemma
Platinum Member
 United Kingdom
1802 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 09:03:13 AM
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I know this isn't big news in the great grand scheme of things, but I'm chuffed to bits!
Yesterday I rode Maj for the first time!!
We rode out with the wonderful T and Flo (lovely Anglo-arab mare). T is a brilliant hacking companion - she knows that Maj is very green so is quite happy to go at my speed. Mind you, with Maj that's stomach-muscle-aching-and-stitch-inducing fast, even at a walk! T had Flo as a 3 year old so went through all of this with her, so is completely unflappable and relaxed, which is perfect.
We were out for about an hour. Mostly lanes but a couple of bridleways. We went from not liking the puddles at the start to striding through them without a glance. There came a point about halfway round at which she visibly relaxed. She dropped her head, sighed and all the tension went. And she strode out in front of Flo - not bothered at all about going in front. And all with a wonderful forward-thinking attitude. We met a couple of cars, and a dog walker, not to mention the two dogs that live at the farmhouse above the farm that we've already met in our walks out, and she was completely blase about all of it.
It was a really nice, confidence-boosting hack for both of us. So as you can imagine, I'm grinning like an idiot!
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Photo 2: West End Photography |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 09:08:29 AM
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It's the little things like this which make all the money and hard work worthwhile 
I rode my boy out on a hack for the first time in 5 months yesterday - we've moved so brand new route for him and we went on our own  It was all road with lots of scary road works and huge big piles of piping rolled up, portaloos, you name it! But he was an absolute angel and walked past everything calmly like he'd been doing it every day! I'm also grinning like an idiot
Well done |
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Crusaders Angel
Gold Member
England
531 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 09:54:23 AM
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Well done to both of you
They might seem only small things to some people but then IMO they've lost the magic and completely missing the point of WHY we actually have horses (in particular arabs).
I mark down every new thing I do with Mr Roo on a big wall planner and even little things like the first time he whinnied to me at the gate in the morning (October 25th, 2008) .
It's great for looking back on and remembering just how far you've come with them.
Great to hear everything is going so well for both of you, keep it up
Lucy |
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jillandlomond
Platinum Member
Scotland
3586 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 09:59:02 AM
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Well done Gemma & Maj!!!  |
    
Borders, Scotland |
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 10:30:10 AM
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| Yes, well done to all of you!! You carrying on grinning |
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alethea
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1526 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 10:40:43 AM
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Thats great news. Really well done. I hope Maj continues to go so well, she sounds like a very honest mare
Alethea
Aristotle Arabians
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 10:57:54 AM
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She sounds like a super star Gemma, you must be v proud.
Well done Sarah too - presumably you were on Shesk not Pasha? Is Pasha better as well? |
   
West Sussex |
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Mrs Vlacq
Platinum Member
Wales
3776 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 11:01:21 AM
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| sounds like you are getting along brilliantly I know that sigh, and that walk! I bet she's a bright little mare too. You're going to have such fun adventuring together - woohoo Gemma and Maj! |
    
- V Khazad - V Calacirya & V Sulime - Quarida(L) - V Boogie Knights - V Hamra Tofiq |
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Gemma
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1802 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 12:06:33 PM
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Thank you! She is indeed a little superstar. And yes very bright as well. I've done some groundwork with her, and have found that she only needs to be asked to do something twice at most. Any more than that and she tells me in no uncertain terms that she has done what I asked already so no need to it again! She's VERY opinionated and I'm so excited because of it. If I can channel that properly, she's going to be awesome.
Sarah - that's great news too for you. Very pleased for you! |
Photo 2: West End Photography |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 12:36:39 PM
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Well done Maj & Gemma..! I know exactly what you mean about that first hack. Ozzy and i had ours a few months ago now.
And what a brave girl going through the puddles, Ozzy and i are still working on puddles . Today we did manage to get one hoof in, which is remarkable considering the whole path was completely flooded and i didn't think there was a way round it. But you guessed it, Ozzy found a way round whilst only having to get one hoof wet...
I just love my Arab.. |
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Gemma
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1802 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 12:49:54 PM
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| I did wonder with the first couple of puddles that she avoided that she was going to be a 'I-don't-get-my-feet-wet' arab. But she stopped at the next one, stuck her head down, snorted and played with the water and that was that. It has been deemed 'ok'! |
Photo 2: West End Photography |
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joanna_piana
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3935 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 1:53:37 PM
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| Excellent well done especially after all that wind and rain Ishara is still a little dubious about puddles but mainly because the first one I made her enter was literally a flood of the whole road and bless her she went straight in and then panicked I think she trod on something. Since then puddles are to be avoided at all costs but yesterday she did actually go through a couple. Hope you have many more fun hacks with the lovely Maj, she is gorgeous. |
      
Harthall Rashida RIP, Binley Ishara, Bouchan
Chorleywood, Hertfordshire |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 2:07:02 PM
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It's a brilliant feeling isn't it? I am still at the fairly newbie stage with Lily (Zahkira), we are taking things gently because she is still quite physically immature. But she also has the most amazing active stitch inducing paces I think she is going to be fantastic in the future when she starts doing endurance. Unfortunately she has decided that puddles and muddy patches are lethal, but she will quite happily ford a river! She has also proved to be excitingly fast at the canter - came home with a huge grin after having that one proven to me! She's great with traffic and pops over very small logs in a beautiful outline, I am so proud of her, so I know exactly how you all feel!
It's so good to have some positive news to offset the truely terrible times that some of our fellow A Liners are going through. |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 2:47:34 PM
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Continue grinning Gemma - Maj is worth it
I finally have one with that magical stitch-inducing walk too and it's just so lovely to sit on something that wants to move forwards after having six years of push push push. Mine needs lots more groundwork, although he was an ace to mount yesterday (first ride for me, only in the school though ) and happily walked and trotted on voice command. We just have that teeny problem called separation anxiety now... Rio's 101 horsemanship exercises - here we come!!! |
West Sussex |
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moonlight
Platinum Member
2000 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 3:32:38 PM
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| Well done! Can join in with that feeling, Summer has been on a few short hacks but on Friday travelled by trailer (first time) to a nearby forest with my 18yo mare to go a little further and she was a star. Was surprised by someone cantering towards us but other than doing a giraffe impression was quite unfazed, oh and it poured with rain for the hour and a half we were out but did we mind? No! |
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Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 3:36:28 PM
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| Lovely news--I hope you and Maj have lots of fun together. |
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Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
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angelarab
Platinum Member
Wales
2876 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 6:24:46 PM
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ahhh well done , bet your bursting with pride at the mo, and so you should be!!!  |
 "Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."
www.northwalesarab.co.uk |
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 7:03:52 PM
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What a great post! Here's to many more, and loads of fun.
Well done you and Maj
Ros x |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2009 : 10:16:05 PM
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Well Gemma - how delighed I am to hear all this - now aren't you pleased I nagged you to take on my beautiful Marjorie ! lol It was a couple of years at least I kept trying to persuade Gemma that she & Maj would be a match made in horsey heaven! lol How important it is to match the horse & rider!!!!! lol wink wink!!!!
Water - well shes from Wales - & its VERY wet here!
I look forward to reading more of Maj's BIG adventures!
Hugs to my chestnut pony XXXXXXXXXX
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Maj's first hack!
..shes a lovely girlie & I'm sure you'll have HEAPS more fun ahead of you 
