Hi Kim
Got home and got back on them and escorted Ian out to the two hunt jumps that he had wired up a few weeks back, to take the wire back down and make them accessible for today. It was probably about 6 miles and halfway round Zak suddenly grew and pulled his head in and bounced and became a power house. We rattled through the woods home to get back just before dark and he was like someone had turned on the turbo boost! Ian was saying how he has done that only a couple of other times and wished he would do it in the show ring! Anyway, I'm not sure if that counts for one or two
for yesterday, since it was the same horse but two distinct rides?
No, I haven't hunted with Ian, but Jules, the farmer's partner, where Ian keeps his horses says he really looks after her whilst they are out hunting.... which is a bit of a surprise because they don't actually get on that well. Maybe one day I will go out but I still don't feel that my jumping is confident enough and by body fit enough and it is an expensive day to not take full advantage and just go home after a couple of hours.... and then I would have to get some new kit, because I am too fat for what I have!
I hope you manage to find time to get out on Harry this weekend. There has been a sad deficit of flag waving from your end in recent weeks! I know Harry will not mind but it is supposed to be what all the hard work is for and that clip should see the light of day before it needs redoing..... I'm one to talk of course..... Rascal's shoes have not seen tarmac since they were put on a month ago!
All good thanks. WWW working fine but no operator time here. My sister did her back in and I ended up going over there to help out with her horses because she was in agony. nearly 2 hr round trip since I hit rush hour and then my own animals to do and preparations for our second lesson. Ian loaned me his Range Rover which is actually older than my ancient Freelander but much more capable of towing his horsebox. Unfortunately it is an automatic and because I never drive it, I needed a crash course (not literally thankfully) before towing the horses. I know an automatic is supposed to be easier but when your left foot is so used to pushing down a pedal and your right hand moving the gear lever every time you come to a junction or roundabout, it is scary. Especially when that left foot hits the brake pedal. Thankfully I only did that 2 or 3 times at very slow speed but the horses will not have found it the smoothest ride. We had a good lesson but both horses were distracted by having a pal in the arena with them. Zak was too busy keeping an eye on Archie (yes I took two of Ian's horses for Lauren and I) to notice that a jump that was looming in front of him, consequently we had a few refusals and quite a bit of nappy behaviour. He was jumping in a nicer outline though and the instructor helped that by bringing the placing pole forward. He particularly liked the little spreads. Unfortunately we had a bit of an issue after she put the water jump fence up a bit... the last fence of the course with blue water trays beneath it. We jumped it twice when it was low but for some reason he changed his mind about taking off at the last moment on our third attempt, swung sideways and put his back feet into the trays, which gave him a fright and he didn't want to go anywhere near it after that. After several leads from Archie we got him over it and then he jumped it on his own and then we tried to do the course but he lost concentration at another jump and stopped. I eventually got him over it and we finished the course including the water tray fence but I felt like we were one step forward and possible two back. Cake was pear and almond tart and despite not being something I would choose, it was delicious.
Got home and got back on them and escorted Ian out to the two hunt jumps that he had wired up a few weeks back, to take the wire back down and make them accessible for today. It was probably about 6 miles and halfway round Zak suddenly grew and pulled his head in and bounced and became a power house. We rattled through the woods home to get back just before dark and he was like someone had turned on the turbo boost! Ian was saying how he has done that only a couple of other times and wished he would do it in the show ring! Anyway, I'm not sure if that counts for one or two
No, I haven't hunted with Ian, but Jules, the farmer's partner, where Ian keeps his horses says he really looks after her whilst they are out hunting.... which is a bit of a surprise because they don't actually get on that well. Maybe one day I will go out but I still don't feel that my jumping is confident enough and by body fit enough and it is an expensive day to not take full advantage and just go home after a couple of hours.... and then I would have to get some new kit, because I am too fat for what I have!
I hope you manage to find time to get out on Harry this weekend. There has been a sad deficit of flag waving from your end in recent weeks! I know Harry will not mind but it is supposed to be what all the hard work is for and that clip should see the light of day before it needs redoing..... I'm one to talk of course..... Rascal's shoes have not seen tarmac since they were put on a month ago!
How’s your sister doing? Any better with her back or are you still helping out?
Charlie keeps bringing various ailments home with him from college. Man flu, diarrhoea & sickness 
He’s not had a day off yet though funnily enough..... 
