Hacky/Schooly/Hacky

What a lovely day!

Went down the yard in the sunshine, hacked out in a t-shirt. Life is good today!

Took him out for a solo hack, first one in MONTHS. Not sure if he's been out solo since the beginning of the winter? Anyway, didn't matter naturally to my boy :wub:

Tootled up the fields, took a short cut into a field we don't normally go up but the fence/stile was down so took advantage and of course had to canter up that one didn't we LOL

Round fields and into the big flat one. Did 10/15 mins of schooly stuff. Loads of circles, concentrating on outside rein. I love the outside rein! Means I can do a circle in the middle of a big open field without losing him through his outside shoulder.

Lots of playing with that so changes of rein, serpentines, shoulder in, circles, figures of 8s. Then took up sitting trot and did a reasonable leg yield too in both directions. Need to work on that one still though because he bends rather than stays straight but I was happy enough with feeling his legs crossing and his ears flicking back in concentration.

He felt strong through today. Not quite as relaxed as last night. He felt strong because my upper arms were starting to ache but not sure if that's related to my dodgy shoulder and keeping elbow jammed into my side to think about outside rein rather than him being strong?

Canter was lovely. Did quite a bit of canter in there and absolutely no grumps, no ears back, no tail swishing, no bucks - ears forwards and go but politely. Not quite as soft and floaty as last night but he was waiting for me to give him an inch so he could go WHEEEEEEEEEEEE across the field LOL Proper schooling canter though rather than hacking canter so I was happy.

Then the mini motorbikes started round. He didn't/doesn't bother with them and they did actually turn around when they saw me but the sound of them is irritating and he had broken a sweat (!) so headed back.

Little walk for a bit then a really fab canter up the last field. Started off in a schooling canter then he went "can I go mum?" so said "yep!" - kicked on and felt the turbo kick in .

LOVE that turbo! He flies does my pony! Came back to trot perfectly too.

I THINK that's the first time I've actually cantered him out solo!!

I really am very lucky *passes the sick bucket*

Hackety hack tomorrow, won't do a scrap of schooling, he deserves a proper chill out hack. Am planning to go round a field I've never ridden round before. Is huge but the farmer has left a really wide grass track the whole way round and it's just crying out to be cantered on!

Oooh and worm count results came back. Fabby set of results with no one needing wormers. Go us!