Not hot mind, but warmer days mixed with FROSTY mornings.
And OMG.
Do I LOVE a FROSTY MORNING!! :)
Monday while the kids were at school i decided i would do the school run and then housework as QUICK as possible. Quick meaning fly hoover over, dust what is visible, do any stray away dishes (OMG a pre-teen room makes for a sink full!!) Washing on, Dryer run, Last nights Washing AWAY. . . Bugger the ironing hahaha!! So whats left? OH YES . . . sneak in a nice hack. Needed obviously!
I have been literally KICKING MY ASS from Monday and all this week as I feel I have lost my mojo with riding. I decided that to sort this i would start the week making myself ride EVERY DAY, And just BE HORSEY EVERYDAY!! Apart from Wednesday as I had something on! Im not kidding, some days it was hard to motivate myself, but I knew it was in my best interests to lift one's mood! SO I WENT!!
I have loved it. Once there I am internally 'HAPPY' I am able to feel truelly 'LIKE ME' the hours pass quick because they are AMAZING!!
I have decided to KEEP THIS GOING. I am going to try hard to ride most days and just enjoy spending time with Viv. Because she is . . . well amazing for the soul!!
Hi guys, sorry i haven't updated this blog in a long time.
But I have missed it so I cannot wait to get back to my weekly blogs.
I love keeping a record of our adventures! And of course sharing it with you!
The winter has been easy on us. Easy meaning DRY and this has meant we haven't had the big issues with mud that we usually do through the winter months. The gateways are still muddy but the majority of the winter paddocks have stayed dry. However Springtime things could change, we are not quite out of the mud season yet!
Viv has stayed in tip top condition all winter. Her coat has gleamed even with all that fluff! Where she is clipped she's like a new penny!
We are coming into spring again now, and i cant wait for the warmer weather and hopefully LOTS OF SUNSHINE!! We had a few mild days last week and it really lifted our spirits and got us excited. I picked Z up from school one day last week with Viv and it was glorious! Z loved it so much, as did her class mates when they seen there was a horse outside of school!!
It is back to frost and a bitter cold day today. Winter needs to hurry up and go now!
We have been blessed with some stunning sunny days where the sun shines through the trees and the yellow and orange tones light up like flames. The beautiful carpet below our feet. Crinkles as we walk. Natures music. The song - Winter is on it's way!
The horses are also getting VERY VERY VERY Fluffy. Each day I'm sure they grow an extra half inch of hair! Viv is like a teddy bear. I love her FLUFFY COAT.
She is getting clipped this week. I love it when they get their first clip of the season. She needs it! Every ride she comes back soaked bless her. Imagine trying to run in a thick coat?!
We having being making the most of the dry weather and riding when we can. I have been without a camera for some time (My phone fell into water, it never regained consciousness) Ans as my ownly other camera is a DSLR (Certainly not made for riding one handed capturing canters) I have unfortunatly not been able to capture any phtos of our hacks.
UNTIL NOW!!
Meet 'OLD SAMMY' as i used to call it - Samsung PL170
(New Sammy is my samsung DSLR NX2000) I LOVE IT . . . I wont take it hacking!!
Old Sammy died, about three years ago. When it died I was lucky to be gifted my DSLR from my beloved other half. OMG I was over the moon. But the only problem with DLSR is it's not something you wanna just take everywhere. ESPECIALLY HACKING.
SO . . . Desperate for ANY camera that would fit in my pocket and go for hacks until I can get a new camera phone. My very patient other half took it all to pieces and rebuilt it. WOOHOO. IT WORKED. It's working. I cant use Zoom or it turns off. BUT IT IS WORKING WOOOHOO!
The best thing is it is small enough to fit in my pocket, or hand when holding reins. It has a wrist strap so i dont drop it. And I havent used it yet but i just re-discovered it has a front view camera which will be ideal for selfies in the saddle and vlogging! Let the photography fun begin again!
So where did 'old sammy' go for it's first adventure??
CHOPWELL WOODS! OMG. The Autumn colours were AMAZING. Like fire above our heads and beneath us. On top of that we were blessed to have two Red Kites fly above us. Swooping and gliding so gracefully as we rode below them. I feel privalaged to live so close to such natural beauty. The Derwent valley is incredable!!
We had some lovely long canters and navigated our way around some lovely walkways up and down hills and between trees. I had an amazing time and I'm sure the horses did too.
And here is a video of our ride ~
I hope now to be able to keep my blog updated with our adventures. I cannot live without my camera!! Pop back to see some poodle ponies when they get clipped!
We have 17 days where Vivs owner is away on safari . . .
. . . I KNOW, I am jealous too!!
How lucky, 17 days with wild animals, i've insisted on lots of photographs to inspire me to create them in acrylics. I cant wait to paint a giraffe in its natural habitat just chilling, eating, doing whatever it is giraffes do hahaha!!
While (S) Owner is away (S) ME - Loaner is in charge with Mini human. This is exciting. We have so much planned. I HAVE MANY HACKS PLANNED. A picnic may be needed! We need to keep her fit for her owner. Plus well loved, groomed and cared for. We simply cannot wait!! We love our mare!
Our day will be. Finish school, then tea quickly made and eaten. When daddy is home from work to look after mini (L). Me loaner (S) and mini human (Z) will enjoy a couple of hours at the yard with our favourite girlie. Lots of grooming. Lots of love, some exercise and lots of cuddles !!
And also LOVE for this girlie too, who will be missing her mummy so much !! She is such a sweety!
Summer is in full swing. The weather is breezy, at times cold. BUT IT IS DRY!! WOOHOO!
I sit here tonight reflecting on the last few weeks. So much has been achieved. Both me and Mini me have had a blast. Overcome some of our demons. Expanded on our skills.
Mini me (Z) has been practicing hard on her balance, today we had a lunge session where she trotted with her arms out to the side. We started with one arm at a time and then built up to two. I didnt get any photos. I was too busy doing the mam thing and getting ready to signal that halt and the instant of a unplanned dismount. Thankfully that didnt happen. Z managed to let go of the saddle and be the steadiest aircraft in the sky. No turbulance in these skies!!
Going back a few days i had a hack out with a friend and her beautiful appoloosa Bee. We enjoyed a trip through woods and we had some long trots and good canters. Including a down hill canter OMG OMG OMG . . . I DID IT.
I sat back, i sat deep, it wasn't a mountain, it wasn't a mountain,
OMG! ANYWAYS.
I made it.
Thankfully AND we stopped before a steep decent. I make it out like it was a mountain. In theory it was steady decent. I must admit, after shitting myself i actually enjoyed it. Hooves below, trees above. the noise, the adrenaline, the need to be HERE . . NOW . . . IN THIS MOMENT. There is something special about the bridleways around us.
A) You have to find them
B) you have to navigate them.
There is always a challenge. But we cannot complain. Its mainly offroad.
Maybe next time the farrier is out i shall ask for off roading tyres??
Viv is looking so good. Her summer coat is in full swing. She is positively gleaming. Inside and out.
We have loaned her now for about five month. WE LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!
We are privalaged and so happy to have her in our lives!!
The weather has been GLORIOUS . . . Summer is HERE :)
(L) Had a ride on Viv this week. He used to ride but lost interest. Seeing him smiling as he plodded about in walk and trot made me really happy. He says he wants to ride again . . . That makes me
SMILE . . .
. . . LOTS!!
Even Zeus came for the adventure
Deli delights . . . Spring time is full of yummyness Viv says!!
Near the stables are horses with long ears . . . DONKEYS. SO CUTE!!!
Spring is here, the sun is shining, and the grass is as green as a childs painting.
And EVERYONE even the animals have a SPRING in their STEP!!
We have been enjoying the sunshine we have been blessed with lately. Some days it reaches over 20 degrees and after such a long winter it feels so good. Most days there has been a welcomed summer breeze. Cooling us down from the sun which has its biggest brightest hat on. When the weather is like this you really can't help but to be outside in it. Im forever finding excuses to avoid being indoors. My washing pile is completely gone as the washing line has been in full swing! There is something ever so pleasing about washing on a washing line. Lined up dancing in the breeze. I love it!
The pets have enjoyed the sun also. Harry Hopper has been allowed out for a couple of hours since i blocked off his entry to the underneath of the shed. ( This rabbit is as soft as clarts, He is happy to be picked up and held and he is no problem to catch in the house or in his hutch and run. However when he is free in the garden he avoids being caught because i'm sure he wants "Just five more minutes!") I was stroking him and taking photos of him in the garden today, he played happy with Zeus (our Dog) and Ember (our cat) . . . The minute i made the conscious decision to pop him back into his hutch and run he turned into a thumping racehorse, doing laps of the garden refusing to even look at his open door to his run. Eventually he went back in. And then he snoozed all afternoon.
So how is Viv? Well she is enjoying the grass thats for sure! The grass has been thriving this last week or so and all the horses have been head down and enjoying it. Mini human has been enjoying her riding, and is practicing hard on her position and keeping her hands still.
We both love her so much:
I have been trying to keep practicing what i learned from my last lesson. Keeping the horse in front of me and feeling for the energy between us.
