First hack in nearly 5 months and I did it with the wind in my hair

Quite literally too because it was really blowy today.

The weather here has been absolutely awful, it’s windy, it’s cold and it rains, sleets or snows periodically, not quite able to make up it’s mind which method it wants to get you wet by.  Oh the joys of living in Scotland – but it could be worse, I could be worrying about earthquakes or volcano’s while out riding so I guess we have it ok really.

Anyhow, I arranged a hack with my buddy Tracy, who owns the positively delicious Kamber,  a dark bay gelding Warmblood.  So I got up nice and early this morning and headed to the yard only to get stick at the traffic lights at the roadworks round the corner – for 10 whole minutes that damn light sat at red, so I gave up, reversed and went the long way.  It was probably the cold, I hear they tend to jam up in the cold weather.  So I arrived at the yard late, as usual and got my boy all ready and we headed off.  Well, once I had managed to drag my arse into the saddle we headed off.  We mounted up using the smaller mounting block and being that I had not ridden for 4 months my legs are a little stiff so it was rather funny trying to climb up on to my huge 16’3 horsey who probably felt like he was going to be pulled over onto his side at any moment by this big lumbering idiot attempting to get on his back.  Not to worry, the legs will loosen up in time, I hope!!

So off we went to the park, and the horses were very well behaved considering the weather.  We had a few moments of Arion spooking slightly at stuff but in that wind who could blame him.  My hairiest moment was when Kamber realised he was leading and decided to put in a quick reverse but failed to check his rear view and nearly drove his arse straight into Arions face which I will admit made me slightly nervous at the time.  I got over it quickly though and we continued on our way.  I was a bit nervous when we left the yard but having Tracey to chat with helped ease me and once I was in the park I settled down and besides a few occasions where Arion decided he didn’t like the way a bush looked or the noise of the donkey in the field (well that donkey noise is rather annoying) we made it round without incident.  We even managed to have a canter at which point I realised that my head has obviously shrunk from all the surgery when my hat promptly fell in front of my eyes and I couldn’t see a damn thing.  Luckily for me, Tracy gave a verbal “I’m slowing down now” signal or we might have had close visitation with Kambers arse for the second time today.  I have told Kevin I need to buy a new hat, oh what a shame!! So a very successful first hack out since surgery and Tracy and I will now hopefully be regular Sunday hacking out buddies.  Before long I will be cantering round the park and getting annoyed cause we aint going fast enough lol.  Hopefully future hacks will not be accompanied by high winds – incidentally a few hours after we got back it was snowing.

Arion also had a visit from the dentist today and he did very very well.  The dentist remarked “I wish they were all as good as this” and Arion got some extra treats for being such a good boy.  His teeth are in excellent condition and he just needed a little rasping to smooth off some rough edges, otherwise nothing to worry about.

I now have 3 lessons a week booked with Dawn, Mon, Wed and Fri – I am determined to get back to full fitness and ridability as quickly as possible.  I want to start jumping in the Spring – I think I said before I didnt want to jump at all until later this year but bugger that.

I had to edit my post cause Tracy without an E put in an official complaint that she was not Tracy without an E in my blog. All fixed now Tracy..without an E.   Hahahaha.  Damn it I need smilies I tell you, smilies damn it!!!