The Happy Hacker
14 October 2006 22:13![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
glenatronSo today, thanks to a saddle we have been lucky enough to borrow, we took Othello and Joe out for a ride together, my first proper hack.
About to go!
Unfortunately, it was a little bit shorter and more nervewracking than we had hoped, as the day we finally had a saddle and the time to ride out was also the day someone a little down the lane decided to install some pigs. If there is one animal of which horses are inexplicably terrified it is pigs. I think you can imagine what happened when we got to that point on the ride. Suffice it to say, Lou got off, Joe lived up to his reputation as a confirmed bolter, I got off just in time and Othello decided to follow him and then discovered that I wasn't happy for him to do that so he didn't.
Still, we had a good (if short) wander and it was good to be riding - the first time we have ever taken them both out together. It also gave me plenty of room for thought about how I need to be better at riding and Othello needs to be better at not being afraid of pigs.
On Monday it will be a year since Othello arrived and I think I can say that I have done some things to make for a happier and healthier horse:
The day Othello arrived and today - he certainly seems to have gained some weight and muscle as well as a ridiculous amount of mane and tail.
About to go!
Unfortunately, it was a little bit shorter and more nervewracking than we had hoped, as the day we finally had a saddle and the time to ride out was also the day someone a little down the lane decided to install some pigs. If there is one animal of which horses are inexplicably terrified it is pigs. I think you can imagine what happened when we got to that point on the ride. Suffice it to say, Lou got off, Joe lived up to his reputation as a confirmed bolter, I got off just in time and Othello decided to follow him and then discovered that I wasn't happy for him to do that so he didn't.
Still, we had a good (if short) wander and it was good to be riding - the first time we have ever taken them both out together. It also gave me plenty of room for thought about how I need to be better at riding and Othello needs to be better at not being afraid of pigs.
On Monday it will be a year since Othello arrived and I think I can say that I have done some things to make for a happier and healthier horse:
The day Othello arrived and today - he certainly seems to have gained some weight and muscle as well as a ridiculous amount of mane and tail.