Out for a hack

Amazingly, spring did arrive. I was really beginning to think it was not going to bother showing up.

Hampton has picked up where he left off. Not really missing a beat, and his fitness has come back quickly. Today's bombdiggity whether prompted me to take him to the back part of the property for hacking and hill work. He loves trail riding, and knows that when we go back here that he is permitted to have a "brisk canter." I don't let him truly gallop because I don't trust him to stay on his feet. Especially on rolling terrain.

Here is how our hacks usually go out here.

When we head out there he is all like

" yay! no arena today!"

" oh goodie!!"

ears pricked.

snort.

... prance in his step.

Happy Hampton at the top of torture hill

There are a couple of hills that are pretty significant. I make him walk down and up two times. There was much grunting today (from Hampton). It made me laugh as I was enjoying the scenery and the fact that he was clearly working pretty hard.

Then we go out to the more rolling (less steep) hills and trot for a while and then canter - making sure each lead gets equal time. Then I stop at the bottom of one hill and ask him to canter (going uphill, I am so mean) and then get up in two point and let him go. He loves this and gets that "purring" breathing thing going. 

He is super good about slowing up when I ask and then promptly returns to walking like the good trail pony he is. 

By the time we are back at the barn, he looks like this:

"You slave-driving wench making me go up and down hills.
Now I am tired."

But then he perks up upon mention of cookies.

Will hopefully get a dressagin' update soon. We have some cool things coming up, including a clinic at the end of April with JJ Tate!