Cracking hacking!

My horse never hacked out, not with me, not for the first four or five years I knew him. Then we moved yards and gradually we started riding out. If you've read my blog over the past couple of years you will know how difficult that was for us and how proud I am that we came through and were able to enjoy the gorgeous countryside around Little Horkesley where he was stabled at the time.

Then I moved him to Dedham. As I said in my last post, he's settled brilliantly, but for me, the first ride at the new yard was something akin to riding Splash Mountain at Disney - something I was totally terrified of but something that had to be done.

So after John had been at the yard a week, I saddled up to ride out with a friend... he was a superstar. Why did I ever doubt him. He didn't put a hoof wrong and it was as if he knew where he was going. We enjoyed a lovely hack, he was chilled, laid back, didn't spook, it was as if he had walked those paths all his life.

Perhaps he has. I know nothing of his history but surely horses don't travel that far when they're traded? Perhaps John's life before I knew him centred on or around Dedham. Perhaps he grew up there, spent the first 17 years of his life there, before his owner decided she/ he didn't want him anymore. Oh my, their loss is my gain.

Since then we have been riding out regularly. He has become even closer to his field neighbour Libby, who is also his hacking companion, and we are loving the country lanes and tracks of Dedham!

Settling in

I worry too much. John travelled well, he was a little stressed for the first couple of days, calling and walking around the stable, but other than that he's settled beautifully. I think it helps that he already knows a couple of the horses there - friends who moved from my last yard to this one before I did. He has also fallen for the flirty chestnut filly in the next paddock - though she doesn't return his affection, more like turns and kicks out at him. Poor love, he always falls for the girls and they always reject his advances, usually with a bite on his nose.

Anyway, back to the matter in hand. You would think he'd been here for years (and the filly is actually an 18-year-old mare, but she doesn't know that, still thinks she's a baby - after all, you are as old as you feel and she (Libby) obviously still feels good as she has been known to act like a four-year-old). He has a large paddock and a very large stable; it's peaceful, surrounded by fields, and you can't hear the traffic. Dedham is also a very beautiful place and I'm so happy to be spending time there (the artist Constable thought it was okay too).

The petrol prices are crippling but hey ho, what can you do. I'm still glad I moved.