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George
Oct 18, 2010 21:57:04 GMT 1
Post by Erika George on Oct 18, 2010 21:57:04 GMT 1
Hi there, An update on George who I have been teaching to jump over the summer. After hard ground and very little practice he was an absolute star at our first ever sponsored ride. Well I have done a bit more jumping when out hacking which he really enjoys. Infact he enjoys his jumping so much he has now taken to jumping out of his paddock over the electric fence. I have been puzzled all week as he how he has been getting out, well hubbie witnessed him jumping the fence from a standing start, and these are 4ft posts not the standard size. Clearly has even more talent than I realised... Erika & George
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George
Oct 18, 2010 22:08:22 GMT 1
Post by Erika George on Oct 18, 2010 22:08:22 GMT 1
Can anyone tell me how to post an image on this site? Erika & George
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George
Oct 18, 2010 22:28:22 GMT 1
Post by em on Oct 18, 2010 22:28:22 GMT 1
Hi Erika what a brilliant post ... clearly George is letting you know he loves his jumping what a character.. bet you love him to bits I have no idea how to post pics sorry but cant wait to see a pic of George when you find out how to do it. Em x
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George
Apr 10, 2011 22:21:48 GMT 1
Post by Erika George on Apr 10, 2011 22:21:48 GMT 1
Family outing. Oldest son on bike, me and youngest on foot and husband on George. We decided to head to the pub this afternoon as it was such a lovely day. My husband who was riding George didn't actually know the way but I told him not to worry because George would find it, (not that we have ever stopped there previously!!). So I set George and hubbie off down into the woods whilst my children and I took the short cut along the footpath. I had clearly under estimated how far by bridleway it was because I was well into my second drink by the time a very sweaty George and husband turned up. Poor George was so shocked to see us outside the pub I think he took a treble-take! I could see that he was a tad anxious about the whole experience but behaved impeccabily anyway. I finished my drink mounted up from the picnic table and had a lovely ride home surrounded by my family. Erika & George
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George
Apr 10, 2011 23:44:25 GMT 1
Post by liz on Apr 10, 2011 23:44:25 GMT 1
I'm so glad to hear you're continuing to have great fun with George - Duke used to enjoy popping over little jumps, too! He used to get quite enthusiastic! It sounds as if George is the same - I'm sure they're brothers!!! I'd love to have seen George's face when he saw you at the pub!
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karen
Full Member
Posts: 133
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George
Apr 13, 2011 13:00:30 GMT 1
Post by karen on Apr 13, 2011 13:00:30 GMT 1
Hi Erika
That sounds like a great afternoon out, bet George did get a shock on getting to the pub to see you there! I'm pleased so say that there are at least three pubs near to where Crispin is going to be kept in Hertfordshire so I will definitely be trying out a pub ride ..!
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George
Apr 13, 2011 19:37:22 GMT 1
Post by liz on Apr 13, 2011 19:37:22 GMT 1
A young friend who used to ride Duke asked to borrow him for her "hen pub ride" before her wedding! About 8 horses and lady riders rode around the Quantocks and stopped off at various pubs. She wore a veil tied around her crash hat and Duke, bless his heart, took no notice of it flapping around, even when going a good canter across the top of the hills! I think a good time (about 4 or 5 hours!) was had by all, both humans and equines!
It's always good to have a purpose when riding - and a pub ride is as good a purpose as any!
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George
May 8, 2011 22:10:47 GMT 1
Post by Erika George on May 8, 2011 22:10:47 GMT 1
Couldn't agree more Liz! We had another lovely family outting over the long bank holiday weekend. I took the family to a bluebell woods, hubbie on George and the rest of us on bikes. My sons took their cameras and got some very shaky shots of my husband riding. I couldn't believe how smug and happy he looked! A great time was had by all, I think George enjoys going out with the family more than other horses.
Wish me luck for next weekend as I have been talked into doing my 2nd sponsored ride. This invovles a trip in a trailer and George hasn't been in one since he arrived 5 years ago..... Also he is not that fit at the moment as I am working full time but I have decided that I can always get off and walk if he gets too tired. Erika & George
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George
May 9, 2011 18:59:56 GMT 1
Post by avril on May 9, 2011 18:59:56 GMT 1
Wishing you lots of luck for next weekend Erika, although you won't need it with your trusty steed George, I'm sure he'll take you round and bring you back in one piece!
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George
May 10, 2011 15:47:58 GMT 1
Post by janebaily on May 10, 2011 15:47:58 GMT 1
Hi Erika,
If you go into general board, page 4 "Crispin" , then page 2, i think, scroll down and there are some instructions to post a pic. hope this helps, Jane x
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George
May 14, 2011 9:01:43 GMT 1
Post by em on May 14, 2011 9:01:43 GMT 1
Hi Erika best wishes for your ride hope it goes well and George remembers his trailer training! post some pics if you can em x
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George
May 22, 2011 21:14:21 GMT 1
Post by Erika George on May 22, 2011 21:14:21 GMT 1
Not fit ha.... Well it was a very interesting experience to say the least. I was very nervous of taking George in a trailer as he hadn't been in one for over 5 years. We decided to have a practise run which was wise. Whilst he loaded cautiously, once in the box he became quite panicked and starting neighing furiously and leaning on the side panel. His field companions starting neighing back and it was all getting very stressy. I could see the anxiety in his eyes, I believe he thought he was being taken away and wouldn't come back. Quickly we grabbed Murphy the cob out of the field and loaded him alongside and this calmed George down. We did a little trip around the block (about 2 miles ) and then came home. There was plenty of shuffling around in the box from George but he was pretty good. He was obviously relieved to get home. We took him out for real 2 days later and he was much more relaxed about it. It is not keen to load and I think finds the box a bit of tight squeeze. However he settled into his hay quite quickly and when finished relaxed by resting his head on top of Murphy's! George was very good when we arrived and unloaded, so many boxes, so many horses and so much going on. He was very on his toes and we marched and preened everywhere. He is such a flirt with other horses, he didn't know which ones to bat his eyelids at first. We decided to keep the pace right down as the ground was rock hard and I was worried about the distance. George clearly had other ideas and marched everywhere. Poor Murphy had to trot to keep up. We had a couple of fast canters but I refused to let George jump because he was too keen and I was afraid he would gallop off. We did loads of trotting and after an hour we starting to do a fair bit of fast canter work, where the ground permitted. He just didn't tire. Well, when I realised we were only 1 mile from home I decided it was time to let him have a go at a few jumps, he took off up the hill like a rocket, cleared the first and galloped straight at the second. I managed to veer him over the smaller fence for which he didn't even change his stride. The 3rd fence we demolished and thankfully I managed to pull him up before the 4th fence. We then marched the last mile home and completed the 12 miles in considerably less than 2 hours. Not that unfit then. ;D However, I do need to do some work with him over jump sequences because he just wants to go faster and faster and faster. George had a whale of a time and thankfully didn't scare me too much, he just needs to remember to concentrate on the job in hand and not get quite so carried away with everything. He did brilliantly for his first proper outing and being George I am sure will settle into doing much more in a sensible manner.
Erika & George
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George
May 22, 2011 21:34:33 GMT 1
Post by erika George on May 22, 2011 21:34:33 GMT 1
I am rather hoping below you will see a serene picture of hubbie riding George through the bluebell woods. Following that a less than serene image of me taking a jump (albeit a small one) whilst in full flight. Amazingly I look quite calm ... I have bought the image so hopefully no infringement of copyright. You wouldn't think the lad had covered 11 miles would you ! Erika
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George
May 22, 2011 21:36:14 GMT 1
Post by erika George on May 22, 2011 21:36:14 GMT 1
Thanks to JaneBilly for piccie instructions! Erika
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George
May 22, 2011 23:17:57 GMT 1
Post by liz on May 22, 2011 23:17:57 GMT 1
Great report, Erika Sounds so famailiar with quite a number of horses I've taken to similar events in the dim and distant past! I'm so glad you had such a great time. GEorge's attitude to jumping is much the same as Duke's was - he thought it was a gas!
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