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Post by hobbyhorse on Nov 19, 2009 22:41:58 GMT 1
Hello everyone. Having come across Avril on the Duett stand at YHL (hi again Avril!) I thought it's about time I posted an update on Olga who's now seven and all grown up! Previous posts were on the original Safecobs message board which shows how long ago they were written.
Olga has developed into a wonderful, strapping 15.3hh mare and has really settled brilliantly to a busy and varied working life. She has always been a very independent girl who speaks her mind loud and clear which did provide some "interesting" and challenging times as she matured. Although she's retained her strength of character and can have her wilful moments we've slowly developed a superb bond over time and life with her has become really rewarding. I bought her ultimately for hunting but felt it important that she had an all round education and what a truly versatile horse she's proving to be. Seems she can turn her hoof to absolutely anything. She adores hacking out and general schooling is done out hacking as formal arena schooling is about the only thing she doesn't find interesting. She's sooo comfortable and is a beautifully light, obedient and responsive ride. She does everything, even hunts, in a Myler comfort snaffle.
I shall now attempt to post a selection of photos on here which, I hope, serves to illustrate what wonderful all rounders these cobby beasties can be!
On second thoughts, I'll post this first as don't trust my ability to get the photos up without losing this write up...
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Post by hobbyhorse on Nov 19, 2009 22:58:33 GMT 1
Ah - downloaded photos but gigantic so deleted. Will try again tomorrow evening as late now and work tomorrow! Think I know where I went wrong.
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Post by hobbyhorse on Nov 20, 2009 21:40:11 GMT 1
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Post by Erika George on Nov 20, 2009 22:37:38 GMT 1
I remember Olga, it is so great to see her having such a great time. It also makes me very sad because I have done so little with George due to time constraints. We haven't done a single show  Still I was realistic when I bought him and he was bought just to hack, when I had time. I know he has so much more to offer but with working and two young lads to look after, hacking is all I can offer. He is such a gem, I have been struggling with a back injury for 3 weeks now and haven't been able to ride. Last week I bundled my husband onto him and said that we were going for a walk. Husband, who has done some elementary riding school riding, ended up not only walking, but trotting and cantering George. George was extremely well behaved and didn't nap or look to me but behaved like a real gent. I did drag myself into the saddle on Thursday in a Force 9 and wondered if it was a good idea. Again, the big guy was a good as gold. He did look, certainly did look at the things flying past us and cracking and creaking but didn't put a foot wrong. He was fascinated by the kitten chasing leaves down the road, though the poor animal nearly died of fright when it saw George behind it! Had a fantastic ride though I had to slide off him to get down. He knows when I am not up to it and though riding along "the gallops" he asked politely before we set off on a gentle canter. Nearly killed me and I thought so much as a sneeze and I'll be on the floor. My friend it coming on Saturday to give him a good blast which he loves as well. Tricky riding conditions at the moment, but with Avril's fantastic training we are as safe as we can ever hope to be. Erika & George |
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Post by avril on Nov 21, 2009 9:33:24 GMT 1
Hi Hobbyhorse, it was indeed a pleasure to see you at YHL, and to know that you are doing so well with Olga. Hasn't she matured into a magnificent speciment of a cob? She looks fantastic, well done you!
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Post by liz on Nov 21, 2009 11:50:32 GMT 1
Olga looks just wonderful  How lovely to see the pics of her enjoying life so much. Erika - sorry about your bad back. I've been suffering this week and I'm on strong painkillers. Just as well my poor old Mum is in hospital right now - that sounds bad but you know what I mean! I used to wear a back support for the last 10 years or so of my riding life. I still have it but it doesn't go round my waist these days !!!!! |
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Post by hobbyhorse on Nov 23, 2009 0:08:27 GMT 1
Thank you Erika, Avril and Liz. She is rather my pride and joy - such a good girl. Infact only this morning she proved how level headed she is which shows how instilled this Safecobs grass roots training can be. Hacking through the main street of our village, something I can only do safely on a weekend when the weekday massive lorries are few and far between, we met with an oncoming old model Massey Ferguson tonning it's way through a fairly narrow stretch of road. I pulled Olga over to the side and I must admit I did expect it to slow down a little, but no. Olga had a last second wibble at the huge wheels as it was nearly upon us and reversed at speed in front of it. The old chap driving didn't take a blind bit of notice and continued on, leaving us collecting ourselves together and the following car driver shaking his head in amazement (at the tractor driver, not us.) Not at all nice but within a couple of minutes she'd recovered and was striding out in her usual confident manner, episode forgotten. A traffic proof horse is a real must in my books on todays roads.
Do hope your back's soon back to normal Erika. Any injury is so debilitating at the best of times and always seems more so whilst managing horses. Good on your husband for being persuaded into riding duties and George sounds an absolute rock. And what's all this "just" hacking??? Olga adores hacking and we do loads of it. I'm extremely fortunate in that there's a superb competition venue just down the road where I also have lessons plus having my own transport makes it easy for me. Plus, and a huge plus, with daughters grown up and no longer at home I now have the luxury of working part time. When my two were dependent and I was in full time employment with two horses it was impossible to donate as much time to riding believe me. Relish the time you spend with George now. Before you know it your boys will have their own lives and you'll have more "you" time, or rather more "you and George" time. I gather he's only around ten or eleven now isn't he? Loads of time to do what you want with him in years to come.
Liz - made me laugh re. back support!! Know where you're coming from. Dread to think what size I'd be if I didn't ride. Just have to keep horses for my health!! Well, that's my excuse!
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Post by Erika and George on Nov 25, 2009 23:04:47 GMT 1
Thanks Hobbyhorse & Liz, Back is improving and am now able to trot. Canter is a bit of a disaster as I have no seat whatsoever and bump around like a complete novice. George seems completely unphased by this thank goodness. Re speeding traffic and narrow lanes, I no longer pull over until they have slowed down, having had my stirrups clipped by somebody doing over 40 past us  . The nice advantage of having a big horse is that they can take up a lot of the road when you want them to, and George, I can use to great effect. I do ask them to slow down but half of them are oblivious. I have asked the council to put up horse rider signs but they refuse because it will destroy the look of the rural environment  Came home from my ride today in one of those awful squalls, torrential horizontal rain and hail and nobody slowed down. I had a pickup with empty trailer hurtled past us showering us in water. George kept going but was waiting for further drenchings with each passing car. It can really spoil a ride. The council tell me that motorists need to be educated to understand that they should slow down for horses. I pointed out that I ride in a high-viz jacked with the words "Please pass slow and wide" on them, what else can I do? The only people going slow enough to read them are cyclists and then they sneak up instead. Erika & George |
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sam
New Member
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Post by sam on Nov 28, 2009 12:47:12 GMT 1
I know that drivers can be a nightmare, as can silent cyclists.
But to put the other perspective there is a girl who rides near my children's school, always without high-viz. I always slow down for riders of course, but the time I got out of my car to remonstrate with her was when she was riding through the centre of the village, at school pick up time, so cars everywhere, in the dark (it was 6pm, in winter, which is when my children's school day ends), on a dark bay, with no high-viz, wearing no hard hart and - get this - leading another dark bay also with nothing bright on him. She gives all us riders a bad name, and sets a bad example re hard hats to all the kids who were coming out of school. Grrr.
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Post by Erika George on Nov 29, 2009 23:00:40 GMT 1
Absolutely Sam,
It amazes me that the number of scrapes I find myself in with high viz and flashing light
s, I too have come across riders and walkers dressed in black on dark nights. It is a miracle that there aren't more accidents.
Erika & George
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How lovely to see the pics of her enjoying life so much.
. The nice advantage of having a big horse is that they can take up a lot of the road when you want them to, and George, I can use to great effect. I do ask them to slow down but half of them are oblivious. I have asked the council to put up horse rider signs but they refuse because it will destroy the look of the rural environment 
