Saturday morning, LSH is not working, it's time for our very first French Hack!!
I rode Flurry yesterday (just to make sure he'd behave for the LSH) and I've been walking both horses in hand and doing a little lunge each day, partly to get us all into a routine and partly to help them loosen out after the journey.
Flurry went barefoot, but Aero wore his Renegade boots. There's good news and bad news there - the good news is that his left front has spread a bit more, so it's almost the same size as the right one, but the bad news is that I now have two size 2 boots too many and one size 2W boot too few. It's time for some more online shopping, unfortunately.
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| Fitting Aero's Renegades |
The LSH brought his new Little Camera - it's a Sony RX100, which he bought so he'd be able to satisfy his photographic urges on horseback. The first test was whether Flurry would stand still....
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| Just sit there, LSH, I want to look at this for a minute |
Well of course he would! This is the horse that loves to admire spectacular views! Although it was very hazy today, so the views weren't up to the usual standard, but he stood quietly anyway while the LHS took a few like this :
Aero doesn't get this whole "scenery" thing, he was more interested in grazing. I was happy to let him have a nibble though, it showed me how much more relaxed he is now.
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| Why are we standing here? |
The next test for the Sony RX100 was how would its panorama mode function on a moving horse :
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| Half a panorama! |
Well, it functioned, but I don't think the black bit on the Right hand side should be there!
I took my first official Through the Ears shot on Aero :
although I only had my iPhone, I can't find the strap I used to use to tie the camera case onto the saddle and I didn't want to squish my camera into the small pockets on my gilet.
Still, the iPhone photos aren't too bad...
...pity I chopped Flurry's head off though!
I took a photo of him, he took a photo of me...
...all we need now is someone to take a photo of the two of us as we ride along holding hands, like this :
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| ©The Long Riders' Guild Press |
(shall I pass the barf bags?)
The hack was completely uneventful - a forty-five minute stroll through lavender fields and woods, with about five minutes on the road at the end. Flurry sweated up a lot - it was 20C, hotter than we experienced all summer in Cork, I think! I will have to get the clippers out and give him a very light clip, he'll have plenty of time to grow more hair between now and January/February when the cold weather usually hits.
The local horse people collect stale baguettes to give to their horses as treats. Flurry remembers this well from last year and was delighted to see a demi-baguette heading his way. He kindly showed Aero what to do with it.
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| Look, Aero, this is what you do |
Aero thought it was a great idea!
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| What - you mean like this? |
He loved it, and didn't pull any faces like Flurry did last year!
I asked the LSH to take a photo of me and both the Boyz - up to now, there haven't been any in existence, and I want one for my Facebook page. This is my favourite :
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| Shades of Desert Orchid and Red Rum! |
But this is probably the one I'll use, where they are not trying to hide me :
I think the iPhone takes great pics, most of mine are taken with one......
ReplyDeleteSo which clip are you going for, a "tablier"? Discovered another one in Ali's book, a "trait" (which is also the word for draught horse) is a trace clip......
I'll try the tablier for starters, if he's still over heating I can always extend it a bit. Not sure if I'll do his chin or not... it does make him look more handsome when I remove the goats beard :)
ReplyDeleteJealous, jealous, JEALOUS
ReplyDeleteWhen are you coming to visit? I'll put a reserved sticker on Flurry for you :D
DeleteI love the photos of you and the boys! Super cute!
ReplyDeleteFrench weather is looking like Michigan weather today, hazy and blah, but it is still prettier over there!
Thanks Ally, Looking forward to hearing how SHy gets on with the herd :)
DeleteLooks like a great ride. Love the fields and scenery. I think the pictures came out very nice. Like the ones of you with the boys very much. That's nice to have for a keepsake. I didn't know horses would eat the baguettes, they seem to really like them. It shouldn't surprise me though, I've had them eat crackers and cereal and buttons off coats!
ReplyDeleteThere is a real touch of Fall Colour around now, I will try to get some nice photos before all the leaves get blown off the trees. I would never have thought of giving bread to the horses and my instinct is not to give them too much, but they do enjoy crunching their baguettes!
DeleteFlurry's neck looks gorgeous in the second to last shot! I love it when they sniff noses like that. I agree that you should use the photo where everyone is looking at the camera. Very cute shot!
ReplyDeleteThose renegades are neat!
Flurry has coped with the change much better than Aero who has lost a little condition all round. He's also going fairly-not-bad in the arena, I must try to video a bit and see how it looks.
DeleteLove these photos!
ReplyDelete