Festive Ride on Phoenix! | GoPro

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! I hope you're all managing to stay safe and have a lovely holiday!
I had a fun little ride on Phoenix before Christmas, and I was very happy when I turned up to the yard and found him adorned with a pair of antlers and purple glittery hooves! I haven't really ridden Phoenix much before, despite the fact he's now been at the yard for 10 years (!) I rode him a few times when he was new as a five yr old, and I've swapped onto him a few times over the years when he's been naughty and needed a little bit of encouragement to behave (there are a couple of videos featuring him on my channel), but actually I've not really had him to myself for a whole lesson in the outdoor school for a very long time, so it was interesting to see what he's really like to ride these days!
I had actually also ridden Phoenix in my lesson the week before this one, but unfortunately I was feeling very ill and tired on that day and Phoe was in a rather naughty mood, with lots of tantrums and a few silly kicks & bucks throughout the ride in protest of being made to do some actual work (although he did get going quite nicely by the end of the lesson), so I was very relieved when we got into the school for this ride and he was much more up for it - not a tantrum in sight!
He was still a bit lazy to start with (that's just the way Phoenix is in the school), but once we had done a few leg yields into walk-to-canters, he perked up hugely to the point where I actually struggled to stop him jig-jogging down the long side…! He ended up working quite hard and managed some nice walk-to-canters on both reins, although he struggled a little more on the right - I wasn’t setting him up particularly well for the transition, to be fair.
We finished by practicing our straightness over some rather festive Christmas tree poles, and what a little star he was! Straight as an arrow once I actually bothered to help him out, I was very impressed!
I absolutely love Phoenix & his cheeky character, although I don't really enjoy schooling him too much (nothing personal he's just not particularly my cup of tea to ride), but having said that I'm very pleased with how he went in this lesson, especially with how forward he was towards the end :-)
🚨For a bit of balance, I would appreciate it if anyone leaving rude or negative criticism/tips/advice would also donate at least £1 to a charity of their choice 😊
QOTD: Have you been up to anything special with your favourite horses & ponies over the Christmas holidays?
Ponies/horses:
Phoenix - 13.3hh bay gelding
Helmet Cam: GoPro Hero 6
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⬇️ FAQs ⬇️
🔵 DO YOU OWN THE HORSES & PONIES IN YOUR VIDEOS?
No, all the horses & ponies belong to a lovely riding school, or are working liveries at the same yard.
🔵 WILL YOU EVER GET YOUR OWN HORSE?
I would love to own a pony one day, but for now I am more than happy having weekly lessons on the fantastic riding school horses & ponies.
🔵 WHY DO YOU ALWAYS JUMP THE SAME HEIGHT?
These riding school ponies usually jump more than once a week, and sometimes more than once a day, so we don’t jump ‘big’ except on special occasions to ensure the ponies stay sound and live long, happy lives. Fence height has very little to do with jumping technique or experience.
🔵 HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING FOR?
I’ve been having weekly lessons in riding schools for 16 years now!
🔵 IF YOU’VE BEEN RIDING FOR SO LONG, WHY DON’T YOU COMPETE?
I have no personal interest in competing or jumping huge tracks. I ride for fun, simple as that!
🔵 WHY ARE THE HORSES ALREADY TACKED UP WHEN YOU APPROACH THEM?
This is a busy riding school & livery yard and so the lesson horses are tacked up by the staff who work there to ensure they are ready to leave the yard on time and have been tacked up correctly.
🔵 DO THE HORSES STAY TACKED UP 24/7?
No. The horses are only tacked up right before their lessons and spend the rest of their time turned out in grass fields.
🔵 WHO IS ROBIN FROM YOUR VIDEOS?
Robin is my mum and she rides with me in my lesson every week. She's 65 and fearless as ever!