July 2015 – Kaya's Portfolio

This summer I went to England and did a lot of horse involved things like horseback riding, grooming, washing, feeding, treating their cuts and a lot more in Wales too. I drove out to Wales with the Brooks family for Coco’s birthday it was a lot of fun but also tiring. In the afternoon their would be wild ponies on the top of the mountain that you could see grazing. The next morning we left the campsite to climb the mountainand we crossed a barb wire fence into an open field of long grass and a herd of wild ponies. I took pictures of them because they were the only ones you could see up close. We all climbed the mountain that we saw the ponies on and it looked smaller upclose but it was not small or easy it was so steep like a ninety degree angle. It had just rained so everything was wet my clothes were soaked but I finally made it to the top of the mountain the wind was so strong that it hit you like a volley ball. The weather was dark, windy and rainy so we all decided to go down, I slid down on my legs and got thissels and stinging neddles all over them. As soon as I got back to the campsite I drank sparkling elderflower and ate crisps and sweet and salty popcorn. I was so releived to get back but I still was wet for the car ride back.

The herd of wild ponies in the feild staring at me.

This summer went to England. I road a horse named Polo almost everyday although I specialize in western it felt just as good riding english. I did trails along the english countryside and went to a long stretch of clear ground called the Gallops because that is where they train racehorses. I galloped to the top of the mild slope and then walked through the leafy trail. I looked around the yellow and green fields of wheat. Everything that was in the field brushed up on the horses legs resulting in a bit of annoyance. I got back and started to set up jumps even though I did not know how i felt really comfortable on the english saddle so I decided to try it. I walked to a certain point so Polo and me could have a running start. As soon as I turned around Polo jumped to his feet and went into a half gallop, half canter. I needed to do more jumps but in a row so I got a lesson with Pella Goodhew a very experineced trainer. I road on a trail to an olympic jumping course. I was a bit scared at first but I got the hang of it after the first few times. The posture was a repetitive pattern. First you have got to have your back straight until you get to the jump. Second you need to have very short reins to have something called “contact”. Third when you get to the jump lean forward like a jockey and place your hands next to the mane. I jumped logs, crosspoles and the owls eye. The owls eye is a ring around a jump and horses are sometimes mildly spooked by the look of the jump.

Month: July 2015

England, Wales

England, Oxfordshire

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