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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

The tack room

Fantastic hack! Where did you ride today?

52 replies

skihorse · 18/10/2009 18:11

I was the last person to the yard this morning and the others were either in the field or getting groomed - so of course madame was going bonkers in the box. Got her cleaned and tacked up in 20 minutes even though I was shaking because I'd forgotten to have breakfast and it was "fresh". The first 40 minutes were pretty hairy and I thought I was going to end up arse-up in a ditch.

Then it just got better and better - had a pretty crappy week but the yard owner who is incidentally the best rider I've met in years on a personal level turned and said "that looks brilliant" which just made me do this . Hunted mountain-bikers. Came across a loose piggy, loose cows and I've not laughed so much in ages.

Got to the cafe/bar - put the horses in the stalls and then had a coffee/baileys and a bit of lunch.

Coming back we decided we wanted a shift-on so I went first and decided it was about time these Dutch girls learned how we ride "Hunting style" - so we took off at a rate of knots and took a nice fallen log. Got to the top of the hill and one of the girls (Baileys ) had to get off to re-adjust her saddle due to shoddy girth-fitting post-lunch haha. Everyone loved it and one of the girls was so thrilled - apparently her first ever jump.

Got back to the yard, hosed down saddle areas and put them in the field for a roll before feet up and a cold drink sitting in the sun.

Just absolutely blissfull!

OP posts:

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cookielove · 18/10/2009 18:13

i wish i could do that

Dogchewsonlimbsanpumpkins · 18/10/2009 18:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

HeSaysSheSays · 18/10/2009 18:56

You went galloping off across country and over jumps with somone who had never even jumped before? After drinking

Sounds fab, just a bit... hmmm.

cookielove · 18/10/2009 18:57

even more jealous

MitchyInge · 18/10/2009 19:52

WHY DIDN'T I RIDE TODAY?

skihorse · 19/10/2009 08:49

dogches Wow! Sounds like you had a great day - laughter always helps! I too got home to find OH had cooked! Bugger, back to reality today. It sounds as though it's all going beautifully with your new horse - I'm so glad to hear that!

mitchy Why didn't you? Please don't tell me you were mesmerised by the gymnastics all weekend?

cookie Why aren't you riding right now? 8 months pregnant and can't get your leg over?

OP posts:

MitchyInge · 19/10/2009 20:06

I was just on here sorting things out at home really

no ride today either, but a lovely lunge lesson tomorrow - hello achey legs!

Pixel · 19/10/2009 21:13

I haven't had a hack for ages. I keep finding excuses. I really think I've lost my nerve for good.

MitchyInge · 19/10/2009 21:15

noooo

am sure last time you posted your hacks were going well?

Pixel · 19/10/2009 21:32

Well they were. I don't know what's wrong with me but I can't relax whatever I do, I'm so tense just waiting for something to happen and I feel guilty as it's not fair on dhorse.
I'm really trying cos I don't want to have to sell him. I got back on him after our fall the other week and took him out round the block. I was actually ok then but I think it was the shock. I had a lesson last Monday which wasn't too bad but then tuesday when I was practising what we'd learned dhorse tripped badly (in walk!) and off I came again. (honestly, I fell off my old pony once in 23 years and I was jumping at the time, I've come off this one twice in two weeks). I did make myself get back on then as well but today was terrible. I long-reined him for a bit but then had to force myself to get on him. I just walked him round in a couple of circles and got off again. Pathetic.
He's only 4 yo, I can't keep him as a pet but I've never sold a horse. I feel sick worrying about it.

MitchyInge · 19/10/2009 21:43

had no idea you were having such a miserable time - there must be ways of rebuilding your confidence, maybe you could talk about it a bit more on here? or learn some conscious relaxation techniques? is it possible to get an instructor you trust to come and do things with you, fun things that you feel safe doing?

Confession: I am really fearful in fields sometimes, when they all crowd round the gate and start kicking each other, or when walking a horse through one field and a load of mental lively ponies gallop towards us - wish I could spread my confidence evenly between in saddle/on ground.

Pixel · 19/10/2009 22:05

Sorry didn't mean to hijack this thread!

I have got a fab instructor but she is out of action atm having had surgery to pin her leg back together after an accident on a client's youngster. Doesn't exactly boost the confidence.

I don't blame you for being nervous in fields of horses! We used to have to go through another field and there was a really nasty horse in there, I once had to dive under the fence as his hooves whistled past me. I was lucky and had my ponies in a paddock with a little gate at the bottom on to a footpath. I used to go through that and walk all along the road and then back in the big yard gate to avoid going through the field!

Owls · 19/10/2009 22:08

Oh Pixel Is it possible that you can get your instructor to do some schooling on him? That's what I've done with the 4yo that was giving us some grief and it's really, really helped. For some reason watching somebody else ride him and realise that he can walk canter without playing up has boosted my confidence no end. I admit I am a wuss though.

Or is that not the problem? What is it do you think that is making you unhappy on him?

Owls · 19/10/2009 22:09

oops sorry x-post Pixel.

MitchyInge · 19/10/2009 22:16

Oh dear, poor instructor. I think the problem is you are not falling off often enough, you are a victim of your own riding success! I can't go for 23 days never mind years

when is instructor likely to be back? Is it worth roping in a friend or a new one for time being?

Thinking about it I could go the road way to and from field, ride one way and walk the other, no idea whether the gate has been opened since Paleolithic days though. It might be hairy riding bareback on the road, long way to carry tack back again.

What am I even chuntering on about? He is stabled now, d'oh.

Pixel · 19/10/2009 22:24

Owls, it's not him, he's really brilliant for a 4 yo. My friend has been riding him out now and again and he has been an angel. Every time I see someone else on him he is being good as gold but it doesn't help.

I don't know, it's really a general loss of nerve, I don't want to ride dsis's pony either (although he is a bucking bronco so a bit more reason there!), plus dhorse has a lovely long stride and feels so fast even when he's walking. I can't get used to it. I would say he was too much horse but I used to have bags of confidence on my mum's part-shire.

I just wish I could be like I used to be, riding for miles and having fun. I don't want to give up riding if there's a chance I could get that back.

Pixel · 19/10/2009 22:30

I'm seriously thinking about getting hypnotised though I've no idea how you go about it. I was reading the other week about a woman who hadn't even got on her horse for months and was sick just thinking about it. After being hypnotised she was hacking out again.

elastamum · 19/10/2009 22:32

I went out with the 4 shires bloodhounds at chatsworth, 85 horses in the field, absolutely fab day out, some serious galloping, slightly scary at times, first time I have ever galloped across a field with that many horses!! my girl finished the day cantering up the road to the box and is still pacing the stable absolutely wired a day later, not something I will be doing every week but a real buzz Mind you I drew the line at the idea of jumping some stone walls.........

MitchyInge · 19/10/2009 22:48

Wow that sounds fun elastamum!

Pixel, I was hypnotised by John Clifford for my arachnophobia (it worked a bit too well and I am now an arachnophile) - he was amazing, don't know how much was down to him and how much the other things helped (it was one of a few different approaches on the day) but he could be a good place to start?

I do know a hypnotist who is also a proper doctor but to be fair he is not entirely mentally stable himself

elastamum · 19/10/2009 22:55

Do you think he could hypnotise my horse if she doesnt calm down, and also stop me eating so much chocolate!

Pixel · 19/10/2009 23:03

Ha ha, I could do the chocolate thing as well, kill two birds with one stone. In fact I might write a list.

crankytwaaaaaahhhhnky · 19/10/2009 23:06

just

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skihorse · 20/10/2009 08:55

Pixel

I had similar problems with my girl, I bought her when she was 4 and then after a bad fall in the yard about 4 weeks after I got her my nerve just deserted me. It would take me an hour to take up and I'd be shaking so much that by the time I got on my legs were physically banging against her sides - of course this didn't translate well to her.

I got to the point where I wasn't riding for weeks on end then the turning point I think was when I got a hypnosis CD! I listened to it just once and I felt suddenly like I could do it again. I did just take it really slowly at first. Sometimes I'd tack up and just mount and dismount 5 times then stick her back in the field. It's not a race!

The second thing I did was go out and buy (I'm sure you could borrow!) a Haflinger who was a little demon and yet somehow I just had this "bring it on" attitude with him - even though he got me off TWICE within about 20 metres one day the little git! Anyway, I knew deep down of course that I could ride and the Haffie just sort of proved it to me. I only rode him twice before I got back on my mare and haven't looked back.

I'm sure you can overcome it. Has anyone been making snippy comments about your riding/her age? I think a lot of my lack of confidence came via people saying "pfff, that horse is too good for you - you should've got a gypsy cob". Pricks. I must say my confidence improved when I moved her out of that snide yard and to my home where I could potter around at 2mph without snide comments or looks.

I know I'm rambling on a bit here, but I talked about the horse thing with my therapist and drew the parallel that you can buy a Ferrari and drive it around at 30mph if you want to. If you can afford the Ferrari/horse and you want it, it's nobody's business but yours and if you want Shergar as a "quiet hack" have fun!

Why are horsey women so frickin' bitchy?

OP posts:

skihorse · 20/10/2009 08:56

PS She's 9 now and I'm confident enough to do anything with her - I'm so glad I just gave the situation time rather than selling her for a "quick fix". When they're 4 you've got a bit of time.

OP posts:

MitchyInge · 20/10/2009 09:07

do you ride any other horses pixel? can you borrow a confidence-giver from someone, just to clock up some happier saddle hours?

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