A lovely lesson today - what nice horsey things have you been up to?

[lurch3r]

I've come back to riding at a school this summer after a nasty accident 4 years ago. Am pushing 50 so it's been physically tough but worth it. Today, I had a lovely 'no reins' lesson over poles, just using body aids and really nice transitions and shapes. Schoolmaster horse perked up as soon as I left his head to its own devices and we had a lovely time. What nice horse things have you been up to today?

[Lilybetsey]

I went for a really lovely hack with my newish loan horse today ( well it’s called a share but his owner doesn’t ride) . He’s been a bit spooky and he is quite strong, I’m in my mid 50’s and just getting back into riding after >20 years off. Today he was in a great mood from when I picked him out of the field, he really knows me now and some of the schooling and calming work I’ve been doing with him meant we had a rock solid, really fun hack out with no spooks (well almost none) and lots of exploring. A good day 😊

[mumontherun14]

We bought a trailer after a lot of travel mishaps and dramas. Just a second hand one from a friend and it needs a floor repair but super excited to be able to get our 2 out and about without having to ask friends for lifts x

[RedLipsAndRosyCheeks]

I had a brilliant lesson today. Not ridden for a few weeks and it was a jumping lesson which made me a bit nervous but it was great! I rode my instructors old horse who is now a school horse and it was the best time I've jumped him.

I've been feeling a bit blergh the last few weeks but this really cheered me up!

[Moanranger]

Today I was able to mount without assistance as little beastie likes to wiggle around and trot off while I am mounting.He stood still! The plan was to face down very scary cows next to the main farm track, but they weren’t in the field. Otherwise, had a lovely hack accompanied by yard owner on her v nice quarter horse.

[plominoagain]

My shiny new rescue has also suffered a similar fate with her last guardians - mane tail and forelock all cut with kitchen scissors ...

[Deliaskis]

@NoProblem123 wow that's brave! Well done .

I have to say, the other people who loan 'our' loan on the other days had a go at clipping once, and it made me cross because it wasn't needed at that time anyway, and they did a REALLY bad job. They also hogged him for no reason and gave him a really stupid short forelock. They were obsessed with hair removal. He's a Highland so it was sad to see him all shorn.

Anyway, they no longer loan him (yay!) and his flowing locks are slowly returning (well his mane is still spiky sticking upwards but it won't take long now!).

[NoProblem123]

I clipped my own horse for the first time ever (EVER!) yesterday and he looks pretty ok

[Deliaskis]

[quote Shannith]@Deliaskis we are in the Brecon Beacons. It's via Unicorn Trails who I highly recommend. You tell them what you are looking for and they match you.

We are riding at Ellesmere Stables. We are so lucky we have 2 weeks for half term. We were booked to go next week but I changed it because of the rumours of lockdown.

They close for the winter at the end of the month but I suspect some places will stay open to try and recoup their losses, especially if they have a riding school attached.
Fingers crossed it's going to be fun. The people are lovely and it's stunningly beautiful

I'll report back![/quote]
Thank you! Looking them up....

[Shannith]

@Deliaskis we are in the Brecon Beacons. It's via Unicorn Trails who I highly recommend. You tell them what you are looking for and they match you.

We are riding at Ellesmere Stables. We are so lucky we have 2 weeks for half term. We were booked to go next week but I changed it because of the rumours of lockdown.

They close for the winter at the end of the month but I suspect some places will stay open to try and recoup their losses, especially if they have a riding school attached.
Fingers crossed it's going to be fun. The people are lovely and it's stunningly beautiful

I'll report back!

[percheron67]

plominogram. I love your thread. What a super soul. Bless you for giving a rescue a home. I would fill my home with rescue horses/ponies and greyhounds if i could!

[WaltzingBetty]

Not ridden since a plod along hack with inexperienced friends 10 years ago.

Used to ride a bit in my 20s but only started riding late teens and relied on work experience/mucking out labour for rides through my 20s so it was always fairly sporadic

Last week I hacked out with friends (all competent riders) and we managed several canters - was a bit anxious to start but lovely, well schooled horse and as soon as we started cantering it just felt natural.

Was a real confidence boost - and I've fallen in love with riding all over again - need to get back in the saddle!

[Heathercob]

Two lovely beach rides as the tide was right out this weekend 😊! Followed by new shoes today, and the carrier said that her hooves are in good condition 😊😊.

[Deliaskis]

When you get chance could you let me know where you are? Not in a stalker ish way but because I have struggled to find a suitable mother/ daughter riding holiday but it's something we'd both love to do!

[Shannith]

Aww @Deliaskis that's lovely. I've just arrived in Wales with 9 year old DD for a 3 day riding holiday. We are riding for 6 hours tomorrow and there's the opportunity for lots of lovely long canters (hence all my practicing.)

I'm hoping for a few moments like that. I know what you mean about getting your mojo back and I hope you do.

I want her to have one of those moments that when I say this, this is why mummy does it despite being old and a scaredy-cat she really gets it. She loves horses but not as much as me.

In no way am I trying to live vicariously through my child. Nothing to see here.

[Deliaskis]

This is a lovely thread! Mine is less impressive as I've not been doing challenging schooling or overcoming fears or anything, but I had lost my mojo a bit....

I've been off riding for 3-4 weeks as we stopped loaning our beloved highland due to some logistical and health challenges (but we'd have him back like a shot once we have resolved them), and I had been mainly running around after DD (9) putting up jumps, coaching her schooling etc.

Anyway, Saturday afternoon she had her loan pony and had ridden in the school for about an hour, and then the riding school owner practically forced me to take one of the bigger cobs out for a hack with DD. You know when someone is REALLY pushing you and you end up with nowhere to go but 'OK then thanks'.

Well it was lovely! We went up the track and then across what we call 'our canter field' and DD and I had one of those moments where we were both cantering and looking at each other with big grins plastered on our faces.

I had planned on being out for maybe 20 mins but we were nearly an hour.

Good to be back in the saddle....I'll refind my mojo I hope.

[Shannith]

Also and do t knock this until you've tried it

Try and do a gentle forward fold (as close to touching our toes as possible but don't lock your legs)

Rotate your feet one way and the other and see how "sticky" they feel.

Get a tennis ball. Stand up and put the sole of one foot on it. Now roll is around for 2 1/2 minutes and then swop.

It's hard work and hurts and it's best if you do it keeping great posture and not holding on to anything.

Try the fold and feet rotation now.

Be amazed.

It's a faff but I do this most days now a a I have strong flexible calves fir the first time ever!

[Shannith]

Agree completely with @maxelly.

For my lower leg I've been doing simple calf raises on the stair. Built up from about 2 until I can do 20 at a go without holding on the anything.

I can't recommend yoga enough for hip flexibility. I use a load of free yoga with Adrienne videos on you tube. She has one specifically for equestrians which is good. I've started to do her deep core (gentler than it sounds), deep stretch and some balance one's answering they are good and make me feel much more secure in the saddle.

For seat and balance no stirrups is amazing. An instructor gave me a great tip which was without stirrups it's tempting to just hang on whatever it takes. This is fine to start with but as you progress to being able to trot down a long side and not feel like you are going to come off then make sure your legs are in the right position.

It's almost as if you are kneeling on the saddle with your legs wrapped round the horse rather than dangling down and gripping with your inner thugs and knees.

It takes it it has certainly take me a LOT of practice to do this. I do it religiously for 10 mins every time I ride. I also do it before I've woken my horse up and she's too bouncy after I have!

I'm doing fearless riding online because despite wall this I was a mess in canter. In a very short time I've gone from canter = panic to canter = weee fun!

[maxelly]

Re the people with canter issues, I can't recommend lunge lessons enough (for physical issues that is, if it's a confidence thing then work on the lunge can help as well but sometimes it can actually make it worse as you pretty much surrender control of the horse to the person at the other end of the line!).

The usual problems with canter - feeling wobbly/bouncy esp through the transition up and down, bouncing out of the saddle as you are cantering and/or not being able to get or keep the horse in canter - tend to get much better if you improve your seat, balance and stability - core strength and/or lower leg are the usual culprits! Lots of work without stirrups and/or reins on the lunge will help, not necessarily even in canter, you can do it in trot or walk to start with. Its hard work though so do 20 mins max at a time to start with, make sure to warm up/cool down properly and have your hot bath and deep heat ready for the muscle aches afterwards I've also been doing lots of hip flexor and calf muscle stretches on the ground after realising my lower leg really is pants and has a life of its own especially when things get stressful and I'm thinking about something else e.g. a jump, it seems to swing halfway up to my horses shoulders or quarters - even after a few weeks I think I feel a difference!

[QueenCranberry]

Spent an hour this morning watching my 5 year old DD smiling and laughing in a lunge lesson on her pony in the field. She's not the most confident child and we've spent a lot of time bombproofing Dpony and persuading her that he loves her and can be trusted after she'd had a nasty fall from rider error.

She lost her stirrup in trot today and instead of crying and panicking, like we'd expected her to, she carried on trotting minus stirrup, pulled him up, put her foot back in and carried on.

It's just a very little thing, but I was so very proud of how she coped.

[HappyGirlNow]

plominogain lovely! 😍

1990s I had a few falls in canter due to v spooky horse 😬

[1990s]

this thread.

Very interested in the cantering stories, I have less of a mental barrier but definitely a physical one after 15 years off, very weak legs!

[plominoagain]

This is her - she’s a Redwings’s rescue, with a pretty face, and a bum like the back of a bus

[HappyGirlNow]

plominogain a new pony def counts! 😊

[HappyGirlNow]

*on my BOY 😬

[HappyGirlNow]

shannith I could have written your post, I’ve just got over my developed canter phobia using NLP (administered by myself, I’m an NLP practitioner but I’d let the phobia develop almost without realising!). 3 weeks ago I refused to (couldn’t as negative physical reaction was sooo string) canter. Now happily cantering again in school I’m now gearing up to canter on hacks.

Today I had wonderful hack on my joy (as I do every Sunday morning) with a wonderful view of the Forth Bridges 🥰