Adult new or returning riders up for a chat?

[Hereforthedramaz]

I have recently returned to riding after a very long gap.

I was a very casual rider as an early teen, happy hacking on plodding ponies rather than technical riding. I am thoroughly enjoying having proper lessons now.

I thought it might be nice to chat with other newbies or returners, all non-horsey people in my life and there is only so much they want to talk about it!!!

Also the stables I'm going to is so lovely and welcoming but, in their own words, aimed almost entirely at 8-12 year olds so it would be nice to talk to some adults!

[TheDarrellRivers]

I’d love to chat!

I haven’t ridden for approximately 25 years and began again a couple of weeks ago. My daughter’s pony was gradually becoming an expensive garden ornament, so to speak, so I have lost weight (almost 6 stones) so that I can ride her.

All is going well atm, as she’s in her summertime lazy fug. Rather apprehensive about the coming autumn, as she can be extremely sharp, and I’m no longer a teenager!!

my riding is abysmal, but I’m learning a lot!!

Haven’t things changed though!! I used to read horsey magazines and books, but now there’s YouTube, which is such a brilliant tool.

[DrHildegardeLanstrom]

Yes please! Just typed a long post and lost it.... but I'm back riding after 20 years and loving being back behind the ears! @TheDarrellRivers amazing weight loss inspiration - I am also using riding as a way/driver to lose weight.

[TheDarrellRivers]

@DrHildegardeLanstrom Thanks!

It definitely does feel good, doesn't it to be "back behind the ears!" Are you having lessons?

I want to continue with weight loss, so happy to chat about that too.

[DrHildegardeLanstrom]

Yes, private lessons and a couple of 121 hacks, with the intention of going into (cheaper) group lessons as soon as I am fitter. I am pathetically unfit and it's been boiling so am doing lots of schooling in walk with small bursts of trot and canter.
I have lost about 5kg so far and want to lose another 10kg at least to be able to access different school horses.
How did you achieve your weight loss?

[Hereforthedramaz]

Yey, hello everyone!

@TheDarrellRivers wow amazing weight loss you must be so pleased!!

Are you doing lessons or only hacking?

Having never done lessons properly before I'm actually loving them!

[Hereforthedramaz]

I'm also combining it with weight loss, I'm 10kg down from last year and hoping riding adds core strengthening!

[TheDarrellRivers]

@DrHildegardeLanstrom Riding is hard work isn't it!! It's great that you're able to do lessons and hacking.

Well done on the weight loss! You must be pleased.

I have lost my weight over the past year. I was morbidly obese and have been for years. I told myself that I'm not doing anything that I can't keep up for the rest of my life (so no diets/ faddy eating.)

The difficult part has been looking at WHY I'm eating when I'm not hungry. (Boredom, emotions, food tastes nice etc etc!!) I'm far from perfect, and still have more weight to lose (I really was big!!) But progress not perfection 😀

[TheDarrellRivers]

@Hereforthedramaz

Well done on your weight loss!!! Riding will definitely improve your core strength.

So far, I have been going in the school on our yard and just pottering about In walk & trot. I have had one lesson, which has given me a lot to think about and practice. I'll probably aim for one lesson a month.

I have avoided hacking thus far as our yard sadly doesn't have a lot of access to hacking without going on roads. We can access a small amount without road work, but pony is quite spooky, so avoiding like the plague for now.

Here's a photograph of my girl in all her winter wooly finery 😆

[Hereforthedramaz]

@TheDarrellRivers
What a beautiful face!! She's gorgeous!

Your set up sounds pretty perfect, in my head my perfect routine would be a couple of sessions in a school working through some of the groundwork books people reference and a lesson every now and then!

Once I'm competent again I like the idea of a pony/ horse share in a yard with a school and direct off road hacking, but I think they are like gold dust!

I normally ride 14-15hh but in my most recent lesson they put me on a 16.2, I've never ridden anything so big!

[TheDarrellRivers]

@Hereforthedramaz Ah, thank you. I absolutely adore this pony!!

What groundwork books have you found useful?

Yes, finding the 'dream' yard is not easy. I thought about moving in the past for more hacking but we like it where we are, it's very much a drama free yard and I like the people very much. Also, pony can be easily unsettled, so don't want to deal with all that. We also have 24/7 turnout in summer which is AMAZING!! and my fatty gets to go in a field which is grade all year, so perfect. Always worrying about lami. 😩

How did you find the 16.2? My horse that I used to have was 16.2, so the trot of my 14.2 pony was not quite how I remember trotting lol. She also just has quite a 'quick' stride I think.

It's exciting to be thinking of a share for the future!!

[DrHildegardeLanstrom]

I'm riding at the large yard where my daughter does pony club. Due to my weight I am on the bigger horses (16hh at least) and I much prefer smaller, finer horses and ponies so weight loss is a big priority!

[Pleasedontdothat]

Hello! I rode (badly) as a child but then my little sister developed a severe allergy to horsehair which meant I had to stop lessons when I was about 11. I’d go on the odd beach ride or pony trek as a teenager but then other things took over and I stopped completely. Then I had my daughter who was utterly obsessed with ponies from toddlerhood. I held off getting her lessons as we live in a city and I thought it would be a phase .. it wasn’t!

Fast forward several years and she’s now working with horses full-time on an eventing yard and I’ve ‘inherited’ her old pony club horse. He is the loveliest horse imaginable - we were completely naive when we bought him but we lucked out as far as his temperament and behaviour are concerned. He’s affectionate and cuddly and takes pretty much everything in his stride. He had a nightmare year in 2020 with a succession of injuries and illness but he seems (touch wood) to have got through the worst and we’re able to manage his conditions so he’s happy and healthy.

I started having lessons last year at a riding school with the aim of riding dhorse when I was confident enough. It took a little while to get the hang of it again but I’m now happily cantering and hacking out. Being my daughter’s unpaid groom for several years helped in that I was already comfortable around horses. I did my first dressage test a few weeks ago (only walk and trot) but surprised myself with how much I enjoyed it!

I started doing some targeted exercises for riders a few months ago which have really helped with my balance and strength and I really like having lunge lessons every so often to work on my position

[Hereforthedramaz]

I absolutely adored the 16.2, so responsive and eager! It all just seemed to work!

I'm only 5"3 (being slightly generous) so he felt big!

But I'm aware that had more to do with his age and background than any skill on my behalf. I'm used to being on bombproof ponies who grind to a halt if you let them!

[Hereforthedramaz]

@TheDarrellRivers
I haven't had a need to use it yet but lots of people recommend Cobs Can for groundwork exercises.

[Therunecaster]

Hi,
I had my first riding lesson yesterday. I'm 49 and this is completely new to me. I've lost 4 stone and learning to ride is on my bucket list of things to try out.

[Hereforthedramaz]

@Therunecaster

Hi,
I had my first riding lesson yesterday. I'm 49 and this is completely new to me. I've lost 4 stone and learning to ride is on my bucket list of things to try out.

Amazing, well done!

How did you find your first lesson? What did they have you doing?

And most importantly, how much do you ache today?!

[Therunecaster]

I was shown how to get on the horse from the steps first. Then how to hold the reins and steer. Most of the lesson was trying to get my foot position right, heels down!

I had another lesson today. Same as before but more trotting. Need to keep my reins shorter. Getting off the horse is a skill. I literally fell down the side of the horse today!

[DrHildegardeLanstrom]

My tip for getting off is hold the right hand stirrup leather and use it to steady yourself as you slide down dismount on the left hand side

[Hereforthedramaz]

@Therunecaster

I was shown how to get on the horse from the steps first. Then how to hold the reins and steer. Most of the lesson was trying to get my foot position right, heels down!

I had another lesson today. Same as before but more trotting. Need to keep my reins shorter. Getting off the horse is a skill. I literally fell down the side of the horse today!

Sounds like you are making quick progress already! How often are you having lessons?

Good tip from @DrHildegardeLanstrom for dismounting, you'll get there with some practice.

I'm worried about the other end, luckily the stable I'm at expects everyone to use a mounting block, which feels like a luxury I don't think I've ever used one before! Not a chance I would have got up onto the bigger horse without it!

[Therunecaster]

@DrHildegardeLanstrom

My tip for getting off is hold the right hand stirrup leather and use it to steady yourself as you slide down dismount on the left hand side

Good tip. Thanks

[Therunecaster]

I'm having 2 or 3 half hours a week for the first couple of months. I want to be confident to go trekking and rides out. It's been a dream of mine since being little to trot along a country path. My jodhpurs arrived today!

[TheDarrellRivers]

@Pleasedontdothat Ah, he sounds like a sweetheart! What is he? Glad that you've been able to get on top of his medical issues.

@Hereforthedramaz ooh, yes, he will feel huge!! Thanks for the book rec, I have ordered it :)

@Therunecaster that's super exciting! Trekking will be such a lovely goal. What jodhs did you order? Well done on the weight loss.

[Pleasedontdothat]

@TheDarrellRivers he is a sweetheart 🥰 he’s an IDxTB so a traditional Irish sport horse but the only thing he’s inherited from his TB mum is a very thin summer coat and ridiculously sensitive skin. He likes to think he’s 16hh but he’s actually 15.3

@Therunecaster holding onto the stirrup leather is a good tip - it helps you get a bit more momentum as you swing your leg over. Or if you find it hard to clear the cantle, then you could ask your instructor to show you how to do a cavalry dismount - basically you stand up in the stirrups, take your right foot out but stay standing in your left stirrup, swing your right leg over (it’s much easier as you have a lot more clearance), push with both your hands on the front of the saddle and (this is the crucial bit) take your left foot out of the stirrup before you (gracefully!) slide down.

[TheDarrellRivers]

@Pleasedontdothat what a gorgeous boy! 15.3 is a nice height.

[Gremlinsateit]

Hi everyone!

@Pleasedontdothat what a gorgeous fellow. I do love an ISH.

I’m missing riding at the moment as there is a flood between home and where my part-lease horse lives, but hopefully it will be dry enough by next month.