Page 20 | Adult new or returning riders up for a chat?

Hereforthedramaz · 2022-07-09T12:20:49+00:00

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!

cakeforme · 03/02/2023 23:00

Ok I’ve officially paused my riding. Winter and the school horses don’t suit me. I’m going to look at a different school. I really appreciate the advice you all gave me. I watched how the horses and ponies are in my son’s lessons and I know they are not for me. I’m a late learner. A leisure rider and I’m actually happy on a solid ride. So I’m not giving up just changing direction. Will be back in the spring to let you know how I’ve got on. Love hearing all your stories and experiences so going to stay here if that’s ok with you all.

Tupperwarelid · 09/02/2023 18:03

Thank goodness for lighter nights and a bit better weather! I managed a hack instead of a lesson after school today and with it being half term next week have another one booked. Made such a lovely change as I was getting a bit bored of going round in circles in the school!

cakeforme · 09/02/2023 22:52

Sounds lovely @Tupperwarelid

Chaosandmadness · 11/02/2023 14:45

I'm just about to go for my second lesson after a 20 year break from riding. The one thing I'm struggling with is coming to terms with not being the same rider I used to be. I feel like a bouncing sack of spuds and it's made me feel a bit sad and frustrated with myself

Pleasedontdothat · 11/02/2023 17:59

Hope you enjoyed it @Chaosandmadness I felt like a useless sack of potatoes for ages when I started again and then suddenly I wasn’t! It will come back - I would definitely recommend working on your strength and fitness off the horse as that will make a big difference

Chaosandmadness · 11/02/2023 18:13

I definitely need to work on my fitness levels. About half way through my lesson I felt like I was going to throw up 😂 I really don't know how I used to manage hours in the saddle when I struggle with 30 minutes now. It was fun though!

Original poster

Hereforthedramaz · 12/02/2023 14:13

Lovely group lesson today, it was a nice group of fairly even riders which was nice (I'm used to being the weak link).

On the lovely older TB who is such a gentleman, my absolutely favourite.

I have been doing a weekly Pilates class which I think is really helping my riding and slowly loosening me up.

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LadyFlumpalot · 12/02/2023 15:31

DD got a bit of a telling off from her teacher today for being too passive and not giving direction. She's worried about taking her hands off the saddle during rising trot and as a result holds her reins too loose and the fresh pony she was on took her into a canter briefly. Think it scared her, but hopefully she'll realise she can be a bit firmer with the pony.

Original poster

Hereforthedramaz · 12/02/2023 16:04

@LadyFlumpalot oh that's hard for your DD. It's really disheartening when you have lesson where is feels like it all went wrong and the instructor criticises everything you do!

But I'm sure there were loads of positives in there too that she didn't register or notice, were you watching and able to point some out?

Like how she handled the sudden canter, how we react when unexpected things like that can be really positive.

OP posts:

LadyFlumpalot · 12/02/2023 20:06

Hereforthedramaz · 12/02/2023 16:04

@LadyFlumpalot oh that's hard for your DD. It's really disheartening when you have lesson where is feels like it all went wrong and the instructor criticises everything you do!

But I'm sure there were loads of positives in there too that she didn't register or notice, were you watching and able to point some out?

Like how she handled the sudden canter, how we react when unexpected things like that can be really positive.

She did, on the next go round she tried really hard to take her hands off the saddle and take a bit more of the rein up. The teacher they have is a bit firm, but fair and handy with the praise as well.

Has anyone here any experience of pony club? Is it for experienced children or do they take any skill level? Thinking it might be good for DDs confidence to be around the ponies, caring for them etc.

twistyizzy · 12/02/2023 20:38

LadyFlumpalot · 12/02/2023 20:06

She did, on the next go round she tried really hard to take her hands off the saddle and take a bit more of the rein up. The teacher they have is a bit firm, but fair and handy with the praise as well.

Has anyone here any experience of pony club? Is it for experienced children or do they take any skill level? Thinking it might be good for DDs confidence to be around the ponies, caring for them etc.

Show quote history

Pony Club is fantastic and I recommend it for any child. They have the complete spectrum of abilities and a wide range of activities so each kid usually finds their niche. They get taught all the stable management basics, earn badges along the way and there are lots of opportunities to join teams. My DD has just made it onto the Quiz team, she doesn't have her own horse (because I'm a cruel/sensible Mum) so this is her way of representing the Club. This year she has done her D+ badge, made it onto the quiz team and done eleventy billion bloody badges 🤣 They make new friends and it really is like a big family. She is doing camp this year in summer with a big sleepover on the final night: think typical pony club stereotype with sitting on hay bales, campfires etc. She is so excited and can't wait.

Allthegoodnamestakken · 14/02/2023 13:55

Hello All
Lovely to see the improvement people are making, I had another lesson yesterday evening and rode a new horse. He was so lovely and I finally got the on the bit working in a contact that I have been struggling so much with so that was great. Feel like now I know what its actually supposed to feel like I can start trying to ask for it on the more difficult horses.
@LadyFlumpalot I was a pony club member as a kid and loved it, my parents could never afford a pony for me so it was the next best thing. opportunities to learn pony care etc. and also do some competitions and make horsey friends

Original poster

Hereforthedramaz · 14/02/2023 15:22

I'm so envious of kids doing pony club, I was there was an adult pony club!

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Gremlinsateit · 17/02/2023 23:23

I would love some tips if anyone has some advice.

DHorse (part loan) turns out to be younger than I was told, which also suggests he is less trained than I was told. He has always been tricky at the mounting block and I have been working with him on that. However, when I first started riding him he was very responsive to quiet leg aids and had a very soft mouth. I was comfortably trotting and was working on improving trot poles and canter.

In the last few months he has taken to ignoring leg aids entirely and trying to reef the reins out of my hands to take me straight back to the block or area where I dismount. When I try to get him back on track he goes sideways, backwards, and hops. The message is clear!

There are several factors which I think are contributing to this, including that he may be feeling teenaged. I can only ride twice a week and I have found out he is rarely being ridden on the other days (he is heaps better when the owner has ridden him earlier in the week).

Others have said to kick etc. I’m reluctant to escalate the aids a lot as I don’t want to ruin his original soft mouth and responsiveness to legs and seat. Also, he just escalates the plunging around in response. Owner is not flush with cash for more training.

Any suggestions for sensible things I can do would be very welcome! This is the best riding option I have in terms of time, money and location so I am happy to try to do what I can, within my capabilities as a beginner, for a few more months.

Pleasedontdothat · 18/02/2023 08:27

@Gremlinsateit do you have lessons on him? Are you hacking him or riding in the school or both? He’s pushing the boundaries and it sounds like he needs a lot more schooling, which with the best will in the world you’re not going to be able to give him without support. The longer he’s able to behave like this the worse it will get so the sooner you can get help the better. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a ready-made perfect beginner’s horse - they’re usually not young and it takes a lot of money, time and knowledge to get a bolshy teenage horse to become a model citizen.

twistyizzy · 19/02/2023 08:53

Gremlinsateit · 17/02/2023 23:23

I would love some tips if anyone has some advice.

DHorse (part loan) turns out to be younger than I was told, which also suggests he is less trained than I was told. He has always been tricky at the mounting block and I have been working with him on that. However, when I first started riding him he was very responsive to quiet leg aids and had a very soft mouth. I was comfortably trotting and was working on improving trot poles and canter.

In the last few months he has taken to ignoring leg aids entirely and trying to reef the reins out of my hands to take me straight back to the block or area where I dismount. When I try to get him back on track he goes sideways, backwards, and hops. The message is clear!

There are several factors which I think are contributing to this, including that he may be feeling teenaged. I can only ride twice a week and I have found out he is rarely being ridden on the other days (he is heaps better when the owner has ridden him earlier in the week).

Others have said to kick etc. I’m reluctant to escalate the aids a lot as I don’t want to ruin his original soft mouth and responsiveness to legs and seat. Also, he just escalates the plunging around in response. Owner is not flush with cash for more training.

Any suggestions for sensible things I can do would be very welcome! This is the best riding option I have in terms of time, money and location so I am happy to try to do what I can, within my capabilities as a beginner, for a few more months.

Do you have lessons on him? That would be my first port of call, getting lessons with a really good instructor. Have you checked teeth/back/saddle and bit fitting? Always rule out pain first with any behaviour changes however I do think it sounds like he is very green and just may not understand what you are asking of him. Horses aren't "naughty", they don't have the ability to think like that however he is trying to communicate with you that something isn't right/he doesn't know what you want of him.
Did you not have him vetted as part of that is checking age etc?

twistyizzy · 19/02/2023 08:54

Sorry @Gremlinsateit just seen part loan not full loan so you won't have had him vetted!!!

Soccermumamir · 19/02/2023 09:48

Hi,
Would love to join 🙂 I used to ride when I was a kid, started riding again but then Covid hit and for some reason not been back 🤦‍♀️ I'm looking to start riding again as I miss it.

Gremlinsateit · 19/02/2023 11:15

Welcome @Soccermumamir !

Thanks @Pleasedontdothat and @twistyizzy for your suggestions. Bridle is the same as when he was going along happily a few months ago. Have tried a change of saddle, and the current one fits well. He has his teeth and feet done regularly. No noticeable stiffness or discomfort from the ground. He is very one-sided to lead or lunge, so I will keep working on that with him for as long as I keep going.

I know it’s not “naughtiness” but the behaviour change is frustrating. I’ve seen video of him happily hacking out on a road 2 years ago, and there is no way in the world that I would take him on a road at present.

I’m not sure how much I want to spend on getting an instructor out to a horse which may be sold whenever the owner feels like it, but I will certainly look at options for that, thanks. It looks like there may be an option not too far from where DHorse is agisted.

LikeAnOldFriend · 19/02/2023 12:18

Good morning all!

I've not posted on here in a while - still have my boy about to turn 27, well and truly retired but thriving at the moment on his chilled out life which I'm delighted about.

Love spending time with him but been missing riding more and more. When this thread had first started I had just been for a short hack with my daughter at a riding school and had meant to try to get back into riding properly but time ran away with me.

Now I've just sent a booking request for a lesson at the same place - hopefully on the same lovely horse I rode last summer - and am very excited. Have told them it'll be my first lesson in over 20 years and that tiny hack first time in as long riding any horse other than my own pony; so hopefully they won't expect too much!!

Very excited to get started

Hope you are all getting on well, sounds like lots of exciting progress!

Redebs · 19/02/2023 12:28

Oh, I would so love to ride again.
I'm too big and unfit at them moment and haven't ridden for decades.

When my daughter had a horse, I was as useful as possible and I still get to be around horses occasionally nowadays.

One day I will hack out with my daughter and granddaughter together. That will be wonderful. I just need to focus on my fitness before it's too late.

Pleasedontdothat · 20/02/2023 18:42

I’m going to see a horse on Saturday. Possibly to buy. For me!!! I’m excited and terrified in about equal measures. After my last lesson my instructor asked me why I wasn’t looking for a horse of my own now rather than waiting for spring (when prices start to rise again). She said I was much less novice than one of her other clients who was horse-hunting and as long as it was the right horse - forward but with brakes! - then she’d be very happy to help me with horse-hunting.

So … I’m off to see a lovely-looking 15’2 7 year old cob who’s got very nice paces. He’s in budget (just) but not suspiciously cheap and from his videos he looks fab. Obviously that doesn’t mean he’ll be right for me so I’m trying to keep excitement levels down until I’ve tried him. And I remember how hard it was horse-hunting with dd a couple of years ago … let’s just say we kissed a lot of frogs 😬

LikeAnOldFriend · 20/02/2023 22:49

Pleasedontdothat · 20/02/2023 18:42

I’m going to see a horse on Saturday. Possibly to buy. For me!!! I’m excited and terrified in about equal measures. After my last lesson my instructor asked me why I wasn’t looking for a horse of my own now rather than waiting for spring (when prices start to rise again). She said I was much less novice than one of her other clients who was horse-hunting and as long as it was the right horse - forward but with brakes! - then she’d be very happy to help me with horse-hunting.

So … I’m off to see a lovely-looking 15’2 7 year old cob who’s got very nice paces. He’s in budget (just) but not suspiciously cheap and from his videos he looks fab. Obviously that doesn’t mean he’ll be right for me so I’m trying to keep excitement levels down until I’ve tried him. And I remember how hard it was horse-hunting with dd a couple of years ago … let’s just say we kissed a lot of frogs 😬

That's so exciting!! Fingers crossed!

Redebs · 21/02/2023 09:57

Awww, lovely. Hope he's 'the one' 😁

Gremlinsateit · 21/02/2023 10:34

Exciting! Don’t forget the pony tax pic :)