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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Adult new or returning riders up for a chat?

1000 replies

Hereforthedramaz · 09/07/2022 13:20

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!

OP posts:
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twistyizzy · 09/08/2023 10:59

overitunderit · 09/08/2023 10:23

I feel like I might be getting close to giving up horses and my part loan. I've got to the point where I want to be able to do more than go round the arena. I would love to do day rides and beach rides and hack out but to be brutally honest I don't have the confidence to do it and cope with any spooks my pony might throw at me. When I watch the children doing PC gymkhana and even jumping clear 70cm rounds, I just think "I'm not even close to where those children are in terms of confidence and skill" and probably won't ever be. I'm not from a horsey family and don't have a horsey network so I don't have anyone to nanny me out on hacks or anything else. I'm ashamed to admit defeat but I think that's where I might be heading.

Can you not book a series of hacks at a local riding school?
Owning/loaning is very different to riding at a riding school and yes you need to be able to handle a horse outside the arena with spooking/being more forwards etc. Maybe a few hacks with an instructor could help? Failing that could an instructor come and nanny you on a hack?

overitunderit · 09/08/2023 11:05

@twistyizzy I've hacked at my old school before but it didn't teach me a huge amount about how to handle a horse as the riding school ponies are used to all the routes, the instructor does the gates and they obviously you're in a big group.

I suppose I could see if my instructor could walk out with me (there is no off road hacking where we are) but I still don't know how I could build up to day rides etc as I don't have a horsey network to support me.

Other option is giving up my loan and going back to the odd riding school lesson or hack.

twistyizzy · 09/08/2023 11:32

overitunderit · 09/08/2023 11:05

@twistyizzy I've hacked at my old school before but it didn't teach me a huge amount about how to handle a horse as the riding school ponies are used to all the routes, the instructor does the gates and they obviously you're in a big group.

I suppose I could see if my instructor could walk out with me (there is no off road hacking where we are) but I still don't know how I could build up to day rides etc as I don't have a horsey network to support me.

Other option is giving up my loan and going back to the odd riding school lesson or hack.

To be fair no-one I know does day rides ie horse owners. The most we do is a 3 hour hack unless on a horsey holiday. Is the loan horse on a livery yard?
Usually even an advanced rider at a riding school is stoll only a beginner in the outside horse-owning world so don't beat yourself up. I do get the issue, I spent my youth (between 9-16 years old) riding over the moors with groups of friends and that does teach you a lot about handling issues plus confidence.
Karl Greenwood does great confidence building courses Inc how to deal with issues. Would highly recommend you look him up, he has a Facebook page.

liveforsummer · 09/08/2023 11:59

I agree with @twistyizzy and not sure whole day rides are really a necessary goal l. I've been riding for the best part of 40 years and don't think I've ever ridden (or wanted to ride) for a full day. I do know people that do endurance but at the longer distances you can't just take any old horse on basic fitness. I suppose for a once of holiday or something. If there is absolutely no hacking where you are though then I'd maybe look at a different share in a better location where others go out too . I'd definitely be bored only ever going round in circles (and so will the horse). Please don't compare yourself to the dc charging around on their ponies though. I have to close my eyes sometimes when dd10 is doing exactly the same things I'd have been doing at her age. No one has the nerve or the flexibility and balance that they had in pre teens/teens.

overitunderit · 09/08/2023 12:18

Sorry maybe I didn't mean day rides I meant fun rides...there are a lot in our area where you can take your pony or horse somewhere new and beautiful for a few hours and hack in a group with others or with friends.

overitunderit · 09/08/2023 12:18

@twistyizzy thank you for the recommendation- I'll look him up!

overitunderit · 09/08/2023 12:19

Sorry and to answer your question no she's not on livery it's DIY. I do all the jobs when I'm there too. It's a tiny yard (only a handful of horses) so there aren't lots of people to hack out with or chat to all the time.

twistyizzy · 09/08/2023 12:20

overitunderit · 09/08/2023 12:19

Sorry and to answer your question no she's not on livery it's DIY. I do all the jobs when I'm there too. It's a tiny yard (only a handful of horses) so there aren't lots of people to hack out with or chat to all the time.

Maybe it is time to look for a different loan ie one on a livery yard with better hacking and a wider range of people to hack out with?

liveforsummer · 09/08/2023 12:53

Ah fun rides are great but definitely need built up to. You need to be doing regular hacking and your balance and confidence will naturally improve with the right horse. You'll also feel far more confident I expect hacking out in pairs or a group. Now you're used to a share you might find a riding school doesn't satisfy your want to do the care etc. an alternative share seems the best option. It wound be a shame to give up

overitunderit · 09/08/2023 14:23

I've just been for a lesson on my loan pony and I take it all back! So much fun! And we even had a fairly major spook. Finally felt that leg yield clicked in walk and trot and we did a bit of canter work too.

There's nothing better than having a cuddle and a sniff 🤣 of her neck afterwards too.

Having said all that I do think an alternative loan might be the way to go- I mentioned it to my instructor and she said she would keep an ear out for me too.

Pleasedontdothat · 10/08/2023 22:00

I might have bought a horse 😮(subject to vetting) 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Gremlinsateit · 11/08/2023 02:05

Woohoo! @Pleasedontdothat don’t forget the photo :)

Allthegoodnamestakken · 11/08/2023 07:15

@Pleasedontdothat how exciting!! keep us updated. DP is currently on team we should buy me a horse but I don't feel ready enough yet to be able to school it myself and keeping them on a yard with a resident instructor is $$. It is however on the cards for a year or so's time.

Pleasedontdothat · 11/08/2023 12:28

He passed 😊. So … this is Polo - he’s an 8
year old Irish draught but to be honest looks like a little cob. He’s 15.1 and very sweet - he’s got a lovely personality and is extremely comfy to ride. He’s responsive but not at all sharp. I got him in from the field, groomed him, tacked him up, picked out his feet, washed him off after he’d been ridden, took him for a little hack on his own, rode him in the arena and he didn’t put a hoof wrong. He’s going to stay on schooling livery where my dd works for a month and I’ll go over a couple of times a week to ride him. I’m very excited but a bit nervous too as it’s such a huge step! He’ll be kept at home with my DD’s retired horse and his companion who are both pretty chilled Irish geldings. Now I’ve got to sort out a saddler etc etc. Eeeeekkk!!

Adult new or returning riders up for a chat?
liveforsummer · 11/08/2023 20:08

Aw lovely. He sounds fab. Hard to keep clean but at least you won't have to plait him if you take him out 😆

Floralnomad · 11/08/2023 20:13

We used to have one identical to him @Pleasedontdothat , lovely horse .

Tupperwarelid · 11/08/2023 21:03

Oh he’s beautiful 🤩

Pleasedontdothat · 11/08/2023 21:23

He’s pretty much a smaller version of DD’s old boy so I know all about the joys of trying to keep a very light grey clean 😬. He’s been hogged because his mane had gone a bit straggly but I might see how well it grows back in - I’m rubbish at plaiting though so hogged may be the way forward!

Adult new or returning riders up for a chat?
Floralnomad · 12/08/2023 00:07

We kept ours hogged it really suited him

Gremlinsateit · 12/08/2023 05:59

He’s gorgeous! :)

twistyizzy · 12/08/2023 07:30

Keep it hogged, he suits it and then you can show him as a cob

cakeforme · 12/08/2023 16:12

How exciting. Congratulations on your new addition @Pleasedontdothat

Mollyplop999 · 12/08/2023 17:12

He looks lovely. I had 2 ID's many years ago and they were lovely and honest. One was15.2 and she was beautiful to ride.

Polkadotties · 12/08/2023 20:21

twistyizzy · 12/08/2023 07:30

Keep it hogged, he suits it and then you can show him as a cob

Please don’t. It’s a big thing among ID owners/breeders that they aren’t cobs.

Floralnomad · 13/08/2023 00:24

Ours was a fantastic jumper .

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