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!

Can I share today’s milestone? Before my accident I’d been happily doing unaffiliated dressage tests at the riding school I’d been going to - only Intros and the easier Prelims, but I enjoyed doing them and it gave me something to work towards in lessons. When I started riding again earlier this year I felt so disheartened as I was a million miles away from being able to complete a test of any level 😬. However since DH died so suddenly, pretty much the only times I’ve not had a million sad thoughts swirling round my head have been when I’ve been riding so I’ve been doing as much as possible - I’ve upped my share horse days to twice a week, I’m carrying on with my riding school lessons and I’ve joined a riding club. My instructor asked me what I wanted to work on and I said I wanted to be able to ride through a dressage test. And today - in a howling gale! - I did Intro B and it was fab 😊. I hit all the markers, my shapes were accurate and it all flowed and my instructor said it would have been very nicely marked in a competition. I finally feel like I’m back where I was when I had my accident 😊

Well done! I hope you’re so proud of yourself! Especially with the weather - the horses at my riding school have all been a bit unsettled with all of the wind, so that makes it an even bigger achievement 😊

That is a terrific achievement on so many levels - well done @Pleasedontdothat

Pleasedontdothat well done, that's an amazing achievement, especially in this weather 🌬

@Pleasedontdothat Congrats so lovely to read well done you!!

I had a mini breakthrough last week and rode the very marish mare I was riding before I fell of a different horse. I have been riding the very sane ones since to get my confidence back so it was nice to ride her and know I can still ride. Had a minor panic when she started a tantrum but then told myself to get a grip and she went lovely for the rest of the lesson.

Well done @Allthegoodnamestakken - that must have been such a good feeling when you pushed through the tantrum and she worked nicely!

Loving the positive updates 😊

I’m finally back cantering! I had a complete loss of confidence in all areas of my life when DH died three months ago. I’ve been riding as it’s one of the few things that helps me be in the moment as opposed to my brain being a whirlwind of stress and sadness. But I only wanted to do things which were in my comfort zone. So I’ve been focusing on getting things right in walk and trot and getting much better at getting my share horse to go off my leg. I started cantering in my riding school lessons three weeks ago but I didn’t really count that as the rs horse has the most ridiculously comfortable canter so it’s really easy to sit to. I had a lesson on my share horse on Friday - my instructor asked me what I wanted to be working on and I said I’d like to be cantering by the end of the month. We were working on getting him soft and round so I was concentrating on that then she said pick up canter in the next corner - I didn’t have time to think about it so just did it - and it was fine!!

@Pleasedontdothat that sounds brilliant, well done!

I completely agree, riding is the only time I stop thinking and worrying about general life and focus 100% in the moment.

Some idiot has put a tractor tyre on one of the bridle paths, my horse share looked at it, spun and cantered off a couple of times. It had become a real problem for us. I had a hacking lesson on Friday and then rode Saturday and Sunday and have now successfully passed it on our own twice! I'm so pleased, it feels like we have got over a big hurdle!

He's still a lazy late teens pony so we regularly have different opinions but he's slowly accepting I'm in charge!!

Such a good news post right there. Well done. I admire you for keeping going with something that brings you comfort and distraction through such tough times.

Well done everyone! I'm still loving my weekly lesson. Having to relearn though as how I used to ride has all changed! I run a few times a week but but I'm still dripping with sweat at the end of a lesson - so attractive 🤣
No falls yet, thankfully, as my 58 yo bod would probably break in two if I fell from a 17'3" beast. Had one episode of hamstring tendinopathy but it went after a while.

I’ve booked myself onto a three day riding holiday in Wales at the end of April. If that goes well then I’m going to book a horseback safari for when it would have been our 30th wedding anniversary in September. I’ve been feeling particularly rubbish about life apart from when I’m riding so I’m going to do more of what makes me feel better!

@gettingolderbutcooler that sounds great and you’re giving this 50 year of hope about getting back in the saddle!

@Pleasedontdothat sounds wonderful absolutely do what makes you happy

Pleasedontdothat that sounds amazing . Glad that the riding is helping if only in a small way.

@Pleasedontdothat so happy to hear from you and glad you’re keeping going after such an awful time.

I agree it’s perfect for switching off, running etc your thoughts can wander but when riding you are focusing both physically and mentally.

I've been continuing with my weekly lessons, slowly plodding along.

I had a nasty fall 5 weeks ago and really hurt my back. I finally got back on today in the school. It's knocked my confidence a lot but I don't want to give up.

That's what I'm worried about. Hope you're ok.

Thank you I'm OK now but still can't lie on my right side in bed. Think I must have damaged some nerve endings. It's that awful dilemma as I'm scared now but can't face giving up either. I've got 3 ponies and they need riding.

Had a lovely if somewhat muddy hack this afternoon. So lovely to be on half term and able to ride in the daylight rather than during the evening in the indoor school. Roll on the lighter nights!

First hack done on share horse - the loan agreement with his original owner stipulates that he is not allowed to be hacked alone and as I normally share him on a couple of weekdays it’s been too dark when other people are around to hack. But this week I had him on Saturday as well and went out with a couple of the other liveries for a chilled hack. Apparently he usually dawdles along at the back and falls behind and the others have to wait for him to catch up but yesterday he was on a mission! He marched out beautifully and was keen and happy all the way round 😊

Bit of a disastrous ride this morning, got off feeling really disheartened I just couldn't get anything right. I am not loving the new instructor at my school. The old one was very good at realising why things weren't working and bringing me back to basics to correct them. I feel like the new one is telling me to do things but I don't fully know what she wants me to do and today both me and the horse just ended up stressed and not enjoying anything.
Trying not to let it get me down to much, we did end with some lovely trot work so trying to focus on how 12 months ago getting that particular horse to keep a soft contact and trot correctly felt like an impossible task.
@Pleasedontdothat glad you had a successful hack!

Just adding myself here. In my 50s, used to ride ( not very well, riding school rider) and not been on a horse in maybe 25 years!

My teen daughters ride and have had a cracking speed machine of a pony on loan.
I have been very involved with the care and loving it......I always promised myself a horse.

Anyway, we have been looking and looking for our own ( they are twins).

Finally got one, 14.3 , 6 years old. On reflection , he is probably not the best horse for them as he is a bit of a plodder, not nearly as exciting as our loan boy.

Up side is, that he is an old soul despite being young, very sensible and after my determined "horse diet" , I am light enough to ride him!
Have been out on a few hacks and once I am less petrified will get some lessons.
Daughters can work with him to bring him on , but he will never be an athlete!

And I can have my nice hacks to the beach on a pony who won't kill me!

I am loving it and terrified in equal measure.

Wish me luck - I am going to look at a horse tomorrow🤞

Good luck.
Have you got your list of non-negotiables and are you taking someone with you?

Tell us how it goes- with pics!!

Kind eyes and a woffly nose 😉