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!

Had my first fall since I returned to riding today. Luckily nothing hurt except my pride but I expect I will have a lovely bruised bottom tomorrow! Stupid thing is that I'm not even sure how it happened. I was riding a horse who is fairly new to the school and I've not ridden before. Was going over some trotting poles, when she tripped and stopped and then put her head down while I kept going and very ungracefully fell to the floor. Oh well onwards and upwards!

Blame gravity @Tupperwarelid !

Vet check on my potential purchase this afternoon - fingers crossed :)

how did the vetting go @Gremlinsateit

Passed with flying colours, thanks @Pleasedontdothat His feet need some attention, which I knew, and there was nothing else of concern. Finalising the purchase this afternoon!

Fantastic news @Gremlinsateit

Thank you @Pleasedontdothat . Honestly, I have Mumsnet to thank for getting me back into riding a few years ago :)

Gremlinsateit gorgeous! What breed, height is he or she?

Cute @Gremlinsateit . Are you not in the Uk? That looks like a lots of sunshine and green vs no mud. Fae removed from anything we are currently experiencing

Thank you @Mollyplop999 and @liveforsummer Yes, we’re in Australia and having an autumn heatwave.

He’s a 15h2 bay stock horse, very sweet natured, exactly what I was looking for. He has been well loved and is in paddock condition, so I’m looking forward to bringing him back into a little work :)

Congrats @Gremlinsateit

I am getting a bit frustrated riding lately I just don't gel with my schools new instructor but I don't want to move schools. Feels a bit like we just spend 30 minutes going round in circles doing things wrong with her getting annoyed at me but not really explaining how I can do it right.
Took myself for a 2 hour hack a few weekends back and it reminded me how much fun it can be so while I will keep persevering with the dressage lessons I am also going to try and squish in more chilled rides.

Had a lovely ride this morning, very up and down at the moment last week I cried while driving myself home as I felt so useless and like I was going backwards. Today was like both me and the horse were completely different people/beings. Beautiful collected trot and even some collection in canter which I usually really struggle with.
Booked myself another 2 hour countryside hack also nothing reminds me why I love to ride and persevere with the lessons like galloping across plains with the resident zebra joining in.

Sorry some of you are getting frustrated with yourselves. I've got lots of bad habits to unlearn.
But I've got such a great instructor- I feel very happy! Only a half hour 1:1 weekly (and will do hacks when weather improves)- but it's so tiring!
Managed to get one full extended trot though this week!
Loving it so much ♥️♥️

FGS I've gone from not falling off in over two years to falling off twice in three weeks. Went out on a hack on the safest horse in the school and had to go down a really quiet lane to the woods. As we turned to the woods a small bridleless and riderless pony came towards us at full pelt and my horse span and dumped me before following small pony back to the yard.

I'm a bit bruised but I hit my head on the lane so I think I'm going to get myself a new hat during the Easter break just to be on the safe side. I definitely don't bounce like I used to!

@Tupperwarelid sorry about your fall! If you hit your head hard enough to notice then a new hat is definitely the safe option. I bought a new one after my bad fall last year. I hit my head hard enough it was visibly cracked and I had quite the concussion so was 100% needed. I bought a Karben hat and have been really pleased with it so far, very comfy and I like that you can take out the inside to wash easily. Also more at the budget end of the hat spectrum!

@gettingolderbutcooler glad you are getting on well! a good instructor really makes a difference, congrats on the extended trot, its so nice when you can finally feel it working isn't it. I am currently working on getting the horse working through their back and I love it when I can suddenly feel the back come up and its so easy to sit and feel like floating rather than bouncing. Sadly I usually loose it again after a few strides 😬

I've never heard of those type of hats, I'll have to see what I can find, definitely no bling though!

Ouch @Tupperwarelid - can I recommend whichever hat you get has MIPS? It’s been used in most cycling helmets for years but is now seeping through into equine use too. It’s a bit more expensive but not much. My daughter had a nasty fall off a sales livery the other week and landed on her head but walked away with a bit of a headache and no major injuries and I was very glad she had her MIPS hat on.

I had a very useful physio session yesterday - it’s become apparent I’m quite wonky 😳so right canter is fine, left canter is a bit of a car crash … my instructor vetoed the solution of only ever doing right canter 😂 so physio it is. Basically I’m curling up slightly to protect the areas which got injured in my accident so I’m not letting the muscles that need to work do their job. I have some exercises to do and will need another couple of sessions but the physio thought it was all eminently fixable 🤞

@Pleasedontdothat I know about the wonkiness! I have a tighter hamstring on the right than the left so keeping R leg on behind the girth is tricky.
Also I just get exhausted- I run and do gym stuff twice a week do an surprised how sweaty and tired I get! I am 58 and it takes longer to get my muscles working though.
I haven't had a fall yet- thank god. I did think about getting one of those air jackets but I'm quite fat in my middle so they would be a bit restrictive.
Maybe I'd just bounce 😜

My DD recently got an airbag and we got some extender straps at the front so I can wear it as well even though it's just medium sized.

Well worth going to a shop as the different brands fit really differently.

Of course I wasn't wearing it when I had my first fall but handily landed on my arse.

Hi Guys, may I join you all and stop lurking?

I haven’t ridden since I was a teen (occasional walks on a friend’s horse), but we have just bought a gorgeous Welsh Cob!
My adult daughter has been riding for years, and completely looking after a neighbour’s horses/field/stables for the last few years, and we decided to bite the bullet and own together.
I’ll have to lose a bit more weight before I can ride her but she’ll be more relaxed in her new home by then so it all works well.

Meet Ailie 💖☺️

Forgot to add - so, so, ao happy!

@Jelliclecats she is lovely. What is she crossed with?

Jelliclecats congratulations! I hope you have lots of fun together.

I finally rode again today. It's been very sporadic due to the weather and I had a nasty fall in January. It really knocked my confidence, but today I actually relaxed and enjoyed a hack out.

@Jelliclecats Ailie looks lovely! Congratulations :)

Congratulations @Jelliclecats she looks gorgeous and well done for getting back on @Mollyplop999