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!

@cakeforme @Hereforthedramaz

Thanks for asking. It was OK. Felt a bit of a shit rider as couldn’t keep her in canter for very long. I seem to go backwards in my ability some times! But I wasn’t shaking so that’s a bonus. Another lesson next week, all being well.

@theferry how did it go?

I had a lesson on my friends “retired” event/dressage horse yesterday oh my goodness definitely a lesson in competition horses vs school horses. He was a saint and so patient with me, I felt like I was riding a bomb so much power under me all coiled up and huge movements compared to what I’m used to. Exciting though and definitely can’t wait for next month.

@Allthegoodnamestakken that sounds great!

I think my instructor may be preparing me for the horse I ride to be retired. Don’t think I have the courage to start again with a new horse. The replacements are very green. In theory, I think I could manage, but not sure I want to try.

@Allthegoodnamestakken ooh that's interesting. I have a similar lesson planned, my instructor, who I go out on hacking lessons with on my old boy pony share, wants to teach me something so has offered to use her 6year old Connie who I understand is going to entirely different. I'm very excited!

Like you say I'm expecting something that feels a lot more accommodating but also 100x more energy!

How old is the one you ride at the moment?

They do seem to keep older horses and they are only ridden infrequently and by people they can trust?

@Hereforthedramaz she’s 26. Hopefully I’ve got a bit longer with her. I barely jump any more and don’t do anything too taxing so hopefully will ride her for a bit longer.

I generally ride two horses who are polar opposites but both really good for me. The cob I ride at the riding school is traditional cob shape ie round as a barrel and I find it much harder to keep my lower leg still on him. He has a ridiculously bouncy trot but the most comfortable canter ever - it’s like a rocking horse and he just barrels along until you ask him to stop. The TB I share is obviously a very different shape and I actually find it easier to ride him in some ways as he’s much more forward - the cob’s ’good’ working trot would be the TB barely shuffling out of walk 😂. He’s been very well schooled in the past but you do have to ask him correctly as otherwise he pretends he has no idea what you’re on about whereas the cob tries his best to understand me!

@Hereforthedramaz both horses I ride are 15 so not particularly old, my friends is retired from competition because she herself just doesn’t have the time, he’s still fit as a fiddle but he’s no longer kept eventing fit, she rides him 4 times a week and still pops him round an occasional cross country course.

@Allthegoodnamestakken that sounds great, we should have obligatory photos like they do on the cat threads, I'd like to see a lovely dressage horse or a fatty cob

Ooh yes to all the photos!

How’s everyone doing? Pics would be good!

I had another lesson yesterday. Told DD that it might be my last, but think I’ll be back. I’m going to sound like the boy who cried wolf! I meant to ask the instructor if I could do a few jumps, but forgot until the end. Next time maybe

I still have the option to ride DD’s share horse. I rode her once in a lesson a few months ago, but she’s recently been moved to a new location so there’s no option to have a lesson to ease me in. She’s a 15.1 chunky cob with a cheeky, but sweet, personality. The horse is pretty bombproof, but has a lot more get-up-and-go than the riding school horse I have in lessons.

theferry riding your daughter's share horse sounds like a good solution!

@Mollyplop999 she is—if I can get my big girl pants on and just go for it. The only problem will be getting on! I have problems with my hips so use the giant mounting block at the school. There’s a smaller plastic one at the new location. I’m fine once I’m on, but it is a stretch to mount.

theferry I feel your pain! I can't get on from the ground even on a 13.2!

So pictures - some of you might be thinking you have ridden or just seen the best horse in the world but in fact here he is, Stan the Man.

A young twenty something as seen by his distinguished grey eyebrows, he is the horse that can do anything and nicely too. A joy to prepare, lovely on foot and knows everything you might ever want him to do.

Probably taken a thousand kids from pony to horse and a thousand more over their first jump.

He's on his holidays (a field somewhere near the sea) until September when I will give him a nice carrot. I do love him.

My very first lesson the coach, a very old school chap, told me to put my foot in the stirrup, face the horse, and one, two three, mount "avec élan" - with style I suppose.

I failed that first time and have been failing ever since though I can now often get on without someone holding the other side of the horse.

I do hate the mounting block though because I feel the horse is going to move and I'll be left doing the splits whilst falling down in a very un-elan fashion.

@FestiveAuntFanny i can’t get my foot anywhere near the stirrup from the ground. I agree with the mounting block, you have to just go for it and hope the horse doesn’t move as you’re mid-air. Which is why I have someone hold her. Yes it looks pathetic that I need someone to help me get on, but I don’t care anymore. Once I’m on, it’s all good.

I am grateful every time I ride that standing still to be mounted is one of the first things the owner of my share pony taught them, being a lady of a certain age she point blank refused for it to become an issue. And they really do stand really nicely now!

Sorry I realise that doesn't help anyone else!

This is my share, he's a moderately grumpy 19 year old, reluctant at first but loves hacking once he's out and accepts it's happening.

Has a brilliantly fast canter, which is a surprise considering he's a 14hh mini cart horse!

We went out today and had to have a long hard watch of the tractors harvesting

Great whiskers @Hereforthedramaz in fact quite the hairy boy

I do have the advantage of youth on my side (early 30s) so I can still hop myself on the 16.2 mare from the floor when needed. Although she isn't very good at standing still and when I got off to pick up a boot she had lost a few weeks ago while hacking I found myself high-speed walking along the trail while clinging to the side.

Hereforthedramaz
I'm a stickler fir them standing still now after launching myself off a concrete mounting block as rhe pony walked off. I went straight over and landed on my back!

I had a great lesson yesterday using the testt system - essentially the instructor evaluates your position in the saddle then there’s a few off-horse exercises. After that it’s back on the horse and various bits of physio tape are put on as a reminder of where everything should be. It doesn’t hold you in place but if you tip forward or your leg swings then you get ‘nudged’ by the tape. Then the tape comes off and it’s time to try to replicate the same feeling. It was amazing how quickly things got better - I’d developed a habit of nagging with my right leg but stopped completely with the tape and then remembered how it felt without. I’m looking forward to doing another session soon but would heartily recommend it if you get the chance.

@Pleasedontdothat your lesson sounds great! You’ve reminded me that my instructor has previously put an elastic band around my wrists so I keep them still/in the right position. Do it wrongly and the band snaps!

Sounds great @Pleasedontdothat I would like to try that, all we get is the riding crop held between the elbows or little squidgy bags to hold against the saddle with our legs and press ups or poo duty if dropped!