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!

Oops didn’t work here he is!

@LikeAnOldFriend

Oh he's so handsome! Looks like a proper old gentleman!

Pottering around hacking sound idyllic, especially on an old friend! Looks like you've got some lovely hacking around you.

@LikeAnOldFriend he’s lovely 😍

Oh what a sweetie @LikeAnOldFriend 😍

@Hereforthedramaz The spa day sounds amazing!!!

@Starcatty I agree, there's something about the bigger stride. Unfortunately for me, I'm returning to riding on a 14.2 lol

@Pleasedontdothat Hooray!! That absolutely counts!! You must feel brilliant.

@FizzyStream She's gorgeous, and well done to you for continuing. Falls can be really unnerving. A bit of XC sounds amazing, I'm in awe!

I hope I'm lucky enough to hsve my pony at the age of 26. He's lovely 😍

I’ve just come back from a long, sunny hack 😀- the riding school is surrounded by beautiful hacking routes with only a little bit of roadwork. I was on a horse I hadn’t ridden before and as we set out the ride leader said she was putting me at the back so I’d need to work hard as he could be quite lazy. He wasn’t lazy at all! We started marching out, keeping half a horse’s length behind the horse in front and he was lovely and responsive - we had some glorious long canters in the woods where the ground’s not too hard and he was flying along - we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I’m starting to feel like a rider rather than a passenger 😊. Has anyone else had a horsey Saturday?

I had a horsey Saturday. We're lucky and have lots of trails to ride on around here. Daughter and I went on the ponies and 2 grandsons on their bikes.

@LikeAnOldFriend What a handsome boy!

@Pleasedontdothat &
@Mollyplop999 That all sounds really lovely! It was so wet here yesterday, but I managed to make it out this morning.

I have a question for everyone:

I'm thinking that I want to get a long riding coat. A bazillion years ago I had a Barbour stockman, and I'm thinking that I may get another...however materials have moved on since the days of New Zealand rugs and jute rugs (really showing my age!) so wondering if I would be better getting something more modern.

I want it to be vented & have leg straps so I can ride in it. but also want to be able to use it for yard work when it's bucketing it down. I DESPISE having wet thighs. Ugh.

Suggestions/thoughts please.

@TheDarrellRivers I’m hankering after one of these Stierna riding coats. I’ve seen them in the flesh as it were and they’re very flattering as well as waterproof.

Lots of people I know have Equidry coats but they just look so bulky ..

@Pleasedontdothat ooh! Those first ones look lovely! I see what you mean about the Equidry. They'll accommodate plenty of layers though!

Ha ha yes I remember when polywarm rugs were a new invention! And we all wore wax jackets.

In another life I would have loved to ride it’s not going to happen for me now (very old and unfit) but I have loved reading about all your triumphs- keep going- I watched princess Anne at the trooping of the colour over 70 ramrod straight back and so cool and in control pretty impressive- I would be impressed with all of you lovely women too!

LikeAnOldFriend glad you got out this morning. Lovely pic. This is my girl (any excuse to post a pony picture 😁)

@DrHildegardeLanstrom I couldn't believe the variety of stuff when I came back to horses! (& all the pink!! LOL)

@Thistooshallpsss Ah, thank you! Princess Anne is an incredible horse woman isn't she.

@Mollyplop999 What a beauty she is (& such a kind eye.) Always love a photograph of a pony.

I must also be your age @TheDarrellRivers as I still want to call outdoor rugs New Zealands and i well remember folding blankets under jute rugs. Was quite an art! And as for the array of bits and other tack...

Well I haven't yet booked a lesson but I did get to ride the enormous fit eventer at my friends yard, and survived!
It's definitely got me thinking i need to get going ASAP!

@Solosunrise yes, we must be a similar age. Well done on riding the fit eventer! That's quite a feet.

Loving the pony pictures! Thank you for sharing. I'd put some up but ya know...'Outing....'

I felt very brave getting on the big lad. Experience tells me his type is generally safer than some of the little ones though! Didn't do much, just a little walk and trot around the school before I slithered off (long way down- he's 16.3 and I'm short) I also know him quite well as I've looked after him and his mate on and off for several year. I suspect he was quite surprised when I clambered aboard! He's good with mounting blocks thankfully!
I blamed you @Hereforthedramaz I would not have thought of it were it not for your thread 😆

She is simply beautiful!

A stubble field - one of the biggest joys in life!

So lovely to read about the horsey weekends. Been enjoying mornings with my boy. He is having a very good summer. He suffers from sweet itch but amazingly he's not had it too bad this year, been a nice relief to see him being able to have some fly rug free days and still be quite content.

Did anyone else feel a wee autumnal breeze in the air last couple of days?? The other horse I bring in out with mine has been on his toes enjoying spooking at the wind and it just feels a bit change-y. I love all seasons with horses but autumn is my favourite when the midges disappear and the boy turns into a big fluffy bear again!

No lessons for me this weekend or week but I have one booked for sunday, I just went a bit wild online shopping and bought myself a pair of jodphurs a short sleeved base layer and an ariat sunstopper which had a hefty discount. Very excited for them to arrive however i'm not in the UK so it will be about 4 weeks until I get them.
Wearing real jodphurs instead of gym leggings will make me automatically a better rider right

Egghhh just back from a bad lesson!

Last week I was so happy I felt like I was making progress and today just nothing went right and I was getting so frustrated with myself.

The horse would not listen to me and did whatever he wanted which proves I really was not doing anything right!

I really thought I was doing better than that!

Did help that it was a joint lesson with a young rider who was brilliant