Adult new or returning riders part 2

[theferry]

I thought I’d start a new thread seeing as the existing one is full.

I’m due to ride tomorrow. Maybe I’ll jump. I’ll see.

Give over! How is she holding onto it so long?? 😯

She’s running out of room. I got a little kick in the head from Folio while I was checking her bag yesterday!

Seriously, she’s enormous. It’s going to happen in the next week or two.

@LunaNorth I can’t help thinking of this https://www.tiktok.com/@draft_horse_athena/video/7384215359731109153

That’s made me smile 😀

Still no foal @LunaNorth ??

I did my first ride since breaking my wrist in January yesterday, was a bit scared but ok once I got on and got going.

Still no foal! People have stopped asking me now 😂

She’s not far off. Very wobbly bum cheeks and a huge bag.

Will you get the call when it starts or are you just going to let nature take it's course?

I’ll hopefully get a call. The livery yard owner is keeping a close eye. I go every day to check for waxing up - that’s when we’ll know Folio is on the way!

Hi, can I join!

I rode sort of as a kid, I was horse obsessed, but in a bookish way, and just had to count on riding friends’ ponies etc. As an adult I briefly came back to riding in my 20s then got preggo and now in my 30s I have two pony mad daughters so we’ve all started riding. We’ve been going since last September regularly, just 1/2 hr a week (I have private lessons whilst they’re at school). My girls started loaning a little Welsh in March 2 days a week and are having great fun! We are all gaining so much confidence and experience from caring for her on our days although I often feel out of my depth with all the wise horsey people I encounter.

Any way, today I had a lesson and instead of my steady 20 something old reliable I was on a horse I’d never ridden who was far more sensitive, and well he took off 🙈 I don’t know why but I stood up in canter, honestly have no idea what I was doing have never done that and he just went and when I used his mouth to try and slow down he just went faster as he responds more from body and leg command which had gone out of the window! I’m replaying it all in my head! I don’t want to lose my confidence it was quite exhilarating tbh! But I’d like to know if anyone can advise what you’d do in that situation? My instructor was amazed I stayed on (we did about 6 panicked circuits of the school with her just calmly directing me in the middle, at one point I had one stirrup and was clinging to his neck then I managed to sit up but I had a whip and accidentally clipped him and he broke in to a gallop) it was a disaster! I’m going back to my old boy next week! But don’t want to lose my nerve or never be able to canter a different horse! He was far more receptive than the usual riding school horses who need a lot of leg to get going so I know he was just responding to my heavy handedness. Guess I just wanted to vent and see if anyone else has had a knock back like this recently. I’ve been cantering a couple of months now comfortably I don’t want to lose that progress.

Well done for staying on, you must have good stickability! I'd say reframe it as a really positive learning experience, you didn't fall, nothing terrible happened and you are able to identify what you could or should have done differently. Absolutely fair to go back to your usual horse for next lesson for a confidence boost but I would definitely have a chat with your teacher about your goals and progress and readiness to make a step up in terms of riding the slightly trickier or more sensitive horses. Unless you want to be going around the arena on a plod forever (maybe you do and that's fine too) it is good to experience what it's like and how you need to ride differently on a more lively horse (even riding school schoolmasters tend to get a bit more sharp when you hack out for instance). It's really hard to learn proper subtle/refined leg aids on a horse that's used to being booted and flapped into trot or canter for instance. On the continent or in a classical dressage environment they would probably have you on a lunge rein perfecting your position and balance and aids for hours and hours in walk and trot before even attempting a canter but in the UK we have more of a give it a go philosophy but that can be a balancing act of how much is too much, if you are confident cantering your current horse you should be able to transition that to a more high powered one but you have to be prepared for a bit of trial and error doing it this way - this was maybe the error part 😉 but the art with horses is learning not to panic when things go wrong and how to bring the situation back in order to have another go (which incidentally is a great life skill too!)...

Hello @hazandduck sounds exciting, I have come off twice on big fast horses with the coach shouting don't pull don't pull as we bombed round the manège so well done!

It has taken me more than a year to keep enough presence of mind to tickle on the reins, sit back and turn in those situations. Plus it's always the ones with the most uncomfortable canter so you can't just sit it and enjoy it.

We have to ride all the horses which although sometimes scary and or boring does give you more confidence in the end.

So @LunaNorth…..? Surely there must be news?

I’ve had a tough couple of weeks with my new addition cob! He had a few days/ weeks of just tanking off when I’ve been leading him in from the field. Then being an absolute bugger to re catch!
I was expecting and used to a strong cob who pulls you to grass given a chance, but not the absolutely tanking off!
Feeling like I couldn’t even control the 50m walk to his stall really crushed my confidence! I drove home a few times working out a plan to find him a better home but got talked down by more experienced people than me!
In fact one comment that turned it around was another owner saying she didn’t enjoy it for a few months! Weirdly getting permission to not be enjoying it really helped me relax!

But he’s now in a chifney (which I don’t love using but hey ho) and more excitingly I had a session with a wonderful TRT trainer and we turned a corner.

We are having far nicer interactions now! And I’m enjoying it and him so much more. Today he (seemingly) spotted my car and called to me while I was parking and then all the way up to the field.

I have news!

Little colt arrived in the night!

Meet Percy!

How gorgeous 😍

Scratch that - Merlin!

Oh thank goodness for that I was beginning to think it was never going to happen! He's gorgeous, hope Mum is doing ok as well .

Congratulations @LunaNorth he looks lovely , glad they are both safe and well .

Welcome to the world little Merlin! He’s the spitting image of his mum! You must be so relieved @LunaNorth

Thanks all! So relieved. He arrived with no drama, the vet is happy, mum is a brilliant mum and I’m absolutely thrilled!

Pics

Try again

Oh my goodness! Merlin is gorgeous. So glad to hear they are both well :)

Oh wow! He’s lovely. He will never be that snowy white and clean ever again!!!

He's a proper cutie patooti, love him ❤️

Today’s pic.