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.

I had my first riding lesson since I was a child on Friday (I’m 41!) I have ridden within the last 2 years, a lovely old cob who was massive and just plodded round with me (ideal for me)
on Friday we just did walk and trot, my aim is to learn to canter and go on a hack with my daughter by the end of this year.

I bought an airbag and that has reduced ( but not eliminated) the fear. Agree with being able to advocate for oneself as an older person is key - the old line of riding lots of different ( unsuitable) horses to improve when the real reason is they have too many in a lesson and someone has to take one for the team. I just don’t bounce like I used to.

Plot twist - it turns out my Clover is pregnant.

Talk about buy one get one free 🤦🏼‍♀️

Oh goodness. Any idea on the due date? (Have no idea how long horses are pregnant for!)

340 days on average .
@LunaNorth where did you get her from and where do you keep her ? I won’t say congratulations because I’d be furious personally .

Oh my goodness! Does the seller have anything useful to say??

Eek @LunaNorth that’s a very big plot twist … do you know how far along she is?

My credit card took a battering yesterday as I took Timmy to the saddler to get a saddle fitted. Apart from a little stomping before we got going he was as good as gold the whole day - loaded first time, put up
with different saddles being tried on him and both me and my daughter mounting and dismounting. He’s now the proud wearer of a lovely new GP saddle which is extremely comfy 😊

I’ve decided not to be angry. It’s an absolute adventure, I have loads of support, the yard have been amazing and I have friends including an actual horse midwife, so it’s all ok.

She had a scan today and is roughly seven months along, so it’s looking like April.

Scan pics below. The black circle is Little One’s eye.

Goodness, that’s exciting - and good on you for the positive attitude.

OMG how amazing! How long are horses pregnant for? I imagine it's a bit longer than 9 months?

Sorry just realised you said April ! 😅

I'm just back from my first mechanical horse lesson!

It was amazing!

The movement took a minute to get used to but it's such a good way to work on seat in isolation!

I even did the jumps which was utterly brilliant! I've never jumped on a real horse before so it was fun to try without having to think about anything other than my seat (I'm guessing being instructed to close your eyes and let go of the reins is generally the done thing on an actual horse!!)

Almost makes me want to do a bit of jumping one day, it's never particularly appealed before.

It was so fun but more so I'm confident it will have really helped my seat.

If anyone wants to give it ago and is around High Wycombe I'd recommend this place.

Wow that sounds great @Hereforthedramaz. We were talking about that at the stables the other day ( after I broke my wrist) because apparently you can learn how to fall using them. I'd love to try it with crash mats rather than hard sand.

You should try jumping if there's a nice schoolmaster horse at your place. I had a total baptism of fire after signing up for a beginners week and being put in with the big kids as there were no other beginners. Very much a case of "look ahead, stand up, grab the mane and don't pull the reins" and off we went. I just let the horse do his thing and concentrated on not falling off.

Have now done up to 50cm and it's really fun, really focusses the mind!

Oh that's interesting @NormalAuntFanny, I hadn't considered it for controlled falling!

Good idea, I'm having my lessons out of a formal school at the moment, but if I do chose to try jumping it finding a concentrated learning to jump week would be ideal!

At the moment the owner of my share pony (the lovely Mr Hairy) are looking at whether I get a lovely confidence giver to live alongside hers and we both ride a combination of all three. Also to share the caring duties to make it more manageable for both of us.

She's had some confidence knocks so is excited about the prospect of a relaxed third being available. She doesn't like to ride Mr Hairy sadly and her other boy is spooky hacking!

Exciting but good lord looking at horses is also extremely daunting and a minefield!

Timmy and I did our first pole work clinic today and it was fab! My daughter’s been schooling him and she’s turning him into a model equine citizen 😉. I finally managed to get a new saddle just over three weeks ago (she’d been riding him in her dressage saddle which didn’t fit me at all as her legs are several yards long) so I’ve been riding him too now and really enjoying getting to know him

Wow jealous of all this riding. My cast comes off on Monday and hopefully with a bit of physio I'll be back in the saddle soon.

The only other person about my age in my group has managed to break her wrist, hip and opposite finger falling off the speedy reformed trotter! Poor woman is stuck in a wheelchair for a bit.

Have already asked for Mr Schoolmaster for the foreseeable!

@LunaNorth wow that is quite the surprise I am not sure if I would be angry or elated but nobody can be mad about an adorable foal for long what an adventure.

I have been riding 3 times a week and feel I am really improving, getting way more confident jumping. The school I loan from had a clinic from a visiting instructor at the weekend and I decided to join I had so much fun, we worked on jumping different small courses of 4/5 jumps and by the end I was happily going around the 90cm/1m course absolutely terrifying but I was on cloud 9 afterwards.

There’s no point being angry - I’m disappointed that it’s postponed any riding adventures, but I’m building a lovely bond with my girl and there’s a new little foal on the way. How can I be angry at that?

Does anyone have a bitless sidepull that they really like? I have one that looks good in theory but slides around his face in a way that a halter would not. With the browband on, the cheekpieces are too close to his eyes, but with the browband off it slides around even more.

Did the seller have any info for you about possible timing or sire, @LunaNorth ?

I haven’t got one but I’ve been eyeing up the Havana western sidepull from md equestrian, they say on their website that they designed them to combat that exact issue because they couldn’t find ones that didn’t slip. Plus they’re beautiful designs.

https://www.mdequestrians.com

Thanks @PonyPlaiter , the Havana looks like it would stay well away from the eyes with that design :)

They had no idea, she was pregnant when she went to them. The vet dated her as being due in April, but we’ve no idea about a conception date.

I’m just praying that Dad wasn’t a donkey or a Shetland 😂

Lol, I’m sure it will be adorable either way 🤣

@PonyPlaiter I also quite like the look of this one (with the regular noseband not the cavesson) barefootsaddlesaustralia.com.au/products/barefoot%c2%ae-contour-physio-bridle

Perhaps you'll get lucky @LunaNorth and Dad was a Zebra, a baby zorse would be very cute.

I took a tumble at my regular lesson yesterday and am feeling a bit sore today but weirdly I am glad it happened because I didn't hurt myself to badly and I actually now feel less fearful of falling. I am going to buy myself a better fitting body protector for jumping though despite how eyewateringly expensive they are