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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Fantastic hack! Where did you ride today?

52 replies

skihorse · 18/10/2009 18:11

I was the last person to the yard this morning and the others were either in the field or getting groomed - so of course madame was going bonkers in the box. Got her cleaned and tacked up in 20 minutes even though I was shaking because I'd forgotten to have breakfast and it was "fresh". The first 40 minutes were pretty hairy and I thought I was going to end up arse-up in a ditch.

Then it just got better and better - had a pretty crappy week but the yard owner who is incidentally the best rider I've met in years on a personal level turned and said "that looks brilliant" which just made me do this . Hunted mountain-bikers. Came across a loose piggy, loose cows and I've not laughed so much in ages.

Got to the cafe/bar - put the horses in the stalls and then had a coffee/baileys and a bit of lunch.

Coming back we decided we wanted a shift-on so I went first and decided it was about time these Dutch girls learned how we ride "Hunting style" - so we took off at a rate of knots and took a nice fallen log. Got to the top of the hill and one of the girls (Baileys ) had to get off to re-adjust her saddle due to shoddy girth-fitting post-lunch haha. Everyone loved it and one of the girls was so thrilled - apparently her first ever jump.

Got back to the yard, hosed down saddle areas and put them in the field for a roll before feet up and a cold drink sitting in the sun.

Just absolutely blissfull!

OP posts:
Original poster
skihorse · 20/10/2009 09:51

elastamum Sorry, I missed your reply worrying about Pixel. Your day sounds absolutely amazing - I can't imagine what the adrenaline was like! Did you manage to get any photos? Although I'm sure you had better things to be doing than trying to take photos at that moment in time!

We were riding along when two of the girls started saying "oh my god, there's a perve taking photos" - I think they should've been wearing their glasses as it was the father of the little boy we took out!

OP posts:
Pixel · 20/10/2009 16:00

Oh blimey, I've really taken over this thread haven't I? I should have started my own one but it was me being and at other peoples' happy hacks that sort of brought it all out.

Skihorse I'm so pleased to see your post because guess what I was looking at last night. To think that it's actually worked for someone I 'know' is brilliant, I will definitely buy it now. I feel better just knowing you've been in the same position and got over it. And yes, there have been a few snippy comments but not from anyone whose opinion I value! My family have been quite supportive and keep telling me I'm a good rider, even my instructor says there's nothing really wrong with my riding and I have a super-secure seat, it's just nerves holding me back. (I know all about being so scared that you forget you've got legs, let alone remember how to use them!). Besides, dhorse is a gypsy cob so no-one can say I've had ideas above my station LOL.
There aren't really any horses I can borrow, I have ridden my sister's welshie but he is very sharp (although he has a short up and down stride which does seem to suit me better). My instructor has a nice cob mare that she uses for teaching, maybe I could hire her for the odd hour? TBH even that sounds like too much atm, I've got myself in a bit of a state!
Mitchy, I said I only fell off my old pony once, didn't mean I haven't fallen off other peoples' horses. . And don't forget I've never gone in for tearing about over solid timber (apart from a little tiger trap we used to jump to avoid a very long detour to get home) so it isn't as impressive as all that! The only hunting I've done is a mock hunt where the 'hares' left a trail of string. Mind you, we got stuck in a hailstorm with stones like golf balls and every single horse bolted for home! (happy days )

Owls · 20/10/2009 16:57

Ooh that looks interesting Pixel. Think I could do with that! Have you had any lessons on your instuctor's mare?

I do sympathise when there is that little voice in your head whispering "ooh no I can't do that because x, y, z......" I'm slowly getting better since I found a good instructor but even so that CD looks interesting. I've got a 4yo gypsy cob as well! I'm hardly over-horsed just wussy.

Right, we'll both get that CD and do some mutual hand-holding. Mitchy and Ski can be our inspiration.

Elastamum that sounds mad but good fun. Maybe one day.......

Pixel · 20/10/2009 17:47

Hi Owls, I've ridden her twice but a while ago. The first time we hacked out and I started off petrified but ended up belting along the road with a big grin on my face. I think that's the last time I got the 'old' fun feeling back. Probably I should do that again shouldn't I?
Unfortuntately the second time I was on her was for my first ever lunge lesson (never did such things in my youth). I hung on for dear life! My instructor said afterwards that when she mentioned canter I literally went as white as a sheet. .

Right you're on, I'll order the CD tonight! Although you mustn't expect anything from me in the immediate future as I'm assuming we need peace and quiet to get the full benefit? Not much chance of that with half-term next week .

Owls · 20/10/2009 18:17

You know it's funny you say that about lunge lessons but I really don't like them that much either. Instead of being able to "just think about yourself" as it's supposed to be with the instructor having control of the horse, I get in even more of a muddle and tense up.

Right, so from 2nd November, we are going into a trance. Hopefully this hypnotist is a good one and we don't spend the rest of lives believing we're Napoleon or something.

Will order it tonight. Off out to bed down the Dhorses who cause us so much angst.

Owls · 20/10/2009 18:20

whoops obviously 'alert' not 'altert' whatever that means.

Ski apologies for hi-jacking your thread.

MitchyInge · 20/10/2009 18:35

I need one too, but for Doing Stuff in the School In An Unrubbish Way

had one of those rubbish lessons where I just feel rubbish and everything goes rubbishly

Original poster
skihorse · 20/10/2009 19:40

No worries at all about hijacking.

Pixel That was the CD I got - I ended up once I'd got my confidence back, sending it on to another lady so she could get HER confidence back. 2 for the price of 1.

I too have struggled with lunge lessons... Perhaps it's because as adults we live our lives with control and having someone else lunge takes away our control - as kids we're so used to being bossed about it makes no odds! Well, that's my psychological excuse for riding like a muppet on a lunge!

OP posts:
MitchyInge · 20/10/2009 20:04

I love lunge lessons, unfortunately due to various last minute changes I ended up having an unlunge lesson. Which made me cross.

I wish I could ride without stirrups and reins allllll the time!

Pixel · 20/10/2009 20:21

I've just ordered the CD.

Original poster
skihorse · 20/10/2009 20:28

I did the CD the lazy way. Whacked it in the CD player on repeat and went to sleep! I mean aren't these things supposed to work on the sub-conscious?

OP posts:
Owls · 22/10/2009 14:42

Ordered.

mummydoc · 22/10/2009 16:41

read with interest , as i do not ride anymore but have just made desision to sell pony bought 5 weeks ago for dd2 and look for quieter pony. but regognise the feelings of anxiety, sickness etc, i hate getting ponies in from field , also feel anxious in yard etc. yet as child/teenager was confident, gubg-ho do anything, jump anything type. i soooo want to feel more confident with the ponies before my girls pick up on my anxiety. i am going to try a cd, is any of them good for handling fears ?

Pixel · 22/10/2009 16:49

My cd came this morning Mummydoc so I'll let you know if it works. (please please let it work).
If it does, then I'm quite interested in the cd for weight loss...

Owls · 24/10/2009 18:34

Pixel, have you tried it yet? Still waiting, had email from them apologising for any delay obviously due to postal strike.

Pixel · 24/10/2009 19:34

Yes I've tried it twice now, but haven't had a chance to ride dhorse to see if it's making a difference! It certainly made me very relaxed, last night I think I might have nodded off but it says that's ok as long as you hear the end of the recording, which I did. I like Skihorse's idea of putting it on repeat and going to bed but I'm not sure the rest of the family would appreciate that, so I'll just have to find some quiet time by myself. Might not happen much this week!
There is only one thing that makes me worry I might be a hopeless case. You are supposed to use the word 'drift' as a trigger to help you relax if you start to get scared on the horse, but every time I try to think it (just practicing you understand ), it gets translated in my mind to 'ditch'.

I got the email apologising for possible delay too so I was pleasantly surprised to see it on my doorstep the next day .

Original poster
skihorse · 24/10/2009 20:34

lol@ditch. Yes... it all sounds bonkers but every time I thought of the word "drift" I felt myself relax, smile and get an instant boost.

OP posts:
MitchyInge · 26/10/2009 20:58

but ditches are cool!

Pixel · 26/10/2009 21:52

Yes and damp usually .

MitchyInge · 26/10/2009 22:29

haha!

Owls · 27/10/2009 12:45

Pixel, have you had a chance to test it out yet? I'm still waiting so it obviously got caught up in the strike. I NEED it.

Pixel · 29/10/2009 23:16

Owls have you got it yet?

I've not had a chance to ride, what with it being half-term and working and all. Will let you know next week!

Owls · 02/11/2009 08:53

Pixel, tried it once and got disturbed before the end by someone coming to the house. Aarrgghh. Not had chance since then, hopefully this week. Have to say though, when I got to "drift" I thought of you and "ditch"! Grrrr, I was gently cursing you through gritted teeth .

Pixel · 02/11/2009 15:57

Sorry .

You won't be relaxed if you grit your teeth.

frostyfingers · 02/11/2009 18:20

Pixel, can you just go somewhere for a quiet hack, without putting pressure on yourself to be doing all the right things all at once in a school? Or possibly find a plod at a riding school for a couple of goes.

I'm much more relaxed on a hack as I'm not stressing about whether I'm doing what I'm being shouted at to do. Sometimes I get information overload.

A gentle meander about somewhere (preferably on a nice non windy day) might remind you why you like doing it.

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