what are your goals or what are you 'working on' at the moment?

[MitchyInge]

I like to delude myself that every rider has something they'd like to improve or achieve

obviously have personal list as long as Mr Tickle's arms but my top 3 would be: sit UP between jumps instead of careering madly from one to another; be bit more assertive generally instead of letting Barney 'express himself' even though that is more exhilarating; keep my fingers closed round the reins (this is v bad newish habit )

please share yours

I would like to have the confidence to go back to riding. Used to love it, exercised polo ponies, could do jumping to some degree, was confident and didn't really care. But now Weird isn't it?!

DD loves riding so I enjoy watching her and hearing all her tales.

Actually it is pathetic

it's not pathetic - did you have a bad fall or has it just been a while?

I needed a lot of nudging to get back into it, and sometimes do have attack of the wibbles (but only with the pony and that is based on how easily he can buck me off )

wonder if you would enjoy a lesson on something fun but safe? or do you know anyone with a nice horse you could just have a sit on?

Had plenty of spectacular falls in my time, but I think it is having had children, I seem to have realised that I am not immortal maybe. I wish it was not so. And I am generally not overly feeble. I think sometimes I should go to the stables during a school day and have a lesson when no one is looking! I always joke that I should try out with one of their shetlands!

When I watch DD and the instructor is banging on about something, I can feel it, I know exactly what it would feel like. IYSWIM

that sounds like a plan, lesson during school time?

do think it is a healthy thing to have though, the sense of self preservation thing

Get GP saddle re-flocked, get baby out.

Not very ambitious right now eh?

Hi Ratherbeonthepiste, you are describing me (except grandchildren rather than dd) I've started riding again after a 30 year gap, and while I'll never have the bottle I had when young, I'm not the quivering bag of nerves that I was a few months ago. I happily hack out now, which is all I really want to do, and I'm loving it, my husband has started lessons, and is loving it, so all 4 of us ride now, and at some point will all be able to go out after work for lovely family hacks

I started with lessons on a Tuesday afternoon, when no-one else was around,(and I was supposed to be working at home) and it really helped. I also ride the smallest horse I can fit (no bigger than 15.2hh is what I've decided for now)

If I were you, I'd just go for it!

I'm newly learning to ride, rather than returning to it, but there are a few women who are returning to riding who I've now met at the stables when our lessons coincide. I much prefer the lessons in the week when theres no one watching you, and it's all much more relaxed.

My current goal is cantering. And making Ben stay out on the edge of the arena when there is anyone else in the middle

Hopefully, with some intensive riding next week on holiday things will improve

I had same problem last night Cmot, orange spindly one went lame so had to ride own one - am in state of quite advanced despair over how inconsistent my riding is, swings from quite ok to utter shambles even during the course of a single hour

am getting big mental block about cantering without stirrups on one rein, if we are going left am happy to do anything but if we go right I am hopeless at stopping him from taking off with me in random directions

Sounds like you need a bit of positive visualisation Mitchy - worth a try at least of having a lie down, close your eyes and visualise in detail you cantering beautifully with no stirrups on the right rein - see how he does just as he is told etc.