Welcome!

I didn't start learning to ride until May 2010 and for the entire summer of that year was injured. My first year of riding was not that solid but since April last year, I've not missed a ride. I can walk, sit and rise trot, canter, and have started learning transitions and diagonals on a variety of horses. Come and join me on my adventures with my horsey friends all done with no sight on my part. don't feel afraid to ask me any questions. being blind and a horse rider is new, interesting and very exciting. So I hope you can gain something from reading this.

Saturday 2 July 2011

More cantering and controling direction

First of all, this week I had my regular instructor back so was super excited. The cantering's coming along a little. Hopefully that'll continue to improve each time, lower in the saddle, relaxed but I'm still loving it. As well as that this week and the occasional rising trot I was being taught how to move the horse with my legs. Initially you learn how to move the horse with the reins and your hands but eventually, the idea is to try and move the horse with your legs too. This is especially useful when the horse needs to move over to the left or right for some reason, I.E., moving aside for a car or moving the horse to the left side of the road. You have to put the leg on your horse's side and push to allow him to understand that you want him to move in the direction your leg is pushing. I grasped this concept relatively quickly but soon developed a crazy quirk, lifting my opposite hand on the rein in the air for some bizarre reason but that like other strange things will get worked out. I've learnt to walk the horse independently with my instructor's guidance but this week was the first I trotted independently which was a huge boost to my confidence. So onward and up, right?
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2 comments:

  1. Unknown3 July 2011 at 14:37

    Marie, you've probably already been told that you're not on your own. Strangely all riders seem to have a 'knee jerk' reaction to using a leg or a hand! Laugh at it and it will quickly disappear.
    I'm amazed by your courage.
    Your No1 fan, Lorraine.

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  2. Marie4 July 2011 at 10:56

    Thank you so much. Reading your blog is helping me develop the mindset that I will definitely need transitioning from a beginner into an intermediate rider. I also think, as I hope to learn some of the equine disciplines later on, many of what I'm reading will help me so much. Trying to find somewhere for tips for a rider to follow who cannot see pictures is rather difficult so I'm so glad I found your blog. Thank you for your encouragement, I've come across some negative feedback from people who haven't seen me ride or worked with me about the so called "limitations", so its refreshing to know there are people out there who see my visual impairment as a non factor when it comes to learning how to ride and engage with these amazing creatures. Glad you're enjoying my tale so far :)

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