Too Hot!

Anyone living in the UK will noticed we've had very hot weather the past two days. I knew I'd be hot riding this afternoon and after I'd already bid summer a farewell, seen as it put in such a poor appearance this year, I can't say I was looking forward to riding in the 25C temperature.

I arrived at the yard and discovered I'd be taking a trip down memory lane and riding the horse I rode on my first lesson at the riding school I attend. He's a fab horse to begin on as he is quite slow and almost ploddy at times. He's a real character and I have a fondness for him as he was my first horse encounter at this yard.

He's notorious for making his riders work so I was prepared for a bit of strong leg work.

It was strange being on him, I have to say. My usual rides are with bigger and faster horses but it is always good to have a change.

I was pleasantly surprised on his willingness to move. I didn't need the leg as much as I had anticipated. My reins were again filled with good contact and all the trotting we did was filled with energy after the first attempt. I guess he wasn't too sure if I meant business and realised quickly, I did and he had better trot and walk with a lovely pace as I was no longer the complete novice I had once been.

Every horse has his own personality and this gentle friend is no different. He has a lot of problems with flies so when his side rippled and he swished his tail, I knew a pesky fly was bothering him. He's such a character, even though he can be hard work, you can't help but love him.

I did try him on a canter, as there was only one opportunity today as the field was being cut, and although he didn't make the canter, the girl walking with me said she couldn't believe how fast that trot was. so despite not getting him to canter, which I had little illusion I would on a first ride on a hot day, I was pretty pleased on how well he did respond and the fact his trot was so forward. That is quite an achievement on this cutie. :)

It was so hot today, and I can't say I'm enjoying the intense heat at this time of year, so I'll be glad if its cool on Tuesday for my next lesson.

Thanks as always for reading,

Marie

small steps make For Good Progress

I have to say, I am definitely my own worst critic when it comes to anything and everything. Horse riding has not escaped my ferocious scrutiny. I think it is a good quality to always strive for perfection but as you have all read on previous entries, it can lead to a lot of self frustration.

I say that my need to "always do better" is a good thing as it means when I do better I continue to learn and progress. Once I have succeeded, I'm onto the next challenge. This works well, in my opinion for me learning to ride. I grasp one concept or technique, and then am straight onto the new one to accomplish. I'm rabbiting on about this because of my lesson today, of course. I realised, with my instructor's feedback how far I have come already and how far I still need to go. You are always going to learn in riding, for many reasons and I guess that is why I love it so.

Now on for the lesson.

I tacked up with not much issue, minus the fact my tall, white friend was more interested in his hay than allowing me to put his bridle on. But I managed to fasten his bridle eventually.

We opted for the road route today and there were many cars parked along parts of the route so my legs were getting a work out asking him to move over and back again.

My rein contact was lovely again which I was pleased about. I'm increasingly finding the reins so natural at the end of my arms and it is a lovely feeling.

We did a fair bit of halt to trot and trot to halt. I apparently did well on this, managing to go and stop as requested. My heels are staying down and he's responding well to me during this mind work out.

And cantering? I guess I was a little tense today, knowing how I got it so right on Thursday. So my first attempt wasn't great. On the second attempt, I went before my instructor wanted me to but the upside to that was that I was confident in stopping and turning around. The final attempt was awesome. Not as long as some of my previous but I really find I'm sitting more in my seat and I'm progressing. My position was complimented today. I was told my position is good and neat and I believe this has helped building my confidence and ability to ride better in canter and trot also.

Each lesson, I seem to find that I learn more and realise I've already learnt more than I thought in my previous lesson.

Everything felt great and I was pleased how my ride went today. I know before long, I'll be switching horses again once I have this canter confidence back on track. I feel better about it and even though I didn't get a huge canter today, the quality of the one I had was well worth it. The age old phrase, quality over quantity. Plus, each small step seems to build on bigger strides forward in my learning experience as a rider.

So until Next time, Happy riding,

Marie

As One

The sun returned for my lesson yesterday but the wind was in a gusty mood so hearing was slightly impaired. I rode out with another student today so I had a walker alongside me which was fine. The other student was only a youngster so we were following a little pony. I have now decided, following little ponies is fine except my hearing is not well enough tuned to follow as effectively as with bigger horses.

I was riding my lovely tall, white friend who was actually white. I brushed him off, and placed his bridle on with increased confidence. He accepted the bit nicely for me yesterday.

After mounting and following the little pony on the road route we do, I found my equine companion responsive, and extremely forward yesterday. I could feel the energy beneath me and knew he would give some amazing trots.

As with my other instructor, reins are being used less and less so the right leg was used to turn left and the left to turn right in a nice wide arc. I am finding using the leg for movement easier and easier with each lesson. My hands were as still as necessary and no quirks yesterday when stopping with my feet.

I know I promised no regaling of cantering until I was half decent again and I have kept to my word. But my canter was better than half decent yesterday. I kept my hands low, legs were where they were meant to be and it was almost like from my seat to my shoulders, I felt in line and natural as I got my lovely white friend into a canter. No tenseness, no leaning forwards, no pulling back on my reins, just nice forward cantering. I know I have said it is an amazing feeling before today but yesterday was somehow different. Before, in canter, I've bounced slightly in the saddle and not been exactly in rhythm on many occasions but yesterday, it was like I was completely as one with the horse. It was like, I was an extension of him and together we moved in this amazing way. So lets hope its half decent on Tuesday and this wasn't a fluke and finally something is clicking with cantering and myself. I know I can't ever describe the incredible feeling you have on the back of a horse during a sequenced canter. It has to be one of the best feelings in the world! OK, I'm done gushing over my canter.

I also felt like my hands truly were an extension of the reins too yesterday. After a uncertain beginning where the left was too short, etc, etc. But once I got my hands level, my arms seemed to just be an extension of his mouth and it really did feel on all aspects like I was one with him. A fantastic feeling! As a result half halts worked well to keep him steady so not to run up the pony's backside. Everything just seemed to work well yesterday!

So until next time,

Thanks for stopping by and reading,

Marie

Rain! Rain! and more Rain

I have to say, I don't mind rain as such. Sure, it'd be nicer without it but it was that fine, drizzly stuff that is just yuck today when I went up to the stables.

I had my original instructor today which was nice and I brought in my, usually tall white friend that was probably more true to the name of his colour than what he appears to be today. We brushed him off, to the best of our ability and tacked him up.

I noticed today, that he was listening more to me and doing as I asked when I asked it of him. On previous occasions, he could get easily distracted by food, other horses or my instructor but on the whole today he responded well.

My trotting was pretty good today. We've started this new thing, where she asks me to trot from standing still and then stop after a few strides. I had developed yet another quirky habit where I would pull back on the reins and pull my feet back as though I was asking him to walk on. Yes, I know, crazy, I have no idea why I have been doing that. So that got worked out well today. After the first time I did it, I didn't do it again and he stopped as he was getting the clear signal to do so.

cantering? Yes, lets not talk about that today. It was abysmal. I'm not entirely sure I'll ever canter again because I seemingly have forgotten how to relax and just do it. Chatting with my instructor today, she pointed out that I have done it before and its probably something in my psyche holding me back now. I agree, just not quite sure how to ditch my brain during canter. Maybe I shouldn't think about anything any more while I attempt it as thinking of what needs to be done clearly is not working for me anymore. I have progressed slightly as I am keeping my stirrups still and balance has been fine and not felt like I'm about to fly off and during one attempt today, I did lean back when I knew I was just messing up completely. So I've made a pact with myself, no talking about cantering until I'm at least half way decent again. Feels like I'm back to square one again with it and hate to say this, but it's becoming as frustrating as rising trot once was. Yes, I'm probably over thinking it so need to strategise how now not to think at all. Stupid human brains huh? ;)

Overall, today's lesson was a good one. I felt he was listening to me more and my trot to halt was working well. So overall, a good lesson.

Until next time and thanks for reading

Marie

The Horse and Her Rider

I didn't think my lesson could be as good as Tuesday's had been but today it was definitely as good for different reasons.

I arrived at the stables and was informed I'd be on my beautiful bay friend again. I hadn't ridden her in a few weeks so was looking forward to this. I was then asked if I'd brushed her before on my own and when I said I had but not tacked her up and wasn't sure I felt happy tacking her up, I was given another horse to tac up which would be my lead file today. That horse was my tall white friend. I got a brush from the tack room and walked by myself to his stable, unbolted the door and went inside and bolted the door behind me. I stood with the body brush in my hand, listening for him. I couldn't hear him and for a moment I wasn't sure I was in the right stable, but I must have been, I thought to myself. His stable is in the corner and I was definitely there. And then, I felt a velvet nose on the back of my hand and knew my lovely white friend was letting me know he was there.

I brushed him and then the young lady who was taking me out today came with his tac and I placed his saddle and bridle on with no problems whatsoever. I was pleased I remembered how to do this.

The main riding instructor had suggested a new challenge again today. If I was OK without doing a canter, did I want to try lead file without a leader. I haven't been lead in walk or trot for a long time, around three or four months for walk and maybe two months for trot but I am still being lead for now in canter. However, I've always had someone walking alongside me just in case I needed them but today I was being given an amazing opportunity to try all of my skills out. I said, as long as we did the farm hack and not the road route I was more than happy to try this "experiment" as we call it.

So I mounted my bay beauty and the young lady who was on the lead file horse mounted my tall white friend. And off we went.

It was amazing! The feeling of truly being in complete charge of a horse. Having to follow and listen and guide the horse in the gaits and directions I needed her to go. I noticed how much she was responding to me, a slight touch on her side, a gentle pull on the reins to halt her; it all felt so natural and like I was with one with her.

A thought occurred to me as we were trotting down a quiet path if anyone saw me out riding with the other girl on my tall white friend, they would think, there's a horse and rider, not there's the blind girl riding that lovely horse. It was nice to feel like for that moment, I was one with the horse for the right reasons and the same reasons as everyone else. I was a horse rider today and not a blind girl who rides horses. That meant so much to me.

I can't say much more than my trotting felt great today, and my control seemed good. The only times I was given directions from the other rider was if there was a car coming and we had to move into the side. But the beauty was, I moved my lovely bay friend, by myself. I know for some that may seem trifle but for me it's a massive step forward.

Thanks for reading as always,

Until Next time,

Marie

Back On track

Before I begin recounting my lesson today, I will first tell you it was awesome as I was firmly told by my instructor who takes me regularly that my ride last Tuesday was not as bad as I'd made out here so even if she doesn't read the whole blog, at least she knows that I know it was a good lesson today. And I also know that people who I don't think read this, actually do and take notice of what I say.

I maintain, as I told my instructor, that even though she may have thought it was good last week, I slipped in my confidence and was exhausted as I informed all of you lovely people. But today, was a different story. :)

It was a bit of a windy but sunny morning and I arrived to a quiet stable yard. There was only my instructor and myself there today. We collected my tall white friend's tac and headed for his stable. I was shown how to remove his rug first of all today and then I brushed his whole body, receiving further tips on brushing from the face backward, always brushing in the direction of the fur.

I was much more awake this morning and can now clearly remember how to place a bridle upon our lovely friends.

• 1. Pull the reins over the horse's head, holding the bridle in your left hand, making sure they are nestled on his neck, [horses can snap their reins very easily].
• 2. Firmly grip the top of his nose with your right hand, placing your arm under his neck while standing by his left shoulder, and pass the two cheek pieces to your right hand.
• 3. Feed the bit into his mouth with your left hand, if he won't open his mouth for you, gently push your thumb into the gap in his teeth, at the corner of his mouth to encourage him to open it.
• 4. Once the bit as been taken into his mouth by keeping a good grip on the cheek pieces, so the bit doesn't fall out, pull the head band over his ears, one at a time, starting with the near ear first and then the far one. The ears bend but being nice to your horse should go without saying.
• 5. Pull his forelock out of the brow band and make sure all bands are straight and nothing is twisted or out of place.
• 6. Fasten the throat lash and nose bands. There should be 2 fingers width on the nose band from his cheek and four fingers should fit between his jaw and the throat lash.
• 7. Make sure the reins are straight and the horse is all ready to go. Minus his saddle at this point.

  I covered doing the saddle last time and I did it again this morning with a few more learning curves. The stirrups on the saddle usually have a twist in the straps when I ride him so my challenge, while my instructor was locking up, was to set my own stirrups to the length I need them. I did absolutely fine on this minus the fact I clearly couldn't count this morning. I usually have holes down and a twist, but on my left stirrup I ended up with three holes. Never mind. ;)

  I mounted, using the mounting block, [he's tall, not like the little mare I rode on Saturday]. And we walked off on our lesson.

  He decided today, he was going to test me as usual but my instructor had a surprise for us both. We had to do a few exercises to keep both of our attentions on the ride. I had to trot him straight away and then stop him with as little walk as possible and then straight into a trot again. The first few times, he'd walk a little when I asked him to stop and I discovered why. I have to sit back more when asking him to stop and not put my heels on which for some reason I was doing. This improved once it was pointed out to me.

  I also learnt that I need to sometimes check my length of my reins by holding my hands together and seeing which is longer or shorter and which feels like I have the best contact. I was soon feeling that much easier.

  My leg work is coming along nicely, I have to put the heel more on to get a better result as I was merely using my calf.

  My trotting today was amazing! I was told it was very controlled and looked great. That was fab as I know it has been the hardest thing for me as a gait to learn. I know I talk about my struggles with cantering but that is more my own tension and silly habits. Adjusting to rising and falling in the horse's rhythm is a daunting task for many new riders but I have to say I sincerely enjoy rising trot now.

  Cantering. Well! I am sincere in saying this, my instructor that I have today is so good, better than I think she knows because when she explains something to me, it seems to click relatively quickly. I had a few good weeks cantering, as those of you who regularly read my blogs know, but I've had a few not so good canters or attempts recently and today I discovered why.

  Remember my crazy hand aerobatics from when I was learning rein and leg movement? That's appeared in cantering, I was splaying my hands like some mad woman today and had clearly neglected to remember that was never going to do me any favours. So that was corrected and I know where that's come from. Being a massage therapist, I know how the human body works pretty well in regards to tension and I know, my body's going into a fight or flight situation during my cantering attempts at the moment. My tension is causing me to do things I know are never going to get a good canter. I was also leaning forward, yes, I know, that's a "no, No" to. Shoulders back and all that. I can rhyme off to all of you what I know I need to do.

  • 1. Relax and enjoy and do not think of failing.
  • 2. Heels down, all weight into those heels!
  • 3. Hands low and forward. DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT PULL BACK ON THE HORSE!!!! That sends a huge mixed signal.
  • 4. Heavy in seat.
  • 5. Shoulders back.
  • 6. Leg on.
  • 7. Move in rhythm with your horse.

  See? But my body, probably due to my own lack of confidence now of being able to do it and tension, is doing everything but. Although I only lost one stirrup once one time today out of four attempts so that's better.

  Once we'd worked on my crazy and peculiar new habits, I managed to canter him for a few strides and felt much better.

  Speaking to my instructor honestly helped as she assured me that all riders lose confidence in certain things at some point or another, it's about carrying on and trying to resolve your lack of confidence that will make you a better rider. I know that I didn't get a good strong canter from my lovely equine friend today but I know I'm improving and will strive to do better in Thursday's lesson.

  I do believe my ride away from my lessons helped me to see how much I've learnt in the past year or so and that encouraged me to know that actually, I am growing into a horse rider and have the basic skills I can work on to get better. I know, I will forever learn on every horse I ride from now until the day I never ride again, and I love that about horses. We never stop learning! There's always something new to achieve.

  I will honestly say that I have learnt so much today that I didn't think possible. About new skills, about where I'm going wrong but above all else, what I have learnt so far.

  Thanks for reading as always,

  Until Next time,

  Marie

Fun Times

Anyone who's read either entry this week will know I was feeling pretty rubbish about my lessons this week. My mum's friend has seven horses of her own on a field by our house and another that lives there to. Last week, mum asked her friend if she knew anyone who was loaning out horses but she didn't at the moment. When she knew mum was asking for me, for extra time outside of my lessons, she said I could go up to her horses on a weekend and ride. So today, [think mum knew how bummed I've been amongst other things that are going on at home], so we went up to her friend's stables. I played with her dogs while she was feeding the geese and ducks and cats. She took me into the place where she makes up the horses feed and told me what she uses. She is a self confessed traditionalist where her feed is concerned but it was very interesting to know what she feeds her horses and why. Mum and I got into her friend's car and headed up to the field where we were greeted by some of the horses. A lovely male gelding who is at least seventeen hands made friends with me. And then I met the horse I was going to ride. She's very pretty and at a guess I'd say 14 hands. I was worried about mounting as where I ride, I use the mounting block. However, today, no mounting block, just a field. So on went my first foot and I'm not sure how I did it, but ended up in the saddle on my first try. Mum was my sight guide, walking up the lane. My new sweet friend was difficult at first but with a few good squeezes, she was raring to go. This was the first time we'd met each other so obviously, things will take time to gel. But I managed to get her to trot on the third attempt. I have to say, considering she was the first horse I've ridden independently with mum just walking at the side of me, outside of my school environment, I was happy with what I managed to get this pretty thing to do. It shows that I've learnt a lot without me knowing how much. I was able to get on a horse I didn't know and walk, stop, trot and direct, [despite mum's terrible directions]. I didn't try a canter on her yet but there will hopefully be other times. Mum's friend said if I want to go up tomorrow and every weekend, I can. She seemed comfortable around me so hopefully this may be a good way of getting practice and more time on a horse outside of my lessons. I met the horse's owner as this horse is living on the field, she doesn't belong to mum's friend, and I thanked her for allowing me to ride her horse. She said because her horse lives to eat, she needs the extra exercise. I found her difficult to begin with but half way through the ride it was slowly feeling like I was in control. I do think I was gripping my reins a little tightly and once I loosened them and felt the contact, things went a little smoother. Although she was fond of walking on pavements and grass verges but again, once she knows I'm boss, it may be better. I'm hoping now I'll feel more relaxed in Tuesday's lesson and regain my confidence that did get slightly knocked this week. The nicest thing about today was that mum got to see me ride properly for the first time and she said I'm a very good rider and that I really should be considering dressage once I've got my cantering down and more experience about being the boss. It was a fab afternoon and I thank mum's friend for allowing me this opportunity. :) Until Next time, Marie

Put This Week Behind Me

I wasn't going to blog about yesterday's lesson. I didn't find it at all an improvement on Tuesday. If anything, at the time I think it was worse so chalking this week up to a complete and utter bad experience. But I know, the bad ones define the good ones so it's OK. If you'd asked me that this time yesterday, I might have just cried in pure frustration. Some days we are not in the right mind, and some days neither are the horses. Neither was the case yesterday it seemed. So my lesson for yesterday, put it behind me and head into next week with the determination to enjoy it. I think I'm tensing a lot and this is not helping. I want to get it so right and by thinking like that, I'm getting it so wrong. So this was a short one but we're putting this week behind us and heading into next week as a fresh week. Until next time, Marie

Better Days

This morning's lesson was a bit of a mixed bag. I'm well and truly exhausted as my poor guide dog has been on steroids due to an allergic reaction so he's been peeing for Britain this past four days. Needless to say, I've had a few terrible nights sleep. I therefore put my rubbish lesson down to my own lack of concentration and ability to relax due to my lack of sleep. I arrived at the stables and learnt that I would be learning to tac up today. We started with the bridle. Pulling the reins over my tall white friend's head, then holding his nose firmly to place the rest of the bridle in position. I'm that tired, I cannot for the life of me remember which part I did first. But hopefully, my attention span will be revitalised for Thursday's lesson and I will give a step by step how to put a bridle on. I was then instructed how to put the saddle on. Holding it over my forearms, so my hands meet in the middle beneath, with the higher end on my right arm. Walk toward the horse, lifting it over the back and slowly and gently setting it down on the back, ensuring the front part of the saddle is sitting above the withers and that all is straight and not curled up anywhere. Then, pull the girth strap from the opposite side, without putting your head under their bellies, [which I did], whoops, and fasten it loosely to begin with to get them slowly used to their strap being fastened. Then tighten the girth so you can barely get two fingers between the girth strap and their bellies, [you'll need to tighten this again once upon your horse as it will slacken once you're in the saddle]. I led him out of the stable and pulled down the stirrups, mounted and my instructor adjusted the girth and stirrups for me and off we went. There was no lead file horse today, just myself, my instructor and my tall white friend. He walked very nicely up the path on the farm hack. He also trotted lovely and wouldn't transition down until I pulled back slowly on my reins and gave him a squeeze with my thighs and knees. He then walked well and we entered the field where we canter. The first attempt was not so bad. I just wasn't relaxed enough or giving him the definite, "Yes, lets go" signal. The second one was fabulous. I was then tested further when we came across his stable yard friends as they've been moved to a field where we pass now. He was trying to see what he could get away with. So I had to be a lot more bossier with my legs. Even had to give him a kick as he was not listening in the slightest. But finally, after learning to never give them their own way by turning them in a circle if they're trying to turn right, to always turn the opposite way so they don't "win," we carried on. Did another trot and then two more canters? The first, I nearly fell off, after losing both stirrups. Next time, I'll remember to lean back and stiffen to stop. My second attempt was slightly better but not many strides. I've definitely had better days for cantering. The remainder of the ride was me being slightly bossy as he was trying to do everything but what I wanted him to do. Trying to go left, or right so my legs were constantly working. It was good for me as a rider to experience this and learn how best to handle these situations. In the end he gave up and decided I was actually in charge. I tried something today. As we've been using the leg rather than the reins, when we've been turning left or right, I've tried to turn my body in the direction so I'm telling him with legs and my seat which way I need him to go. This worked nicely as we turned into the stable yard but I'm betting this was because he knew he was home. ;) So although, my leg work is coming along nicely, I had a terrible day with my cantering. I also blame my boots as it has rained so much I was wearing long winter welly type riding boots. They felt baggy and I wasn't comfortable in them at all. Jodhpur boots are definitely being worn on Thursday, even if I have to carry them. I know it sounds like I'm making excuses, and maybe I'm just rubbish and will never get a perfect canter, but never mind, we have to have bad days to know what the good ones are like. Thanks for reading, Until next time, Marie

Always Learning

It was another glorious Thursday afternoon at the stables this week. I was very excited to ride my tall white friend again. I had my usual instructor back this Thursday. She's very good at getting the best out of me and pushing me to do better all of the time. I am grateful to her for this. I was doing the single file follow again yesterday. This was harder as the horse we were following only had his front shoes on so I really had to listen. We were working hard on getting my distances right and minus one too close stop, most went rather well. There was a lot of road work involved yesterday which was good for me as we'd been doing mostly farm hacks recently. I was getting corrected on my legs yesterday. They were too far forward so I had to work on keeping them further back so I wasn't giving my horse mixed messages. I soon kept my legs where they were meant to be. I was concentrating on keeping all of my weight in the heel during walk and trot. My rising trots became much better as a result and the instructions I was giving my gentle steed were much clearer. Because we were on the roads, we had to ensure we were sticking to the left of the road as well as moving in and out of cars that were parked. Instead of using my reins and leg to move the horse to the left or right, my instructor asked if I would keep the reins where they were and just use the leg. This was strange at first as I've just mastered moving my hands with my legs to move the horse but soon it felt much easier and he responded nicely. We got some good trots in and I was getting used to listening for the other horse's front hooves. It was made slightly harder, along with the no back shoes to listen for because of traffic but I learnt quickly to tune into that sound. There were four attempts at a canter, two of which were disastrous. This is why a horse rider should never become complacent or boastful about their abilities, because you will often be your own downfall. I lost a stirrup on the first attempt, and managed not to fall off. However, my second attempt was out of this world. I was completely in the seat, balanced and moving as one with my lovely white friend. My instructor was so confident with my ability that she let go of me on this canter and I was cantering independently for about two-thirds of the canter. That was an amazing step forward for me. My third attempt wasn't great. And I know that was my own fault. Not enough seat or leg. The fourth was pretty awesome but not as good as my second canter. I know it'll be as consistent as my trotting is before long. After the lesson was over, I untacked my wonderful friend and brushed him off, Un-plaited his tail and learnt to put his head collar on. This was a great new thing to learn and I then lead him out to the field and took off his head collar and off he went to graze and be with his friends. Overall, it was a wonderful lesson and I look forward to Tuesdays. Hopefully, I'll be learning more and more stable management stuff now the school holidays are over. I'm also hoping to enrol on a basic stable management course with the look to study an animal therapy course to be able to massage dogs and horses. It's something I've wanted to do for a while now. I massage my guide dog a lot at home, as I'm qualified as a holistic human therapist and practiced a lot on Bailey during my training. I would love to transfer those skills and adapt them to give dogs and horses relief from stress or injury. Thanks for reading as always, Until Next time, Marie