More Leg Needed!

It was windy again this morning and i arrived to see my tall, white, friend. I mounted him, he has new stirrups so we had to discover which length fit me best. Once all settled, we headed for the road route.

He was very ploddy to begin with but had some nice trots. Not as forward as they should have been but I suspect my leg positioning had something to do with that or my lack of giving him a clear "lets go" with leg and seat.

We ventured onto the place where we can canter and I got him into a smooth one for several strides. The second one did not go very well. So off for more trotting and walking.

I managed to get him into one more canter today and I stayed nicely in my seat, just need to keep him there now. i was disappointed in myself though, as I wasn't giving him enough leg or seat today. who knows why? Guess it was my off day today.

We arrived back and I helped to put his rug on not feeling thrilled with myself but hey, we all have to have an off day now and then I guess.

Until next time,

Marie

windy Hacks and a Wet Bum

I arrived this morning and when asked who I wanted to ride, I asked if my tall bay friend was available. he was, and I mounted him in the brisk, windy autumn stable yard.

We walked up the hill along the farm hack, in lead of a few other horses. Instead of trotting with the others, our instructor had me canter on the field instead. The canters on him are still a little sketchy. Not that I can't get him to go, I can, but staying in my seat is not yet as natural as it is on others. I know in time I'll fall into his canter rhythm as I am now doing with horses I've ridden a lot more. I was not discouraged by this as I had three lovely canters on him and felt more in control and didn't lose a stirrup once today.

I did more cantering on today's lesson than trotting. We had two lovely trots and I felt more in rhythm with him in trot today.

We attempted a final canter but only got one stride but the field was so boggy, I wasn't surprised.

Strolling back down the lane, I felt like it was a fantastic lesson and I can already see improvements from my first ride with him. my heels stayed down, my position was good and I got some good feedback from the young lady who was walking alongside me today.

The only drawback to today's lesson had nothing to do with my tall, bay friend or me, it was the wind. It was so gusty, I struggled hearing a lot today and was glad of someone beside me. But despite the wind, we had a fantastic hack.

We arrived back at the stables and as his stable is nearest to the gate, we waited for everyone to file past and then I jumped off and fell flat on my bum. I think I must have slipped on the surface on impact and ended up on my backside. My tall, bay friend looked down as if to say, "what are you doing down there?" It was definitely an amusing end to a good lesson.

So until next time,

Thanks for reading,

Marie

Getting into The Stride

Another dry autumn day arrived yesterday and I got to the yard on time, brushed my tall, white, friend and bridled him up. We set off on the road route and my position on him felt as amazing as it had on the coloured gelding on Sunday. My trots were forward and we felt very together on this ride. On my first attempt at a canter, my instructor told me to try it on my own, I had a few fabulous strides and lost my right stirrup and so we tried again, just getting a rushed, forward trot. I clearly wasn't giving him enough to go into canter and he was testing my authority a little and looking for my instructor. Riding is a path of trust and although he trusts me in walk and trot to give him the signals he needs to keep us both safe, our cantering relationship is still new and not quite there so he was still looking to my instructor for guidance and she was behind us so he chose to take over and do his own thing which is not what we want. We carried on the route and had some more good trots and I felt my confidence was growing even more. On our second visit to a cantering ground, she asked me to go again and sitting up straight, hands forward and down, I gave him a huge squeeze, pushed with my seat and off we went into a beautiful, unified canter. I was so much in my seat, my heels totally taking my weight and my body moving with my lovely friend. It was amazing and the most amazing part was I did that. No one was at the side of me, leading or encouraging my friend to do what I asked, I gave him the signal and he listened and off we cantered in a beautiful horse and rider dance. I was so thrilled and once we returned to a trot, slowed him to a walk and gave him the biggest pat and well done I could. I'm loving this journey so much and feeling I'm ready for anything. I know it'll still have its ups and downs but now it's feeling like I'm becoming a real horse rider. My instructor is slowly letting the reins go and standing back and watching what she has so amazingly helped me to achieve, a dream I had so long ago and I am so thankful to her and the lady who has the school for giving me this chance to prove I can do it. I just hope I keep on achieving something good where horses are concerned. The relationship I have with these amazing creatures is so dearly treasured and I'm so honoured to be given the opportunity to try and achieve my own dreams as well as knowing the privilege of being a horse and rider team. After our lovely successful canter, we headed back to the road and did some amazing trot to halt and halt to trot transitions. I am getting him more directly into a trot and also pulling him to a halt successfully more efficiently each time. I did lose that blasted right stirrup again which was strange, haven't lost a stirrup in trot for a long time. But soon was trotting off again and halting well. We arrived back to the stables and I untacked him, put on his stable rug and helped fill up his hay net. He and a few other horses then enjoyed a lovely apple I'd brought for them. So until Sunday, as that is when my next lesson is, Thanks for reading, Marie

Becoming More Natural

I had an extra lesson this week. I arrived to discover I was riding the lovely coloured gelding that loves to lean on your hands. So once I was mounted and waiting for the rest of our substantial group to go out on a ride, I made a pact with him, not to lean on my hands too much and I would give him an extra polo.

We set off up on the farm hack with smaller ponies in front. We even had to overtake one small pony to get in front and then I could hear the little shoes on that pony as the previous one in front of us had no shoes on.

He was not as forward as I would have liked on the first trot and yet my position felt fantastic on him today. Our first attempt at a canter was not great, although he had a fabulous forward trot.

More trotting was much more forward and I kept him back from the smaller ponies. I was amazed yet again of my position being so right on this horse as it has not felt that good on him before. Heels were down, I was up right and felt incredibly balanced in the saddle.

After heading down the cobbles and still feeling like he wasn't leaning on my hands as much, we did another fabulous trot. One more field was found and off I went in the best canter I've ever had on him. It was up there with one of my best canters ever. I was in the seat, I was in control and we had a fair few strides. I decided, I really like his canter despite him being slightly bouncier than many of the other horses I ride.

Our speed was good and I arrived back at the stables feeling like I'd had one of my better lessons. So, keeping to my word, he got an extra few polos. So lets see what Tuesday holds?

Thanks for reading,

Marie

Amazing!

Well, that's the only title I can think of to sum up my ride yesterday.

It was a beautiful autumn morning when I arrived and partially removed my tall white friend's rug as he's been clipped. Brushed him down, covered him up and removed the back end to brush the rest of him. Tacked him up and led him out, mounted and was in a very positive mood.

We took the road route yesterday and my trots were back on form. Had to wake him up a little and the first canter on one of our bits of grass we canter on failed miserably. The second attempt, my instructor let go, scared me as she clapped to spur him on and so I failed again. The third attempt, she told me to go for it on my own, and instantly, I got him into a good forward canter for about four strides. I was over the moon that I managed to do this by myself on the first attempt.

More good, forward trotting and to another piece of grass but no more canters but I wasn't giving him as much I don't think and my instructor told me she wants more leg. But something inside of me really clicked yesterday and I know, for some odd reason, when someone's leading me in canter, I'm not getting it on the ball. It's probably psychological and I've proven twice now I can get him into a canter independently. Once when I was meant to be trotting to build his energy and yesterday when I was just ready for it.

Our trot transitions were pretty good yesterday. I feel like I can stop him so well now and I am more aware of his mouth response. It was the best feeling yesterday for me and I just hope I can keep it up. Lets hope more cantering and prolonged cantering at that is on the cards. I stayed in my seat more than I have before too. I guess I was so shocked I managed to do it on my first attempt, I froze up a little but we got there and now it's just a matter of keep on getting there consistently and in a good strong canter.

We got back to the yard after my good mood was much improved, and I untacked him, removed his exercise sheets and placed his rugs on him. I had issues fastening the clasps on the rugs on Tuesday but yesterday I finally got that too. So it was a fab lesson. And my cheeky, tall, white friend deserved the few polos he got. He knows which pocket they're in to. :)

That's all for today but got another lesson on sunday so I'm afraid you'll all be bombarded with more regales of my horsey tales. :) Thanks for reading,

Marie

stress Makes Me a Bad rider

There have been some things in my personal life this week that have caused some real stress for me. This did not make tuesday's lesson a overly successful one from my point of view. Hence why, it has taken me so long to write the blog. Hiding away from the world was much more productive for me yesterday.

I arrived, late, due to those vanishing half past eight buses. Did not help the already stressed out mood I was in. Wacked my hat on, mounted my tall white friend and felt better in the saddle, although much more tense than I would have liked.

We opted for the farm hack, well, I did, in the hopes I could relax my brain into just, me, horse and nature. Sadly, my attempt to relax was futile.

My trots were OK, not my best and I know my position was not as good as it felt like a huge effort pushing up out of the saddle.

cantering was not happening, he had the spaark, I did not give him enough to get him fully there.

He was listening to me during the ride but the level of stress I was feeling, I'm surprised I had the ability to do anything.

I untacked my tall white friend, gave him a hug and left the yard feeling deflated.

But, the thing that was bothering me has now been resolved and so hopefully I'll have less weight on my shoulders and will have a better lesson tomorrow.

Thanks for reading,

Marie

Unexpected surprises

I got to the yard to be told I was riding a horse I have never ridden at the stables before. He is the tallest of our school's horses at 16.1 HH I believe and is a lovely, cheeky bay. He and I have been acquainted when I've been at the yard when he tries to eat me, my cane or something outside his stable door but he is very handsome and full of a beautiful spirit.

Most of the horses I ride are around 15 HH so I was a little further off of the ground today which was fine with me.

Once up in the saddle, we went out on a group hack along the farm route. He's very responsive to leg and much lighter than some others in his mouth which I quickly picked up on. His gait is long and slightly bouncy but not as bouncy as the coloured I ride but slower too than my tall white friend. I struggled initially in trot, managing to rise but not in a comfortable and rhythmic way I am now expecting from myself. Although I will cut myself a little slack seen as this was my first ride on a horse with this kind of gait.

So when my instructor asked if I was ready for a canter, I wasn't expecting to get one. But a good four or five strides were achieved as well as losing a stirrup.

I noticed with this giant bay lovely that my heels seemed naturally to take my weight, my position was much better and therefore my balance was incredible.

After we got down the cobbles that all of the horses take their time on, understandably, we attempted another trot and this one was amazing. During this trot, I knew I'd love to ride this horse again without hesitation.

The responsiveness of him to my legs, asking to turn was amazing and the last attempt at a canter was much improved than the first. I love cantering on this giant bay.

Back at the yard, after a good ride, I chose to ride my tall white friend. So I bridled him up and lead him out, mounted him and we took the road route for this ride. I felt my left stirrup was shorter, but then I didn't, but generally wasn't comfortable in the saddle with him today. I'm not sure why. It did improve after a few trots.

He was in his tossing head mood today which put an interesting spin on the lesson and I could not get him into canter. Strange how, I cantered on a horse that I'd never ridden but this familiar friend, I could not get into canter. I'm not sure if it's because of being lead, something I'm not doing right or what? I feel my position is much better on him now than before but did pull back on his reins once which I was annoyed at myself for doing. I'll figure it out what it was I did wrong or whether he was just having a bleh day. I guess the tossing of his head could indicate something was not impressing him but some things are beyond our control and some things we do are what causes it. But I was happy to ride him and get two decent rides in today.

Once back at the yard, I helped to fill the hay nets up and was glad to be given another new job to learn. Pulling hay from bales is hard on the hands in a chilly autumn breeze but I soon became used to that sensation. I feel useful when I partake in yard jobs and always learn something new.

It stayed dry, I helped out and had two good rides on two wonderful yet different horses, it was a lovely morning.

So until next time,

Thanks for reading,

Marie

Oreintation to The Yard

I arrived this morning to learn I should have got a text saying I couldn't have a ride this morning due to illnesses and such. So instead of having a ride, I brushed down my favourite tall white friend and fed a few of them carrots. So my lesson this week will come in a double dose on Sunday with a bit of yard work in between. I don't mind this at all. Should be interesting riding on a day I've never ridden before and having two rides in the same morning. I was happy I got to see my gorgeous tall white friend and give him a good old brush and have a lovely cuddle with him too though. So this morning was not a waste of time. Plus, learning more about the yard is always beneficial to me. Didn't do much this morning but walking from stable to stable helped me orientate myself much better with that block. Small thing but necessary for learning the yard. :)

So until then, I'll miss the horses and not update you all until after my next lesson.

Challenges

It was a relatively warm and sunny autumn day yesterday so I was more than happy walking to the yard and hanging around, waiting for my lesson to begin. I was riding the lovely coloured Gelding yesterday so I put on his bridle as he can be funny about his saddle so my instructor put that on him and I led him out, did the stirrups and mounted.

He started off very ploddy and I took a while to get him going. We took the road route yesterday, that has a few grassy parts on it to do some cantering. My trots were not as strong as they generally are on my tall white friend and others as this lovely coloured has a very bouncy gait. It's beneficial as a rider, in my humblest of opinions that you learn different horses so you become an all rounded, strong rider. So despite my weaknesses, I know it's a good thing for me. This horse is very different to my tall white friend and then again, he's different to the bay beauty but that's just it, we should have all kinds of experiences of individual horses to make those weak parts stronger.

Slowly, I got increasingly more confident in the trotting and then we attempted a canter. My canters are not yet as confident on this horse, understandably. And on a few goes yesterday I pulled back on my hands. Some of the attempts lacked the energy on my part too so I need to work on giving him more leg and seat. Personally, I think that's a lack of confidence right now with this particular horse. He is much bouncier and that kind of throws me a little but as I've said, I need to persist with it so I can get better on horses that do have a slightly more bouncier gait.

My last canter was much better, my instructor said next time, she wants more strides, I need to learn to move with him more. Like I said, that's just time, I'll get it eventually.

We tried transitions on him and they were not as sharp as they are on my tall white friend, again, lack of familiarity and learning different horses' reactions to different things. Their personalities are also different so it takes time to get to know the horse and what they respond to best.

The lesson was still a good one and I was made to work very hard which is good. I learnt a lot.

After my lesson, I offered to help out at the yard and was thrown in at the mucky end, literally. We were piling up the muck heap and even though I've never done it before and can't see exactly what I'm aiming for, I didn't do horrendously. My aim needs working on but hit a few targets. I was given the brush to sweep up which was a lot easier, practically, although it was still hard work. I am not for one minute complaining and I know after years and years, I'll not be enthusiastic about mucking out and such but I felt like was doing something productive. I desperately want a job not just for financial reasons, although that's a hefty reason but because I want to feel productive and I'm doing something so those few hours, helping out around the yard made me feel very productive. I just hope I wasn't too much of a burden. Obviously, I'm not going to be as quick to learn chores as sighted people but I was thankful for the chance.

After finishing the piling up of the tower of muck, I brushed down the legs of a horse I rode in the early days of riding. He's a sweet older horse and was very patient while I got all of the muck off of his legs.

I then went to give another horse a full brush down and got what seemed like half a tree out of his mane. He was also very patient while I de-mucked him. :)

I love brushing horses and helping out where I can. I definitely felt like I'd got a good work out yesterday morning and really hope I wasn't a burden to the girls I was working with.

Its good experience to know what I'm coming up against when I finally loan or get a horse of my own.

That's all for now,

Thanks for reading,

Marie

Back on Horse back

It's been a very long week for me. I've missed those majestic beast so dearly. So this morning, I was excited to be back at the yard.

I quickly brushed my tall white friend and did up his bridle, led him out and adjusted my stirrups to what I usually have them on. Only to get on and learn they are new stirrups and so the lengths were not right.

We took the farm hack route today and on my first trot I realised my stirrups were too long so after an adjustment, off we went again. He was testing me a bit, going too left or over to the right so my challenge was to keep him central and keep him listening to me.

I always keep up to date with a very useful blog called, School your Horse but this week's Post really rang home with me. I've always tried sitting up in the saddle but the way this blog author puts it across, it made so much sense to me. Having a background in dance, the idea of pulling up to push forward as it is said in the blog, just clicked in my head. Today, I was thoroughly working on this concept and by God it paid off.

My trots were forward and I seemed to push from the saddle with my thighs much more so it was easier to rise and then for the canter. The first time, I almost got a stride but the bog of a field made it more difficult. Even my instructor said she wasn't surprised I didn't get a canter. So she suggested I try him in a forward trot, which I do without her leading me. I'm happy trotting. It comes naturally now but I pushed on for a forward trot and gave him enough to send us into a canter. One in which I felt thoroughly comfortable and relaxed into. It was a good steady canter and I surprised myself.

We left the field and I was using my half halts on the cobbles. He was rushing himself so a few half halts and keeping my heels from his side which I seemingly was doing slowed him down.

A few more good trots and then to the back lane where he did a forward trot instead of a canter but on the second attempt, he did another beautiful canter.

My position was much better today, my instructor felt and I know it's because I'm thinking more about how I'm sitting in the saddle. I felt I made slightly more progress during my lesson today. I hope I keep it up. But I've never felt so confident and relaxed in cantering until this morning. So thanks to this blog entry and the fantastic lady who writes her words of wisdom for us and to my instructor who has the patience of a saint. and continues giving great instruction

Once I jumped off and led him into his stable, untacked him and put his tack back, I returned to give him a polo. He kept mobbing me for more and tried to eat me on a few occasions so he got spoilt today and had a few more polos than just the one.

That's all until next time,

Thanks for reading,

Marie