Feel Like Quitting

I know I've said this before here and many other places in my life, I am my worst critic but what I'm about to discuss has nothing to do with that. I'm a perfectionist, this is true but I know like anyone who has been around animals, that some days it's you, some days it is them and the rest it works perfectly. I am under no illusion that my achievements on horse back this year have been pretty impressive, from my point of view at least. I learnt to walk and trot without someone holding on to the horse. I know, no big deal for a sighted rider but for me that was huge. Even in recent months, I've been trusted to try cantering without a leader and I am so thankful for being given those opportunities to do those things. Maybe I've had a bad ride today and that's that but maybe I've hit a road block that I can't get around. Maybe I'm only meant to be this good and improvement will never come so for the rest of my riding life, I'll be walking, rising trotting and never getting a good canter. I know all the things, relax, heels down, hands low,go with the rhythm and relax but no matter what happens, I can never get all of those things. I see others learning doing it with ease and I just feel I'll never get past this road block. I know it's me, it's all in my head and I don't see a way forward to change my approach and therefore change the outcome. I had a relatively uneventful lesson today, some walking and trotting. It was hard to get into the trot but I did it so that made me happy. My legs got a work out as the cobbles were apparently scary for my tall, cheeky bay friend but I kept him going and kept in control. Then the canter, just awful! Got two strides on second attempt and then pulled back. I don't know how to stop doing this. I don't know how to stop tensing, how to just do everything I know I need to. I love horses!!! I am so happy I've done this but I don't know how to move forward and not sure I can keep taking this continued level of failure. Boy, this is a depressing blog but I have always been honest in my blog entries so today should be no different. I surely feel like quitting today. And the horrible, sad thing is, if I did, I didn't say goodbye to my horsey friends. I'm not sure what I'll do. So if this is goodbye, thanks for reading and take care and all the best to you and your horsey friends! :) Marie

Relax!

I could not wait to get back to the yard today after such a successful lesson last week. With it being the school holidays, I expected to be on a group hack but was taken out by my usual instructor by myself today.

I tacked up my tall, white friend and led him to the mounting block. Getting up into the saddle, we decided the road would probably give us more opportunities to have a varied ride as the farm would be pretty waterlogged. So off we went.

My position is seemingly getting better with each ride and my trots are becoming more forward. I was told today to put more weight in my heels during rising trot and this again improved on my position.

And how did cantering go? Pretty good actually. With having my usual instructor, it meant I would be cantering by myself, without having a leader so the first attempt was not as good as Thursdays. However, I got him into a canter, then shocked myself so pulled back. The second attempt was just a forward trot but the third was pretty awesome. I was in my seat, went with him loads and just need to relax my upper half more so I can give him his rein. He's light in the mouth so my tensing of the upper body is not good for either of us. This also makes my elbows come up and my heels not take my weight. Which was the case in my last attempt at canter today. My instructor walked down the lane, leaving me and my tall, white, friend at the far end. The idea was to canter toward her so I guess she could see what was going on with me from the front. I got two strides mid lane route in canter but my tense upper body and not enough leg contributed to a lack of good canter. I know, I need to relax more and when I do, like with my good canters on this ride, I seem to do it pretty good.

We also did trot halt transitions today which were on the hole good although I lost a bit of the forwardness in trot by the last transition.

On the whole, it was a good lesson as I was back in complete charge of the reins today with my usual instructor. I was pleased that I got some good cantering with him as I know what's happening is purely between the two of us and not a third person leading us. So everything that happened was because of the relationship we have.

My position is improving every lesson and even after the pointer with the rising trot to bring my legs back and put more weight into my heels was taken on board and was changing quickly to what it needed to be by the end of my lesson. So all in all, a fantastic ride!

We got back to the yard, I untacked and put the rugs on with my instructor and led him out to the field. I love being at the yard, just wish I could help out much more with yard jobs.

That's all to report until my next lesson on Saturday.

Hope you all have a good week,

Thanks for reading,

Marie

Early christmas Presents

I know, you're asking, why is she posting at silly O'clock on Christmas Day? Simply, have been too ill and then busy to write this post. But I will say, merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate and hope 2012 is a fabulous year!

To the Ride this week!

As those of you on Hay Net will know, my scheduled Sunday ride, and a double one at that was cancelled due to the weather's incapability of knowing the date and giving my town a very generous sprinkling of snow on the morning of said rides. It should have, yes, waited one whole week exactly and that would have pleased everyone, me included, to have a white Christmas and a snow free lesson. But hey, these things happen. So, we rescheduled for Thursday afternoon.

I arrived to discover, I was riding my lovely, tall, white friend and was sent to brush and tack him up. It probably isn't, but had felt like ages since I had brushed and tacked up. I guess not riding for ten whole days does that to you.

He was being very funny, as we were undoing his rug and brushing him, walking around in circles. I had to laugh. I've not seen him do that before, so after our game of "follow me around the stable", got him tacked up very nicely and much quicker than I was in the beginning. I'm even now able to check things are straight and feel much more confident in this area.

I mounted and we went out on a group hack over the farm area. My position seemed to snap into place but on my first trot, felt a little wobbly. Not sure why that was, the only thing I can think of is my horrendous issues with my mouth I've had this week but it did improve over the course of my ride so I'm not too worried about it.

The field was a giant bog due to the snow and rain but still got a few strides in canter out of him.

My subsequent trots were much better and I don't know, but I just seemed to move nicer with him in walk too. I think this has a lot to do with my legs now. I've consciously been working on pulling them in line with my hips and shoulders and pulling up so my balance is obviously better and my seat is much sturdier too. At least that's how it felt.

On the back lane, we decided to do another canter. I think because my tall white friend and I had had a few stumbling blocks on cantering as a result of me not giving him enough, I wasn't expecting a canter at all. But I stayed in position, gave a nice push into my seat, a good old squeeze and off we went. I was so in my seat, it felt amazing. Then half way down the lane, still in canter, my left stirrup flew from my foot. Did I fall? No! Did I stiffen and go into sitting trot despite having had the best canter ever? No! I stayed in my seat, didn't tense in the least and continued to have the best canter on my lovely white friend ever. No tensing the legs as I sometimes do and end up out of my seat, staying in the fluid movement, going with the rhythm of my lovely friend and feeling like somehow I had unwrapped the best christmas present ever!

I know in time, things seem to click and you feel more and more natural and with one with the horse, that's understandable. I would never have said I'd ever felt uncomfortable as such, even in bumpy trots, or out of rhythm rising trots, or canters where you bounce in and out of the seat; I would never say even then I felt uncomfortable being on the back of the horse, uncomfortable in the stride maybe but Thursday I felt like I was truly comfortable, more than ever before. I know this is progress and everyone has experienced it at some point but if you have, I don't need to tell you how special that is. :)

The best end to a lesson I think I've had to date. So we got back to the yard, after much praise and pats from me, dismounted, [without falling on my bum], and I led him back to his stable where I untacked and give him the biggest hug ever! I had had a dream the previous night of getting hugs from this particular horse, it was nice that dream came true on such a good riding day too!

I'd brought a bag of apples for my horse friends as a Christmas treat so my special, tall white friend had two apples and several polos as he so deserved it. Many of the ponies were out so the horse who had been in lead on our ride, who was my first ride at this yard, the cheeky little bay got two apples. Along with some of the other horses who had been on a jumping lesson.

So I got an early Christmas present from my lovely, tall, white friend, and I'm thankful for that. I hope you and all of your horsey friends have a lovely Christmas and I'll hopefully be back with another regaling tale of my ride on Tuesday.

Merry Christmas!

Marie

I Won't Be Put off!

I woke up about 4 AM today with a nasty taste in my throat and a runny nose. Yes, the seasonal cold has seized me! By the time I was taking the pup out to spend and getting ready, the rain had started to pour down. If I was a person who believed in omens, I may have stayed home. Or if I was a real old wimp, I would have fed the dog and myself, loaded up with cold medicines and gone back to bed. But it was my second riding lesson of the week! I could not miss it! Not with all the threats of snow and ice. The more lessons I get before its time to be forced indoors, the better!

So I called the taxi as Sunday buses are as reliable as, well, they're not reliable in the least and had to be at the yard for 10:45. After the taxi eventually arrived, I was asked who I wanted to ride today. Cliche or not, I truly don't mind as every horse teaches me something different. As it happens, I rode the gorgeous tall, bay who after the three times I've ridden him, I am falling in love with him.

We got on our horses and headed for the road route. I don't know about where you are in the world but in this part of the UK, it's done nothing but rain and snow all week so the ground is soggy!

My usual instructor was off and we had another girl who I don't remember taking us before but I was pleasantly surprised on how much she knew I knew how to do.

My first trot was rather funny as I almost forgot about that slight bounce but soon was lovely rhythm with him. We found a few pieces of ground to canter on and I am pleased to report, my first canter was lovely. Stayed in my seat so well on this first which I have not managed to do on this horse who of course is relatively new to me.

My second canter was not happening but I'm feeling what is going wrong more each time so the third came and it was good. Not as in my seat as I would have liked but went to trot and managed to get him back into a canter again.

I know my second canter lacked seat whereas my last I hadn't pushed all my weight into my heels as I had on the first. However, my position with my back was much better again and I don't feel like I'm going to fly off as I have in the past. I'm pleased on how fast I've adjusted to this lovely bay and hope I continue to make improvements.

On the way home, as the rain was pelting down, the girl walking with me and I started singing Christmas songs to him. His ears went forward so either he was trying to block the sound completely or he liked the festive sing-a-long.

He was slightly restless but the last few trots were controlled and consistent. I had to use a fair bit of half halting on him today but it was good he was slightly fussy as he's always been so good on my previous rides. The one thing I was ultimately pleased with was I felt, finally like my heels are in exactly the right place to give him the good squeezes he needs. I have the concept of heel and seat in my head, I just need to work on it when in the saddle.

My right stirrup kept slipping but it was so wet, I can't say that surprised me.

Once back at the yard, I jumped off, and slipped, yet again, clearly not used to the extra hand I need to adjust my landing skill. Thankfully, didn't hurt myself, laughed it off and led him into his stable. He did stand on my foot,but that was my own fault for not being as bossy as I should have when leading him in.

Untacked, put a cooler and rug on, fed him a few polos and gave my tall, bay friend a huge hug and left his stable. As I stood outside, clearly knowing where the polos were, he kept nudging me and giving me kisses so who can refuse a cheeky, charming horse who asks so nicely?

It was a fantastic lesson so I'll hopefully have more to report next Sunday as we're moving to weekend rides until the weather improves. So a double ride next Sunday, providing England hasn't descended into the world of white. Fingers crossed it holds off until Christmas Day!

Thanks for reading,

Marie

wintry Ride

We are really starting to feel the bite of winter these past few days. This morning, wrapped in layers of cold and wearing my waterproofs, I headed for the yard. I'm surprised I got there as when I awoke, the rain was pelting down outside my window. There was that temptation to just go back to sleep.

Once at the yard, I helped tack up my tall white friend, and mounted him on a very slippy mounting block. We've had a combination of hail and snow over the past few nights so there was no surprise there was a slippy edge to our mounting block.

Once up in the saddle, I took up my reins and off we went on a soggy ride on the road route. As we were just about to set off, the snow flurries started so we had a very cold, white ride today.

Recently, my position on the horse is vastly improving. I would never say it was horrible but I'm feeling now I'm upright, my body is more fluid with the horse's movement. I also feel now more weight is being pushed into my heels that I am further in my seat. That really felt good today during walk.

As anyone who has read my blogs the past few weeks, getting my leg on effectively has not been so successful. Even though I didn't manage a canter today, my legs were giving more than they have on previous weeks. And quite honestly, in the wintry conditions this morning, I am not surprised we didn't get to a canter.

With the leg on being more effective, it meant my forward trotting was coming together nicely. I truly enjoyed my ride this morning and felt a few improvements had been experienced. Think we're switching up horses on Sunday's lesson this week as with all the yard chores increasing with the wintry weather, we're moving my lessons to the weekend until the weather improves and yard jobs are lessened again. I'm not sure if I'll do a ride on Saturday and Sunday in the future, or if I'll do two rides on one day. We'll see.

We headed back to the yard and I untacked him, put on his rugs and gave him a big hug before I left. It is always nice to have a lovely ride on such a handsome friend.

So until next time,

Thanks for Reading,

Marie

Licence to Ride?

An article my mum read to me in our local paper today has got me pretty annoyed. The writer suggested one of the ways to cut the cost for the Chancellor in the big cuts schemes was to stop those claiming winter fuel when they live in other, warmer, climates. That was where this woman's good ideas stopped and the crazy began. This Oldham chronicle reader suggested that horse riders should have to undergo a riding test to obtain a riding licence, thus creating jobs for examiners and instructors having to be registered and licensed to teach the relevant things such as "no entry to horses" signs and such. This creative genius also suggests that if all equestrians were licensed and were forced to ride with L plates, then they could be prosecuted when they don't pick up after their horses, "Little accidents". I think this idea is ultimately preposterous and quite idiotic! First of all, picking up your horse's excrement is probably one of the most ludicrously stupid ideas I have potentially ever heard! Not only do you see more dog do-do on the pavements than horse droppings on the road, but dismounting a horse, to dispose of its business, is dangerous both for horse, rider and lots of other people on the road. I for one, would not be bending down, beneath any horse I trust essentially with my life, but holding up traffic while doing so would essentially end in tragedy on so many levels. Clearly, this woman has never been around horses! Now for the licensing issues. We've been using horses for over a thousand years, and we have survived without licensing so far, why introduce it now? Besides the fact, it is absolutely crazy to introduce such a clearly money motivated scheme, that has few benefits to the vast community, [unless you count the horsey do-do issue], but what about those of us who would never be eligible to take a riding test? What about riders who could not dismount and mount without some assistance or specialist equipment? What about sensible young people who ride well enough. Why restrict such a beneficial hobby for the sake of what? This crazy idea, has clearly come from someone who does not think things through properly. And at the risk of sounding childish, horses were here first! There's a reason we have the right of way on the road. But sadly, it'd be an awfully thoughtless idea as this that this government would jump on. I'd love to hear your thoughts. would this idea ever work for everyone, fairly? Can you see possible benefits? The only one I can see would be where animal cruelty is concerned but then I think those being cruel would just go underground. What do you guys think?