My Equine dreams

Two years ago, if you had asked me, I would have said it was impossible for me to create a career with animals in any way. Not because I couldn't think I was capable but because of others attitudes. Although I know those attitudes are still prevalent in society, I am trying to ignore them.
I will not profess to being an amazing rider or the best person at anything I do but with the continuous fights I've had and continue to have getting a job in the "commercial" world and the prejudices I face there just to get an office job, I'm not sure I'll ever win that fight so why not try to fight for something I'm at least passionate about.
If you had told me a year ago, while I was battling to master the rising trot, still clinging to my saddle, I'm pretty sure I would have laughed in your face if you'd said I'd be cantering and progressing the way I am. All I do, is listen to my instructors, read up on horses through blogs and books and most importantly, listen to the horse I'm riding.
My dreams and ambitions have changed over the last few years. A year or so ago I wanted to get into canine and equine massage and that is something I would still love to do. I know teaching riding is not really in my future but running my own school, caring for horses definitely could be.
I'm also very interested in competing. Now, how good or bad a rider I am, I'm not sure how or when that will happen but it's something I would like to give a try too. Hopefully, once my bum stays in my saddle and my cantering is much better, there will be more opportunity to do other things.
I'm not pretending I'm the best or I'm even half decent, only others could tell you how good or bad I am, but I feel like I'm progressing so that's something, right?
My grandmother always encouraged dreams, she said without dreams you have nothing to aim for. So here are mine:

• 1. I will start all of my dreaming by loaning a horse. I am in no position to buy right now and figure a part loan will ease me into the responsibility I will need to own my own one day. Mum is very supportive of this idea and we are currently on the hunt for a good loan horse. So fingers crossed that we can find one at a reasonable rate.
• 2. If permitted, I'd like to train further on this said loan horse and maybe next season try and show and enter a few local competitions. Showing seems my aim but I do want to jump and maybe do dressage too. How this will happen, we'll see as I'm not so sure the mainstream arenas are exactly going to fly for this idea.
• 3. I briefly mentioned this, but proceeding to dressage and show jumping is something I'm definitely interested in. If I can figure out which I'm better in will also be a huge bonus.
• 4. Becoming a better horse person. Whether this is by doing an equine management course or just gaining the experience. I also think a trip to a career's advisor may be in my future as I need a clear path on the career I'd like.
• 5. starting on the road to qualification to become an equine therapist. I know some people think this is beyond someone with sight impairments but I'm determined to make something of my life. I have so much to give and feel like I'm trapped right now, horses and being with my Bailey dog make me feel free and alive. Horses can be dangerous, but hey, I got run over by a number 59 bus 10 years ago too. Just because I can't see, doesn't mean I'm any less equipped to read an animal. People forget I have other senses.
• 6. Once working, or having won the lottery, [which I never do], buying some land, preferably with stables, an arena and opening my own riding school, for anyone! No matter what! Horses have proven time and time again, that their company is therapeutic and I've seen this for myself and experienced it. Dramatic as it sounds, horses have saved my life. I haven't felt as alive as I have in the past few years.

So, those are my dreams when it comes to the equine world. Far fetched? Maybe! But dreams and putting them into reality are all I have. What do I have to lose? But more importantly, what more do I have to gain?
Thanks again,
Marie

group Hacking

Our stables were crazy today as some of the riders have the up and coming in house competition, known as the Jim Carna. A three day weekend where groups of riders demonstrate what they have learnt. I'm going to watch some of the girls who have been teaching me participate on Sunday. So fingers crossed for dry weather. As you can imagine, horses being bathed, bridles and saddles being cleaned, jumps being set up, it was mayhem. So instead of a lonely hack with my instructor, several of us went out on a group hack. This was my first group hack since before I could trot so it was kinda nice and I felt like I wasn't left behind and a nubbi, I knew what I was doing and was an established and knowledgable rider. It just made me think how far I have come and how much I still need to learn. There were three horses and three riders with some leaders. However, my instructor told the girl walking at the side of me that I only needed being led during canter. She, without knowing it, really boosted my confidence today by telling someone else I didn't need a leader and could do things. I knew she thought this but was nice to hear that my riding progress is continuing. So we did a lot of road work today which was good. I've been up on the farm hacking recently so some road work was nice and I got to practice my directional control with keeping the horse on the left of the road and using my arms for signals. I road a beautiful mare who I learnt to rise trot on and have struggled to get to canter in the past. It was good to feel how responsive she was to me. Everything I asked of her she did without an issue. My trotting was a little worse than it has been on previous rides but I soon got into it again. Every horse, as most of you know, has a different rhythm and it's been a while since I rode my bay friend so I expected a little rustiness. So cantering? I almost, I stress, almost got her to canter twice but sadly it didn't happen. The trouble was, I could feel her wanting to go and then just didn't quite get her to the canter. She's notorious to new riders for not trotting or cantering when we ask initially. Maybe she needs that little more of a "yes, I truly want you to canter" from the rider. So, I know I can get her to trot so canter is now next on my list to conquer with Miss bay Beauty. It was a fun and beautiful ride today. I enjoyed the group hack and I don't see the lack of a canter today as a backward step, just a challenge to get my bay beauty to canter for me soon. :) Until next time, thanks for reading Marie

The Best Feeling In The World

It was a pretty dreary day today but I didn't notice during my lesson. I was back with the instructor I usually have and she was making me gain control of my tall white friend today as we ascended the lane to the farm. He was trying to eat, and follow her so I had to gain control of him. I was instructed to half halt on the right rein and put my left leg on to get him concentrating and move away from the scrumptious grass. After a few minutes and a little fighting over who had control, I am pleased to say I won. We went on the field that I've been cantering on recently and I was sitting nicely in my seat, leaning back but I guess I was feeling a little nervous to begin with and the horse obviously picked up on that and just trotted. So, we turned long ways down the field and I was encouraged, as always to put my leg on and not pull back on the reins, stay in my seat, etc, and wow! That's the only word I can use to describe it. I even let out a "whoohoo," during that long, amazing, free canter! And the best thing about it, I got him cantering and kept him there for the longest time yet. I bet I tripled my longest canter to date this morning which really made me smile and we got to the other end of the field. With this instructor, she gives me a lot more control as she's worked with me the most so knows how much I have already achieved. For a lot of this ride, minus the cantering, I was just listening to her directional instructions and using my hands and legs to let the horse know what I wanted him to do. Even down a cobbled stretch, he tried to eat some poisonous plants so it was my job to keep his concentration and prevent him from munching as he's not allowed while working and to ensure he didn't eat anything that could harm him. On the back lane, where we always attempt a last canter, I again got a really good one, not as long but my instructor had said it wouldn't be as there was a nice plastic bag to spook the horse in the middle of the path. But, again, a good canter and hands are staying where they need to be, as are feet, now to work on the bum staying in seat. I am not one to praise myself but I am quite shocked in how quickly my hands have seemed to adjust to the canter and keep in a still straight line and not pull back on the reins. Now just for the last part of the cantering puzzle to fall into place but now I'm getting him going and on the last canter seemed a little more in my seat, I know that's coming. A great compliment I received today was my rising trot is very tidy. I've been working hard on keeping myself upright and straight, heels down and rising and falling nicely. I love rising trot but cantering is definitely my favourite gait so far. It was a fabulous lesson and I keep asking more and more questions each time which is always a good thing. Lets hope Thursday is half as good as today's class. Thanks again for reading, Marie

My First Horse show

Having a fascination with horses from such a young age and being unable to do much about it makes me feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. Yesterday, my mum, Bailey and I went along to a horse Show at Rochdale Riding club's ground which is about 15 minutes drive away from us. My dad dropped us and we met my mum's friend whom's daughter has a beautiful horse. She was showing him in two classes but before she did I got to pet him and chat a little to her and her mum. I quickly realised that I couldn't imagine many other places I'd rather be than out doors at a horse event with my pup at my side. It's funny, many horse owners also seem to be dog owners too. I guess that's why horse and hound is such a popular magazine subscription here in the UK. It poured for a little while so Bailey and I took shelter in the trailer; another first for me yesterday, being inside a horse trailer. I know for most this is probably no big deal but to have dreamed of such things for years and suddenly those things becoming reality is a nice feeling. We walked down to the practice ring where the horses warm up and chatted a little about cost of upkeep. I knew horses cost but was pleasantly surprised about some of the costs they can incur. I didn't really have an idea about any cost, just assumed it was a lot of money but it seems if you find the right food provider and hay dealer with a good stable that doesn't cost through the nose, your day to day are pretty reasonable. Now, vets and farriers are another issue I don't doubt. We watched the first of the classes the young lady we know was competing in and only waited a short while to watch the second. The sun had appeared by this point and mum and I said goodbye to our friends and then watched a little bit of the show jumping. Mum used to show jump with her horse as a youngster and I love watching show jumping on TV so it was an awesome experience to stand ringside and hear the hooves and the commentator's announcements of scoring, which I understand perfectly on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Even with the rain, my first experience at a horse show only confirmed to me that I want to be a real part of the equestrian world and hope nothing will hold me back from achieving those dreams too. Thanks for reading, Marie

Big Steps Forward

Before I talk about the actual lesson yesterday, just want to celebrate the fact that I didn't get lost yesterday and did the route completely without issues. That was a huge plus and made my mood so happy before even beginning the ride yesterday. I just thought I'd share. Thursday's lesson: Well, I mounted my handsome, tall, white friend and we set off on a walk we've been doing a lot recently. I'm noticing more and more as I do this route that I'm remembering parts of it too which is a good thing. Being mobile with the cane or my guide Dog Bailey is important to me and although during riding I'm not going to be going off on a ride on my own, it's something I want to do in a secure area once I have my own horse. So the fact I'm remembering routes without specifically learning them is a good sign that remembering a familiar path on a safe set route may be an option for an independent ride one day. And just to make this clear, there would be zero road work independently and it would be on a property that I knew well and only when I was confident would I take those steps. I'm just saying, it's something I wasn't sure I could do on horse back but I think with some work once I'm more of an accomplished rider, I could do independently. Going up the hill was a bit of a chore. The horse was dragging his hooves a little but with a few encouraging squeezes and a nice trot he began to step out nicely. There's one field that the owner of the property allows us to use and so cantering can only be done on this field and a back lane during this particular ride. When my instructor asked if I was ready for a canter, I asked if it would be OK if I tried to canter without holding my saddle this time and hold my reins. I'd been thinking about this for a few days now and was coming to an internal conclusion that maybe if I did, I might be better positioned to get the horse into canter and keep him there more efficiently. She said if I wanted to try, as she had no problem with me trying because my balance apparently is very good, then I should go ahead. The first try, due to my own nerves and tension turned into a very bumpy trot. But I wasn't giving up that easily so on my second attempt, my instructor asked me to keep my hands together as normal, low over the horse's neck and not to pull back once we started as that would tell the horse I didn't want him to canter at all, therefore sending mixed messages. And so put the legs on, sit in your seat, hold your hands together and low over his neck and don't pull back once you start. Leg, seat, hands. Right, got it! And so off I went again and this time got a few good paces out of him. She let me do it a third time, my hands slipped and yet on the fourth, I got the best out of him yet. It felt so beautiful! Almost like you're flying on the back of a powerful creature. I loved it! I definitely feel as though my cantering will only improve from here. I just felt I'd got the idea of what cantering felt like enough during the weeks I've been doing it but now felt like holding the saddle was only holding me back. Sometimes, to progress you need to change the way you're learning. Another thing I noticed which I hadn't before is that my feet are no longer flying out of the stirrups during cantering which can only mean I'm getting the heel down in all strides perfect. Yes, go me! :) I hope Tuesday brings much more improvement with my cantering. To the point where I can keep the horse in canter for as long as I need. I know it's all about staying in my seat, and hands not pulling back as we move in this gait that I absolutely love. After my lesson, in which we did some lovely trotting too which I can't imagine I had the same frustrations with now, I took off his bridle and loosened the girth strap. I can happily lead the horses in and out of their stables now with a little guiding from the person with me. I also was having lots of fun playing a bizarre game with another horse before I left who was trying to eat me. I know horses play with each other but when a 16.1 horse decides to play, lets eat Marie's cane or Marie herself in a very playful way, I was amused. It's strange, even I am surprised with the things I'm learning I can distinguish. I knew he was just playing and not being aggressive, I don't know how exactly but just something in the way he was doing it didn't alarm me in the slightest. That made me happy. On Sunday I'm off to a horse show so I will blog how my first experience of being at one is like when I update you on my Tuesday lesson. Thanks for reading and until next time, Marie

It's All about Your Confidence

Yes, it's Tuesday again. Hope you all had a good weekend. I did, but will tell you about that shortly. Today was a rather sunny day which made a nice change from Thursday. I rode the horse I had trouble getting to canter last Tuesday today. I went out with the same young lady as I did on Thursday and we did some trotting which went fine and then for the cantering. After reading some of my new book, the horse dancer, I decided to really concentrate on how the horse felt beneath me. I know this is always said to do but today I made a conscious effort to feel him moving beneath me. It was a nice feeling and made things feel more natural. Even in my hands, I could feel his mouth and the movement as we walked and trotted. When it was time to canter, I felt a little more confident in making him go and hey ho, there he goes. It wasn't a long canter but now I feel more confident about setting the horse off in a canter, my second horse who I have successfully got into a canter, I think now I can relax a little into the actual canter and keep it going rather than him switching to a trot. I got two canter starts today and although they were not as long as the canter I got out of my white horse friend on Thursday, it was still an achievement in itself. So the lesson was good and I shall be back at the stables on Thursday. But now for some horse news. Anyone who has ever caught the horse bug, knows that you will always want to buy or have a horse at your disposal. Once you fall in love with these amazing creatures, you are hooked, I'd say. So imagine my surprise when my mum told me on Saturday I should really look into loaning a horse to give me that more experience of caring and riding and training on one. I'm excited that both of my parents are fully behind this. They usually don't take much notice of what I do but even my dad seems to think it's a good idea so we'll see. So now for the hard part, to find a loan horse that won't cost an arm and a leg. I know having horses is not a cheap deal but talking to the owner of the stables today, she said there are some good loans to be had out there that won't cost you through the nose. It's finding the right horse and the right deal, I guess. So on the look out now. Wish me luck. This won't happen over night but it's OK, gotta get my riding ability up to scratch before I'm let lose on a new horse. :) Until Thursday, take care and happy riding.

Horses = Relaxation

Hope everyone's having a good week. I'm going to start off with a little diversion before I get to the horse stuff but believe me, you'll see the method behind the madness. If you've read this blog before, you know I am totally blind. I usually get around with another four legged being, my beautiful cross labrador golden retriever, Bailey who is my faithful sighted guide, my guide dog. Where I ride, unfortunately, there is no where to leave the pup while out on the horses so to save on taxi costs and to help my own independence without the pup, I have learned the route with the cane. I was a cane user from being seven or so until I was twenty-two when I got Bailey. I am not fond of it and much prefer the enhanced mobility the dog brings but in this situation, sadly, I have little choice. To save on my energy and emotional state, I catch the bus and walk about five or ten minutes to the stable. The route itself is not too bad minus a specific turn off. Everyone knows that stables and farms alike are more than often situated at the top of a dirt track. The stables where I ride are no different and the majority of the walk is OK until one particular turn off. I have not yet managed to get this turn correct and have had some nice work men assist me in the direction. Sadly, today, I got pretty lost on this turning and it took me twenty-five minutes to find the right path but I did make it. As you can imagine, my stress levels were up and I have to say I felt pretty disappointed in myself and slightly upset. Once I reached the stable yard, I heard the owner teaching in the school and calmed down by stroking the nose of one of the horses. That helped but the huge relief came when the owner asked someone to find me a horse to brush. I spent a good fifteen minutes brushing this lovely quiet horse who stood there happily while I brushed his body, his legs and mane and tail. Those minutes of pure relaxation, being just there with this beautiful, quiet animal really helped me to relax and calm myself down ready for my lesson. Now, for the lesson. I was put back on my tall, white friend and off we went in the rain. I had a different teacher today so we did some walking, a bit of trotting and yes, cantering. With no problem whatsoever, I put my legs on and off he went on a great canter. There were a decent few strides and more and more it feels so natural to me as trotting has now become. Soon, I know once my leg ons make the horse go to a good canter and I can keep he or she in that gait for a good few strides, the hands will be coming off of the saddle and onto the reins. and although, a few months ago, I felt a little fear of cantering and going faster, letting go of the saddle seemed a scary prospect, I now look forward to it as it means my relationship and level of control with the horse is growing. The second attempt of a canter didn't go as well but the strange thing was that he almost transitioned to a canter twice, I could feel it and my teacher agreed but not quite there. Never mind, Tuesday isn't far away. So the lesson was fantastic and having another teacher was good for me, as I've been having a few issues with doubting if I can do the horse dreams I have, but knowing how easy it was for this young lady to take me on a ride and not patronise, or try to hold my hand so to speak has lifted my spirits. This also coincided about a rider I have just learnt of. Someone told me about this blind rider who does endurance riding which I admire anyone, regardless of ability for doing but that has made me realise again that being a horse person is actually within my grasp and there are many people out there rooting for me. Those of you who read this with curiosity, those who teach me every week, and those who do not yet know me but will. I have high ambitions, it is true, but standing in that stable today, having had a terrible time with my mobility and test of my independence, brushing that lovely animal, without someone panicking that I couldn't be left alone with a horse because I couldn't see reminded me that in the equine world, there are far many open minded people than not and those who are unsure, well, I'll just have to show them. Battling is something many of us with disabilities have to do on a daily basis and I've always said, the blindness is the easy part, people's attitudes is what I find hard to deal with. I'm sorry this blog wasn't essentially about my actual lesson today but I felt I should share some of what I've been going through and how the horses that we all love and have a strong passion for helped me to relax and think about things this afternoon and reflect that my dreams are possible, I just need to find a way to make them happen. Thanks for reading this very philosophical blog today and please pop back next week for more tales of riding from a blind rider. Marie

Lets Go!

After the longest week of my life, I was happily back in the saddle yesterday. I brushed the horse before my instructor placed the bridle and saddle upon him. Then I had to lead him out, remaining in complete control and making sure I was leading not the horse leading me. It's a good feeling having a wonderful animal as huge as a horse walk beside me and know that he's listening to my hands under his chin. It felt mighty good to sit back in the saddle and take up my reins. The lesson started well, did a few good trots and then I thought I was going to have another canter nightmare on my hands as I seemingly was not getting the "I want to canter" message across. But after a few failed attempts, got two really good canters out of him. I also felt my hands were a lot more in tune with the horse's mouth and only needed a few corrections. I really need to learn to be firmer about my legs on the horse's sides and staying in the saddle. Slowly, it's coming and I know I will get there and keep improving. Stay tuned for more updates soon, Marie

Ending On a High

The stables where I ride are on Pony Camp next week so you'll be glad to hear this is my last blog for a week or so. I hope they all have a wonderful time but I know I'll miss the horses incredibly. Anyway, onto my lesson today. And yes, it was a fabtabulous one. I was back on trusty Shadow today, [yep, really making me get used to different horses], but its great and a fantastic learning curve for me. So Shadow and I were reunited and he made me work. I had to be really bossy both with my legs and using the half halts today as we nearly went trotting down a hill but its safe to say I have the handle on the half halts now. Along with some good trotting and some fantastic leg work and rein work from myself, even if I do say so, Shadow was a dream to work with, despite him not stopping for my instructor, but more about that soon.

Some Great Cantering

You've heard me bitch and moan about my lack of ability to get the horses to canter. Well, my instructor took a crop with us today, didn't use it but Shadow must have known it was there and cantered like his heart depended on it. I'm sure horses, like us, love to let lose and Shadow didn't disappoint today, so much so he wouldn't stop so I got the best canter out of any horse I've ridden so far. One extreme to another, eh? As you can tell, he did stop eventually and before you ask, I wasn't in control of the reins as I'm still learning so my hand was gripped onto my saddle. But we all know what my future holds, cantering with the horse's reins in my firm control. I am now OK to trot and walk without being lead on the whole and my progress is testament to the trust I've built with my instructor and the horses I'm riding. It felt good to canter like that and getting into the rhythm, like everything else seems more natural every time I do it. Horse riding is the best thing I've ever done! It lifts my spirits and the cuddle and kiss I had with my handsome friend this afternoon made me feel so good. He trusts me as much as I trust him and I truly feel I ended this spell of riding on a pure high. Can't wait to get back into the saddle already and continue to learn so much both from my instructor and from the magnificent creatures that allow us to partner with them in their beautiful world.

Getting Control

Frustration was a hefty part of my mood last Thursday and I couldn't bring myself to share my misery with you all. But today, despite the weather being the moodier, my mood was as bright as sunshine after riding. I rode another horse today, a beautiful gelding called Kenny. He's a little more bouncier in his gait but more responsive to get cantering, hence the switch. It's been a while since I had a good canter and struggled to get him to do it at first but on two occasions I managed to and fell into his rhythm rather well. I'm still holding back a little I think and he felt that and quickly transferred back to a trot. Getting to know a horse is one thing for a rider but for the horse to know you is also another thing you need to remember. He has a quick speed naturally and my instructor asked me to get him to go quicker and be more forward in his walking. I did this with simple nudging from my legs, or as we say in horse riding, squeeze the sides but gently enough and without the hips to tell your horse you don't want a trot, but just to walk faster, "Step out". I succeeded in this quite effectively and another thing I did notice, as did my instructor was my hands are doing what they are supposed to and not their aerodynamic demonstrations on the rains as they were the previous classes. I have a real issue with my reins constantly lengthening and a tip I read on School your horse blog was to ensure you keep your thumbs firmly on the reins so they don't lengthen and you have total control of your horse at all times. After all, you're in charge. So I think once I gain a bit more confidence and be a little bossier, my cantering will be flying and slowly but surely, I'm feeling like I am improving. Despite even the bad rides, I have come on so much since I started riding a year ago and I'm super pleased and hope Thursday's lesson is as good as today's, if not better.

Put Your Leg on

In good news today, my movement is becoming more fluid and natural. My hands are getting used to what I need them to do and I'm gradually learning with ease to move the horse where I need it to be. The bad news, putting my leg on to get the horse to canter as this particular one needs a lot of leg and to be heavy in the saddle to get it to transition from a trot to a canter has so far failed very miserably. This is the good part of switching horses though as I said in my previous post that horses are as different as you and I and it's one area now I need to work on. Putting your leg on a horse, depending on what you are doing with your body gives a horse a clear message. We squeeze them to walk on and squeeze again to transition to a trot and again for a canter. However, some horses need a little more to push them from one transition to the next and my "keeping leg on" motion is not yet strong enough. So next lesson, switching up horses again to someone I haven't rode in a long while who I know from previous experience is hard to get going. So time to work those inner thigh muscles. Overall, I was pleased with my class today as I managed to keep the horse trotting even when she was slowing down, I put my leg back on her and kept her going. Plus, moving her to the left of the road and keeping her straight was much improved on last lesson so I made a few steps progress. Now onto the hard work. But I know with time, I'm gradually getting better so I'm not dismayed and am eager to learn more; which I know I will thanks to the amazing horses and great instructor

Switching Up is A Good Move

No, don't panic, it's not past Tuesday, I've upped my lessons to two a week.

 

Thursday's Lesson

 

I've been riding a beautiful white horse named Shadow the past month or so while learning to canter. He's responsive and made me work in my previous lesson. But as I was told on the Tuesday, I was being switched to another horse so I learnt how different horses need to be handled and so I'm not too complacent in the saddle during trotting and cantering.

 

All horses have a different rhythm and different personality, why shouldn't they? They are, after all, individuals despite them travelling in packs in the wild. So I need to remember that while on the back of a horse, its responses to me may differ than another horse's. Not to mention how fast or smooth it travels will differ greatly also.

 

Anyway, Thursday I arrived to be put on Bella again; a beautiful mare who I learnt to rise trot on and whom I had developed a great soft spot for. Over the months I'd ridden her, I learnt how she could be stubborn and mindful, like any typical woman, I can hear most men say. But I found her irresistible and a sweetheart and being back on her was like falling back into a familiar comfortable chair. Yet, it was different this time. I had been learning, as I previously said, to move the horse and control it much more in my previous lesson with Shadow. So having control of Bella was another new challenge I was facing.

 

She's lighter in the mouth so much less rein work needs to be done on her and this is a skill I'm determined to perfect before long. Judging through my hands how the horse is responding and knowing when I need to push on with the leg more. I sure found that out later in the lesson.

 

So we trotted, and my instructor was pleased how I adjusted to rising trot back on Bella after all this time. I have to say, secretly, I'm still amazed how easy it now comes. It's almost second nature. The little parts we're adding feel still quite alien, like the push of the hips when transition and the manoeuvring that I know in time will be done without much thought.

 

Cantering? Really?

 

Clearly, trotting with Bella comes much more naturally for me than cantering on her as I've not done that before. And sadly, cantering wasn't going to happen during Thursday's class. Bella needs much more leg than Shadow did and this is again another difference that you learn quickly about the horse beneath you. I couldn't get her to go but seemed to make a little headway with the new method of moving this beautiful mare beneath me.

 

I look forward to Tuesday's lesson and hope you'll join me for the next entry.

 

Marie

 

which hand? which leg? what is she Doing?

No, I haven't yet lost my mind. But learning some of the things I've been learning this week is sure to blow my mind at some point or it will, like most things, just click.

 

 

Anyone who says riding is easy, you just get on a horse and the horse does the work has clearly never learnt to ride properly.

 

 

Alongside my cantering, my lesson on Tuesday consisted of moving the horse again. Instead of just the reins, legs are used more effectively from the rider to move the horse to the side. This entails what I can only describe as a coordinated minefield, at least that's how it felt during my lesson.

 

I touched on this in my last blog but now I'm getting a better idea of what I'm supposed to be doing, although if you asked the horse I was riding he would have asked "what is she doing," or more to the point, "what does she want me to do?" But as in all learning curves, we have to go through the bumps to make it a smooth ride.

 

On Tuesday, I just was not getting it. Hands were confusing the poor horse so much, I bet he was glad to rid himself of me. To move the horse left, not turn, move, the hand needs to pull gently toward you, not how you turn left where you ask the horse to turn its head to the left but just a subtle action with your left hand and a push of your right leg to let the horse know he needs to move to the left. The opposite works for moving to the right. And always ensure your hands return to the central point once the required movement has been complete.

 

I know all of this is necessary for my knowledge to become an accomplished rider and will all make sense along the way but Tuesday was mind boggling to me.

 

 

Half Halt

Because I'm being given the reins more and more during my lessons, having the horse listen to me rather than looking to my instructor is a challenge I'm also facing. So in comes the half halt. This is a clever technique where the rider is essentially telling the horse, "Hey, you need to listen to me". Little half movements as though you were halting the horse, but quickly release the reins in a gentle rhythm allows you to demonstrate through the horse's mouth that his attention needs to be on you, his rider. How the bit works, I'll come to in a later post. But by this rhythmic method, by allowing the bit to let your horse know, I'm in charge, you can quickly gain much more control effectively. I was very surprised how quickly this technique worked. After a few moments, the horse wasn't trying to follow my instructor and was walking in a nice straight line and responding to me.

 

So until next time, thanks for reading guys.

 

More To riding than, Well, Riding

A lot of the opposition I've faced in my life has revolved around my sight impairment. This is still true with riding and being around horses. Thankfully, not where I ride, however. Once I knew I was achieving my goals on the back of the horse, I knew one day, I wanted to own my own horses. That is still a dream but I knew that in order to be a good horse person, I would need to learn how to care for these beautiful animals. Being blind strikes fear into most people and because the increase of para equestrianism, being on the back of a horse is a little more acceptable but some still have their reservations about allowing the disabled to ride freely. I am aware of restrictions I will have to put myself under as a horse owner, when I have my own and will no doubt adjust to taking care of my horses with techniques that work, but I know I will one day, finances aside, be able to own my own horses and care for them. One of the restrictions is definitely riding out but there are ways even around this, ride out with others or have someone sighted alongside you on the ground but it's not impossible. Riding aside, and back to caring though. The people I've spoken to who almost fall into fits of apprehension when they discover I not only ride but am learning Stable management is hilarious. "What if you get kicked, or bitten or stood on?" they ask with trepidation in their voices as though no sighted rider or horse owner or anyone working with horses has never had these things happen to them. Some have said my mum, despite my being 27 years old, is irresponsible for letting me go off on my "crazy whims" of wanting to do such things as ride and learn how to care for horses. I'm lucky, I guess, my mum was a horse owner herself in her youth and frequently tells me she was bitten, kicked and stepped on more times than she cares to remember and there's nothing wrong with her sight even now. My attitude is, it happens, it happens. It's about learning how to be around the horses, how to handle them and ensure they're working with you and not against you. As in riding on the horse's back, trust is a huge issue in my book and once your horse trusts that while you're brushing near his sensitive hooves or around his delicate face, that you mean him no harm, then his level of calmness and submission will rise around you. I started off reading a great book by Heather smith Thomas, "Care and Management of Horses" from the iBooks store that taught me a lot of things I needed to know. Spacial awareness, for example, and how you need to let your horse know to get out of your space if he tries to crowd you. How leading him should be done with your shoulder against his to ensure you're leading, not him. And many things I have read in that book are helping me along with the instruction from my teacher. So far, I've learnt to remove all my horses tack after a ride, how to brush him, how to be around his legs, how to move and constantly allow him to know where I am, how to brush mane and tail, move with him when he moves or move him out of my space if he encroaches on it. I've also learnt how to lead correctly and before long, more little things shall be coming, I have no doubt. I just wanted to note that even this side is possible and I'm learning bit by bit, as I am in riding and both are going hand in hand with one another. It's a great learning curve and I'm thankful I found a stable where they're open minded enough and willing enough to teach me these things. I'll be forever grateful to them for this experience and hopefully future experiences I may have with them.

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?