A Blustery Ride

The wind seemed to come from absolutely no where this morning. I woke up and the winds had descended. Dad gave me a ride to the yard and I arrived to learn that my lovely Shadow was lame so I couldn't ride him today. I asked if he was in his stable, he was so I went and gave him many cuddles. He seemed a little down in the dumps bless him. I'd chosen to ride the pretty mare I'd rode last Saturday. I mounted her and had her owner with me again today. We took the farm hack this week and I wasn't sure how I'd handle the ride as I was in hospital for a wisdom tooth being removed on Monday so have had anaesthetic and lots of pain relief. I was pleasantly surprised though and managed to sit in the saddle with little issue. I felt very comfortable and in sync with this quick, prancing pony. We were in lead today as she's quite a fast horse and was full of beans. I asked for a trot and got more than I bargained for. Canter! On the path, nooooo! Slowed her to a trot and then halt. Everyone was concerned but I was just like, is she OK? She was fine, standing there like it was the most normal thing in the world, didn't even ask that much for a trot either but Missy thought it was fun to canter on and stood there like butter wouldn't melt. We went onto the field and got another good canter, this time I asked for it. I need to go with her a lot more as her gait is so short and fast but I've only ridden her twice and need to relax into her gait a lot more. We did another trot and this was much more in control and my rhythm was spot on on this trot. Down the cobbles and had a chat with her owner. She asked if her horse was the fastest I'd ridden, I said she probably was and she asked if I liked fast or slow horses, I said I liked fast horses as crazy as that must sound not being able to see. She laughed and said yes but if that's what I liked. It was nice to chat about which horses I liked to ride and why, it gave me a clearer idea of what I like in a horse and what I would be looking for when I eventually loan or buy my own horse. I concluded I like fast horses but don't mind horses with long yet slower gaits. I don't particularly enjoy slow, ploddy horses, as I feel I'm forever getting them to go. This may sound crazy to you guys but I can't help what I like. I also said I like horses that are lighter on the leg aids and light in the mouth. But not too light. Fussy? Maybe. After the cobbles which this particular horse handles nicely as she walks so prancy, you hardly know you're on the cobbles as some of our riding school horses drag their hooves and you have to push on harder with your legs to stop them tripping by keeping them in a forward walk. A last trot which was beautiful! I was totally in her rhythm and I really enjoy her trot now I have mastered the rhythm of it. On the back lane and got her into a canter. My RI asked to lean back and go with her a bit more, I did this and we had about 3 or 4 strides and then she trotted and I lost a stirrup. Her owner thinks the caravan that is parked along the back lane is not to her taste and spooks her a little. Apparently,she doesn't like the back lane oh so much so I didn't really mind that we hadn't got a good canter. I did feel a little unseated after losing that stirrup but didn't fall. The wind made it tough today hearing much so I was glad of someone with me not just because I'm riding an unfamiliar pony but to assist me a little too. We arrived back to the yard and I helped to untack her and gave her a polo. She is such a sweet horse. I really enjoy riding her. Thanks for reading and until tomorrow, Marie

Drenched and testy Ponies

I picked today to do two rides. And it definitely felt like April today with the sharp showers we experienced. I asked to ride Topaz at first and helped to brush and tack him up. I was having bridle issues today. Not sure how I got it backwards but there you go. I mounted him and we were in lead file so had someone walking with me. He was full of energy and our trots were fabulous and my diagonals were bang on! I'm so pleased these are coming along nicely. It felt slightly strange having ridden a horse with a short stride and then riding my lovely long strided friend today but a different stride and gait is always good to get used to in my opinion. Our canters were good today. RI just advised I use seat to keep him going more but I was pleased on the two I got. Then, something bad happened! It started raining! And I don't mean drops of it, it poured. Poor pony got soaked as we didn't foresee such a down pour and had neglected to put an exercise sheet on. This started to give me trouble. Horse did not want to stand still. Wanted to do backing up, fidgeting and then walk into some trees. I did get rescued this time as I had no way of turning him. I never felt unsafe or scared during the time, felt weird going backwards but did manage to get him forward but then he wouldn't stop and we ended up in the trees. She backed him up for me and I was lead the rest of the way as he just was not listening and was in a pure rush to get home. Being part thoroughbred, his blood gets colder quicker I was told and once we got back, I helped untacking him and putting on coolers and a thin rug to dry him and help him warm up. He was shivering to get his body warm. I felt so bad for him. Poor Topaz's mane was dripping wet. I did ask after my second ride how he was and he was doing much better, in his stable rug and much warmer and happier again. This incident didn't put me off. I kept calm and knew that I would have to deal with this kind of thing at some point. And I have a lot of trust in the girl who was taking our ride, my usual instructor so I felt no need to worry or panic which I know if I had, would have only made the situation worse. I rode Shadow next. This horse has been out with me on countless occasions in the rain so I knew he would be fine. He had his exercise sheet on during our ride so he was much happier than poor Topaz had been. I decided, being a big brave girl today there was something I needed to attempt. I needed to mount my lovely white friend from the ground instead of a mounting block. If I was out hacking, and fell off, providing I could locate my horse again, I'd have to get back on without a mounting block so I figured I should try it. They lowered his stirrup to the lowest one, I only have little legs standing at 5,4 and even though it did make it slightly harder, I couldn't have reached the stirrup otherwise. I put my left hand on my reins and the front of the saddle, Right one on the back, and jumped up with a little push from my RI. Swung the leg over and in the saddle I went on this huge 15,3 horse. I swear he's bigger after today heehee. We lead again so had a leader, well walker. Trots started lovely and got my diagonals bang on again with him which is pleasing. Ground wasn't as great today and he wasn't as fond of going into canters on it either but got a short but nice one. After that canter though, and we had done about 4 trots too, he started to lose interest. Our last two trots were filled with effort and by that point, I felt the same way. Nearly time to head home? Yes,! No canter on the back lane so RI made me go back and try again. Got a few strides, he had had enough and at that point, I was so wet and cold, so had I. Time for him to go get some hay and for me to go home and change clothes. It was an interesting and yet cold ride today. I wish I could have done something more to help Topaz during my first ride but not sure, I did everything I was asked to do. Kind of feel, my sight let me down here as a sighted rider wouldn't have allowed him to go into the trees. So slightly disappointed there. Just glad he got home and got warm and Shadow was good overall too. I know I was slightly lacking in energy by that point too being so cold and wet but glad I had all those experiences. It really makes you think. So until next time, Thanks, Marie

New Horse

I arrived at the yard, in not a very pleasant mood. Been stressed out by the incompetence of our NHS but that aside, I was really looking forward to getting to the yard and seeing the horses! I got there and was given a choice of riding a familiar horse or riding an unfamiliar one. I opted to go for a new challenge. This particular horse belongs to one of the girls who helps out at our yard and she would be walking with me today whilst I rode her horse. I was obviously quite nervous of this fact but mounted the lovely mare and we lead the ride which seemed to be a very busy one this morning. The farm hack was our chosen route today and as soon as I asked her to walk on, the quick and prancy gait surprised me. She is a 15.3 HH of Welsh Section D and she has a really different gait to any horse I have ridden before. It feels like she really picks her hooves up and our RI said she's like a prancing pony. She really does feel that way. The first trot shocked me. She has a small gait and this took a while to get used to. By our last trot today I had her rhythm pretty accustomed. Onto the field and one of the other girls ran with me as this was the first time I'd ridden this horse and I got into a lovely canter. She has a bounce but a small stride so its quite unusual as its not like anything I've experienced so far but I really like her canter. Another canter which I didn't seem as in synch with her but it was OK. She was a very good girl and the second canter was longer. More trots and onto the back lane where they were lighting a fire and we just got a fast trot. I really enjoyed riding this horse and received a lovely compliment from her owner and regular rider, she commented on how she thinks I'm a good rider and that really makes me feel proud. I was riding her personal horse and she said she'd be happy for me to ride her again. How nice is that? I only did one ride today but it was a really amazing one. A great change and another kind of gait and horse to get used to. I'm loving it! :) Thanks for reading, Marie

Sunday's Ride: Back To Hard Work

I got my usual instructor back on Sunday and boy do my muscles know about it today? I'm not complaining, I loved every minute of it. And boy did those horses test me yesterday. I rode Topaz first, and he was being a very good boy. Lovely forward trots and the diagonals were back yesterday. I was sincerely out of practice having not done them on the past four or five rides but she had me back into the swing of them soon enough, keep yelling, "which diagonal are you on?" I eventually got them back. After our first trot, we had to turn around to go on the field on our first canter, The pony in front of us turned and then I put my right leg on and brought him round on it to turn him 180 degrees. The girl walking with me was amazed and said I'd turned him on a very small circle and she was pretty impressed. I think that's a good thing, right? I literally felt him turning around on my leg, it was a cool feeling. We went on the farm hacks on both rides on Sunday which I enjoyed. The first canter was lovely on him, so smooth and forward. I definitely prefer the smooth gait with a slight bounce like Topaz's or Shadow's very smooth gait. I had someone walking with me on this ride but she didn't need to do much in all honesty. Just was there, just in case. More trotting and another canter on the field which was more prolonged and energetic. Down the cobbles and along to the back lane where the hard work began. He was not cantering, he'd got it into his pretty head that he was the king of the world and was not cantering for me. So as the other pony had basically had the same idea, our instructor made us come back and try again. Go back? Forget that, Topaz thought to himself and so he and I got into our biggest battle. He was not turning, he was going home to his hay. Yes, Topaz, you are turning, I will make sure of it. My instructor didn't come to assist, just told me to keep being bossy, don't let him win. And he didn't. I have to say, a 16.1 HH of half a ton of horse beneath me, refusing to do what I asked was slightly unnerving, all that fidgeting, all that, no, no, don't make me go, and then the ultimate feeling of whoohoo, he did what I asked made me smile. So we tried again, fast, fast, trot, oooh, maybe I'll canter, nah, I won't and we were done. I was not at all disappointed, he tested me today and I did win the biggest battle. I did a second ride on Sunday on the gorgeous gelding called Kenny who I rarely ride. He has a very bouncy gait and he's my instructor's favourite. He's the lovely one who likes to lean on your hands if you let him. I'm glad to say, he doesn't do it with me now as he's realised that he can't. I mounted him and was waiting around in the sunshine a while as we were waiting for some other riders. We were so short of leaders yesterday, my instructor even had to lead. I was on the ride with two adults who needed leaders and a little girl who my instructor was leading. I was basically told I'd be on my own completely on this ride. I was not bothered by this in the least! After chilling on a very impatient pony after around twenty minutes, in the glorious spring sunshine, we set off. I was bringing up the rear to begin with but Kenny decided Bella, who was in lead who we call his girlfriend was better to be behind. My instructor allowed this as I could hear Bella's hooves better anyway. A lovely walk up the hill and then a nice forward trot, still being asked, "which diagonal?" I found it slightly easier on him, maybe because he has a bouncier gait and its more pronounced, I'm not sure. Then onto the field for a canter. Another horse that decided it was the day to test me. We didn't get one but I wasn't altogether surprised. This was the first time I'd ridden him without a walker or leader at all so the trust must have taken a slight dip. I patted him all the same and continued to test my diagonals on some trots. On some dirt track, I found it slightly harder to hear Bella's hooves and was asked to watch my distance so I slowed him up. My contact did feel slightly different. As I have said, he leans, and so when you pick up contact, it seems hard to me to judge if I've got good contact initially or he's leaning. Onto the last field and a squeeze, trot, another squeeze and canter. It was a good one but I really had forgot how bouncy he was and needed to go with him more. But after this, as its the first canter I've done independently on this horse, and with it being my instructor's favourite one, she gave me the best compliment. She said, I'm really a confident rider and I'm improving every time she sees me ride and she's very pleased with me. I did beam a little inside. This is a horse I have probably rode much less than Shadow, Bella and Topaz and with it being her favourite too, that just meant so much more. Lots of nice pats and some lovely chats, I feel more like I'm on autopilot in walk these days, keeping an ear to the horse in front but being able to enjoy the rides out. I guess I should enjoy them as when I start lessons, I know that's going to be a pure half an hour of solid hard work. :) Thanks for reading. Marie

Saturday's Ride

Saturday's ride was uneventful and part of me was considering not going at all. I've been full of the evil cold all week and if it had been raining when I'd left the house, I might have not left at all. But went to the yard anyway. So I chose to ride Shadow yesterday. The weather was such a mixed bag and I was not feeling as energised so my lovely, trusted, white companion was just what I needed. We didn't have our usual instructor again but it was still a very good ride. Managed to get in two canters. My trots were forward and he really was giving me an easy time of it. I felt slightly off balance in my first trot and canter yesterday but considering my left ear has been gunged up all week, I wasn't overly surprised by this. So the first canter was pretty abysmal to be honest. My second canter was lovely on him. He was so good and forward. The level of confidence I have on him is just so incredible to me. The girl who took us out had a walker with me but even the girl walking with me was insistent I didn't need anyone holding onto Shadow in walk, trot, or canter. A horse in front of us spooked a little and Shadow obviously reacted but I had it under control. The girl taking the ride asked the younger girl walking with me to hold onto him. She did and quickly discovered how much Shadow did not like this. It was almost like he was saying, "hey, she has it under control! We're a team, but out!" :) I was pleased I'd rode him and we even saw a rainbow as the rain and sunshine were in a batter yesterday. A nice quiet and yet jovial ride on one of my favourite ponies. Just what recovering from a cold needs. After a huge cuddle I left to get warm instead of doing two rides. But it was a good one and seriously felt the improvement again.

Contrasted Rides

This weekend was a true contrast. I rode Shadow on Saturday and had a reasonably good ride on him. Yesterday however, Sunday, was a different story. I won't say they were bad or even unproductive rides, they were just hard work! I rode Bella first who was being a bit of a moody mare. I had to be very bossy both with leg and vocally with her yesterday. Never even got her into a canter. Then i rode Harry who was in a very Harry like mood, ploddy and just simply hard work. My legs got a fantastic work out yesterday but Harry did surprise us all and got him from halt into a canter on the back lane. So despite all the hard work, it really paid off for me in the end. I have had a brief canter on Harry once before but this was a proper canter so was pleased with it. I hope next weekend brings more fun and games with the horses. Marie

More Diagonals

Riding was fun yesterday. I was on Topaz and he was in his own little world yesterday so took a bit to get him to listen and do as asked but we got there. We took the road route yesterday and followed another horse. My trots consisted of my instructor yelling, "which diagonal are you on?" And me yelling back, "Left" or "right". On all trots yesterday, got it right on. Only problem I had was on the last trot when she asked me to switch and Topaz decided because I was sitting in trot for two strides, we were not trotting anymore. Our canters were definite but short lived. I was impressed on the back lane though, he wasn't for cantering but I got him there twice,even though trotting was what he was wanting to do. Not much else to report. Was a good and uneventful ride yesterday. Thanks Marie