Fun Times

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

Better Days

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

Always Learning

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

My Horse advertisement

I'm on the hunt for a loan horse, at the right price, maybe even buying one. However, I'd prefer to loan to begin with but I'm not ruling buying out as it's a good market at the moment. But I have been looking in this area and so far haven't found anything suitable just yet. I know it takes time so I thought I'd write down all of my requirements as they stand. Loan/buy: open to either but prefer part loan to ease into the responsibility of taking care of a horse. Purpose; This sounds obvious right, but even this question in my head needs to be answered. so

• 1. for riding and to get me into more regular riding than my current two days a week lessons.
• 2. Training. I'd like to learn the disciplines of dressage and maybe jumping so having access to a horse on a more regular basis would be great for my training.
• 3. Competing. Yes, it's something I'd like to see how far I can go with.
• 4. Becoming a better horse carer. Learning a horse's needs on a day to day basis and knowing how to take care, groom, care for when, God forbid they're sick, feeding, learning behaviourisms, and all that goes along with owning a horse.

so those are my reasons behind this new venture. We all know once you catch the bug, it generally gets worse not better. hee.

Breed: Cob preferably.
age:8/9 to about 15/16
Colour: No preference
gender: Gelding or filly. Maybe a mare.

I need the horse to be well accustomed to riding with a bridle and saddle, [broken in well]. A calm disposition yet very willing and responsive. No biting/kicking or other majorly undesirable habits. I know no horse is perfect but bad behaviour to the minimal. Well mannered and halts well. I am totally blind and although I know some horses may kick out on occasion or bite, I really don't want to deal with that on a regular daily occurrence. It would be nice if the horse had been socialised around dogs and was comfortable around them as I have a guide dog and he'd be with me most of the time.

an open medical history should be disclosed wherever possible.

size: at least 13.3 HH max 16.5

experience: intermediate or advanced, no novice or retired horses. I need one that is still going to be ridden. Preferably trained in dressage/jumping.
Shoes: This doesn't matter. Whatever is best for the horse.

Loan requirements: to be discussed.

If any of you wonderful horse people have any ideas to add to this, as it's my first time writing an advertisement for a horse, please comment and leave feedback. It probably sounds too simplistic, what I've written.

Thanks again,

Marie