Advice needed r.e. restarting lessons..

PinkFairy

PinkFairy

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Hello all, I haven't ridden for a while due to ill health but now I'm *dying* to get back in the saddle. I would like advice about re starting riding, as I'm not too sure about where I really want to go to be honest. I'm hearing impaired so am put off the idea of lessons, because I struggle to hear directions, but am very confident riding on my own etc. I have done a lot of walk, trot, canter, jumping etc so am not exactly new to riding, but was wondering what you think would suit me? I think I will probably do a couple of private lessons to ease back into things, but if I'm honest, I'm quite nervous of doing lessons purely because I can't follow an instructor. Any ideas??

P.S. I was at Camber Sands tonight and saw two bays and one grey being ridden across the beach which made me miss riding even more! It's given me a massive kick up the bum
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I groomed and rode a pony and horse when I was 11 til I was 16 at a private yard, then to the riding school that I have in mind (however, the relationship between myself at the YM may be a bit rocky due to the way things ended) and then I went to Hadlow College which is where I continued to learn to jump
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I'd love to ride across Camber, but I am horse-less! Lol.
 
Next time I go (won't be until they open the beach again all day in Oct) you can come and have a go if you want?

I expect you will have a horse by then though.
 
My OH was talking to me tonight about getting a loan horse (with view to buy) for me but it won't be until I'm driving which hopefully won't be much longer
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Thank you for the offer, shall have to bear that in mind, it really looked fantastic tonight watching the riders go across the beach.

ETA - Sorry, read my reply back to myself and realised how silly I sound!! I wouldn't want to put you out at all, nor would I like to seem like a joyrider. I miss riding very much, and OH gave me a stark talking to about making it happen if I want it enough, which is what I intend to do
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Thank you for your offer, maybe if I do have a horse by then, I shall join you anyway!
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Hehe.
 
Did you happen to see where they parked the trailer/lorry as I heard the car park is closed at 7pm which is when you are allowed to ride on the beach in the summer?
 
It was in the car park which is right on the beach, where the cafe is. I was there at around seven ish, we left at around 9pm which is also when the trailer left (possibly a little before nine).
 
Just wondering re the hearing impairment if a motorcycle intercom type headset might be able to be set up for you to hear the instructor? May be worth investigating as I'm sure it'd make a big difference. Would any grants be available?
 
I am just looking into share options, as my OH is off two days a week, and is willing to be my driver til I can drive myself
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To be fair, the riding lessons are only to establish whether I am able to ride as I had a back injury and was told to take time off, and now I am looking at coming back into it, but there is no point looking at loans/shares if my back will hurt etc.. So I only really need to try it a couple of times to see how it goes. We tried headsets, but they didn't help me very much - I'm not 100% deaf, I have partial hearing.
 
I wonder if it would help to ask if you could start with a gentle hack out with the instructor rather than a lesson in the school - that way you'd be 1 to 1 with the instructor and he/she'd be at your level height wise which would help with the hearing I'd have thought? I always find an indoor school the sound is dampened by the surface and only certain instructors have the right sort of voice to carry properly. Are there particular 'pitches' of voice you find easier to hear eg men's? In which case maybe someone can recommend an instructor local to you with the 'right' sort of voice. Also maybe someone who is at a RS locally to you might be able to recommend a nice steady RS horse for you to get back on, I wouldn't have thought you'd want a bouncy one having had a back injury! Certainly helped me (just got back on after 25 years) having an armchair ride with smooth action but it still made my legs ache oh I am so unfit for riding!
 
Lol Dubsie, I have a feeling I will be walking like John Wayne and my legs will feel like they're made of jelly!! I will e-mail them about hacking out, I had an offer from a friend to go to her yard and ride one of her two horses, which my OH will take me to. Thanks for the advice, I will definitely email the school
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My YO is hearing impaired, she has an instructor with a very loud booming voice for when she is close up and has some other 'hand signals' if she is further away, admitedly she is riding her own horse - but she's also riding at elementary level dressage, its definitely working for her. it might be worth contacting your local riding school/centre to see if they can help - just to get you back in the saddle and then go from there good luck - i get really itchy feet if i have any prolonged time off riding so know how your feeling!
 
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Lol Dubsie, I have a feeling I will be walking like John Wayne and my legs will feel like they're made of jelly!!

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Amen to that! I started riding again a few months ago from a break of 3 years and my god, after the first couple of lessons I couldn't walk for a week
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worth it though! My legs don't even collapse when I dismount anymore
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They've invited me to go to the RS to have a chat and work out what I'd need. As the yard isn't far from my house, (approx 30min walk) I was wondering if anyone needed a hand with their horse 1 or 2 times a week - and get back into things that way. Not sure which way to go!
 
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Lol Dubsie, I have a feeling I will be walking like John Wayne and my legs will feel like they're made of jelly!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Amen to that! I started riding again a few months ago from a break of 3 years and my god, after the first couple of lessons I couldn't walk for a week
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worth it though! My legs don't even collapse when I dismount anymore
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Lol, I'm quite looking forward to it! It's got it's advantages, I'll be able to keep fit again!! Have developed unsightly wobbly arms and belly
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