Anyone else have down days?

[sidesaddlegirl]

I'm just feeling a bit down tonight as I feel like a cr*p rider and that I'm not progressing (no money for lessons), my flippin' horse refuses to canter on the left lead for me even though she does a beautfiul left lead canter in her field and on the lunge (I know I'm crooked that's affecting it and always try to keep myself straight) and then schooling today, I caught sight of myself in the mirror while trying to straighten myself and I looked like a fat girl bouncing around on her horse

Sigh, maybe I should just stick to walk hacks!!

Biccies all round if you've gotten this far!!

 

[mrsew]

Oh bless you Hun, we all have days like this....sometimes even weeks!! I'm sure you are a fab rider and not a fat girl bouncing around at all. I'm no expert but my trainer says that if you are getting the wrong lead go on a circle, get outside bend, with you looking to the outside (this gets your weight right apparently) and then ask for correct canter lead as normal. Good luck & don't be down. Sxx

 

[wizzi901]

yep!!

Stick at it,.....it seems to go round in circles, sometimes progress then sometimes it all go pants for a while!!

I had to have my horse destroyed last thursday he was 28...I have to admit since then I have kind of been appreciating the ones i have that are alive a whole lot more, and the fact we cant get a medium trot to save our life suddenly just doesnt seem to matter!!

 

[Flibble]

Ooh yes I specialise in down days. In fact it is often my opinion that I should take up knitting embroidery or housework but then I come to my senses and realise I love being very smelly and broke and perhaps I should call myself Stig_ess of the Dump!

 

[Izzwizz]

Dont beat yourself up, we all have days like this I'm sure. Why not get someone to lunge you and see how that works out with the canter problems? Do you have someone who could help you with this? I feel a bit down myself, my girl was diagnosed with a DDFT injury this week and I wont be able to ride her for some time. Focus on your girl and your good points and work on them together. Make the most of her as you never know whats round the corner - I know only too well!

 

[cyearsley]

....that's why we're all addicts, the immense highs followed by the crashing lows

Keep your chin up, it's the same for all of us, honest.

 

[Mosh]

Yep. I'm having a rough time of it as well.
I'm selling my horse and gonna give up, I think. My confidence is shot and I genuinely don't want to do this anymore, I never want to put myself in this situation again lol.
Keep at it (bit rich coming from me, but its taken me a few weeks to come to my own conclusion) and it will get there.
Lots of hugs, its a horrible feeling.

 

[BFG]

We all get hung up on the detail but please remember we are all very lucky to have horses in our lives and there are so many people out there that would love to be in out position.

Your horses will love you no matter how you ride so maybe stay out of the school and go for some fun rides to remind yourself just how good it is to own a horse.

This is a well meant kick up the a*se.

 

[dobbin27]

Definitely!! I have lots of these days.

I completely agree with BFG though, don't get hung up on the Canter stuff, go and do something with your horse you really enjoy and leave it for another time!!

At the end of the day, immaterial of how much you want to do with your horse, its all supposed to be fun!!

Good Luck!!

 

[Nosey]

Yes I certainly do and often look to this forum for inspiration!!
Have you got a good friend whose riding you like and who you respect to give you a hand with your schooling? You could do it in return for jobs - ie muck out for her or whatever.

Read some motivational books to perk you up - I am a complete Jane Savoie fan. You are NOT a fat girl bouncing about...beating yourself up will get you nowhere! If you think you are a fat girl bouncing round you wiill ride as one!! You are Ankie...or Laura B or whoevers riding inspires you...even thinking that will make you sit up a bit more and make you feel a better rider!

Do some work on your own without stirrups. Use a neck strap and just do walk halts etc to start with till you feel a bit safer. I only had to do this for a short while to feel a significant improvement in my position - it gave me a lot more feel.

Break the canter problem down. Get her soft and listening to you at walk and trot first, get control of her shoulder as thats where you are probably getting probs with your strike offs...and really importantly stay calm 'cos if you get stressed about yourself or her prob with left lead you will introduce tension into the both of you and it will only get harder. Mares are often particularly quick to pick up on this!

Good luck...you are not alone!!

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

Thanks guys for the support

I was dreading schooling today but I decided just to do simple stuff today. I lunged her for about 20 minutes just doing lots of transistions on both reins and stretching out. Then when it came to riding after, I just did alot of walk/trot transistions and working on softening and bending and Hattie started working in a nice soft frame.

I'm not even going to think about the left lead canter for the time being, so it looks like it's just walk/trot test for me for the time being!

I know i'm lucky to have horses in my life, goodness knows I was horseless until my 30's and had to be content with riding lessons but at the same time, I'm a prefectionist and always like giving 110%. I hate doing stuff half *ssed.

Anyways, thank you guys for giving me a good kick up the bum!!