Arghhhhh...please help me get my enthusiasm back!!

[DreamerII]

Sorry in advance for the rant that probably won't make sense!

I am so stuck right now!

I've just lost my job (although I did know that this was coming to an end) and am having serious doubts about being able to do what I want with Dreamer.

I know it is probably something that is just going to be a "knuckle down and keep going" type scenario and I know I just have to keep going and persevere through the tough times.

But I am seriously loosing all my enthusiasm to ride in general, let alone do anything with him!!

Every time I go into the school all we seem to do is warm up with a small amount of flatwork (usually just change of rein and circles) and then do a little jumping and that's it!

I really want to be able to do some flatwork with him without having to jump at then end...but he really HATES flatwork. It's got so bad as to the stage where I've considered giving him up (he's on loan) and then possibly thinking about getting another horse later in the year and then hopefully consider something that I can do a bit of everything on (even compete - that's something else Dreamer DOESN'T do).

But I think the world of him and everytime I think about giving him up I cry...because I don't want to really....and I think it's just that I need the support and help to get motivated again...also possibly some ideas on what I can do to help motivate him into enjoying some flatwork.

I've got the deal of a lifetime with this pony and I haven't ridden since last Tuesday because the weather has been so bad (again see, motivation really, because so many of you on here HAVE ridden in it).

I know in the summer we'll have the time of our life....our hacks are the best fun ever and I have friends that I can ride with, that'll help me from the ground and will be there when I need them. But while they're still at school during the week I don't seem to ride much and then I ride at the weekend and it's all rubbish because the weather is bad or I don't have the motivation!

I THINK I just need hugs and love vibes from all of you on here to help me get through this last bit of bad weather and to get me motivated to start riding again and to work harder with my pony!

 

[Hullabaloo]

Have you tried varying your flatwork and asking a few more questions of him. I recon my horse would be pretty bored if he just did circles and changes of rein. Maybe some lessons would help to give you inspiration, or get some ideas from magazines. Why do you have to jump him at the end of your schooling? Maybe try keeping jumping and flatwork sessions completely separate for a while so you can really focus on what you want.
Why does he not compete?

 

[kerilli]

don't feel bad about not riding in this terrible weather... if i had the choice, and didn't have to keep mine fit for imminent competitions, i wouldn't either! the ones i don't have to ride haven't been ridden in it, fwiw... especially the one who hates the wind and can buck for England!
it sounds as if you need a session with a really inspirational instructor, tbh. if that's not possible, why not try to accomplish different things - e.g. try leg yielding in walk if you've never tried that before, teach him that his body can do that too, or just really concentrate on your own position, posture and balance for 10 mins, take the pressure off the horse, and see if it improves him too... it usually does tbh. don't have an image in your mind of how he should be going, concentrate on how he feels at that moment and on which tiny adjustments you can make to improve it a tiny bit.
i'd play with things like teaching him to halt from you just bringing your shoulders back and rocking your pelvis, not using the reins at all... all these little things should help overall.
best of luck, look on the bright side, summer's coming!

 

[chriscrogul]

I wasn't lucky enough to have a sand school for many years; I kept horses in deepest darkest Brixton, from there I hunted, evented and dabbled with a bit of show jumping. I schooled on hacks, leg yielding and shoulder-in on quiet roads and bridle paths, walk to canter, rein back, correct canter lead on a straight line, sneaky circles on the common if no-one was around. I have never had my horses as fit since! They had to be ridden every day as I had no turnout. Now I have turnout and a sand school I am much lazier about it!

 

[Fransurrey]

I struggle badly with motivAtion at this time of year, so you're not alone. I haven't ridden since Monday, but have been able to both Tuesday and yesterday. It was just the thought of the choccy Easter egg waiting at home which drew me there, rather than to the grooming box! I'm hoping once Henry is shod on Friday, I'll miraculously find it (the enthusiasm!) somewhere, otherwise it's a waste of £75!

 

[DreamerII]

Thanks everyone!

I agree I do need to vary the flatwork a bit (I should have made it clear that I don't just change reins and circle when I do flatwork, just that seems to be our usual warm-up) and I jump so much because that's what he enjoys doing most.

Unfortunately don't have an access to an instructor, but I'm hoping now the better weather is on it's way I might be able to get out on more hacks with my friends and do a little school from there!

My best friend is coming up at the weekend and I'm going to give her STRICT instructions not to let me put ANY jumps out and hopefully from the ground she'll be able to help me with a few things (like leg-yeilds etc).

It really is the motivation I lack, if it's bad weather or just because I'd rather be at home in the warm with a cuppa and the TV!

I just need a kick up the backside and I know that....so thanks to those that are posting comments, you've helped a LOT!

 

[Scarlett]

Get an instructor, I know you say you dont have access but there must be a decent freelance instructer you could get out once a week/fortnight/month to help you? Sometimes a different set of eyes looking at a situation can really help and give you loads of new ideas - you might find he doesnt hate flat work and just finds it difficult for a different reason that you can work on and solve...

Clocks go forward at the weekend - summer is coming!

 

[kerilli]

ask your friend to take lots of photos (or, even better, vid too), i always find this supremely motivational!

 

[DreamerII]

kerilli I shall certainly ask her to take photos and video (the times she has done this in the past I have found help!)

Scarlett...I don't have any money to get out an instructor and I know that the freelance that we do have round here charge quite a lot. I will get my friend to help though, which should hopefully help me a bit!