Diary of a Rusty Rider

JenJ

JenJ

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Thought I'd start a new thread without having a specified 'part' number in the title, and just update this as I go.

Feel free to read, feel free not to read. Feel free to comment, feel free not to comment.

This was the original post

JenJ said:
Ok, so parts 1 and 2 were smuggled into SB, and Part 3 has only just been written, but now I'm riding more regularly (twice in 4 days :eek:) I thought I'd be brave and post in NL with all the proper riders.

I started riding in my teens, shared a couple of horses, with a 5 year gap in the middle, but until 2 months ago hadn't ridden for 6 years. I've discovered that getting older has a very detrimental affect in muscle memory, and though I wasn't a great rider before, I am abysmal now, and am going back to basics.

I tend to waffle a lot, but below are my reports on each ride so far...


Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4
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JenJ said:
...and part 5
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JenJ said:
Thanks for reading Jen :D

And part 6
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Today's update
 
jenhunt said:
sounds like you've been having fun! OH spotted the running info on your page and said "would like to meet.."
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This morning was so good, I'm still beaming now!

Running has been great for me, and I've changed so much (for the better!) since I started a few years ago.

Is your OH a regular runner then?
 
sorry, missed your reply to my last post! yes, he weighed in at 16 stone when I met him 9 years ago. he now weighs around 12 stone, and lost most of it by using the cross-trainer (or epileptic trainer as we know it!). He started running about 5 years ago when he was living in london on a pitiful salary and used running to get everywhere. He will now happily run a half marathon distance as part of his exercise regime.
I'd love to get back to running properly- maybe after this 41 mile walk tomorrow I'll have a bit more determination for it!

Don't worry about the odd crappy lesson. It happens to all of us, and as you say getting lost and cycling 16 miles maybe wasn't the best start! It took all my effort to get my rocket cob out of the driveway and up the hill yesterday, neither of us was really in the right frame of mind!
 
I've only caught up with these today; read the lot in one fell swoop! Well done, you're making progress. Funny how riding and biking muscles are so completely different, you'd not have thought that. I haven't ridden for almost the same amount of time but I think I'll start with exercising the hunters, at least that way we'll get fitter together!
 
Maesfen said:
I've only caught up with these today; read the lot in one fell swoop! Well done, you're making progress. Funny how riding and biking muscles are so completely different, you'd not have thought that. I haven't ridden for almost the same amount of time but I think I'll start with exercising the hunters, at least that way we'll get fitter together!
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It is odd the way fitness works. I started cycling almost 2 years ago and found it quite an effort despite being generally fit from running, and when I started riding this year, I was gobsmacked at the lack of riding fitness - clearly it doesn't transfer! It's coming back quickly though, so I guess the general fitness helps a bit.

jenhunt said:
I'd love to get back to running properly- maybe after this 41 mile walk tomorrow I'll have a bit more determination for it!
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Ooh, which walk are you doing? It's not the Across Wales one is it?
 
I was speaking to a personal trainer the other day and she said riding is the only sport where you use every muscle in your body. I guess that explains why general fitness does not mean you are riding fit. Good luck with the running and riding.
 
JenJ said:
Ooh, which walk are you doing? It's not the Across Wales one is it?
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we're doing the Lyke Wake Walk - 41 miles from Osmotherley on the west of the North York Moors to Ravenscar on the east coast. Its to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance after they saved my friend's life. She got kicked out hunting and shattered her leg, even coming through her leather riding boots! If it hadn't been for them, and the saint of a pony she was riding she would have lost too much blood and either lost her leg or not survived. :eek:

Please have a look at the link in my sig for more info!! :)
 
Ouch! The walk sounds great though. I'm on the iPhone with sigs switched off atm, and am going away for the weekend but I promise I'll have a look and sponsor you on Monday!

Enjoy x
 
Ooooh although the actual lesson wasn't exactly a success it sounds like you made a lot of progress in other areas. Fingers crossed the share works out for you (Widger from Fetch BTW :) )
 
glamourpuss said:
Ooooh although the actual lesson wasn't exactly a success it sounds like you made a lot of progress in other areas. Fingers crossed the share works out for you (Widger from Fetch BTW :) )
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Helloooooooo my darling! Didn't realise this was you! Mwah xxxx

(yes, I walked away feeling very positive whereas all day I'd been trying to think of excuses not to go back. Ever)
 
You have a fab writing style!!! I've only just seen this so I've read all of them today!

Don't worry about a bad lesson - we all have them. I remember one spectaularly bad lesson - more embarrassingly I've had my mare 10 years, and she point blank refused to cooperate!!! Makes the good ones even more worthwhile tho
 
well done Jen, it's little things like that that got my OH into riding in the first place!
He got sick of running when I was hunting that he decided he wanted to try riding. We went on a couple of hacks and treks (there's an icelandic pony stud on the edge of edinburgh that has great hacking!) and he decided that was ok and wanted to do more... this year (4 years later) he's hooked and has been offered a 4 year old to take hunting for the winter... the guy is going to keep, feed, transport etc for him, all OH has to do is turn up and ride!
 
CrazyMare said:
You have a fab writing style!!! I've only just seen this so I've read all of them today!
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Aw thanks :D

I used to write a daily (or more often!) blog, and have written race reports (running) since I running 3 years ago, but this year I've had a kind of writer's block. Writing about horses has given me a new enthusiasm now, and although I'm not blogging properly yet, I did manage to write a race report last week!

jenhunt said:
well done Jen, it's little things like that that got my OH into riding in the first place!
He got sick of running when I was hunting that he decided he wanted to try riding. We went on a couple of hacks and treks (there's an icelandic pony stud on the edge of edinburgh that has great hacking!) and he decided that was ok and wanted to do more... this year (4 years later) he's hooked and has been offered a 4 year old to take hunting for the winter... the guy is going to keep, feed, transport etc for him, all OH has to do is turn up and ride!
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I'm not quite sure that mine is a convert yet, but he didn't *hate* it...:o
 
what an inspiration! Have just read all your posts for first time, being a very rusty rider after a 9 year break, I can totally empathise but also see how quickly one can improve and riding fitness being to return. I am looking to buy again and even having tried out half a dozen and hacked out with a friend I can feel an improvement in confidence and a little in my riding! Thank you Jen, I don't feel quite so hopeless now :-) x
 
greymare said:
what an inspiration! Have just read all your posts for first time, being a very rusty rider after a 9 year break, I can totally empathise but also see how quickly one can improve and riding fitness being to return. I am looking to buy again and even having tried out half a dozen and hacked out with a friend I can feel an improvement in confidence and a little in my riding! Thank you Jen, I don't feel quite so hopeless now :-) x
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I was completely unprepared for how bad it would feel at first! But, yes, it does come back quickly. Now I'm just getting frustrated at being so rubbish in the first place ;)

Good luck with your search for a new horse - hopefully I'll be doing the same next year.
 
Good for you, what a breakthrough, relaxed fun. I intend to do a lot of hacking whilst sharpening up my skills again, looking forward to next installment, well done you :-)
 
Sounds great!

Wish i had the time/money to have more lessons! Im lucky that i get reasonably frequent riding but I reply on having someone to tell me where Im going wrong!

You must be v.pleased with your progress!
 
Good stuff, shows how quickly one can progress with the correct help. Must be gr8 to have someone on the ground. I'm off hacking again tomorrow to try and improve my seat and confidence and then off horsey hunting at weekend again. Keep those inspiring progress reports coming in Jen x
 
Thanks, I really am loving it at the moment.

Must confess that I'm very envious of you about to buy your own!
 
I had a lovely hack this evening and proud to say was upgraded to one they won't let novices hack out as he is spooky so felt very proud of myself!! Remembered to keep my weight in my heels which really helped my seat and the spooks weren't a problem at all - although if he'd done one in canter not so sure! hee hee! I am lucky to be buying one again, miss it so much and looking after is just as much fun as the riding isn't it, esp tucking up in bed all rugged up in winter. Hard to find the right one tho, have been looking for ages but the trying out is also good for confidence so not all bad. I will let you know how i get on - maybe visit one day once i'm sorted and settled - too far to cycle from chessington but they are prob only 45 mins drive from me? x
 
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