Distractions whilst trying to ride

[Crosshill Pacers]

RANT ALERT!

Decided tonight after work to ride Big Ears around our new floodlit levelled off yard. Plan was to work on her circles in walk, and also some basic turning in trot. Unfortunately just as we were getting warmed up, my brother decides to hoover his car which is parked in the open fronted shed we're riding in front of. I asked him to stop, as Big Ears was getting a bit worked up and I'm not the most confident rider at the moment, which was met with a lot of grumbling although he did stop. He then proceeded to swing the hoover nozzle thing around in circles as we tried to carry on. This was obviously completely distracting the horse and I spent more time trying to get her going straight along the front of the shed than actually working on our bending on the circle.

To top things off, I was staying quite calm with her and trying to carry on with what I had planned, all to the tune of 'you need longer reins to get her to do what you want', 'kick her if she won't behave', 'if I was riding her I'd have taken her down the lane and made her gallop to teach her a lesson'. I did snap, I asked if he'd ride her while I hoovered his car which temporarily shut him up. Somehow we managed to bend around my leg quite well in walk and we also managed some trot coming off a circle into a straight line (albeit a very short distance) but I know with a bit more compulsion and less distraction we can master it. Her balance on the right rein leaves a lot to be desired but there's progress for sure.

Despite the relative success, I'm quite upset at my brother's behaviour. I'm not in a position currently to have lessons on my mare, so I'm trying to put into practice all the things I learnt with my first mare, all with no support from my parents (one is non-horsey and the other thinks I'm wasting my time if I'm not galloping around like a 'real rider'). The yard isn't ideal but on the lane we mastered trot and canter uphill, and I want to work on other things now like her balance in small circles. I constantly doubt my ability to ride, I get nervous when Big Ears is a bit fresh which then makes her nervous as she relies on me for guidance. I know it's silly to be sat nearly in tears when things actually went well, but I really could have done without his negative input

I feel better for getting it off my chest. Anybody wants to slap me and tell me to man up, feel free.

 

[Goldenstar]

We deliberately built our school sited for maximum distractions that's life they have to learn to concerntrate on you.
My OH is great for desenestivising horses once I said to him don't do anything controversial for half an hour because we are going to back a youngster a few minutes later I was on , leaning over the neck when he drove round the corner in the tractor with a dumpey bag hanging from the front forks because he did not think it's was controversial not a lot you can say about that.

 

[Charley657]

Have a cyber *hug*

Your brother is just peed off because you made him stop hoovering his car.

It must be frustrating and a little bit hurtful not getting the support you would like, do you have any horsey friends to help encourage you?

 

[Crosshill Pacers]

We deliberately built our school sited for maximum distractions that's life they have to learn to concerntrate on you.
My OH is great for desenestivising horses once I said to him don't do anything controversial for half an hour because we are going to back a youngster a few minutes later I was on , leaning over the neck when he drove round the corner in the tractor with a dumpey bag hanging from the front forks because he did not think it's was controversial not a lot you can say about that.

I understand she needs to learn to put up with stuff, and she's really good with tractors and quad bikes and even the four big calves living in the shed who were watching us (and running to the back of the shed every time we walked past), I just feel like he did it on purpose. He has lights out in the shed so that he can clean his car whenever, he chose a very 'convenient' time I think

Have a cyber *hug*

Your brother is just peed off because you made him stop hoovering his car.

It must be frustrating and a little bit hurtful not getting the support you would like, do you have any horsey friends to help encourage you?

I'm slightly lacking in horsey friends nearby. I have a friend who backs youngsters and has balls of steel, plus years of experience reschooling trotters but she lives over an hour away. I think I need to take a deep breath, keep calm and carry on!

 

[Renvers]

I have had plenty of occasions when some little thing has freaked me out and made all the bigger achievements vanish. You did well.

Have to say - why would anyone get upset about having to stop vacuuming a car?? He should be thanking you for saving him the chore!

 

[Crosshill Pacers]

I have had plenty of occasions when some little thing has freaked me out and made all the bigger achievements vanish. You did well.

Have to say - why would anyone get upset about having to stop vacuuming a car?? He should be thanking you for saving him the chore!

He has the same relationship with his car as I do with my horse. Including the bit where he thinks his car is a living breathing thing that needs his full attention and care. I don't understand why he hoovers it when he already cleans his shoes before he gets in it?

Found out last week that he's been smacking my horse in the face when she has her head over the top of the door. He said she needs 'disciplining'. I knew something was up when I was taking her head collar off and lifted my hand up and she jumped backwards into the back of the stable with her head right up in the air. I look at that car and think of ways to trash it. If only I could train Big Ears to empty her bowels on his bonnet, then it wouldn't technically be MY fault but on a serious note, he's becoming a real pest both while I'm riding and when I'm not here to keep an eye on my horse