Ever feel like you and your horse are just not in harmony?

[Trot_on]

I like to believe I’m a balanced competent rider who’s kind, consistent and trains my horse through release and reward. My trainers always compliment my soft hands and good balance and I always seem to get a tune from other horses. However, my horse and I just sometimes have a session that feels so out of tune and that we’re singing from completely different sheets of music. He literally makes me feel like I can’t ride sometimes. He is a 19 year old Connie gelding who I’ve had for over ten years now and we’ve done everything together - so it’s not through lack of knowing one another. Sometimes I think we know each other too well!

I can’t be the only one?

These sessions don’t happen often - probably one in 20, but as you can probably tell, tonight was one of these rides and I just feel a bit disheartened. It’d be great to hear others who have rides like this and what you do to come back from it. I will spend the weekend hacking around the countryside and then come back into the arena next week and do some pole work sessions rather than flatwork to give me something to work with rather than other think.

Not really sure of the point of this thread other than to just vent a bit and get my thoughts back on the right track!

 

[mini-eventer]

It probably wasn't as bad as you think. You know him so well it's more apparent if one of you isn't on your A game. No one is at their best all of the time.

Try not to over think it unless it is more often than not

 

[Trot_on]

It probably wasn't as bad as you think. You know him so well it's more apparent if one of you isn't on your A game. No one is at their best all of the time.

Try not to over think it unless it is more often than not

You’re so right - probably an accumulation of a break due to the weather, work and winter!

I’m more annoyed with myself because I normally can focus on the positives and forget the rest. Tomorrow is a new day

 

[Equi]

Yep. Sometimes I simply can not ride. Usually it’s hormonal and my brain just won’t focus.

 

[Trot_on]

Yep. Sometimes I simply can not ride. Usually it’s hormonal and my brain just won’t focus.

I’m glad I’m not the only one - tonight I just ended up doing loads of walk-halt-walk transistions as I felt I couldn’t ride well enough to expect my poor horse to carry this sack of potatoes in trot or canter

 

[MereChristmas]

I think you should count your blessings. I have rarely left a lesson without feeling demoralised.

 

[Dave's Mam]

Ehhhh, bad days happen. We're all allowed them.

 

[j1ffy]

Yep - probably about the same ratio as you! Usually I reflect and realise I was tired / stressed / mind elsewhere and probably shouldn’t have been trying to do anything more complicated than a gentle hack. Somehow I don’t learn though

 

[Trouper]

....and at 19 he probably has days when he is just not "feeling it"!! This cold weather, which can't seem to make up its mind whether it is going to be mild and damp or cold and dry, is testing my bones to the limit atm.

 

[ihatework]

I used to ride a lovely mare but yes every now and again we just had one of those days … could have been her hormones (could have been mine!) but whatever the reason I found it better to just leave the arena and either go for a hack/canter if possible or if not just end the session. No point reinforcing a negative mindset/way of going.

 

[paddi22]

if the ratio is 19 good to 1 bad, thats fairly good going! but when you say 'a bad ride' what actually happens? if you really want to solve the problem you need to be analytical about it.

for example when do the issues start in the lesson? from the start, during a particular exercise? whats the proof of it not going well? it's helpful to break down what the issue actually is. when you get on do you do an analysis of your energy/state of mind at the start and that of the horses? is your instructor good at picking up if you or the horse are struggling that day and changing the lesson accordingly? theres so many factors.

everyone has off days, including horses, so its extremely common for me to get on a horse one day, check in with how we are both feeling and realise he's a bit flat for an intensive schooling mood (se we just potter down road on hack) , or has too much energy to really focus (then we just do fitness canters in field). horses and people aren't machines, they have good and bad day. the skill is to choose the exercise that suits you and the horse that day so you both benefit.

also if the weather is cold now, with horse being 19, I'd be looking to see if theres arthritic changes somewhere? or if horse is struggling in arena surface when stiff.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

If I’m not totally in the mood then I just hack.

 

[maya2008]

They’re their own person. Maybe sometimes you are in the mood for one thing and they are in the mood for another? Switch it up it you’re having a disconnected moment - add some poles/a jump if he’s bored by your flatwork plan or take them away if you wanted to jump and he doesn’t. Or just chuck the towel in and go hacking if it’s daylight and you can!

 

[Trot_on]

if the ratio is 19 good to 1 bad, thats fairly good going! but when you say 'a bad ride' what actually happens? if you really want to solve the problem you need to be analytical about it.

for example when do the issues start in the lesson? from the start, during a particular exercise? whats the proof of it not going well? it's helpful to break down what the issue actually is. when you get on do you do an analysis of your energy/state of mind at the start and that of the horses? is your instructor good at picking up if you or the horse are struggling that day and changing the lesson accordingly? theres so many factors.

everyone has off days, including horses, so its extremely common for me to get on a horse one day, check in with how we are both feeling and realise he's a bit flat for an intensive schooling mood (se we just potter down road on hack) , or has too much energy to really focus (then we just do fitness canters in field). horses and people aren't machines, they have good and bad day. the skill is to choose the exercise that suits you and the horse that day so you both benefit.

also if the weather is cold now, with horse being 19, I'd be looking to see if theres arthritic changes somewhere? or if horse is struggling in arena surface when stiff.

There’s isn’t much to really put my finger on - it’s almost just like we’re working against each other a bit. He’s not as easy off my leg, I’m probably over compensating and over riding because of that Andy hen feel like I’m giving him every aid at once - which of course he can’t understand.

Normally I would have just called it a day as gone for a hack but sadly this was 8pm and very dark so chose to just remove pressure of pace and work on walk - halt transitions.

He is extremely supple for 19 with currently no signs of arthritic changes so far, but of course I’d be naive to think there wasn’t any so he is in a good joint supplement and has regular performance work ups with the vet to check for any soundness issues. He’s my only ridden horse and I’m keen to keep him tip top/ catch anything very early.

We actually hacked today and we had a lovely ride spooking at people in trees putting up Christmas lights

 

[Trot_on]

If I’m not totally in the mood then I just hack.

Same but sadly couldn’t at 8pm in the dark

 

[Trot_on]

They’re their own person. Maybe sometimes you are in the mood for one thing and they are in the mood for another? Switch it up it you’re having a disconnected moment - add some poles/a jump if he’s bored by your flatwork plan or take them away if you wanted to jump and he doesn’t. Or just chuck the towel in and go hacking if it’s daylight and you can!

Love this - interestingly he did take himself for a canter around the arena before I got on and jumped two fences that were up by himself

 

[Dave's Mam]

I was supposed to go for a hack with a friend this afternoon. When I got fetch in, all the ponies were on crack, there's obvs been a sugar rush in the grass, so we hacked in hand.

 

[Trot_on]

Thanks everyone for the replies - today was a new day and we had a lovely, lively hack - of a little spooky at all the people in trees putting up Christmas lights

All is well in the world when riding goes well

 

[Trot_on]

I was supposed to go for a hack with a friend this afternoon. When I got fetch in, all the ponies were on crack, there's obvs been a sugar rush in the grass, so we hacked in hand.

I’d booked a day off work especially on Thursday to hack but my horse had other ideas and absolutely would not come in he got the day off instead and I poo picked!

 

[Dave's Mam]

I’d booked a day off work especially on Thursday to hack but my horse had other ideas and absolutely would not come in he got the day off instead and I poo picked!

Git.