First canter was not as planned...

TigerTail said:
''Her physicality is different'' eh what?!

She's a friesian, not a giraffe, no earthly reason why you can't use a neckstrap. As I have said using a round pen to do any more than in hand work and walk in is BAD for both you and the horse. Constant circles make horses one-sided, bored and unless they are very well balanced trained horses, which she isn't front what you've said, you are just going to give your self a problem
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Glad someone pointed out the issues of riding an unbalanced horse on a small circle.

OP, I have a friesian x. She had a neck strap on with no issues when I backed her (didn't ever need it, thankfully) Friesians are very intelligent horses and are quick to learn but can pick up bad habits quickly also. I think there are some fundamentals to consider like it being better to ride safely, correctly with someone present less frequently than riding, say, everyday on your own and having issues like this. My mare used to be a bit fidgety when getting on (swing her bottom away from the mounting block etc) and I got someone with a treat to hold her everytime I got on. She's brilliant now! If your on your own you could try leading her to the mounting block, getting her to stand and walking away straight.

It sounds like your facilities are less than ideal considering the horse needs some work. (No school, quiet hacking, hacking buddies) Is moving yards not an option?
 
Geminismum said:
Glad someone pointed out the issues of riding an unbalanced horse on a small circle.

OP, I have a friesian x. She had a neck strap on with no issues when I backed her (didn't ever need it, thankfully) Friesians are very intelligent horses and are quick to learn but can pick up bad habits quickly also. I think there are some fundamentals to consider like it being better to ride safely, correctly with someone present less frequently than riding, say, everyday on your own and having issues like this. My mare used to be a bit fidgety when getting on (swing her bottom away from the mounting block etc) and I got someone with a treat to hold her everytime I got on. She's brilliant now! If your on your own you could try leading her to the mounting block, getting her to stand and walking away straight.

It sounds like your facilities are less than ideal considering the horse needs some work. (No school, quiet hacking, hacking buddies) Is moving yards not an option?
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No, this is my own yard. I can trailer to yards, thats not a problem and will be done more frequently - ive only had her 10 days i was just getting used to her first and making sure she was bonded with me so a new yard doesn't freak her out as shes not moved much in her life. I need to point out that at no point do i ride properly in this circle, i walk one way for a few mins, turn and walk the other way for a few mins and i have on occasion trotted one lap each way and im never in there more than 15-20mins. I know it is not suitable for ridden work but i do think it is the perfect place to get used to a new horse, because there is nothing to look at (apart from damn stools) and it is nice and secure. I do more ground work in it that ridden work, i have ridden her in it twice since i got her and shes been worked in it every other day just doing following, back ups, some free lunging (and i always make sure to work both sides the same - i know about one sided issues) I will try and lead her to the block and away more as you suggest. I also have a wall that goes from low to high i use to mount so i can practice on that too as she can't move that haha

Tiger, i have said i'm getting a neck strap, lets move on.
 
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A few minutes each way + one circle trot does not add up to 15-20 mins, it's 6.

Anyway I digress. Please don't mess about poking her with a bag on a stick looking and waiting for a reaction. Your job is to instil confidence in her through your manner and handling of situations - not drop a bloody wasp nest on her head and see if she squeaks.

Learn to mount, you don't need to do anything more than that. Have someone hold her until you're doing it yourself with confidence. 60 minute plan for today, learn to mount.
 
I can't believe how close minded people are. Riding in a round pen is done a lot in the US and produces well rounded and balanced horses. You don't hammer the horse for hours, it just provides a safe area to have a little trot and walk around before hacking out and riding on a circle actually helps the horse to learn to balance. I hate to think how stiff and unbalanced your "youngsters" are if you don't even contemplate a 20 m circle at trot, let alone a 9 years old!

OP, remember next time to only post the perfect pictures like the others do, not the ugly moment and get a good riding instructor, it will be worth it. It's a lovely mare, I am sure you could do very well with her with perhaps some dressage lessons and working on the lunge to build your seat first.
 
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WindyStacks said:
A few minutes each way + one circle trot does not add up to 15-20 mins, it's 6.

Anyway I digress. Please don't mess about poking her with a bag on a stick looking and waiting for a reaction. Your job is to instil confidence in her through your manner and handling of situations - not drop a bloody wasp nest on her head and see if she squeaks.

Learn to mount, you don't need to do anything more than that. Have someone hold her until you're doing it yourself with confidence. 60 minute plan for today, learn to mount.
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The amount of time in the circle is really not important, the point is i'm not in there bombing her about for hours its not used for ridden work as a few here seem to have thought.

I aim to mount from the ground, it is not as simple as just doing it with my hip but i will make a plan and try it.
 
Palindrome said:
I can't believe how close minded people are. Riding in a round pen is done a lot in the US and produces well rounded and balanced horses. You don't hammer the horse for hours, it just provides a safe area to have a little trot and walk around before hacking out and riding on a circle actually helps the horse to learn to balance. I hate to think how stiff and unbalanced your "youngsters" are if you don't even contemplate a 20 m circle at trot, let alone a 9 years old!

OP, remember next time to only post the perfect pictures like the others do, not the ugly moment. Please get a good riding instructor, it will be worth it.
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Lol thank you for a kind post, i was about to jump off a cliff. I'll stick to my funny non-horse related posts.
 
No I'm not saying mount from the ground - I'm over 39, 5'4", fat arse and horse is 17.2hh. I don't do it unless it's life and death. But I can mount from a variety of props, fallen logs, gates, fences, rocks, picnic benches - or the old faithful "park nag in ditch".

You don't need to leap on like a long-limbed lithe 14 year old - just be safe! :) and no wandering off until you're ready - ie put your gloves on, checked your pockets for fags/phone/wispa, done up your girth etc. etc.
 
WindyStacks said:
No I'm not saying mount from the ground - I'm over 39, 5'4", fat arse and horse is 17.2hh. I don't do it unless it's life and death. But I can mount from a variety of props, fallen logs, gates, fences, rocks, picnic benches - or the old faithful "park nag in ditch".

You don't need to leap on like a long-limbed lithe 14 year old - just be safe! :) and no wandering off until you're ready - ie put your gloves on, checked your pockets for fags/phone/wispa, done up your girth etc. etc.
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Ah :) (wispa! Haven't had one of those in years!!) as said I have a sweeping wall I usually use the only reason I'm using the block is because I can't closethe gate to the circle if I'm on so didn't want to risk her getting away Should I come off - at least not for the first few times.
 
Hi equi, your new mare looks lovely. I have a friesian page on fb if you'd like to join, there are lots of helpful members there too who could offer advice if you needed.

Friesian Friends/Fans
 
friesianmummy said:
Hi equi, your new mare looks lovely. I have a friesian page on fb if you'd like to join, there are lots of helpful members there too who could offer advice if you needed.

Friesian Friends/Fans
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I think I'm on it already I joined a few of them :) thank you.
 
Palindrome said:
I hate to think how stiff and unbalanced your "youngsters" are if you don't even contemplate a 20 m circle at trot, let alone a 9 years old!
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TBF nobody has said their youngsters don't work on circles in addition to straight lines in a larger school, hacking etc... I expect my 4y/old to balance on 10m circles in trot fine, but I don't think it would be acceptable to ride him exclusively on one. The same goes for 20m circles - the opportunity to go large and re-balance the horse is what is lacking in the OP's set up. That said, I have no problem with riding, or starting in a round pen, if it's tackled in a responsible, sensible way - making allowances for the above, and not putting the horse in situations like the OP describes/shows in her first post.
 
showpony said:
Do u not have an arena where horse is kept?
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No, this is all i have. I have a paddock that has been being turned into an arena for 6 years now, but something always gets in the way! (sold horse, uni, old horse retired, dog hit by car = big vet bill etc etc) Its rideable on good days but my dad had a bunch of logs in the way now that hes working on so i hope to have it back in a few weeks and am pricing surfaces.
 
I am feeling a bit sorry for the OP to be honest. She posted these pictures saying it was 'not as planned'. She knows her seat was not perfect (again she stated this), and she is out of practice. All she has got is criticism. I think she knows already what is wrong, hence her posting in the first place an 'oops moment'.
 
Wagtail said:
I am feeling a bit sorry for the OP to be honest. She posted these pictures saying it was 'not as planned'. She knows her seat was not perfect (again she stated this), and she is out of practice. All she has got is criticism. I think she knows already what is wrong, hence her posting in the first place an 'oops moment'.
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Don't worry, i have a thick skin (don't get away with 7 years in mental health care without one) and i know that everyone commenting is much better than i currently am, but i'm working on myself :) in the hope i can work on the horse.
 
Wagtail said:
I am feeling a bit sorry for the OP to be honest. She posted these pictures saying it was 'not as planned'. She knows her seat was not perfect (again she stated this), and she is out of practice. All she has got is criticism. I think she knows already what is wrong, hence her posting in the first place an 'oops moment'.
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I was thinking the same. And to be fair to the OP she does seem to be taking a lot of the feedback and suggestions on board.

Good Luck with the horse OP - she looks lovely. As others have said it is definately a good idea to get some help so you get the best possible start with her.
 
Just while i'm here and already at peoples lowest opinion, can i have one on my leg in a normal setting? My friend said i need to hike my stirrups up, but if i saw this i would be saying hike them down?

10562487_10203952745276449_3524067243935429032_o.jpg
 
equi said:
Just while i'm here and already at peoples lowest opinion, can i have one on my leg in a normal setting? My friend said i need to hike my stirrups up, but if i saw this i would be saying hike them down?

10562487_10203952745276449_3524067243935429032_o.jpg
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The picture is taken from below and so your leg position looks higher than it actually is. You should ride at a length where you feel most comfortable.
 
I've added you on fb......

Yeah I think your stirrups could go down but most of these friesians are bouncy and until you get with the trot your stirrups maybe better at a shorter length as it will help your balance
 
Hi OP,

Just to put my two pence worth in here... Looking at the pictures I can't help but feel like perhaps the saddle is slightly too small for you? I appreciate you were caught off guard so you are not in the best position but looking at the last picture in particular you look to be sitting very far back on the saddle, but it doesn't look like you have all that much room in front either tbh. If the saddle is too small you causing you to sit too far back that will cause a lot of pressure at the back underneath the cantle and could be a source of pain for the mare.

I'm not suggesting that it's the reason for her spooking, it's more of an observation really! But it could be that when she is not spooking and you are sitting correctly that it's ok, in which case ignore me :)
 
I felt comfy at this one but also comfy shorter, but think longer would help me not use stirrups as much and help balance. Could be wrong on that though.
 
equi said:
Just while i'm here and already at peoples lowest opinion, can i have one on my leg in a normal setting? My friend said i need to hike my stirrups up, but if i saw this i would be saying hike them down?

10562487_10203952745276449_3524067243935429032_o.jpg
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I'd possibly drop them down a hole but as wagtail mentioned with the pic being taken from below it's hard to be 100% sure. If I'm ever not sure I usually do the hand to armpit trick and then adjust if necessary once I'm on board.
 
Oh sorry posted this before I saw the picture you have just added. Looks better with you in a normal position but I still think it could be a smidge too small/too much weight at the back. Just my own opinion, happy for others to correct me!
 
Procrastination said:
Hi OP,

Just to put my two pence worth in here... Looking at the pictures I can't help but feel like perhaps the saddle is slightly too small for you? I appreciate you were caught off guard so you are not in the best position but looking at the last picture in particular you look to be sitting very far back on the saddle, but it doesn't look like you have all that much room in front either tbh. If the saddle is too small you causing you to sit too far back that will cause a lot of pressure at the back underneath the cantle and could be a source of pain for the mare.

I'm not suggesting that it's the reason for her spooking, it's more of an observation really! But it could be that when she is not spooking and you are sitting correctly that it's ok, in which case ignore me :)
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She spooked at the stool, not in general if you follow my meaning. I couldn't afford a new saddle at the moment but hopefully my butt shrinks as i do (half stone off already) i also don't think i'm sitting deep enough
 
friesianmummy said:
I've added you on fb......

Yeah I think your stirrups could go down but most of these friesians are bouncy and until you get with the trot your stirrups maybe better at a shorter length as it will help your balance
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Shes not too bouncy i did a sitting trot on her too, shes 1/4 something else so dosent have that huge stepping trait which is probably a good thing haha
 
If you dropped your stirrups a bit your knee would come down and back slightly so you would be able to move your seat more in to the centre of the saddle :)
But you might then find you feel slightly less stable, so it's a bit of a toss up really! You just have to find the position that suits you and the horse!
 
equi said:
Don't worry, i have a thick skin (don't get away with 7 years in mental health care without one) and i know that everyone commenting is much better than i currently am, but i'm working on myself :) in the hope i can work on the horse.
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FWIW, my last comment was definitely not aimed at you, as much as the hyperbolic comment by another poster. I'll be much happier to see photos of you with neckstrap, a safer mounting block and, even just for the first couple of times, someone on the ground to help you out :)
 
Procrastination said:
If you dropped your stirrups a bit your knee would come down and back slightly so you would be able to move your seat more in to the centre of the saddle :)
But you might then find you feel slightly less stable, so it's a bit of a toss up really! You just have to find the position that suits you and the horse!
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Ill have a play about with them. Need to start remembering my lesson plans, and practice them on the straight when i get it back
 
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