go on guys... decide what i should do today

what should i do...?

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Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

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as i'm sure you're all bored with me going on about... i've got ZERO confidence left... but, as of yesterday i've decided to attack it head on, and not sit round being the 'scared' person.

so, this morning i have a bit of time off work, and i could, in theory, do something with Raff.

left up to me, i'd sit here and worry about it for so long that i wouldn't get anything done... so, i thought i'd get you fabulous lot to decide... and then i'll post a pic later to prove i've done it...

so, my choices are:
 
Well I voted for take him up the road in hand, which I thought would be a good idea if your not feeling that confident and at least it gets you both out and about!:)
 
I'm with _Rach_ on this one. Bit of bonding (grooming) and relax together, then a bit of a lunge just to make sure he's not being a headbanger today, then a bit of liesurely schoolwork - no rush, no goals, just get used to it.

Worked with my idiot owner :)

Signed - SLEEPY.
 
I voted for lunging him for half an hour in his tack then getting him on for 5 mins or less.

That way he is nice and calm because of the lunging and you have at least sat on him even if you don’t walk just get on and off again will do you more good that not getting on at all.
 
I also vote for lunging for half an hour then grooming/pulling (so much easier after they have been worked).
 
I was going to hint ... but no pressure.

Definitely much easier once they have sweated a bit and their pores are open. I managed to do half the anglo's tail last night (normally he tries to kill me) and when grooming all the dust and dead skin etc just flicks straight off. Anything to make grooming easier (I hate it!)
 
I've not voted because mine is a 'play it by ear'
I'd give him a bit of a groom, then lunge him in his tack for 20 minutes or so, and if all still fine then take him for a walk in hand for half an hour, until you find a convenient brick wall/stone/gate /fence etc, hop on and walk him back home - you'll both know the way back.
 
Dubsie said:
I've not voted because mine is a 'play it by ear'
I'd give him a bit of a groom, then lunge him in his tack for 20 minutes or so, and if all still fine then take him for a walk in hand for half an hour, until you find a convenient brick wall/stone/gate /fence etc, hop on and walk him back home - you'll both know the way back.
Click to expand...

my breakfast almost returned just then... 'hop on'...?!?!

parp

:D
 
Bugger the grooming, make the most of the available working time by brushing off the filthy bits as he already knows you well, then lunge him for twenty minutes keeping an eye on your watch so you don't get tempted to say "he's done half an hour so I can't get on him now" and then get on him for as long as you feel comfortable. You don't have to be a hero and do anything fancy ridden but I do think you need to crack the getting on him.

If you're not confident when you are on, walk him round a bit, get off him again, go back to a place of safety - ie with him on the lunge - get him to circle a couple of times each way and then get back on.

If, like me, you feel the need to have someone around then take him to the local school and do that with him there.

I'll make a pact with you. If you do that I'll lunge my ginger boy and get on him for five minutes, I haven't ridden him for some months but he's now got more muscle so I think he'll cope fine with me, it's my nerves that are the problem - which I know you'll understand:D
 
jemima_too said:
I'll make a pact with you. If you do that I'll lunge my ginger boy and get on him for five minutes, I haven't ridden him for some months but he's now got more muscle so I think he'll cope fine with me, it's my nerves that are the problem - which I know you'll understand:D
Click to expand...


Ooh that makes 3 of us - think we should start some sort of new - club - "more spooky than our horses" or something :)
 
When I was very nervous one way I could get myself on the was to say,Right I am going to get on then straight off again.The theory being that there wouldn't be time for anything to go wrong.I never actually did that.Once I was there I would ride a bit.Sometimes for about 5 minutes, gradually longer.Another thing that helped was going back to a riding school for a bit.My biggest vote though still goes to a really good and sympathetic instructor.Mine has helped me loads and if any small thing does go wrong she always has a plan!
 
hey y'all

so, i followed advice, and i did some stuff with raff...

i did a bit of groundwork and some stretches with him. only ten mins or so.

then i lunged him. i intended giving him a good half hour lunge, but he was SO well behaved (he's been a bit tricky on the lunge recently...) that i desperately wanted to end on a good note, so probably actually only lunged for about ten mins. (last time i lunged until he p*ssed about and that made me :( ). so, very positive i think.

i promised a photo. no need for CC, he's not the best put together horse. he's got ZERO topline muscle (he's been out of work for 8 months). i'm sure there are a million things you could pick holes in. please don't. i'll let you all do that when i'm braver, and he's in work/fit etc. CBAnglo, please don't cry...

lunge2.jpg


after lunging, i gave him a groom and attacked his enormously thick/long mane. the whole time wishing he was a native so i could just leave it swinging about. i only did about 20mins pulling as it started to hurt him and again, i wanted to finish on a good note. i can finish off another day.

lunge1.jpg


so, to most people, this is an everyday/not important ocurrance. to me, it's the world. i'm feeling muchos pleased with myself and Raff. he really is such a good, patient little man. i can't wait to make the most of him.

onwards and upwards... :D
 
Grooming (bonding) and ground work, start from scratch and work your way up and your starting with something that you feel confident doing, you'll end on a good note so both you and your horse will feel good and positive about next time you do something with him. :)

Etd because I see you have done what you choose to do....was a bit late in replying to your post lol!

Well done, keep up the good work
 
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