fine_and_dandy
Well-Known Member
Yesterday, decided to take advantage of weather and go out for a hack on Kia and with my bud and her cob who is fab for being sane whilst out.
At the last minute, bud said "why don't we go over the road and round the fields." Initially we were going to go round the lanes of the village as it is quiet, but my bud really fancied going for a longer hack. Kia was very excited and happy to be going out.
This main road is a 50 mph limit although some cars do go faster. You do get buses and lorries down it too. There is a wide grass verge which can take two horses riding abreast very easily. I hate this road with a passion - I have never had a bad experience riding out, but having hacked out on it before, and knowing how bl**dy awful the etiquette of the drivers that go on there are, I was nervous.
Kia, it turns out, thinks the white lines on the road are going to eat her, as are traffic signs
We crossed the road after staring at the white lines and hopping on them and then settled in. She was loving it - she was not at all bothered by the lorries or anything - she even stopped to pee at the side of the road
The first few traffic signs she had a good look at and really swerved when looking at them which either meant she tried to get behind Abban and therefore nearly in the road, or she bumped into Abban.
As soon as we were off the main road, I was fine and back to my old self, completely relaxed, mooching along and Kia noticed and mooched about too. A couple of trains went past us (about 30 feet from us) and she wasn't bothered. Eventually, the track brings you out onto the main road again, so we decided to ride down for a little way, cross over and then go up the lane which brings us to the top entrance to the yard. Kia had to be on Abban's right so she was to the hedge.
I was so stupidly nervous - I have never been this bad before - and Kia picked up on it. I managed to slow her up, and we went past one of the big road signs that had place names etc on it. She swerved right round it, tried to get on the left side of Abban and her back end went into the road - although no traffic. We then crossed over before I could think about anything else and got onto the lane, and again, I completely chillaxed. There were a couple of dogs running and barking and she took no notice, a man with a hose out the front of his house...she was perfect. We did come across those pony eating flowers...daffodils
Kia was fantastic; she isn;t bothered by traffic or dogs or anything else and she notices when I do relax and when I don't.
I feel like a complete wuss for being so nervous about that road and although I tried to appreciate the good points of our hack, all I can think of atm is how bad I felt at the time and I am so disappointed with myself. I feel like my confidence has taken a knock with it
I can't bear the thought of going out on that road again atm, but I know I should. Kia really looked after me and it should have been the other way around.
How can I help myself in these situations? My bud was great, she always is and I always hack out with her. One of my concerns was that when Kia first saw a road sign, or a bus stop or the white lines on the road, she swerves away from it, either into Abban or behind him and on a couple of occasions into the road, which worried me more than her. I used my outside leg to try and stop her, but it didn't seem to work - I think I need to work in the school with that, so what can I do?
I am so disappointed and angry with myself, but feel in that situation that my confidence has taken a huge dent.
Creme eggs for getting this far
At the last minute, bud said "why don't we go over the road and round the fields." Initially we were going to go round the lanes of the village as it is quiet, but my bud really fancied going for a longer hack. Kia was very excited and happy to be going out.
This main road is a 50 mph limit although some cars do go faster. You do get buses and lorries down it too. There is a wide grass verge which can take two horses riding abreast very easily. I hate this road with a passion - I have never had a bad experience riding out, but having hacked out on it before, and knowing how bl**dy awful the etiquette of the drivers that go on there are, I was nervous.
Kia, it turns out, thinks the white lines on the road are going to eat her, as are traffic signs
As soon as we were off the main road, I was fine and back to my old self, completely relaxed, mooching along and Kia noticed and mooched about too. A couple of trains went past us (about 30 feet from us) and she wasn't bothered. Eventually, the track brings you out onto the main road again, so we decided to ride down for a little way, cross over and then go up the lane which brings us to the top entrance to the yard. Kia had to be on Abban's right so she was to the hedge.
I was so stupidly nervous - I have never been this bad before - and Kia picked up on it. I managed to slow her up, and we went past one of the big road signs that had place names etc on it. She swerved right round it, tried to get on the left side of Abban and her back end went into the road - although no traffic. We then crossed over before I could think about anything else and got onto the lane, and again, I completely chillaxed. There were a couple of dogs running and barking and she took no notice, a man with a hose out the front of his house...she was perfect. We did come across those pony eating flowers...daffodils
Kia was fantastic; she isn;t bothered by traffic or dogs or anything else and she notices when I do relax and when I don't.
I feel like a complete wuss for being so nervous about that road and although I tried to appreciate the good points of our hack, all I can think of atm is how bad I felt at the time and I am so disappointed with myself. I feel like my confidence has taken a knock with it
How can I help myself in these situations? My bud was great, she always is and I always hack out with her. One of my concerns was that when Kia first saw a road sign, or a bus stop or the white lines on the road, she swerves away from it, either into Abban or behind him and on a couple of occasions into the road, which worried me more than her. I used my outside leg to try and stop her, but it didn't seem to work - I think I need to work in the school with that, so what can I do?
I am so disappointed and angry with myself, but feel in that situation that my confidence has taken a huge dent.
Creme eggs for getting this far
