LittleSoph
Well-Known Member
I schooled Freddie tonight. When I'd finished I looked up the farm track to see if there were any tractors around... there weren't... so I thought maybe I'd just go to the first corner. I have a huge phobia of hacking, let alone going alone, and haven't ventured off the yard alone in the 4 months I've had him.
I went to the school gate but I couldn't open it whilst I was on him as it's stiff... so I had to get off... perfect excuse to wimp out.
I opened the gate, went straight to the mounting block, got back on and went for it!!
I went to the first corner and he was being a star, so I went to the second. I was tempted to go further but it would have meant going past the sewage works which wurr and clunk and he was already pricking his ears at it... so although I'm sure he wouldn't have done anything, I thought it was best not push it as if he had have shown any lack of confidence, I wouldn't have been able to reassure him.
So we got to the second corner!
I sung nursery rhymes allll the way!
I can't believe I did it and it was so easy, lol!
Also, when I told my mum when I got in I told her I was cross that I hadn't gone further and she gave me a good telling off, lol. She said I need to be less hard on myself. When I had my last pony I had no confidence and no motivation with her because I never saw a future together, so it meant that I never pushed myself to hack her alone, rarely in company,rarely jumped, never competed, only schooled towards the end and I think the fact I didn't do much with her is part of the reason I get so nervous now (added to a bad accident before I got her) as I never pushed myself out of my comfort zone... but I've done more with Freddie in four months than I did with my mare in three years!!! So I'm really pleased with today and can't wait to try again and maybe get a little further each time. Now I've done it once there's nothing stopping at least going that far again!
I went to the school gate but I couldn't open it whilst I was on him as it's stiff... so I had to get off... perfect excuse to wimp out.
I opened the gate, went straight to the mounting block, got back on and went for it!!
I went to the first corner and he was being a star, so I went to the second. I was tempted to go further but it would have meant going past the sewage works which wurr and clunk and he was already pricking his ears at it... so although I'm sure he wouldn't have done anything, I thought it was best not push it as if he had have shown any lack of confidence, I wouldn't have been able to reassure him.
So we got to the second corner!
Also, when I told my mum when I got in I told her I was cross that I hadn't gone further and she gave me a good telling off, lol. She said I need to be less hard on myself. When I had my last pony I had no confidence and no motivation with her because I never saw a future together, so it meant that I never pushed myself to hack her alone, rarely in company,rarely jumped, never competed, only schooled towards the end and I think the fact I didn't do much with her is part of the reason I get so nervous now (added to a bad accident before I got her) as I never pushed myself out of my comfort zone... but I've done more with Freddie in four months than I did with my mare in three years!!! So I'm really pleased with today and can't wait to try again and maybe get a little further each time. Now I've done it once there's nothing stopping at least going that far again!