I'm so rubbish :(

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bex1984

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I really am just useless at everything, and I'm sure I shouldn't be alllowed within a 100ft of a horse.

Attempted to ride my ponio tonight, we're supposed to be doing lots of walking, which is uber boring so I got poles and barrels out to play with. Did 25 mins of walking, a bit of trot and then decided to have a canter, on his good rein first...but I just couldn't get him to go on the right leg (so he was leading with the one he normally refuses to lead with on the other rein).

Foolishly decided I'd get off and lunge him for a bit, just to see if I could see any reason for him not cantering on his (usually) better leg. Lunging Murphy is always a rather traumatic experience because he's a monster and he turns in on you constantly
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After a few half hearted attempts, he was back to cantering on the correct leg, changed the rein and he was refusing to go on the corrrect leg on his difficult rein...so back to normal. He then remebered that cantering is fun, and dragged me round the school, I ended up flat on my face in an icey, soggy school
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Got back on, asked him to walk on, then asked him to stop....and realised my reins were still wrapped up through his throatlash from lunging, so had no brakes whatsoever
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So basically, I am incapable of asking my pony to canter properly, I have a sore throat from telling him off for turning in on me, I have bruises on top of the existing bruises (from falling off 2 weeks ago) on my knees from when I fell over... and I am just generally useless and rubbish at everything
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And my posts are always far too long.
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Oh hon! {{{hugs}}}

Sounds like you're having a crappy time. You're not useles or rubbish- I can't canter, let alone ask for the right lead!
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Why only walking to help him lose weight?

Your post cracked me up, we all have rubbish days it makes me realise I am not alone !
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Your not alone, I have been riding for the same length of time as my daughter (who's just turned 13) and whilst she can go clear on a 2'9 xc course on her 13.2 pony I can't even get my horse to canter down the side of the school without developing what feels like a 5th leg! What makes it worse is she can get a better tune out of him than me, he's a 16.1 shire x and at 7st I he can barely feel she is there, he'll even have a go at a show jump fer her. Trouble is all my spare cash goes on lessons for her not me.
 
Bex, you are NOT rubbish. It's quite well known that this breed is opinionated and cheeky, you just have to be like a mum to him, let him know his boundaries and be consistent.
Make things fun, give lots of praise and try and think like he does:

"gahh muuuuum, you dragged me out of my field, away from my friends and instead of tucking me up in my stable you're making me do all this stoopid stuff. I don't wanna play".

They're just like big kids
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. I'm sure it brightened the session for him seeing you fall over
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. It's cold, damp and he was probably just feeling miserable. We all have opff days.

Try and be more positive. Write down what you couldnt do with him a year ago, and then tick off what you CAN do now. See? all that stuff you thought would never happen... and now you and Murph have a much better relationship.

Instead of shoting at him when he does wrong, concentrate on correcting him. Shouting will just confuse him. Get two reins, and lunge him like that, you'll have steering then, and he won't be able to turn in towards you. When he does well, a loud "goooooood booooooy" in a high pitched excited voice will do far more than telling him off when he's done wrong (as with dog training it's all about voice pitch and making them WANT to please you). You could also try walking him on the lunge, when he obeys, stop him and walk towards him and give him a polo. Then try it in trot. They soon learn that listening to you is a positive thing
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Thanks hun, he certainly is opinionated and cheeky, and I'm fairly certain he was quite amused by me falling over!! I think you're right that he was probably just feeling a bit miserable and didn't want to do anything, the school is really deep at the mo so everything is extra hard work.

I do feel really bad for shouting at him, but it seems to be the only way to keep him moving on the lunge! Will try two reins though.
 
Smile, it really isn't as bad as you think!
We all get days like this, you just need to smile and know tomorrow is a better day!
I am suffering with lack of confidence at the moment, but it just takes time for things to feel right.
Don't beat yourself up over it, that's what these guys told me on here, and I belive their right.x
 
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