Let me tell you about my day (long, but I need to get it out!)

jenbleep

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Hi all
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what a day I have had

First of all I had a riding lesson at the local riding school. I don't even know why I went, I only go there to get some more confidence with my jumping so when it comes to jumping Frankie I am not worried, but I went for a flat lesson today
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I booked it automatically last week and it was too late to cancel anyway so i went - besides it is good to ride other horses i think now and then.

Si i went to the school, and they pulled out this piebald carthorse
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don't get me wrong she was lovely, but I'm not really into my cobs
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Anyway got on her, and as soon as i went into the school the instructor was like 'lets get you some spurs'
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walked and trotted around and it was like steering a tractor
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Oh yeah and instructor mentioned that she only does about 5 strides of canter before it falls apart
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We did a shortening and lengthening exercise, where i had to ask cob (Molly
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) to basically trot on the spot, then push her on into a bigger trot. She walked for the first two attempts, but after I kept on at Molly she worked really hard
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and I even managed to get her to soften into my contact!
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This wooden hairy cob was going round the school in an outline
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which actually made me feel really good about my riding - I can ride after all!

My instructor said that she has never seen Molly go so good, and that I rode really with the spurs in a 'respectful' way.
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Yey so it wasn't all bad - lesson here: you can learn things from every horse.
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Then I went to do Frankie.

I mucked him out, then went and got him in from the field. When I called he galloped over to me
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Ahh he must love me. Cupboard love anyway
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Someone was having a lesson in the school, so i thought I could take him out for a hack. Now, I have recently suffered a confidence crisis with hacking, after a couple of weeks ago Frankie galloped down the main road with me
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he's not normally naughty, but he can be very spooky and sharp, and what with the hacking near me being very very sh!t
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and with main roads everywhere I'd rather he wasn't spooky
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because, quite frankly, it scares the bejesus out of me!

I used to be too proud to admit it but i don't care anymore. Frankie's owner (some of you may know this already) is a pain in my ass sometimes, because she thinks the sun shines out of Frankie's ass and she is the kind of owner that doesn't want to spend any money of her horses - for example if they need the vet/back person etc.

Anywhoo the reason why my post are so long on HHO is because I have no one to talk to about Frank's owner - except today I managed to talk to someone on the yard today about all my worries
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I have asked the YM to hack out with me and Frankie in two weekends time, (I'm away next weekend) because I was too worried to hack alone. I even cried
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but I am so glad that I manged to tell someone about it, otherwise it will only get worse. Lesson here; if you have a confidence problem, do not feel ashamed or embarrassed and get help before it gets even worse!! I want to take Frankie out and about this summer but I will be petrified probably, which won't help him overcome his own spookiness, so I'm on a mission to get my confidence back
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Anyway I ended up lungeing him over poles because I chickened out on hacking out alone
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the woman on the yard who i talked to about Frankie's owner came and watched, and after he warmed up and I got after him a few times (he can be very lazy on the lunge
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) she noticed that although he is fairly loose over his back she seems to think he has a problem with his off hind.
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He was tracking up on the other side but not with this hind.
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As i said his owner will not pay out for a physio, because she just thinks it's because he has no muscle behind the saddle, and that needs building up. I even said that I would pay for the physio, but she just said he doesn't need it.
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I said to the woman on the yard that I might book him in anyway, and just say I booked Frankie in for a massage because he has worked so hard over the last two weeks (Which he has!
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) and thought he could do with a treatment. I hope she doesn't think I am taking him over - but its hard to see an animal that you have out so much work into go nowhere because he has a slight pain or ache somewhere. *sigh* lesson here: if you can't afford vet/back or the saddle fitter than you shouldn't have more than one horse!
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(Aimed at Frankie's owner!)

Sorry for the gigantic post
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just had to let it all out and my non horsey housemate is not a good audience
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Any comments about the Frankie and his owner saga AND/OR my lack of hacking confidence would be great
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have a large glass of wine on me if you get this far
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thanks for reading xx
 
aww! glad to hear so many positives!

I also ride someone else's horse and I know how difficult it can be sometimes, even though my horse's owner is lovely! There are things that I would do differently if Spike were mine, but there's not much you can do, is there?
 
Nope!
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All I can say is 'if he were mine.......'of course I don't think I'm an amazing carer and know everything but I have learnt so much just watching her do all the things I personally wouldn't!
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*sigh* Frankie is so lovely, it's just exhausting trying to make his owner see sense
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Oh and if i mentioned to her 'I'm scared to hack out' she would say I'm being silly
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'well hello you get on him then??
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mmm no didn't think you would!!'
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hehe
 
Glad to hear you've had a good day!
Its peed me off that Frankies owner wont pay for a his back to be sorted though. She doesnt deserve him if she won't pay for treatment he needs. Grr. Hopefully she'll see sense on day and let you take him to Cornwall!!!
 
I know, it's what, like £40??

Just think if his back f**s up how much would it cost her then? Priceless! Poor Frankles
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I'm trying, I really am lol
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How about treating yourself???? why not try a CD Hacking with confidence or Roadwork with confidence? I tried the jumping cd when my confidence took a knock and it really worked..... You seem to be doing all the right things though so dont beat yourself up about it... good luck
 
thats a great idea - did you get it off amazon or somewhere like that?

It's funny a few years ago it was jumping that I had a loss of confidence with, and could hack out for hours with no worries..........now I'm jumping happy but hacking gives me the heeby jeebies
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at least I'm aware of it and trying to sort it is suppose, that can only be a good thing
 
ooo large glass of wine
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I'm trying to get over a fear of hacking, and it is hard work, but I find the more i get out and do it the better it gets. I got uber scared out hacking a few weeks ago, totally panicked, cried, got in a flap...and then pulled myself together and got on with it and have felt better about it since.

You'll get there, just make sure you celebrate every little achievement, even if it's just a two minute walk somewhere new.
 
what i might start doing now the evenings are getting lighter is school him for half an hour/45 minutes, then walk up the road for a bit.

little steps! I learnt a few lessons today
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