sianmturner
Active Member
Hi everyone, I'm asking this preemptively in the hope that I'll be able to get some help to make a good decision. I do tend to babble but want you all to get a good picture of my situation and then it would be lovely if anyone could offer some help or advice. Be honest with me because that's what I need. I'd really like to hear your opinions.
As I said before I've asked this completely preemptively but largely because I would like the time to think and budget and plan. If that's the right thing to do.
For many years of my life and into my mid-teens I was a very keen rider. And, although I was not allowed a horse growing up, I did go and help around the stables sometimes - I've forgotten just about everything now though. When I was about 15, I had an accident. It wasn't a huge one but it hit me hard as I knocked myself out coming off a very large horse belonging to a friend of my dads. I think more than anything it was the fact of everyone watching me as I went into panic mode and tried to use my calmest (not calm at all) voice to steady the horse, knowing that I'd lost my stirrup and the horse was heading for a high fence. To be honest, it was a lively competition horse that was not what I had been used to at the stables. And, I did get back on once I'd come round, then ended up in hospital the next day having my head and neck examined. I broke nothing and had scratches and bruising at most. I was very very lucky. But, for some reason, it really knocked my confidence and I didn't get back on for years.
The next time I got on was in Spain for a fun ride and my partner's horse took off with him into the forest! He had never rode before and I was left thinking 'now I remember why I stopped riding!'
I'm a worrier, in honesty, and I will never be the type who would push myself to the limit with my riding. Although, at the time I was doing a little jumping - for fun - not competitively. Around 5 years ago, I plucked up the courage to get back in the saddle; I've always felt like riding was my one hobby and I lost that when I had the accident and the Spain incident only confirmed my fears. I was coming along nicely again; going for the occasional hack in a small group and a short canter when I plucked up the courage. But then I decided to buy a house...
And here we are 5 years later...again! It's been over 10 years since the fall now and after a strange series of family events I came to find myself thinking; if riding is your thing then you should do it and stop worrying so much! So, I made a phone call and got myself a private session on a farm. I had to go and buy everything from scratch again; jodhpurs and a hat. When I went to the shop, having just explained the above, the shopkeeper asked 'so where are you loaning from?'
I laughed and told her there's no way I could loan a horse; I'm so under confident and I think that takes me back to novice level really. Then someone else brought it up and told me that, after some lessons, I should think about it.
I must say I'm going for my second lesson tomorrow and the lady that is working with me is fabulous. She got me straight back into it; one-to-one and cantering again by the end of my first session. Which might not seem a lot but to me it meant the world; I was hoping to plod around and have a bit of a trot!! She said I 'looked good up there' which was nice and just chatting with her made me feel totally at ease. I think it confirmed to me that conventional riding schools are not for me; something quieter is perfect.
Anyway, that's my story and now to my questions (and I'm sorry for babbling for ages).
1. A lot of adverts say 'not suitable for a novice'. I would certainly consider myself a 'novice' for the pure fact that it's been a long time since I've ridden and also because I've never owned/loaned a horse before. Would this be a problem? And what exactly is meant by 'novice'?
2. Financially, what are the implications of loaning a horse? I understand there's a bi-monthly (ish) cost for the farrier usually and a half cost for livery. But what about vet bills and insurance? And where would I stand if the horse were to have an injury whilst I was riding? (Told you I was a worrier).
3. When would be the right time to begin thinking about loaning? A friend of mine told me that you 'learn on the job' as it were but I fear I'd look like an idiot trying to do jobs at 1 mile an hour! - I'm wondering if I might ask my new instructor to let me practice. I'm hoping she wouldn't mind a hand.
Any other information or advice you could give me would be great. I really appreciate it.
Thanks!
x
As I said before I've asked this completely preemptively but largely because I would like the time to think and budget and plan. If that's the right thing to do.
For many years of my life and into my mid-teens I was a very keen rider. And, although I was not allowed a horse growing up, I did go and help around the stables sometimes - I've forgotten just about everything now though. When I was about 15, I had an accident. It wasn't a huge one but it hit me hard as I knocked myself out coming off a very large horse belonging to a friend of my dads. I think more than anything it was the fact of everyone watching me as I went into panic mode and tried to use my calmest (not calm at all) voice to steady the horse, knowing that I'd lost my stirrup and the horse was heading for a high fence. To be honest, it was a lively competition horse that was not what I had been used to at the stables. And, I did get back on once I'd come round, then ended up in hospital the next day having my head and neck examined. I broke nothing and had scratches and bruising at most. I was very very lucky. But, for some reason, it really knocked my confidence and I didn't get back on for years.
The next time I got on was in Spain for a fun ride and my partner's horse took off with him into the forest! He had never rode before and I was left thinking 'now I remember why I stopped riding!'
I'm a worrier, in honesty, and I will never be the type who would push myself to the limit with my riding. Although, at the time I was doing a little jumping - for fun - not competitively. Around 5 years ago, I plucked up the courage to get back in the saddle; I've always felt like riding was my one hobby and I lost that when I had the accident and the Spain incident only confirmed my fears. I was coming along nicely again; going for the occasional hack in a small group and a short canter when I plucked up the courage. But then I decided to buy a house...
And here we are 5 years later...again! It's been over 10 years since the fall now and after a strange series of family events I came to find myself thinking; if riding is your thing then you should do it and stop worrying so much! So, I made a phone call and got myself a private session on a farm. I had to go and buy everything from scratch again; jodhpurs and a hat. When I went to the shop, having just explained the above, the shopkeeper asked 'so where are you loaning from?'
I laughed and told her there's no way I could loan a horse; I'm so under confident and I think that takes me back to novice level really. Then someone else brought it up and told me that, after some lessons, I should think about it.
I must say I'm going for my second lesson tomorrow and the lady that is working with me is fabulous. She got me straight back into it; one-to-one and cantering again by the end of my first session. Which might not seem a lot but to me it meant the world; I was hoping to plod around and have a bit of a trot!! She said I 'looked good up there' which was nice and just chatting with her made me feel totally at ease. I think it confirmed to me that conventional riding schools are not for me; something quieter is perfect.
Anyway, that's my story and now to my questions (and I'm sorry for babbling for ages).
1. A lot of adverts say 'not suitable for a novice'. I would certainly consider myself a 'novice' for the pure fact that it's been a long time since I've ridden and also because I've never owned/loaned a horse before. Would this be a problem? And what exactly is meant by 'novice'?
2. Financially, what are the implications of loaning a horse? I understand there's a bi-monthly (ish) cost for the farrier usually and a half cost for livery. But what about vet bills and insurance? And where would I stand if the horse were to have an injury whilst I was riding? (Told you I was a worrier).
3. When would be the right time to begin thinking about loaning? A friend of mine told me that you 'learn on the job' as it were but I fear I'd look like an idiot trying to do jobs at 1 mile an hour! - I'm wondering if I might ask my new instructor to let me practice. I'm hoping she wouldn't mind a hand.
Any other information or advice you could give me would be great. I really appreciate it.
Thanks!
x
