Need an inspiration!!!

U

UKa

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Hi, posted here the other day about my horse who has issues with her back and will only ever be on very light work from now. Have had moments up and down since then and I think I need some inspiration as to how to make me feel positive about our future lifestyle together and also how to get more fun out of what we CAN do rather than dwelling on what we CANT if that makes sense.

Basically, she will be on a schedule of ridden work in the school every say 3 days - no more than 30 mins though each - plus work on the double lunge/ long reins on other days mixed up with a bit in the horse walker and short hacks at the weekend (we used to enjoy long rides out all of which is now not possible) plus days off completely.

The bit in the school is the most daunting stuff, she has always been a horse that needed very regular work to go best and I got my confidence from riding her daily whereas now we are reduced to the limited amount, means when she plays up I am not feeling as confident but also I can't say oh I/ we just work on it tomorrow - as the next session will be a few days away. I know I can do stuff on working from the ground but it doesn't solve MY issues as well ...Have thought about asking my instructor to come and give us a shorter, light lesson but am not sure as to whether I should given the problems my horse has with her back if it is worth it?

Secondly, is there anyway I can make the non-riding groundwork days more fun?

I think I would also like something to work for and now I have plans to go to a local dressage competition just to do walk and trot test and just the one which she should be able to cope with but I am losing my nerves already as I have limited training time each week (see above) so in two minds as to whether it is the right thing although I have been so keen to take her out again to some shows and results don't matter to me.

Not sure if this makes sense at all I think I am after a fix that will make me see the fun in the horse again as at the moment it has developed into a bit of a lot of work for little gain (also fed up with conditions at current yard and wondering whether a move would help for that) ...

Not allowed jumping either which I had hoped to do more again.

(Giving it up completely is out of question - naturally)

THANKS for reading
 
I think with your dedication you should think positive as who knows what you'll achieve if you strengthen her back.

Most horses are never lucky enough to have anyone work with a well rounded program that fully works their back muscles (mine included I may add)

Anyway, I would say buy yourself a groundwork book - I've got this one : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Groundwork-Training-Your-Horse-Exercises/dp/0715316036

And it has little tasters of all sorts of exercises from most of the schools of thought.

I think the TTEam stuff is great fun and (when my foot is back in working order) I plan to have a play with the body wraps and stuff - seeing as riding will be out of the question for me.

Anyway, the TTeam stuff is less of a religious doctrine than many of the others and involves massage etc - again tasters of it are in this book.

Just have a play and you may find that you discover magical skills you never knew you had!!!
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(((hugs)))
 
Well try doing some clicker training as this is great fun when you can't ride and it keeps their brain stimulated. Also i have got a fantastic book on basic training which is all different things i can do on the ground for example poles(not jumping) on the ground in an L shape and walking in and out and backwards etc. It is really good and it is called 'Groundwork Training' and it is by Lesley Bayley. I highly recommed it.x hope this helps
 
Hey sounds like fun this! I think I have an old TTeam based book somewhere already thinking about it but this looks great, thanks. Will see that I can get hold of this (maybe get hubby to buy for me to cheer me up
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)x
 
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