Need your help please!

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lotty73

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Hi, hope this post doesn't make me sound like a complete idiot. We keep my daughters pony at a livery yard and as i do not have my own horse i have been riding a couple of horses up there to help a fellow livery. I am 33 and from 11 till19 i owned my own pony and did a bit of everything on him. However this was a long time ago. Anyway to get to the point, a lady at the yard has broken her leg and has asked me to have her beautiful 7yr old irish sports horse on loan whilst she is out of action. I have jumped at the chance especially as he is a real schoolmaster and i can have lessons on him. She (very sensibly) wants to see me school him tonight and i am nervous about riding with an audience! I have been fine hacking out recently but havn't seriously schooled for so many years i wondered if you guys could talk me through the basics. I know when i am on the correct diagonal in trot and on the right leg in canter, but need help with things like inside/outside leg placement at different times etc!! Sorry this is a bit vague and so long but i am so excited i really want it to go well today. Thanks in advance!!
 
Try not to worry and just go and enjoy yourself explain you are rusty and you want to take this opputunity to learn. I suspect they are more interested in you reppour with the horse than the precise use of your aids.

However a few basic when circling you should alway think inside leg to outside hand to get a nice bend around your inside leg. When asking for canter inside leg on the girth outside leg behind the girth. Try and keep an even contact and always ensure the horse is moving forward into the contact.

The main thing is enjoy yourself and it will all come back naturally.
 
i just had the sasme the women that owns the horse i went to view wanted to c me jump,,,, ok i havent jumped 4 like ever really , any way i was confident and the horse just poped over and it was great , i just sat there , so as long as u r confident u will be fine ,,,, enjoy
 
Echo Sarah_Jane. If you are nervous or anxious about 'performing' and trying to do everything right, you will be stiff and awkward, and this will transmit itself to the horse. Much better to explain that you are rusty when it comes to schooling and just ride the horse as naturally as you can. I am sure you won't be doing anything awfully wrong, and as long as the horse goes well for you, it will be just fine.
As an owner, I would far rather see a person ride my horse with balance and sympathy than see textbook legs and hands.
Sounds like a lovely opportunity for you - enjoy!
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Thanks for the advice. When i have been out hacking recently things have all seemed very natural and i have felt confident so i hope that comes across today. Its just the thought of schooling after such a long break and two children! Lets just say the fitness is not what it was!!!
 
Am now back home after riding and am exhausted!!! He needed alot of leg to keep going forward nicely. With his owner he works nice and round but i struggled to get, and then keep, an outline. Had fleeting moments when he went nicely though so gives me lots to work on. The great news is that she says he is mine to do what i like with!! Very happy bunny tonight. Just got to work out the best way to balance pony, horse, two children and husband!!! Going to be a busy few weeks!!!!
 
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