Photographer, first instructor and the plod.

[Eska]

So I started riding again 8 weeks ago after ten years and I'm loving it. Sadly due to the only local school just starting up, I have the choice of two horses, one 16hh plod and the other 13.2hh perfectly-safe-too-highly-trained-knows-more-than-I-do pony. Anyway, the point is tomorrow I have to ride the plod since my sister will be riding the 12hh pony in my lesson and it and the 13.2hh hate each other so I'm riding the 16hh plod.

Here it goes, this plod (though I love her to bits) has selective dead to the leg syndrome and selective hearing. My riding instructor, who I can't praise enough, has to ride her in spurs. It's taken me two weeks to get her to active walk and nearly three to keep her going in trot (and not stop every three strides), she likes to say no and no and no and that she really doesn't feel like doing anything. So I'm currently projecting another five weeks before I stop her arguing with me about canter. (Yes, I know I'm supposed to ask/tell her what to do but you trying telling her that, lol.) Currently, I'm also not allowed access to a whip or any other additional aids, YO prerogative to ensure the horses are treated properly, she reviews every three months so no complaints. But that isn't the real problem, just background.

Until recently this plod was on part loan wvtb to a girl who would only ever walk around in a circle with her, no longer on loan to girl as said girl complained the plod was to slow. Go figure but the mare has picked up a bit since she has been loaned to someone new, which is good news.

Tomorrow, not only is my sister in the lesson but my first teacher (my mother) is coming to watch, but not only that! No, but there's going to be a photographer! And not only that, the person whom I've been talking to about helping with her horse is coming to see me ride! Thus with all these people watching, I'm bound to have the rest of the yard watching which will be my cue to go out the side door in walk and land face first in a pile of poop.

I might be, just a tiny bit nervous, not much... just a whole lot.

Any advice on getting this horse to canter? I only have access to the horse on weekends, I'm not expecting a solution for tomorrow, though a miracle would be nice. And some ideas on how to control my nerves?

Cookies and hugs for anyone who read through that.

Eska x

 

[TrasaM]

Oh dear I hope it goes well for you especially as you'll have a large audience. She sounds like the chap I had most of my first 6 months of lessons on. His default pace was standing still and preferably asleep He could work properly for short periods of time. Usually after you used the crop on him and he realised you meant business. He would then give a very lacklustre buck as if to say " ok ok i heard you" lol. I used to get off at the end of the lesson with very very tired legs. Last time I rode him he'd gotten even worse and despite my being a much better rider I could not get much out of him and he no longer even responded to the crop.
Sorry not much help I know maybe she will pick up on you being anxious and raise her energy a bit. I'm sure you won't fall off though

 

[Zero00000]

O I do feel for you, try to be positive, and if worse comes to worse, ask you instructor to speak to the lady that is coming to see you ride if it doesnt turn out well,

You will be fine x

 

[Eska]

Gosh, that sounds near identical to her, though I hope she won't get worse. Today went okay, unfortunately she tried to scrape me off using the fence and I now have a very bruised knee (still going back, it isn't broken! ) though she wasn't nervous because I was. Thank you very much for the encouragement! Sounds silly, but it's nice to know I'm not only who has experience with a horse like this.

 

[Eska]

O I do feel for you, try to be positive, and if worse comes to worse, ask you instructor to speak to the lady that is coming to see you ride if it doesnt turn out well,

You will be fine x

Thank you! I think I will do that, fortunately she didn't come today especially considering the reason above (nasty bruise). Thanks for the advice, I hadn't thought of that.