Realistic ambition for 2018?

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oldie48

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I'm 70 next year and Mr B will be 16. Under the expert guidance of Justine Sole at AM Dressage we've made huge progress in the last year and I am really enjoying my lovely, if somewhat stressy horse. Until I got Mr B I'd only ever ridden at novice level. I've pretty much given up on the idea of competing, neither horse nor rider enjoy the warm up and I struggle to sit to his trot (work in progress) but we can do some fancy lateral work in trot and canter. We can now do a pretty good canter half pass into counter canter followed by a flying change, Mr B finds all of it easy tbh, although he can get quite hot. I am the weak link but getting stronger! Is it silly to hope that we could do 3 and 4 time changes at some point in 2018? I dont have years and years of riding ahead of me and neither does my horse, I have no ambition to qualify for anything I just want to "do it", am I setting myself up for failure?
 
Oldie 48....go ahead have fun push yourself. If it doesn’t work then as the youngsters say meh, try again. Do you want to look back later in life and say I wish I had or look back and say well that was a laugh didn’t quite work but hey ho.
 
From what you describe so far - absolutely not :) You have the best tuition, your horse is able and you are keen and wanting to learn/succeed - go for it!

I must admit I read your post and thought "That is absolutely fantastic :) ", I think you are going to be my role model from now on!
 
Lévrier;13681003 said:
I must admit I read your post and thought "That is absolutely fantastic :) ", I think you are going to be my role model from now on!
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Same! What an inspiration - just go for it :D

The only thing you can be certain of, is if you don't try, there is no chance of making it! Sounds like you are well on your way though :D
 
When I was a teenager and didnt know any better I taught my pony changes from a book. We used to do 3 time fairly well and 2s if I didnt mess up. Back then it didnt occur to me that I couldnt do it, so I just did. I have no doubt they werent correct but it was an amazing feeling! So if I can do it like that, you can definitely do it with yours with that set up. Go for it!!
 
Definitely go for it. You really can keep on improving. I have a friend in her mid 60s. 3/4 years ago she was several stone overweight and climbing a flight of stairs would leave her out of breath. She embarked on a fitness challenge. She had previously broken her back in a parachute jump, so this was no mean task. She found a fab personal trainer and they worked on appropriate exercises. She is now probably in the best shape she has ever been. Keep going with the riding, but also think about your other exercise regime. Given my friend's experience, it really does build up and has improved her overall life as well. She did have horses for a long time, but there is always the risk of a fall completely doing her back in, so she now dances several times a week and has recently competed in her first dance competition. Good luck, and enjoy it. :) x
 
photo_jo said:
My aunt finished third in a PSG with a score of 66% with a combined age of 100-she was 78, the horse was 22! Go for it!
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Now that is cool

Go forward it Oldie! And when you've aced it then take a video and share - you can guarantee it's more than most of us are managing to do, and inspiration is always appreciated :D
 
Of course you can!! Sounds a very realistic aim to me, one word of advice, take your time really nailing the single change on your aid everywhere eg: on the wall, on the diagonal, from true canter into counter canter and vice versa etc. When you have that really secure single change then 4s and 3s are easy and will come very quickly, good luck and enjoy!
 
daffy44 said:
Of course you can!! Sounds a very realistic aim to me, one word of advice, take your time really nailing the single change on your aid everywhere eg: on the wall, on the diagonal, from true canter into counter canter and vice versa etc. When you have that really secure single change then 4s and 3s are easy and will come very quickly, good luck and enjoy!
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^^ great advice. I agree... go for it!
 
milliepops said:
^^ great advice. I agree... go for it!
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Haha, yes it is. I shall of course, progress under Justine's expert eye, she has been great at taking a nervous nelly rider and an anxious horse and making a better partnership of us. I think I'll also have to be careful not to lose counter canter. I'm still struggling to keep him properly "through" in transitions, he'll still tighten given half a chance and go against the hand but he's miles better than when you last rode him, much more consistent.
 
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