Safe Place to Make Mistakes!

[SaddlePsych'D]

A mistake I made in lesson yesterday was pre-judging a horse, and letting that take over and stop me accessing my skills.

I pre-judged because I 'know' this horse can 'get speedy', I've seen her rush off, and I've seen her properly tank off with someone (both times rider fell off). And even though I know both of those riders were fine and that I'd be fine even if I did fall off, and even though I know that riding purposefully/positively and getting that horse's attention on me would likely prevent any of that from being an issue in the first place, I went to the 'I can't do it' place where I want to cry and get off.

And then the next mistake was letting myself give me a hard time after the lesson, because progress isn't linear anyway - especially not when you're riding different horses a lot of the time. If you're not winning you're learning, so I guess the learning is 'doing less on a new horse is actually doing more, adjust expectations accordingly!'

I think I'd just quite like my own horse now tbh. It's the childhood dream, it's not going anywhere even seeing via this forum the many and varied ways that it can go sideways! Every RS horse has something to teach you, and you do fall in love with your favourites, but I would so like to be able to build a partnership with a horse and to see where that takes me.

 

[SEL]

I'm having a wobble with young horse training too. We seem to be in a horrible gangly, no proprioception, legs everywhere stage and I can't work out if it's growing pains, me being useless or something that needs the vet

Today's hack up the road was a fail. The wedding party in the big house had tied a lot of white balloons to their field gate. Too much for a young horse on a narrow road so I dismounted and led him past snorting. Tried to get on from a raised verge and brought the saddle over. Even hoiking the girth up tight enough to strangle him wasn't keeping that saddle in place. So we had a fully tacked up walk out in hand

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Yuo came home safe. That's a win for me.

@Caol Ila I'll post over on the JM thread about 'getting loud' if that's ok? As may be of interest there?

 

[Kunoichi73]

I think I'd just quite like my own horse now tbh. It's the childhood dream, it's not going anywhere even seeing via this forum the many and varied ways that it can go sideways! Every RS horse has something to teach you, and you do fall in love with your favourites, but I would so like to be able to build a partnership with a horse and to see where that takes me.

I completely get this. It's kind of where I am at the moments. There's a lot of stuff I'd like to do that I can't with a RS horse. However, the cost and time commitment of my own, is not something I want to take on at the moment.

 

[southerncomfort]

A mistake I made in lesson yesterday was pre-judging a horse, and letting that take over and stop me accessing my skills.

I pre-judged because I 'know' this horse can 'get speedy', I've seen her rush off, and I've seen her properly tank off with someone (both times rider fell off). And even though I know both of those riders were fine and that I'd be fine even if I did fall off, and even though I know that riding purposefully/positively and getting that horse's attention on me would likely prevent any of that from being an issue in the first place, I went to the 'I can't do it' place where I want to cry and get off.

And then the next mistake was letting myself give me a hard time after the lesson, because progress isn't linear anyway - especially not when you're riding different horses a lot of the time. If you're not winning you're learning, so I guess the learning is 'doing less on a new horse is actually doing more, adjust expectations accordingly!'

I think I'd just quite like my own horse now tbh. It's the childhood dream, it's not going anywhere even seeing via this forum the many and varied ways that it can go sideways! Every RS horse has something to teach you, and you do fall in love with your favourites, but I would so like to be able to build a partnership with a horse and to see where that takes me.

I find private lessons very overwhelming. I used to spend hours before a lesson feeling sick and shaky. The whole lesson I'd be desperate for it to end.

I reached a point of telling myself I didn't have to do it anymore, and now I take my boy to clinics and group lessons instead, which I find much easier to cope with.

Having your own horse is definitely something to consider.

 

[Kunoichi73]

I find private lessons very overwhelming. I used to spend hours before a lesson feeling sick and shaky. The whole lesson I'd be desperate for it to end.

I reached a point of telling myself I didn't have to do it anymore, and now I take my boy to clinics and group lessons instead, which I find much easier to cope with.

Having your own horse is definitely something to consider.

Isn't it interesting. I much prefer private lessons to group lessons. I think it's because if I do something stupid in a private, it's only me and the instructor that sees it.

 

[southerncomfort]

Pleased to say that I was much happier with my position today. We had an an uphill canter ( with unexpected short gallop) and I felt much more secure. He put in a buck and I stayed put, so I can't complain!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I completely get this. It's kind of where I am at the moments. There's a lot of stuff I'd like to do that I can't with a RS horse. However, the cost and time commitment of my own, is not something I want to take on at the moment.

Realistically not a good time for me either if I'm honest. Once things more settled I will start looking into it more seriously.

I find private lessons very overwhelming. I used to spend hours before a lesson feeling sick and shaky. The whole lesson I'd be desperate for it to end.

I reached a point of telling myself I didn't have to do it anymore, and now I take my boy to clinics and group lessons instead, which I find much easier to cope with.

Having your own horse is definitely something to consider.

Private/group has been an interesting mixed bag for me recently! Yesterday was group and the combo of that with this new horse was overwhelming, yet the week before on another horse being in the group got me pepped up for jumping and I had a blast. Then in a semi-private lesson the week before just being with one other horse and rider was too much (but then I was on a new horse for that lesson which was probably a lot of it too, maybe it's more the changing horse than the group v. private thing, it would be nice to be able to do a bit of both though)

 

[Anna Clara]

I'm having a wobble with young horse training too. We seem to be in a horrible gangly, no proprioception, legs everywhere stage and I can't work out if it's growing pains, me being useless or something that needs the vet

Today's hack up the road was a fail. The wedding party in the big house had tied a lot of white balloons to their field gate. Too much for a young horse on a narrow road so I dismounted and led him past snorting. Tried to get on from a raised verge and brought the saddle over. Even hoiking the girth up tight enough to strangle him wasn't keeping that saddle in place. So we had a fully tacked up walk out in hand

Currently going through similar with my four year old. He is sound but I've got that niggle in my head that something is not quite right. He is definitely weaker on one side, constantly changing shape and going through growth spurts. He has just started hacking and I don't know if I'm best off upping work (e.g. adding some poles and more gentle schooling type work) or leave him be for a bit. I might just be totally overthinking things which I am very prone to do.

 

[SEL]

Currently going through similar with my four year old. He is sound but I've got that niggle in my head that something is not quite right. He is definitely weaker on one side, constantly changing shape and going through growth spurts. He has just started hacking and I don't know if I'm best off upping work (e.g. adding some poles and more gentle schooling type work) or leave him be for a bit. I might just be totally overthinking things which I am very prone to do.

Also an over thinker here!

Mine is currently happy and chirpy hacking but backs off the leg schooling and gets grumpy. I'm going to keep hacking for a while to see if he's just having growing pains or if something starts to show up. Although a teeth check is due so maybe something niggling there.

 

[TheMule]

Currently going through similar with my four year old. He is sound but I've got that niggle in my head that something is not quite right. He is definitely weaker on one side, constantly changing shape and going through growth spurts. He has just started hacking and I don't know if I'm best off upping work (e.g. adding some poles and more gentle schooling type work) or leave him be for a bit. I might just be totally overthinking things which I am very prone to do.

Turn him away- I did with my 4yr old when I just felt he wasn’t quite right and he came back much better for it

 

[Boulty]

A little bit more failure from me. Took the fuzzball to a walk trot Working Equitation comp today.

He felt a bit flat & backing off the leg throughout tbh. Part of that could be the 6am wake up call or just him going a bit green / unsure. Did also play with the idea of him needing something feedwise to give him an extra boost a few months ago but never did anything about it as he seemed to perk up but perhaps need to think again. (Some thought needed as low sugar & starch energy (without too much fizz as that just leads to opinionated behaviour!) giving feeds suitable for a pony who gains weight at the drop of a hat who is likely somewhere on the spectrum of EMS is a bit of a minefield.)

The unwillingness to truly go forwards / take the handbrake off (which if I’d not recently felt what his proper trot was like I may have previously accepted as ok work) was most evident in the dressage and combined with me making an error of course and getting which markers 2 of the transitions were at the wrong way around made for a fairly crap mark. I don’t think that swearing when I realised I’d gone wrong helped either!

In ease of handling I managed to get the gate into such a position I couldn’t close the damn thing as it was catching on my leg / the saddle so had to let go & reposition. Also managed to F up my line after I’d picked up the vara to such an extent that I had to dodge around another obstacle to get to the bull. Still no elimination I guess!

Speed round was never going to be our thing as he just won’t canter in that sort of situation yet so did it in trot for probably the slowest time of the day (awaiting full results being published). Oh and missed the ring on the bull just to add insult to injury!

 

[Anna Clara]

Turn him away- I did with my 4yr old when I just felt he wasn’t quite right and he came back much better for it

In parallel to another thread about insurance, I do potentially need to get him investigated in the next 10 months or so. I have actually decided insurance is a ridiculous rip off and means the vets just see money and not sense so cancelling the full monty insurance from next year but wondering if I should investigate this year to make up for the £1500 I'll have spent on premiums which didn't pay out for a tooth problem anyway.

Really tricky. At the moment he's only inhand walking and then doing 10 minutes or so at a time ridden work out on a hack. I jump on from a verge and ride for a bit, then we walk a bit etc etc. Just had his first couple of ridden trots on the road in a straight line etc. He absolutely adores going out and about.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I have started taking Dex out for walks in hand, which does sadly involve a single lane road which is semi-busy as it has a couple yards and a farm at the end. Thankfully only one high bush, and mostly low post and rail fencing so visibility is pretty good.
He seems pretty good (actually 99% foot perfect so far) with traffic, even the 7.5t goods lorry driving behind us as we got to the next gateway - he does lose some respect for personal space, and gets a bit ignorant of the headcollar pressure (I have it under the bridle and only use reins if I need them) but I don't mind that for now.

Idiot owner moment however, was on the third trip where he felt nice and confident and was finally relaxed enough to have a bite of grass from the verge while a big rattly trailer went past, so I let him, but then we had serious two legged tantrums because I wouldn't let him snack the whole way home. I also then let him pause and sniff a sign as I like him to be inquisitive, he spooked himself for no reason and then spooked the whole way home in a 'distraction' kind of way rather than genuine fear, coupled with a couple more rears because of the food thing I thought god, both of those things were a bad idea! YM said I should just keep him moving, and she is probably right. But I also like to let him process, and be inquisitive and figure things out, and generally that helps but not in this situation clearly..

Need to re-think and figure out what works I suppose; I understand you want to keep them forward and not distracted but then again I don't want him not to figure things out and process properly..... hmmmf

 

[SEL]

I have started taking Dex out for walks in hand, which does sadly involve a single lane road which is semi-busy as it has a couple yards and a farm at the end. Thankfully only one high bush, and mostly low post and rail fencing so visibility is pretty good.
He seems pretty good (actually 99% foot perfect so far) with traffic, even the 7.5t goods lorry driving behind us as we got to the next gateway - he does lose some respect for personal space, and gets a bit ignorant of the headcollar pressure (I have it under the bridle and only use reins if I need them) but I don't mind that for now.

Idiot owner moment however, was on the third trip where he felt nice and confident and was finally relaxed enough to have a bite of grass from the verge while a big rattly trailer went past, so I let him, but then we had serious two legged tantrums because I wouldn't let him snack the whole way home. I also then let him pause and sniff a sign as I like him to be inquisitive, he spooked himself for no reason and then spooked the whole way home in a 'distraction' kind of way rather than genuine fear, coupled with a couple more rears because of the food thing I thought god, both of those things were a bad idea! YM said I should just keep him moving, and she is probably right. But I also like to let him process, and be inquisitive and figure things out, and generally that helps but not in this situation clearly..

Need to re-think and figure out what works I suppose; I understand you want to keep them forward and not distracted but then again I don't want him not to figure things out and process properly..... hmmmf

oh I've made that mistake too!!

I now have treats in my pocket (polos for high reward) if I need to distract for something big and nasty passing or to reward. Better it comes from me with a 'good boy' than allowing him to snatch at the verges.

Or - as I found out this morning - stop dead in trot with me on him because there was a tasty ash tree branch at pony head height. I wasn't concentrating and nearly ended up heading out the side door into the nettles. There's a big incentive to stay on when there are nettles!!

 

[smolmaus]

I was trying at the start of the summer to cue "okay go" as like "okay go ahead and have a snack" when I was trying to hand graze before they went onto grass and do in hand hacks (for physio) at the same time and didn't get terribly far with it if I'm honest. It might have been better to just separate the two entirely, or maybe I need a clearer cue. Now she's on grass 24/7 she doesn't often snatch at verges so will be a problem for winter smolmaus to tackle again.

Solve the problem for me please ASBMO so I don't have to use my brain

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I was trying at the start of the summer to cue "okay go" as like "okay go ahead and have a snack" when I was trying to hand graze before they went onto grass and do in hand hacks (for physio) at the same time and didn't get terribly far with it if I'm honest. It might have been better to just separate the two entirely, or maybe I need a clearer cue. Now she's on grass 24/7 she doesn't often snatch at verges so will be a problem for winter smolmaus to tackle again.

Solve the problem for me please ASBMO so I don't have to use my brain

I have to be honest, I'm not sure on this one. I have taught Dex to wait before he tucks into his dinner, much like a dog. He will only eat it when I say ok. So perhaps you could stop him from eating grass a few times until he stops trying and reinforce the 'wait', and then throw a treat on the floor and reinforce the 'ok' then let them eat. Then when you want them to stop say 'wait' again while pulling their head up.... might work, might not.
If he gets a bucket feed you could teach it with that first as it's easier to train with as it's a very direct/high value target for them. Make sure you back them up when you go in, say wait and own the space of the bucket with your body until they stop trying to get to it, then step back and reinforce 'ok'. You'll be surprised how easily/quickly they pick it up.

 

[smolmaus]

I have to be honest, I'm not sure on this one. I have taught Dex to wait before he tucks into his dinner, much like a dog. He will only eat it when I say ok. So perhaps you could stop him from eating grass a few times until he stops trying and reinforce the 'wait', and then throw a treat on the floor and reinforce the 'ok' then let them eat. Then when you want them to stop say 'wait' again while pulling their head up.... might work, might not.
If he gets a bucket feed you could teach it with that first as it's easier to train with as it's a very direct/high value target for them. Make sure you back them up when you go in, say wait and own the space of the bucket with your body until they stop trying to get to it, then step back and reinforce 'ok'. You'll be surprised how easily/quickly they pick it up.

Hmm. That makes sense to me. In the winter I already am quite firm with buckets and do exactly what you suggest. Also with nets, lest she finally succeed in breaking my fingers by snatching when I'm tying a net up. I think I also say "okay go" as a release for that? Since the bucket is also lower value in the summer we don't do the same thing as she isn't rude at all about it. Lack of consistency is poor form on my part.

I think it feels right to use the same tactics and block access to grass when she is pulling, rather than pulling against her. It should work since it is almost always verges and strips of grass. Perfect! I have to engineer a chance to test it now. TYVM, please forward your consult fee at your leisure

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Hmm. That makes sense to me. In the winter I already am quite firm with buckets and do exactly what you suggest. Also with nets, lest she finally succeed in breaking my fingers by snatching when I'm tying a net up. I think I also say "okay go" as a release for that? Since the bucket is also lower value in the summer we don't do the same thing as she isn't rude at all about it. Lack of consistency is poor form on my part.

I think it feels right to use the same tactics and block access to grass when she is pulling, rather than pulling against her. It should work since it is almost always verges and strips of grass. Perfect! I have to engineer a chance to test it now. TYVM, please forward your consult fee at your leisure

Let me know how you get on!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

A little bit more failure from me. Took the fuzzball to a walk trot Working Equitation comp today.

He felt a bit flat & backing off the leg throughout tbh. Part of that could be the 6am wake up call or just him going a bit green / unsure. Did also play with the idea of him needing something feedwise to give him an extra boost a few months ago but never did anything about it as he seemed to perk up but perhaps need to think again. (Some thought needed as low sugar & starch energy (without too much fizz as that just leads to opinionated behaviour!) giving feeds suitable for a pony who gains weight at the drop of a hat who is likely somewhere on the spectrum of EMS is a bit of a minefield.)

The unwillingness to truly go forwards / take the handbrake off (which if I’d not recently felt what his proper trot was like I may have previously accepted as ok work) was most evident in the dressage and combined with me making an error of course and getting which markers 2 of the transitions were at the wrong way around made for a fairly crap mark. I don’t think that swearing when I realised I’d gone wrong helped either!

In ease of handling I managed to get the gate into such a position I couldn’t close the damn thing as it was catching on my leg / the saddle so had to let go & reposition. Also managed to F up my line after I’d picked up the vara to such an extent that I had to dodge around another obstacle to get to the bull. Still no elimination I guess!

Speed round was never going to be our thing as he just won’t canter in that sort of situation yet so did it in trot for probably the slowest time of the day (awaiting full results being published). Oh and missed the ring on the bull just to add insult to injury!

You win or you learn!!
Well done for getting out there. And lots to work on for next time xx

 

[SEL]

A little bit more failure from me. Took the fuzzball to a walk trot Working Equitation comp today.

He felt a bit flat & backing off the leg throughout tbh. Part of that could be the 6am wake up call or just him going a bit green / unsure. Did also play with the idea of him needing something feedwise to give him an extra boost a few months ago but never did anything about it as he seemed to perk up but perhaps need to think again. (Some thought needed as low sugar & starch energy (without too much fizz as that just leads to opinionated behaviour!) giving feeds suitable for a pony who gains weight at the drop of a hat who is likely somewhere on the spectrum of EMS is a bit of a minefield.)

The unwillingness to truly go forwards / take the handbrake off (which if I’d not recently felt what his proper trot was like I may have previously accepted as ok work) was most evident in the dressage and combined with me making an error of course and getting which markers 2 of the transitions were at the wrong way around made for a fairly crap mark. I don’t think that swearing when I realised I’d gone wrong helped either!

In ease of handling I managed to get the gate into such a position I couldn’t close the damn thing as it was catching on my leg / the saddle so had to let go & reposition. Also managed to F up my line after I’d picked up the vara to such an extent that I had to dodge around another obstacle to get to the bull. Still no elimination I guess!

Speed round was never going to be our thing as he just won’t canter in that sort of situation yet so did it in trot for probably the slowest time of the day (awaiting full results being published). Oh and missed the ring on the bull just to add insult to injury!

I know it wasn't your greatest day out but I'd love to have a go at this. Can I ask where you went?

I took baby cob for an escorted hack. I spent a lot of time getting him to hack on his own safely on the roads. In doing so I seemed to have unintentionally lost the ability to hack in company without being a bouncing idiot. Cholsey hills and an elderly baby sitter were just what he needed.

Unfortunately mistake of the day was not seeing a concrete bollard and damaging the lorry strut I've literally just had repaired. It's why I'm not allowed nice, shiny new things

He has definitely been off the leg and moving nicely hacking so this weekend I need to see if I can take that into the school. Going to see if OH will video so if I can feel him backing off then I've got something to look at.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Unfortunately mistake of the day was not seeing a concrete bollard and damaging the lorry strut I've literally just had repaired. It's why I'm not allowed nice, shiny new things

Oh no!!

 

[smolmaus]

Sad face for the mechanical mishap SEL!

I never seem to be able to teach pony anything without it causing an unintentional consequence that needs to be untaught! I started playing around with asking her to lift her front legs when I had an idea to teach her Spanish walk for a laugh and then she started waving her legs at me at random moments because it was so much fun. Aren't I a clever girl mum! So I swapped that to a step-up cue so she would only do it to put her foot onto a box in the arena. Problem solved! No more leg waving, cute little party trick. No, as I discovered this week, the mounting block is also a box in the arena. Aren't I a clever girl mum?!

If she damages that block I'm toast, its everyone's favourite.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Oh boy...a great big balls up today, by me and OH. I'm actually in process of writing an apology email to the RS manager because it was so not okay and I feel awful.

In-house dressage comp today. Warm up was going really well and I was so pleased to feel able to have a canter and do lots of direct transitions etc. because I was really determined to improve comments/marks for losing activity. All going fairly well despite me still not feeling 100% after having had a virus all week.

Next thing I know my dog who was on lead with OH is under the arena gate and panicking because she thinks she's stuck. OH couldn't reach her martingale collar and she slipped the harness, and came running straight at us. She wasn't chasing, I think she just wanted to get away from what had frightened her and over to her other human who was not by the scary thing! I dismounted and dog just came straight to me so I could hold her, and the horse was an absolute flipping saint by not reacting whatsoever. OH retrieved dog and put her in the car. I then had some help getting back on as horse didn't want to stand straight at mounting block, which was understandable I thought.

Got back on and had a walk round, back to doing halt transitions and trying to keep my 'business' head on instead of letting what just happened get in the way. Test went okay, I think when I calm down I will feel quite pleased with it and that I mostly succeeded in staying positive at the time, but it wasn't nice going in feeling like I just wanted to cry with shame and frustration!

 

[Tracking_up]

@SaddlePsych'D that doesn't sound that awful - just one of those things that happens? were the others that were warming up disadvantaged in any way or upset or scared?

Yes, an apology to recognise an unfortunate happening that dogs should be under control, but not sure the level of shame and frustration you express would be warranted?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

@SaddlePsych'D that doesn't sound that awful - just one of those things that happens? were the others that were warming up disadvantaged in any way or upset or scared?

Yes, an apology to recognise an unfortunate happening that dogs should be under control, but not sure the level of shame and frustration you express would be warranted?

No there wasn't anyone else in the warm-up with me. Looking back at it I definitely over-reacted, probably too caught up in what 'could' have happened - which is important to recognise but ultimately it didn't happen. I sent the apology and they were absolutely fine about it just wanted to make sure I was okay.

 

[toppedoff]

Not being able to do a head collar in front of my boss

 

[Ample Prosecco]

 

[toppedoff]

And after that I perfectly did one for other work person

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I nearly got George decked today (okay, huge exaggeration, all Dex did was scooch his bum under and go to go forward slightly quicker than planned) but we were in the corner and went to have a little trot on the lunge so I was encouraging vocally and with my right arm as instructed, but then found myself too far out of the corner, so stepped to the left and was in line with Dex's shoulder, but then thought ooh bugger I shouldn't be here or I'll block him, so moved slightly towards his bum but continued with my arm and it was all too sudden that he could then move forward. God I felt like such an idiot. Breaking them, or helping to, really does bring to the forefront all the subtleties of body language that I may have gotten slightly lax with on the ground.