Someone give me a kick up the bum and get me back in the saddle

3DE

3DE

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I have a lovely little mare on loan while I am waiting for my babies to grow up enough to ride them. She's 18 years old and hasn't been ridden in 4 years and never done anything other thank hacking. I've done tons of groundwork with her and sat on her to 'test the water' but I seem to have lost my bottle with the whole riding thing. I'm on my own, at my own yard and will have to ride in the field and I'm bricking it! There isn't really anyone to help as my OH isn't horsey and my best friend has her hands full with 2 pony club kids and 10 horses!

I know I can do it - I just need a bit of 'get on the blinking horse' shouted at me.

The weird thing is if my two were a year and two years older I would have no qualms about sitting on them - I just don't trust this little mare, even though she's given me no reason to distrust her...

I'll try again tomorrow...
 
As your sig says you can see your horses from your loo, my guess is that it wouldn't really be too much effort for your OH just to come and watch you for 1/2 hour.

My non-horsey used to come down to the yard and yell at me to 'just get on the bloomin horse' when we first got her.

So, message to your OH - please spend 1/2 hour watching, and to you - just get on the bloomin horse :)
 
lol Sound bit like me then. I trust my horse but am nervous to ride out on my own and dont want to bump into tractors lol Dont fancy ending up on the floor.
 
Is hard just to put your nerves to one side. Why don't you trust her? Have you seen someone else ride her in the field first, see what she does?
 
Thanks everyone

PoppyAnderson said:
Why don't you trust her? Have you seen someone else ride her in the field first, see what she does?
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Ha ha - problem is noone has seen her ridden. She's not been ridden in 4 years, her current owners have never ridden her!

I'm confused as I will normally sit on anything - my friend uses me to test her new ones on a 'non-pro'. I guess it's because this is the first one that is my sole responsibility for restarting...

I'm just being silly really - she's only 14hh so not far to fall ;)
 
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Dear Inky_and_Sunny,

Please get your booty on said neddy. As you have done plenty of groundwork and she is into her mature years, I am certain that you will get on a treat and that will be a good girl. Ask OH or friend to come and watch you for a bit (even from the loo as someone suggested) and jolly well get on with it. Take it a bit at a time and get your heiny in that saddle!

Yours Sincerely,

Miss HollyWoozle
 
I know the feeling, just get your OH to stand by the gate when you get on and ride, it just needs somebody to stand there and give you a little encouragement,even if he isn't horsey, he should help you a little
 
COuld you borrow your friends pony club kids to try her out a couple of times first?

(I can empathise, daughter's 14h NF is plenty big enough for me to ride, he's here all day while she's at school....her instructor will come over.....however I'm a beginner....)
 
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Dubsie said:
COuld you borrow your friends pony club kids to try her out a couple of times first?

(I can empathise, daughter's 14h NF is plenty big enough for me to ride, he's here all day while she's at school....her instructor will come over.....however I'm a beginner....)
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They're 5 and 7 so not really :( good idea though if they were older. I wouldn't put a kid on something that's not even been sat on for 4 years. I'll do it - she's a good sort really. I guess I'm just nervous because I know my babies like the back of my hand and she is all new and shiny...
 
As someone who completely lost their nerve at one point, just take it one step at a time. At last you aren't far from the loo - I used to have major weight loosing nerves while I tacked up! Day 1 - tack up and lead her about or lunge her and if you feel confident get OH to hold her head while you get on, day 2 same again but do a little walk.
Its good to push yourself a bit but it has to be manageable chunks.
Enjoy!!
 
Suffering from the same myself, haven't ridden my girl for over a year after having a baby and moving house. I'm quite happy to lunge and long rein but lack that extra bit to get on her. I've been doing the 'I'll do it tomorrow' for the last two months, my excuses are limitless!!
So go on, get on the bloomin horse and I'll follow your example!!
 
Could you not hire an instructor to come up and help or travel to a yard where there's an instructor? Sounds like you just need your confidence building up.

Sorry I'm a wally, read that you had done it-Well done babes bet you feel over the moon!! xxx
 
Well done!!! :D
I lose my bottle jumping mine, and have friend who's an instructor and pay her just to come and shout at me to do it! Its great because we just end up screaming abuse at each other! :o but it gets my ass in gear to do it, this time last yr I wouldn't even ride in a field, we've been playing at eventing and all sorts this year!
Might be worth a thought if u can afford to do that :)
Good luck!!!!!!
 
Well I escaped unscathed - just! All was going fine when OH decided to walk the pups past the field. Pups freaked out and started barking which resulted in a bronking fit. I stayed on but no pics as the ride wasn't 'pretty'. She never really did settle after that and not the best experience. But I've broken my duck so onwards and upwards :)

Thanks all :)
 
All going well! My friend and I are going hacking at the weekend through fields :) She's also given me a shot of her 3 year old :) 5 weeks since she's been broken and she's 16h3 and I'm only 5ft1 ;). No particularly good pics - only this one...

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Edit - how pathetic am I? Will sit on a 16h3 newly broken 3 year old but was scared of getting on a 14h littleun
 
2 years ago i had no confidence to ride at all it just went - had some lessons at a grt rs with vicky - one to one and she slowly pushed me. then suggested i joined group lessons - hey she was loosing money in some ways - and i was used to demostrate movements to others on grp - wasnt ego thing just a realisation i was ok rider and last yr competed for first time in 29 yrs and mmmm ok panick attack in first class ( major attack) but loved the second class. sadly again my confidence gone - was on back for 8 wks earlier this yr on cocktail of painkillers including morphine - now im scared to ride due to back and pain in hips when ride - but at end of day i have my horses love being with them so hey one day it will return - do not be afraid to say hey do you know i have lost my confidence - glad i did when rung Vicky brill instructor and so so supportive x good luck x
 
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