Sleipnir
Well-Known Member
This might be long, I apologize beforehand!
I used to be a brave rider, but, after a one bolt too many, I lost my cool. After my gelding reacted dramatically to a passing train, bolted on an icy downhill path and then went on a blind run, involving our companion falling off her horse, the said horse bolting ahead of us, riderless, jumping ditches and exiting the woods with a bloodied face (mine!) because we were going through low-hanging fir branches...well, I was not that brave any more. We were both a nervous mess for at least a year after that, I had breakdowns even attempting to walk on a hack, and it involved changing yards to a quieter one before my gelding, Snicks, got better. Me - I did not, not really. Although I braved my way into even cantering on hacks, I was still always extra cautious, nervous and ready to hop off even at the slightest sign of Snicks getting bolshy or strong. My extremely kind and patient yard mates helped me through the worst of times, bless them, but I still wasn't really able to canter in a group without going into panic mode and gripping at the reins needlessly.
Just two weeks ago we changed yards again, and this time, our hacking isn't just winding, but narrow forest paths, seldomly suitable for a canter due to terrain, but also huge open fields. Somehow, I got talked into joining a hack, and when the leader, at the edge of one such field asked if everybody is up for a gallop, I just nodded, terrified.
Two HUGE fields later, cantered and galloped across, in strong gusts of wind and just one tiny buck by my Snicks dearest, I was terrified...relieved...overjoyed...overcome with these wonderful emotions of freedom and fun I had missed for several YEARS! Whew! Can't wait to do it again, although that tiny black voice in the back of my head will, no doubt, try to talk me out of it, as it had succeeded to so many times before.
Pic of my beasty attached for attention!
I used to be a brave rider, but, after a one bolt too many, I lost my cool. After my gelding reacted dramatically to a passing train, bolted on an icy downhill path and then went on a blind run, involving our companion falling off her horse, the said horse bolting ahead of us, riderless, jumping ditches and exiting the woods with a bloodied face (mine!) because we were going through low-hanging fir branches...well, I was not that brave any more. We were both a nervous mess for at least a year after that, I had breakdowns even attempting to walk on a hack, and it involved changing yards to a quieter one before my gelding, Snicks, got better. Me - I did not, not really. Although I braved my way into even cantering on hacks, I was still always extra cautious, nervous and ready to hop off even at the slightest sign of Snicks getting bolshy or strong. My extremely kind and patient yard mates helped me through the worst of times, bless them, but I still wasn't really able to canter in a group without going into panic mode and gripping at the reins needlessly.
Just two weeks ago we changed yards again, and this time, our hacking isn't just winding, but narrow forest paths, seldomly suitable for a canter due to terrain, but also huge open fields. Somehow, I got talked into joining a hack, and when the leader, at the edge of one such field asked if everybody is up for a gallop, I just nodded, terrified.
Two HUGE fields later, cantered and galloped across, in strong gusts of wind and just one tiny buck by my Snicks dearest, I was terrified...relieved...overjoyed...overcome with these wonderful emotions of freedom and fun I had missed for several YEARS! Whew! Can't wait to do it again, although that tiny black voice in the back of my head will, no doubt, try to talk me out of it, as it had succeeded to so many times before.
Pic of my beasty attached for attention!
It definitely helps that our main riding buddy now has approximately the same speed and stamina as Snicks, so Snicks doesn't feel bored or made to go "too slow", which can make him quite strong. That is a training issue, of course, but me being just 5'3'' and him - 16.3hh and a proud 750-800kg of pure muscle and attitude doesn't make things easier. 
