Update on Riding my Friends horse last night

Flibble

Flibble

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Yesterday I posted about being excited to ride after completely losing it with me now sold lad.

Well its been an education as to how terrified I am not.

I really enjoyed myself but dare I say this I dont enjoy riding her horse too much.

She is a lovely Welsh cob/tb about 15 hh I guess. I wasnt frightened but I couldnt ride one end of her. She basically does everything at 100 miles an hour even walking. We schooled in one of the big fields (never ever did on Drifter too frightening) but I could not find a button to push to steady everything up. Tried bodyweight tanked. Tried no contact tanked more. Put your leg on ,a squeeze I promise, shot off like a rocket.

Only thing that seemed to steady her trot up a little was a really strong contact on the reins much more than I was happy with and all she wanted to do was lean. No opportunity found anywhere to lighten your hand a tickle your finger to soften her.

I feel ashamed that I rode her so badly and so I asked my friend how she felt she goes and what she does and she said...

She leans on your hands all the time she goes fast all the time she makes you bounce in the saddle as her stride is so choppy and when you jump apparently you can try and steady up a bit and then she takes a hold and just goes.

There must be an answer but I have never ever ridden anyone quite like her and it was a surprise.

My friend wants me to rider her some more but I would like to ride her better.

It feels like she wants to balance on her riders hands but then tanks off against the pressure but it feels to me its not a pain thing it just a balance issue.

Anyway I havent gone off horses which is a great relief.
 
fab that you got on, and are already thinking of how to improve the horse you're riding. Well done. A great confidence boost.
Sorry I can't offer any solutions to the pulling/tanking off behaviour but I'm sure others on here will be able to advise.
It doesn't sound like she was an easy ride so you did really well!
 
Have been thinking about you, so pleased that you haven't lost all interest. I think it says a lot about you that you are looking at ways to improve yourself and this horses way of going after just one session. Im sure it wont be that long before you are looking at another horse for yourself, maybe a slightly scaled down version of Drifter (he was a big boy wasn't he!) You do sound like a very thoughtful and considerate rider and some day, one lucky horse will land on his hooves with you.
 
It's great to hear that even though it was a difficult ride all you want to do is improve her. I think that's a good sign :)

I'm sorry that i am useless for the advice though, just wanted to say i'm pleased you enjoyed it and haven't lost your nerve. It seems you made the right decision and It must be nice to have a play but without the pressures of owning for a while.
 
Just sending Yays and Hugs and Hot Choccies - others will have lots of good technical advice (I am bereft of good technical advice today (and most days come to think of it :o)).

Well done hun :D
 
Yey!!:D Well done Flibble!!:D

All I can say is typical cob!!:rolleyes: I have one who will do all of the above if allowed to!:rolleyes::rolleyes: How often does said cob get ridden?:confused: I find the only way to stop mine leaning on my hands is to work her - a combination of lunging, hacking and schooling. If mine hasn't been ridden for a few days she will lean more - when she is ridden consistently (not necessarily everyday) she doesn't lean and becomes really light in your hands. To slow her down I use a combination of half halts and seat, when in trot I use my seat to slow her down there is nothing you can do about their choppy strides as it is just how they are built. The other thing that helps with leaning and speed is lots of transitions (sometimes just walk/trot for a couple of strides and other times 20 m circles, serpentines etc) and lots of bending. I nshort if I keep changing what she is doing she has to listen to me and the constant bending/changing of directions means her mind is being used. The other thing to try is to lunge her (with tack on) before you ride for 10 - 20 mins as it may help take the 'whizz' out of her so she isn't such a tank when you ride. What bit does she have in?:confused:

In short think that you are riding and over grown pony and you will get the hang of her.:D
 
Ha that just about describes how I tried last night. She is mostly hacked and not ridden daily as my mate has a few problems with parents we could be twins if she wasnt shorter and older.

She is in a thin Neue Schule bit and I just felt I may as well of had a bit of stick in her gob. I think every trot circle needs 2000 transitions and she seemed to inprove with transitions within the trot as in tank and come back. When you do trot walk trot she charges off in the upward transition.

I think she needs a different bit but dont know what to suggest.

I should add that if you hold on too much in canter you get a levade!! so I didnt canter yesterday.
 
Ok as she isn't ridden every day definitely go with the lunging before riding:) - it really will help take the 'edge' of her so she won't lean and pull as much - give her a good 20 mins on it so she really gets it out of her system and make her work not just dawdle around. As for the bit I have mine in a Baucher (hanging cheek) but to be honest she will be just fine in a loose ring snaffle. As hard as it is try not to hang on to hard to the reins - if you give a cob something to lean on/pull against they will they will!! Be brave and relax the reins (buckle end if necessary) and she will slow down.:)
 
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