What good horsey moments have you had this week?

Leo Walker

Leo Walker

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I'm always posting asking for advice and moaning, so I thought it might be nice to post a positive thread :)

I've been really ill for months now and my little cob has hit the kevins, and quite frankly there's days when I would cheerfully give him away to the first person that asked! I've ridden him twice since July and been generally demoralised, fed up and worried I was wrecking him as he needed work. I just didn't feel capable of riding never mind wrestling a pony that resembled an angry rhino to tack it up, then actually get on and ride :(

Anyway, I decided enough was enough and he needed work so I just had to get on with it. So I booked a lesson with an instructor new to the area thinking that if nothing else, at least I'd get off my bum and ride!

She was fab! She did some groundwork with him, rode him first, then got me on. We only did 20mins in walk, focussing on getting me sitting properly. I've got soo many bad habits that I wasnt aware of! Anyway, I felt fab, pony went fab, and even when he got fed up and did a huge leap/spook across the arena when I had no stirrups, I didnt even move in the saddle, as I was sitting properly and therefore secure :) I got a "well sat" and he got a boot in the ribs :lol:

It was a brilliant experience for both of us, and I cant wait for her to come back next week! Shes given me some easy exercises to work on in the mean time and I am feeling full of enthusiasm and like I can manage to ride even when I'm very, very weak and tired all the time, because shes given me some different ways of managing him that will make it easier. It made me remember why I keep going on days where all I'm fit for is sleeping!

So what positive moments have you had this week?
 
Did my first ever solo day at a part loan. Been up to see the horse and yard once with the person, but got threw in the deep end today. I have never been on a yard so its all very strange to me and not sure i will get used to it. Anywho, everyone was lovely and helpful when my nerves kicked in and i forgot the simplest of things (like you know...how to get on....glad that fence was there...) and horse was definitely feeling a bit fresh so i was glad someone stayed with me for a little while but we settled down and i had a lovely ride and i didn't fall off or die and i made myself canter three times. Considering ive been on riding school horses the past year who won't canter unless you have two dragons snapping at their heels it was a nice change, if not a bit scary not having the comfort blanket of his owner/an instructor. Another bonus, horse did not die either in my time, hopefuly he will still be alive tomorrow morning as well!
 
This afternoon I watched my mum canter across the stubble and jump my horse over a little fallen tree.

When I first decided to try to reschool Billy, my mum thought he was too old and too set in his ways to ever change his bad habits. She also hadn't ridden for about 16 years, after a really bad experience. She'd said she'd never ride again. Now she's popped a jump and entered to do her first dressage test in 20 years this weekend.
 
Taking (leading) my four year old daughter on her first ever hack (well, a 10 minute walk up the road) and seeing the big grin on her face as the little cute, fluffy loan pony marched on like a saint.
 
Lovely post OP! Im actually hoping my best horsey moment of the week will be tomorrow but will go back in time a bit and recount the ones so far...

jumped a triple spread earlier in the week then the following day a four pole spread... about 3 ft high and 3 1/2 -4ft wide... he rattled it a tad but he tried it... busy jumps with lots of poles phase him so I was so chuffed with him!

https://www.facebook.com/emily.beech3/videos/1076758625667845/

then there was our first hack of the week... we went out at rush hour... across a really busy road, a few brilliant canters with some gallops too, then back onto the road and walk down that very busy rd... so well behaved!!


Our second hack - today (and our first) were ridden in a three ring gag in preparation for tomorrow.. he responded well, so well, responding to me when I asked for control and slower pace in canters!

Yesterday we did a course of four jumps... nothing more than 2ft, but again in the gag... I had no pressure on the reins, he floated lovely into the jumps so careful and neat!

Why are we in a 3 ring? well, its our first day hunting in the morning!! Normally if I need a stronger bit I use his tom thumb, but i wonder if thats too harsh for tomorrow so have opted for the gag... its a hack away and only my old mares favourite meet!! Im super excited.

Ben got his second clip today... again super good moments today... he let YO clip him with the big boy clippers all over (ears, muzzle, eyes and EVERYTHING!!) he let me pull his mane, was his mane/tail/legs... hot cloth him and hack him... to be fair - he was a bit fed up at the end of it all and glad to be locked in his stable and left well alone!!

So hopefully tomorrow - our first hunt will be our best horsey moment of the week... although I may end up in traction and regret it!! :/ fingers crossed for us!
 
Had quite a good week really...

Took my spotty pony on a Hunt Ride last Sunday and jumped some fab fences including some hedges :D Clipped my ISH and he was a star. :)

And today me and my spotty boy went to the Quorn Hunt Opening Meet, jumped some big fences and some more hedges and despite me having an unfortunate fall (which resulted in him going off jumping without me!) we had a great day! :D
 
Nothing huge or interesting but I feel I am making some progress with Ted and his excitement / pushiness at dinner time the difference between now and last winter is huge already but I know we still have a good way to go but I'm proud of the small steps we have made in the past week :)
 
On Wednesday evening our little cob was especially cuddley, bless her. She's normally very affectionate anyway but when being brought in she usually just goes straight to her haynet as she's still being muzzled when out. But Wednesday evening she just wanted kisses and cuddles and was just sooooooooo cute, I spent about half an hour more than I'd planned just sitting in her stable while she wuffled my hair and rested her nose on my head. By the time I left it was so dark I could hardly see my nose in front of my face. Time waster! Love her to bits!
 
That's lovely, well done and we'll sat.

I too suffer ill health
I've had my new horse 2 weeks and at first I wondered what on earth I had bought. Well I did buy a 4yr od ex racer ( Oops)However she is starting to settle and my new helper rode her for the first time yesterday. What a poppet she was too :)

I know there are going to be more times when I think oh cap what have I done, but at least it's a good start
 
Really silly things: he's started coming to call again and I was picking up the treats he'd missed from his treat ball and handing them to him, so sweet and snuffly!
 
Rode horsey on Tues, first time in 2 weeks, I thought it best to err on the side of caution and school in the arena rather than go straight out on a hack, and he went lovely! Very nice surprise. Then he had a bath so was clean and fluffy and soft for a whole half an hour...
 
Loaded young cob -who is 4 - into the lorry and went off to a friend's yard for a hack. He has only ever hacked out from home before. He was AMAZING. Really keen to see what was round every corner, walked calmly over the motorway bridge, went behind, alongside or in front of my friend's pony when asked and tried to chase after a car with a rattling trailer that passed us!
 
Took my four year old autumn hunting on Thursday I went by myself and drove there myself pulling the horse in the trailer for the first time. She was very good considering I am so proud of her and me :)
 
My youngster had his first canter in an arena. 1 entire circuit on each rein and on the correct leg! I don't think I have ever smiled so much.
 
I have had a mixed horsey week .
Monday autumn hunting , C my horse was great calm and well behaved enjoying himself great way to end before he starts a shoeing break - good .
MrGS falls off H after a sheep explodes out a hedge and goes under the horse , horse loose gets in 100 acre field - bad.
MrGS has huge black eye -bad .
Horse returns to MrGS when he calls him - good and some what surprising .
Tuesday ride out am ,Fatty lame - very bad
Farrier comes J's feet looking the best they have ever been - good
Wednesday dressage training with J , J refuses to load , he has done this three times in four years mega TB strop , I long rein him in , once in he starts eating hay not a care in the world - very bad .
Lesson was fantastic J was off form in March and was given a six month shoeing break I have him on myoplast and he feels so well , marvellous to be working him again - good .
He loads to come home - good.
Thursday dressage lesson with J he loads to go - good .
Lesson even better than yesterday - very good .
Vet comes to see Fatty doing a good impression of a sound horse even managing to lunge on the Tarmac vet perplexed but no reaction to palpation of suspensory thank god , decision is gradual increase in work and a short day hunting on a week on Saturday.- Good but a worry.
Friday Fatty sound on a short exercise - good but still worried .
Still to days to go a lot can happen here in two days .
 
C1airey said:
Turn on the forehand.

180 degrees.

Both reins.
Click to expand...

How was he for the farrier? :lol:

For anyone wondering, I know C1airey and her lovely pony in real life!

Its great to see soo many positive comments! I am feeling so, so, soooooo positive about everything horse related right now :) I've been so fed up and demoralised for so long but have just kept chipping away, but today was a real turning point for me. Its good to read that once we are over the current issues, that there will still be those moments that make it all worth while :)
 
We have managed yet another ride without being shot by hunters mistaking us for deer :D

No-one with any sense goes in the woods without wearing hi-viz at this time of year. These are all paso finos.

WP_20151023_12_16_40_Pro.jpg
 
FrankieCob said:
How was he for the farrier? :lol:
Click to expand...

Exuberant.

For some reason, he pulled back while tied up. Bailer twine broke (phew), pony realised he was free (uh oh), pony went to investigate hay barn (oh no), at spanking trot (argh! Come back you little ****er).

Alas, farrier caught end of rope just as B decided to bog off (impressive). Farrier then taken skiing (embarrassing).

Still, better than last time when he tried to poo on the farrier.

Twice.

My farrier is a saint.
 
Well I had one put down a week ago so not the best of horsey weeks! My Welsh cob is just hilarious though, held his own (69.8% and placed) at his first novice dressage at riding club qualifier, then good play at home jumping in the week- after a month off jumping :)
 
Very good week for me and my daughter. Looked at a horse on Sunday, proper horse, no hint of pony and it has passed the vet and picking up this Sun.
Little pony is buzzing and we had a super drive this morning having been very down in the dumps after loan with eye infection and footsore, though she was rather less than saintly with a potential small sharer.
And I had a lesson which went very well, I am trying to get some confidence jumping. Still can't do more than 2 jumps without forgetting to steer/use legs/ride but I am feeling inspired to improve my flatwork. Have ridden 4 different horses, liked each one better than the one before which I hope means I am improving and able to get more from the horse.
 
Mine are generally just lovely but how sad is this... 2nd week being stabled overnight for winter and they are still so wonderfully clean! No trashed beds at all.

As I said, sounds silly but nothing makes me happier in the mornings before work than when it takes me no more than 5 mins to muck out!
 
Awesome that you had such a lovely lesson.

My treat for the week was to spend time with my girl, a hysterectomy and problem knees has kept me from seeing her unless I have someone with me who is happy to bring her in and turn her out again for me. We had smoochy cuddles and I got a massive dreadlock out of her mane, the farrier trimmed her feet and she ate a bag (almost) of peppermints.
 
I've had a few little mini-milestones this past week!
1. Accepted that there's nothing for it and I have to ride in the school (outdoors) as it's now too dark to hack (I go after work during the week). I was nervous, for some reason the school is a scary place, especially in the dark. Pony was good, we had a nice walk around and I calmed down.
2. Secondly, after a day and night in his stable I knew pony would be fresh as they come - and I wasn't wrong. Warmed him up and got the majority of beans out of him on long lines then got on - and he was good!
Baby steps for us but they feel like a big deal.
 
I hacked my youngster on the road for the first time on tuesday and she was a complete angel. Even when we rode past some rustly bin bags and a very yappy dog snarling at her from someones front garden. I am one very proud mummy! :)
 
not this week but last week i took my lad out for a hack. Normally we keep away from villages but for some reason i decided to go through the local village. I bumped into a few people i know and got some lovely comments about the ginger one. I also had a couple of people i dont know telling me how beautiful he is, we got our photo taken twice and one gentleman said the horse was beautiful and i was rather lovely too!!! I nearly had to take my hat off my head was that big. To put this into context ... Im no oil painting, comments like this are thin on the ground these days and my stunning horse is somewhere in his early twenties...we never see anyone when we are out and about so days like that will be remembered !!!
 
Getting on my challenging, spooky Warmblood after two weeks off while I got through my old mare being pts. Rode in the floodlit school in her 20 year old dressage saddle and bridle as he's trashed his own bridle and his WOW needs a refit.

He was focussed, soft, in front of the leg and not a hint of a spook or nap. Gave me the best work he's done in the 5 months I've owned him. Love him
 
Confidence returned enough after struggling over two years, to have a bit longer canter and let pony go up half a gear and go a little bit faster. Then a little while later he put in a big spook and spin and I stayed on top, just. And I pluckrd up the courage to go out solo after hacking out with a friend for a couple of months. Several little steps all in one ride. It felt good.
 
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