What have I done

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Pmf27

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I'm going to see a potential loan horse in an hour and I'm REALLY nervous.

Suddenly I'm thinking "wtf have I done? What was I thinking? Heeeeelp!!" ??

I got back into riding a year and a half ago but have only ridden RS horses in that time, so reading through an old thread on here earlier about how different privately owned horses are has hit me with the "it's gonna buck me off or bolt and I'll break all my bones or die" anxiety haha.

Is this normal? Should I be worried?
 
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Pmf27

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Kamikaze said:
Trust your gut. Make sure someone rides the horse before you. If all feels good then get on. Take your time and don’t feel forced in to getting on or doing more than you are comfortable to do.
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Thanks for your reply. I'll definitely not be riding him unless owner does first, so just hope they are prepared for that - I've only ever gone to see a potential loan once before (years and years ago) and they didn't ride first so I don't want this one looking at me like I'm mad when I ask them to hop on first haha
 
ownedbyaconnie

ownedbyaconnie

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It's the norm for the owner to ride first, or provide someone that knows the horse and will ride first so if they don't offer that is a reflection on them, not you.

As long as you have been honest about your abilities you have nothing to worry about. They will be different to RS ponies but that's a good thing! Lots more to learn from. Take as long as you need and at your pace. Have a nice long walk, get a feel for the horses gait, way of moving, check your girth, check your stirrups are a good length etc. Trot/canter/jump whatever when YOU feel like it.
 
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Pmf27

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ownedbyaconnie said:
It's the norm for the owner to ride first, or provide someone that knows the horse and will ride first so if they don't offer that is a reflection on them, not you.

As long as you have been honest about your abilities you have nothing to worry about. They will be different to RS ponies but that's a good thing! Lots more to learn from. Take as long as you need and at your pace. Have a nice long walk, get a feel for the horses gait, way of moving, check your girth, check your stirrups are a good length etc. Trot/canter/jump whatever when YOU feel like it.
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Okay that's reassuring, thank you!

This is the weirdest feeling because I'm never nervous to ride, ever - only ever excited and raring to go. I can't remember the last time I was anxious about getting on a horse...
 
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Pmf27

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Well I had no reason to feel nervous - I have returned in one piece and with a trial loan on my hands!

Horse was absolutely lovely, really friendly and alert, gorgeous too. He seemed to like me which is the main thing haha.

Riding wise, he was a former RS horse so wasn't the shoot-off-at-the-slightest-touch horse that I'd envisioned haha. I got the impression he was nice and steady and suitable for my ability while still being able to put me through my paces.

The best thing was that his owners are so nice! Just normal, down to earth folk which are exactly the type of people I respond to and get on well with so that was a huge relief, I was secretly dreading meeting some hoity toity know-it-all types, but they weren't like that at all.

They've said they'll be happy to support me for the first few weeks by being at the yard with me and then want to be able to leave me alone and this was just the set up I was after too, as I do want that initial support while I get used to having my first loan.

So yeah, feeling very positive and from what I've read about loaning it seems as though I've found a good'un so can't believe my luck really! ?
 
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