What Have You Learnt In The Past Year?

Qru said:
I have learnt many any things:

You can move too fast with a new horse and end up, inevitably killing all confidence.

If things arnt going well you may have to go all the way back to the basics, again and again AND again.

Although the above is frustrating, especially the second time around, its a huge benefit to both you and your horse.

It may actually be a BENEFIT to let someone else ride your horse - especially as afterwards he did some beautiful canter transitions that left my trainer speechless :D

To finally admit that my horse is wasted with me as his abilities are far higher than mine

To finally admit that all the problems weve had have been due to my stressyness and tenseness while riding

To try and not freak out at every competition

That I adore being with my horse on the ground - I could stand around with him all day!

Lickits are awesome ;)

That I'm strong enough to put my horses welfare before my emotions and make the decision to PTS

That XC isnt terrifying but its actually my favorite disipline :)

Theres lots more but ive already written an essay and i dont want to bore you all :D
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Don't ever think a horse is wasted on you; if you and he are happy, that's what it's all about :)
 
That the worst happened and I lost my darling boy but I still stayed breathing in and out and made sense of life without him - not what I wanted but different.

That some people are the scrum of the earth and will steal from you every day but still drink your champagne at the Ledger or other scum will knowingly sell you a horse that could kill you.

That I can have confidence and fun with my new girl.
 
I have learned that my life wouldn't be complete without horses and I'm probably the luckiest girl in the world.

Everything happens for a reason. If my shetland hadn't smashed up my fencing I wouldn't have gone looking for an energiser on preloved. I wouldn't have come across the advert for a 15.2 boy in need of a new home and made a wonderful new friend in his old owner, wouldn't have moved my horses from a livery yard to my own place and I wouldn't have met mr. perfect.

Little things are what make big things happen.

My appy boy isn't possessed after all, he just needs things explaining slowly in a way he can understand.

Shetland ponies are not invincible. They sweat when it's mild, shiver when it's cold and need as much love and attention as any thoroughbred. They also get mud fever and aren't scared of big, grumpy geldings.

No matter what the weather man throws at me, I'll still never give up my horses.

Worming horses isn't really all that complicated.

You can never order too much hay.
 
I've learnt that where one door closes another one opens.....

I lost my horse of a lifetime, and found another totally different one, not to take her place, but to make my life whole again.

I may not be the best rider in the world, but I can ride well enough, and know enough to walk away from one instructor who doesn't believe in me and my horse and find another who does.

That there are amazing people on HHO and in the past year I have found some that I am proud to now call friends.

Onwards and upwards, in spite of the weather. :) x
 
nikicb said:
That there are amazing people on HHO and in the past year I have found some that I am proud to now call friends.
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I'll second that. There are some fabulous people on here.

I've learnt that I needed to learn how to ride the pony the way he needs to be ridden, rather than riding him how I wanted to ride him. Does that make sense or have I been at the psycho-juice again?
 
JFTD said:
I've learnt that I needed to learn how to ride the pony the way he needs to be ridden, rather than riding him how I wanted to ride him. Does that make sense or have I been at the psycho-juice again?
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That makes sense. They are all individuals, and while they shouldn't be allowed to get away with murder, allowances should be made for their individuality. That was my hallelujah moment with my new instructor compared to my old. :o
 
JFTD said:
I've learnt that I needed to learn how to ride the pony the way he needs to be ridden, rather than riding him how I wanted to ride him. Does that make sense or have I been at the psycho-juice again?
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Totally makes sense - I wish I'd learnt that long before I did and enjoyed much more time with my pony.

I've learnt that....

Unfortunately, and sometimes fortunately, nothing lasts forever!

To stop listening to what others want you to do, and start doing what you want to do!

And that whatever life throws at you, theres always light at the end of the tunnel!

(Oh and I've also learnt that it can in fact rain and rain and rain and rain.......:rolleyes: )
 
That supplementing with magnesium is like a miracle drug

That tb's are super expensive to feed and I should have believed those who told me before I got one

That getting hurt at your very first competition badly enough break bones and confidence does not actually ruin your summer, it's fun to spectate

Make sure both you and oh can tow in case of injury or it will be a troublesome summer

That sometimes the decision to pts is really the best thing

To keep excellent records for when you pay bills/ check horses weight/ shoe/ worm as someone somewhere will forget and you are better off having recourse for everything and paying bills online
 
Great thread!

I've learnt...

That sometimes 'giving up' on the wrong horse leads him to the 'right owner' and you to the 'right horse'.

That it is possible to restore completely shattered confidence in a relatively short space of time once you have the right horse.

That despite what horse you think you want or need, the 'right' horse for you will inevitably find you- having spent months, ££££, hours of trawling adverts and phone calls and miles of travel looking for a probably grey or coloured, and definitely mare, my 'boring bay' perfect-for-me gelding came to me by word of mouth from 5 miles away!

That I will never totally 'get over' loosing my beloved Dolly, but that it is possible to form a different but getting as strong bond with another horse.

That an 18 month winter is a VERY long one!!
 
1. Planet earth is a very hard object to hit with your head.
2. Put not your faith in paramedics, they will try to kill you.
3. Smashed up but alive is not the worst option.
4. Have adequate personal accident insurance.

Gravity!!!! I fought the law and the law won:D:D
 
I've learned:

- You can't quit horses. You may be able to stay away for ten years, but you'll be back eventually.

- I was an amazingly crap rider ten years ago. I'm learning things I never knew and I can feel myself getting quieter, more precise, more balanced, and more in control every time I get on a horse.

- I will never stop wanting to improve.

- Listen to everybody. Apply common sense to what you hear.

- Smile, shovel ****, be cheerful, avoid the yard bitching, and people will let you ride their horses.

- This doesn't stop you wanting your own.

- Never groom while wearing a fleece.
 
That i don't ride like a sack of potatos but confidence is so so low i am not sure why???

I love my horse, I love the fact that when i put him to bed i can take his head coller off and he stands and waits for me then follows me back to his stable so so cute :D
 
That I have more patience than I thought. This is the third Spring in three years that we've been on box rest.
To treasure the times when everything is is working, and nothing is broken.
To say No.... I don't need another bridle/bit/bottle of shampoo/hoofpick. I've got plenty. :D
 
That you can't trust anyone else to look after your horse as well as you do, no matter how good a friend you think they are, and to trust your own judgement even when other people are telling you otherwise.

That good farriers are worth their weight in gold.

That laminitis is a truly horrible illness.

That actually my horse is a very good little soul and it's ok for me to be proud of him.

That sometimes, livery yards are a necessary evil.

That you CAN cope with your horse on DIY with a young baby!
 
noblesteed said:
That laminitis is a truly horrible illness.
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I learnt this one too :(


Little steps are better than great big strides more often than not.

Acting as though you have all day when you actually only have 10 minutes can be VERY effective.

That I need to trust myself a bit more and that my ability is above what I rate it at.

Confidence can be broken in seconds but take months and even years to rebuild.


Oh and I don't bounce like I used to either
 
Ellies_mum2 said:
I learnt this one too :(


Little steps are better than great big strides more often than not.

Acting as though you have all day when you actually only have 10 minutes can be VERY effective.

That I need to trust myself a bit more and that my ability is above what I rate it at.

Confidence can be broken in seconds but take months and even years to rebuild.


Oh and I don't bounce like I used to either
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Sounds good :D:D
 
Mike007 said:
1. Planet earth is a very hard object to hit with your head.
2. Put not your faith in paramedics, they will try to kill you.
3. Smashed up but alive is not the worst option.
4. Have adequate personal accident insurance.

Gravity!!!! I fought the law and the law won:D:D
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Brilliant :D

I like the idea of assasin-paramedics... Assasamedics?
 
I've learnt that I need to make swifter, more definitive decisions and not let the boat drift in the wind!

To listen and pay attention to what is going on around you, heed the signs instead of remaining frozen to the spot and act on them.

A healthy happy horse is worth it's weight in gold and is something you should never take for granted.

People sometimes are not friends just acquaintances.

That horses are the most forgiving of a human's faults :o
 
Haha, so many of these ring true to me.... Particularly "never believe what you are told about a horse until you have seen it with your own eyes" ...

Have been told so many things about my girl that left me barely doing anything with her . Now we are having the most amazing time and I'm planning so many fun things for the year ahead. Some im sure I will end up disappointed , but I learnt only yesterday that I simply do not give her enough credit. Really looking forward to the year ahead.

I wonder what I will be saying that I've learnt this time next year.......;)
 
nikicb said:
I may not be the best rider in the world, but I can ride well enough, and know enough to walk away from one instructor who doesn't believe in me and my horse and find another who does
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This is me about a week ago. Thank goodness its not just me. Having a trainer that doesnt belive in you is pretty confidence crushing but we'll get over it :rolleyes:
 
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