When did you last exercise discretion

[Spudlet]

as in, discretion being the better part of valour? Because we all know that wimping out can actually be the most sensible thing to do sometimes... and not the sign of a poor horseman/woman or hopelessness or a sign to sell your horses and take up crochet.

ME: on my last share horse - I got up at sparrow's fart to hack alone before work, arrived at the yard as dawn broke - unfortunately it was also really foggy.Seemed ok on the yard but as we got out onto the tracks the fog got worse and I thought we were going to fall down a hole or be cleared up by a pheasant of doom! So we turned around - must have been out for all of ten minutes

 

[VioletStripe]

Today! New baby was having his saddle fitted, was his first time being ridden in a week and first time being ridden at this yard in this arena. So got on with the new saddle (didn't suit us but I wanted to try it out and also thought it'd get him used to the arena), he was very skittish and so took it slowly. After deciding to bite the bullet and trot I decided after a few mins it was time to call it a day - neither of us were relaxed, I didn't like the saddle, and he got to see the arena and so I thought it was time to pack in and finish before we both got upset. He was better than I thought he was going to be, and he should be fine after seeing it once or twice more but today was also windy and I didn't want to push him xx

 

[Marydoll]

as in, discretion being the better part of valour? Because we all know that wimping out can actually be the most sensible thing to do sometimes... and not the sign of a poor horseman/woman or hopelessness or a sign to sell your horses and take up crochet.

ME: on my last share horse - I got up at sparrow's fart to hack alone before work, arrived at the yard as dawn broke - unfortunately it was also really foggy.Seemed ok on the yard but as we got out onto the tracks the fog got worse and I thought we were going to fall down a hole or be cleared up by a pheasant of doom! So we turned around - must have been out for all of ten minutes

Thats not discretion thats self preservation

 

[Spudlet]

There were some reeeeeally big pheasants around there, that's all I'm saying

I guess people can end up beating themselves up about being wusses or whatever but sometimes you have to know when to call it a day and come back tomorrow IMO

 

[Marydoll]

I think riders in general seem to be happy to take a big stick to themselves.
You fall off, generally it hurts most normal folks would think sod that.
But no the rider, beats themselves up about being nervous and hoping it doesnt happen again still gets back on, then chastises themselves about feeling nervous !!!!!
We all wish we could be better at whatever we want to excell in, so we practice, and sure as theres **** on a billy goats ass, it never goes to plan on the day so ..... We beat ourselves up about it again ! Didnt prepare well enough, should have practiced more, its me, i let the horse down, stuff that, unless youre a professional rider and its your living, just enjoy it, i'd have to say when i think a shove it im just gonnae do ma best, thats when it usually works, stressing just gets you grey hair and an ulcer

 

[Mince Pie]

I was taking by tb mare out for a solo hack. We got a third of the way down a big hill (the idea was to go down, and then back up) when she started bouncing about. As she has been known to rear I turned round, went back up the hill, past the yard to the top of the bridleway and back again