Why don’t things ever look as dramatic as they feel?

[Kahlua]

This is a pointless thread but as the title says?! We went hacking today and have had a heap of rain. The path we took had A SHED LOAD of water coming down it, not so deep and dangerous that you shouldn’t go in, but I’m definitely going to call it a river. The horse’s were so brave (we were on our dressage divas, one only young) and they took it on like we were preparing for Badminton. Huzzah!

Long story short I’ve just seen the video from one of the other riders and the water looks like a slight trickle. It’s not how I remember it so I will always tell the more exaggerated story, but would’ve really loved the camera to back me up ?

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I can relate! I was pleased my daughter was videoing the MASSIVE SPOOK my horse did at a puddle as we turned the corner to a jump. On the video I was struggling to even see when he 'spooked'

 

[Kahlua]

I can relate! I was pleased my daughter was videoing the MASSIVE SPOOK my horse did at a puddle as we turned the corner to a jump. On the video I was struggling to even see when he 'spooked'

The video was lying - I’m sure it was MASSIVE and you sat it just like a pro-rodeo rider ?

 

[Ample Prosecco]

The video was lying - I’m sure it was MASSIVE and you sat it just like a pro-rodeo rider ?

Haha, I wish! Sadly the only reason I knew where the spook happened was the inelegant wobbly rider losing balance. Followed by the bemused videoing daughter saying 'what happened'

 

[FFAQ]

Everyone knows the camera lies. I am definitely a Lady Mary from Downton lookalike when I ride side saddle, but the camera swaps me out for Matron from the Carry On films.
OP you were definitely battling against a raging torent, just as kahlua sat a massive spook that has caused her to rename her horse Pogo.

 

[Pmf27]

Ha! I feel this. My instructor videoed me cantering over some jumps on a lesson a few weeks ago, I felt like me and 16.2 mare were FLYING but the video was like "nah, you're barely even moving" ?

 

[Kahlua]

Haha, I wish! Sadly the only reason I knew where the spook happened was the inelegant wobbly rider losing balance. Followed by the bemused videoing daughter saying 'what happened'

It was probably your perfect stickability and try as he might your wild bronco horse just couldn’t shift you!

Everyone knows the camera lies. I am definitely a Lady Mary from Downton lookalike when I ride side saddle, but the camera swaps me out for Matron from the Carry On films.
OP you were definitely battling against a raging torent, just as kahlua sat a massive spook that has caused her to rename her horse Pogo.

Ohh a raging torrent! I will definitely be using that when re-telling. The camera is just jealous of your elegance, I know it without even seeing ?‍

Ha! I feel this. My instructor videoed me cantering over some jumps on a lesson a few weeks ago, I felt like me and 16.2 mare were FLYING but the video was like "nah, you're barely even moving" ?

Ohh I can relate to this, when I was younger I did a jumps course and thought I was also flying, I got time penalties because everyone said I was walking in between fences. However I’m sure you were actually going at the same speed required in a World Cup jump off ?

 

[Pippity]

Went to Kelsall with a friend a few months ago. As we went through the woodland, Blue was prancing along, frothing over with excitement - unless you look at the video, where she's plodding along and practically yawning.

 

[cauda equina]

Just as when you've had what feels like the worst kick/bite/standing on your foot ever, and if you look hard there's a tiny bit of bruising

 

[LegOn]

I'm so glad I didnt have my youth in the days of social media or camera phones - the tales you could tell of what you remembered the night were much more exciting than probably what actually happened! Things became the stuff of legends and who was going to question it! It was an epic time...

Same definitely applies to all horsey mis/adventures!!! Lol!

 

[shortstuff99]

What happens if it's the other way ?? I always think my mares spooks aren't that bad and everyone always looks really shocked and then when you watch them back they are very dramatic, haha!

 

[Skib]

This isnt a pointless thread. The view you get from the back of a horse is different from what one sees on foot. It is partly the elevation which gives one a wider range and partly the minute attention one pays to the track and its suitability for the horse. Tus the torrent. Someone who worked for the V&A told me that grand houses and their grounds were desgigned to be viewed fromn horseback.

 

[ycbm]

What happens if it's the other way ?? I always think my mares spooks aren't that bad and everyone always looks really shocked and then when you watch them back they are very dramatic, haha!

I knew this was bad, but it was a LOT worse on camera! I was more frightened by the picture than at the time.

 

[shortstuff99]

I knew this was bad, but it was a LOT worse on camera! I was more frightened by the picture than at the time.

View attachment 64603

Granted not as dramatic as that! Eeek!

 

[Kahlua]

Went to Kelsall with a friend a few months ago. As we went through the woodland, Blue was prancing along, frothing over with excitement - unless you look at the video, where she's plodding along and practically yawning.

Just as when you've had what feels like the worst kick/bite/standing on your foot ever, and if you look hard there's a tiny bit of bruising

I’m so relieved many of my fellow equestrians have had this experience, honestly we should give ourselves big pats on the back for what we have “survived” ?

I'm so glad I didnt have my youth in the days of social media or camera phones - the tales you could tell of what you remembered the night were much more exciting than probably what actually happened! Things became the stuff of legends and who was going to question it! It was an epic time...

Same definitely applies to all horsey mis/adventures!!! Lol!

Oomph I totally agree with this, the lack of social media and phones that take photos through my young years have helped me embellish many a story ?

 

[Kahlua]

What happens if it's the other way ?? I always think my mares spooks aren't that bad and everyone always looks really shocked and then when you watch them back they are very dramatic, haha!

This is absolutely allowed and I’m very impressed if you thought it was all fine until you watched the video ? Gold star for keeping a level head!

 

[Kahlua]

This isnt a pointless thread. The view you get from the back of a horse is different from what one sees on foot. It is partly the elevation which gives one a wider range and partly the minute attention one pays to the track and its suitability for the horse. Tus the torrent. Someone who worked for the V&A told me that grand houses and their grounds were desgigned to be viewed fromn horseback.

I like this! I am also going to remind people of this when I recount horseback stories!

 

[Kahlua]

I knew this was bad, but it was a LOT worse on camera! I was more frightened by the picture than at the time.

View attachment 64603

Holy ?! I’m interested to know more. Please tell us the story and if you stayed on!

 

[ycbm]

Holy ?! I’m interested to know more. Please tell us the story and if you stayed on!

Poor horse had unknown kissing spines and I had asked for a trot to canter transition. The judge in the cafe later said "that horse needs a man on him", what he needed was a vet, which he got. Yes I stayed on, but my technique is not recommended, though it has always worked for me. If they go up, I pull their head round to one side with a wide rein, which makes them drop. You then have to be very, very quick to release them so they don't fall to the opposite side you've got their head. I don't recommend it and I would never knowingly ride a rearer!

You are absolutely right about spooks. They can feel dreadful but can look like nothing.

 

[Kahlua]

Poor horse had unknown kissing spines and I had asked for a trot to canter transition. The judge in the cafe later said "that horse needs a man on him", what he needed was a vet, which he got. Yes I stayed on, but my technique is not recommended, though it has always worked for me. If they go up, I pull their head round to one side with a wide rein, which makes them drop. You then have to be very, very quick to release them so they don't fall to the opposite side you've got their head. I don't recommend it and I would never knowingly ride a rearer!

You are absolutely right about spooks. They can feel dreadful but can look like nothing.

What an interesting comment from the judge! There are things I think are so obvious as go-to’s for checking now when we get these reactions (KS for example) which just a few years ago people would’ve put down to a “naughty horse that just needed a strong hand”. Rearing is definitely one of those very things you have to deal with tactfully. I can say confidently the camera didn’t lie in this case ?

 

[Muddywellies]

My horse BOLTS across the areana quite regularly scaring the s£#* out of me!! No really, a full on bolt!! Until I see a video and realise she 'shoots forward' no more than a horses length ??

 

[scats]

It always feels worse than it looks doesn’t it! Sometimes I’ll come out of a dressage test, laughing at how ridiculous it was because Millie spooked and tanked or did something daft, but I’ll watch it back and it will look fine.

 

[Kahlua]

My horse BOLTS across the areana quite regularly scaring the s£#* out of me!! No really, a full on bolt!! Until I see a video and realise she 'shoots forward' no more than a horses length ??

I’m sure it’s at lightening speed and the video is accidentally in slow mo ??

It always feels worse than it looks doesn’t it! Sometimes I’ll come out of a dressage test, laughing at how ridiculous it was because Millie spooked and tanked or did something daft, but I’ll watch it back and it will look fine.

I do love coming out of a test mid-partial melt down about how things went do wrong, along to watch back your video and say - oh it didn’t look so bad! ?