You know how I know I'm ready to get back to riding?...

SaddlePsych'D

SaddlePsych'D

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...well...I got all my stuff ready before an online appointment I had at 9am, finished meeting, then FLEW out the front door to get to RS with enough time to faff about changing my boots etc.

Got 2 mins up the road and realised I was in fact a full hour ahead of myself.

Am now back home killing a bit of time before heading out again!

Lesson report to follow :D
 
A beautiful day for a ride!

Thought I'd do a quick lesson report as its been ages since I last wrote one. I've not even sat on a horse for nearly 2 months. Things weren't working out with my share horse and my confidence if anything was spiralling down. So today was just about getting back on, getting back into a 'forward thinking' frame of mind, and enjoying myself - all of which I'd say I achieved (drove home with a big grin on my face :D)

We just worked on transitions and turns today, and using my seat to steady in trot. We were quite wibbly wobbly (falling in and out, bending the wrong way, cutting corners - uh oh!) but I learned how to improve this by slowing the pace to improve balance. I found this quite tricky to do (maybe due to little pony legs going quite quickly under me, I found it hard to set the pace with my rising but there were some good moments where there definitely was improvement, if not consistent). Had a little canter on each rein, super pleased with this as last time I had a lesson the thought of it made me want to cry. Today I got on with finding the nice, non rushing trot I liked and we had some nice transitions in and out of canter. Yay!

A bit of a surprise for me at the end when it turned out I was in fact not riding the pony I thought I was (whoops, sorry D!) - I did wonder why the walk felt so bouncy at the beginning ('what's got into D today?' - well, being a different pony for a start!) So I was extra pleased because I was actually getting used to a new pony I've never ridden before, without realising it. Note to self, pay attention to markings on little piebald cob from now on so I know who is who!

Really happy to be back, lots to work on (as always of course) but feeling much more hopeful. Excited for lesson next week and actually am having two lessons as thought I'd sample another RS. I like the one I am at but would like to get more experience on different horses and ideally something a bit taller as I have a suspicion this might be a preference. Then depending on how that's feeling may take up an offer to ride a horse at ex share horse's yard, as it would be so great to get out hacking again - especially on sunny days like today!
 
Rumtytum said:
I really enjoy your reports! As you know from another thread it was my first time back at the RS after ??? months, there’s nothing to compare when you’ve been so deprived ?
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I've been very lucky to be able to go to share horse's yard to visit so still been able to get some horsey time but with no riding. Tbh it's worked out quite well for getting out of the nerves because I missed riding so much! Looks like you had a good time at your RS too, and on such a beautiful day too! :D
 
I'm in a very similar situation to you. I gave notice on my share as it just wasn't working out and have gone back to RS. They are so lovely and I've got a friend who's also riding there, so I can have lessons with her in a no pressure way.

My main focus and reason for going back to RS is confidence. I hadn't realised how anxious I'd become while sharing, mostly due to the behaviour of the owners, who would jump on you for anything they could. More often than not it was for things that hadn't ever happened, so it was quite hard to talk to them about. At first I felt like I was going mad but then most of the other sharers gave notice too so I was relieved it wasn't just me.
 
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