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Post by cyndi on Jun 7, 2014 8:03:38 GMT -5
I just realized that I talked about my riding lesson in the coop, but I'll record it here as well.
I rode Maddie, M's mare. She is very well trained and takes good care of her rider. I was sending her mixed messages as I rode, which confused her, but we managed to make some progress. Even M could see when I 'stopped riding' and Maddie slowed down or stopped. I guess all those years of riding a trail horse who moved automatically has made me more of a passenger and not an active rider.
I started out on the lunge line, just because it was windy out and in my head I knew that Fanny might spook in that wind, so I didn't trust Maddie either. When you have fear issues, it's hard to differentiate between horses and what you think you need to be nervous about. Maddie did take good care of me. I was okay with walking and trotting, so we tried some with me on my own, using the whole arena. M asked if I was ready to do some loping, and I felt okay, but I wanted to be on the lunge line. M controlled Maddie's speed for me, so that I could just concentrate on getting the feel of the rhythm of the gait, but in M's eyes I looked like I was sitting correctly and doing well, but in reality I felt like I was going to tip right off of Maddie. Turns out the saddle was loose, so we fixed that and I tried again and did better. I may look like I'm doing it right, but inside I feel like I'm just going to fly off the saddle. At this point I'd be okay with never trotting or loping a horse ever, but just enjoy going at a walk, but I know I need to learn how to ride both the trot and lope so that if the horse did either one I would know how to ride it. It's kind of like getting a drivers license...you just do what you need to do so that you have the skill, even if you never use it again.
As I mentioned in the coop, I didn't realize I was such a poor rider, and my butt still hurts from the western saddle. No only my butt, but my back too. I could feel my back getting sore during lessons, from bouncing. I tried posting, but almost every time I posted, Maddie would slow down or stop. I'd like to just do trail rides and incorporate some trotting and loping into that.
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Post by horsespoiler on Jun 7, 2014 21:26:35 GMT -5
Cyndi, I have found that at times that I ride and expect a horse to behave it usually does. When I ride Winnie I expect better behavior from her and she usually comes through. I always seem to expect misbehavior from Whitey and that's what I get. I KNOW Whitey can do better but I worry about what I will do if she acts up. DH will switch with me and she behaves better for him. I'm sure I'm telling her I don't know what I'll do if you act up so she takes advantage. She has a big flowing trot, not hard to ride but pretty fast, and a huge canter. If I were more confident I could stop her I'd like it better.
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Post by ghostrider on Jun 8, 2014 5:54:05 GMT -5
Yes it's true with Boomer too he'll test you to see if you're REALLY going to insist or not then he goes the rest of the ride either behaving or trying to get one up on you. Sarah finally had enough confidence to put him on his toes this last year but before that she would panic if she thought he would buck (which was every time he put his head level or lower)or run off or even fall. I don't know where she ever got the notion he was going to have a wreck but it took till this year for her to overcome it. Telling her he doesn't buck or that if he trips he still has three legs on the ground etc.. didn't work. The mind believes what it wants even if it's not reasonable.
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Post by cyndi on Jun 8, 2014 7:45:43 GMT -5
Horses are really good mind readers. I feel like my body is relaxed, but my mind is not, and the horse can definitely sense that.
Fear is a awful thing. Riding Fear Free helps you in a way in which you are actually fear free rather than just riding through your fear. I like M and all, but after feeling like I was going to fall off while loping, my fear increased. She is more of a "push through your fear" kind of person, but will stop when I need to stop. At this point, I still need to start further back. I want to find someone who can teach me riding fundamentals from the start, not just tell me that my form looks good in the saddle. I feel like I would be betraying M by going to another coach for those fundamentals, but I still need to start at zero before jumping to five.
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Post by luvmymorgan on Jun 8, 2014 13:58:05 GMT -5
Cyndi, I'm so glad you have M to work with you & Fanny. I think you'll see some big forward steps in your riding & confidence! After riding Risty today I look back at the 2 years I didn't ride and wonder why the heck not! But at the time it was the decision I made & it just took a while to rebuild my confidence even though he didn't do anything to cause my fear. He was so good today! But then this was the first time I've ridden in about a month where my mind was totally "there". Several times in the arena I got some nice slow, controlled loping and didn't have to use my leather strips to swat him  The tripping/stumbling issue seems to have disappeared now that I'm more aware of his head position and keep him looking forward (as much as possible) instead of gawking from side to side. Strange how 90% of the issues I have with him end up being something I'm doing/not doing. Poor guy - he's so forgiving when I screw up! |
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Post by cyndi on Jun 8, 2014 16:13:04 GMT -5
Horses are so forgiving, aren't they LMM? I am so glad that you and Risty are enjoying your time together. Fanny wouldn't purposely hurt me, but her little spooks have me on guard all the time. I need to just splurge and spend the money on the RS-tor, but I can't afford it right now. If I had that to hold onto, I think I'd feel more confident. I am always afraid of falling off.
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Post by horsespoiler on Jun 8, 2014 21:35:03 GMT -5
Cyndi, in the days of the cattle drives the cowboys used a strap called a night latch. It went around the pommel of the western saddle through the hole underneath. They put their hand through the strap in case they fell asleep while guarding the cattle at night. Maybe you could rig up something similar to hold on to? I put an old stirrup leather around the neck of my horse when I use the English saddle.
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Post by ghostrider on Jun 9, 2014 0:10:10 GMT -5
Cyndi I read something in Ann Landers the other night that made me laugh even though it was very true. A woman who worked with really great doctors was always being asked to recommend one to her friends but then her friends would complain about the Dr. they went to see. The writer said...she didn't understand why her friends went to a doctor, paid them money, got advice and then after not taking that advice or the recommended medicine would then complain about the service. LOL
Why do you think we do that? we could kick our husbands for going to that doctor and then not listening to their advice, after all they are the expert and husbands are just stubborn and can't see that they need to trust the doctor, that he knows what he's talking about.
We smile and take advice when we go but then get home and second guess the doctor even though we'd flunk out of med school we still know whatever they're telling us has to be wrong..why else would we pay them for advice we won't take? "We" the total opposite of "expert" always seems to know more than the doctor especially when the medicine tastes awful.
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Post by horsespoiler on Jun 9, 2014 18:50:36 GMT -5
Cyndi, the sore back and butt don't mean your a bad rider. You are using muscles you don't normally use and sitting on areas not used to hard surfaces. If you went for a long bicycle ride and you weren't used to it you would feel the same way - sore in places you didn't know you even had. If you always feel off balance maybe you could have your Dr check your sense of balance on your next visit. Your inner ear can affect that a lot. The same reason some people get car/sea sick (raises hand and waves wildly).
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Post by cyndi on Jun 10, 2014 15:22:44 GMT -5
I've wondered about using a neck rope, but I have a feeling that Fanny would panic if I was falling off and pulled on it.
I have had issues with balance in the past. I used to get these episodes where I'd have to lie down for a couple of days (depending on how long the episodes lasted). My doctor said it was caused by a loose cilia in my inner ear and it was floating around in the fluid in my ear. I would feel dizzy until it finally settled. As oddly as thy came (he said it could've been caused by hitting a bump in the road or scratching my ear), it was gone. Haven't had one of those episodes for over 10 years now.
I also went through a period where I've felt very spaced out and tired all the time. I've been to regular doctors, naturopaths and homeopaths to see if it's a deficiency. I feel better in many ways, but not normal. That is where my balance issues come from, I'm sure. I zone out pretty easily, but I'd much rather stay focused and in the moment. I hate feeling like this.
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Post by ghostrider on Jun 10, 2014 19:51:17 GMT -5
Like anything else you could work on her with it before ever needing it. As you walk by pull up and down on it and sack her out. While sitting on her pull up and play with it so she knows it's there and part of her tack. when ever my horses have spooked they could care less what I'm doing.
I took a nap AGAIN today. Love those days off! LOL
Got up and decided to try and ride today, knee has been getting better even with working on it. Saddled up and then put on the knee brace for support (will try anything) and went ahead and mounted on the right side just to be sure I didn't twist it. Did not have the trouble I did last week and once in the saddle the only uncomfortable moments were going down hill twice. No real pain and we rode about 3 miles doing about 1/2 of that in a trot. It is SOOOO NICE to be riding again. WHEW
As for Buddy he's sure a great horse. It was pretty breezy and the cows were out, traffic was going in to the drive next door probably for milk, kids across the way were screaming and running around in bushes and all you could catch were glimpses of stuff moving. He looked to see what was going on and that was it. Walked right past a big tarp I had folded up in a pretty big square. He has not been ridden much at all so I expected him to be a little spooky in the breeze but he was the same steady eddy and I even think he knew I'm not 100% and was good on accord. When I put him up he at his grain and then as I was pulling up the poly by his fence he followed me down and wanted me to scratch him. THAT IS NOT MY HORSE!
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Post by horsespoiler on Jun 14, 2014 22:27:31 GMT -5
We took a little ride today. Went on the old roads and through a meadow. I'm sticking to my western saddle on the trails right now. I need to do more practicing before I take the other one out again. The girls did pretty good. There were a few places where they were reluctant to go forward. Last time we had to hold them back. The trail is lined with wild lilacs and I think I ended up with some down my back. When we got close to the house both horses got a lot perkier so I told DH we needed to go back the same way we came. They were NOT happy with that idea, but did see it our way in the end. When they are too excited to get home I won't let them stop there. If Whitey tries to be too fast I make her go past the gate as many times as it takes until she doesn't even look at it. I tell her it's too bad she was in such a hurry since she doesn't make the decision of when the ride is over. The more she asks to go in the longer we have to stay out.
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Post by cyndi on Jun 15, 2014 16:18:22 GMT -5
Sounds like you had a good ride I spent a lot of time today talking to the husband/wife boarders that are new to the barn. They've taken their horses around the fields (that in the background in my photos) on nice relaxed rides. I am envious. I wonder if Fanny would spook less if we went out with a group. I have never been out on a ride with her in a group setting. How pathetic is that? |
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Post by horsespoiler on Jun 15, 2014 16:44:14 GMT -5
Most horses do better with other horses around. I can't ride Whitey off alone but Winnie will go by herself. If they have calm horses you might do better taking a ride with them than taking Fanny alone. She will have "herd mates" that will help keep her safe so she can relax more. Riding in the middle can also help as she won't have to lead or bring up the rear, someone else will be keeping watch.
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Post by ghostrider on Jun 15, 2014 21:08:31 GMT -5
Normally you don't want a spooky horse to bring up the rear they get excited when the horse in front gets too far ahead and then burst into a nervous trot to catch up and it's always the last horse which gets eaten in the wild. It's the weakest link in a herd. I would bet that you wouldn't have any trouble at all with Fanny if you rode with others.
Buddy is just weird he's ALWAYS liked to go last except when we do the womens ride/camp. Don't know why it's different.
HS, I do the same thing. Then when we get home I make sure to work them a bit and tie them with the saddle still on to the tie ring on the trailer and leave them at least an hour so they learn there's nothing worth running home for. I had trouble a little more when we had the horses a couple miles from the house because after riding we'd throw them hay and grain them so they learned as soon as we got back they got to eat. Big mistake but not a lot you can really do if you don't want to take another trip to the barn later, except ride a bit in the arena or ring before putting them up so there's some un-fun stuff between getting home and eating.
Supposed to be low 80's next two days off, can't wait to saddle up.
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The tripping/stumbling issue seems to have disappeared now that I'm more aware of his head position and keep him looking forward (as much as possible) instead of gawking from side to side. Strange how 90% of the issues I have with him end up being something I'm doing/not doing. Poor guy - he's so forgiving when I screw up!