rowanrachel
Olympic Poster
Life is better when you share it with Horses :-)
Posts: 741
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Post by rowanrachel on Feb 18, 2012 16:23:37 GMT 1
Me and Honey on a walk today... First time through the woods and over the scary bridge! X :-) Attachments:
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helenc
Elementary Poster
Posts: 53
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Post by helenc on Feb 18, 2012 16:26:00 GMT 1
That's a lovely picture! Well done! She looks totally chilled and happy, as do you! Remember to make a mental note of how it feels to have achieved that today. We're all doing so well! X
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rowanrachel
Olympic Poster
Life is better when you share it with Horses :-)
Posts: 741
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Post by rowanrachel on Feb 18, 2012 18:47:02 GMT 1
Hiya! Thank you so much. It felt amazing. It was super windy, but I just didn't want to make excuses, and I really, really wanted to do this. Each point I got to I said out loud how well we were doing. I let mick stop and look at whatever he felt he needed to. He's allowed to look, but not react. I talked to him and gave him loads of praise whenever he felt totally chilled and his head was down all cowboy like. I was walking along one hand on the reins like a cowboy! We were passed by cars and cyclists and one driver stopped and wound down his window to say how beautiful mick is! Had a chat with a cyclist beside us as we trotted up a hill. When we turned into the orchard he felt totally different. Very excited, but I just thought about all the tools I have, and did a small loop in there in walk and then he was fine back out on the lanes again. So I think I will keep repeating and going in the orchard every time I ride and gradually making the loops in there bigger and build it up. All in walk in there until its not exciting any more! And in company, and will ask my RI who rides him once a week for me to take him in there in walk too. I think that's the best way to tackle it. Slow steps building up in the same way as we are hacking alone. I feel like this has broken a huge barrier for me. I know we will still have challenges, but am really enjoy this. I'm so proud of us. And mick was just such a brave lad. He's wonderful. Well done you! It sounds like a lovely hack.. Love it when ransoms comment on our luvly horses! Lol. X
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rowanrachel
Olympic Poster
Life is better when you share it with Horses :-)
Posts: 741
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Post by rowanrachel on Feb 20, 2012 14:54:27 GMT 1
I'm interested what have people who've worked through perfect confidence used as their positive affirmation? I've started on that today and am using 'everyday I'm overcoming challenges and becoming a happier, stronger person' :-) it's a great way to quickly put a positive into your head when your having negative thoughts!
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helenc
Elementary Poster
Posts: 53
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Post by helenc on Feb 20, 2012 16:15:59 GMT 1
I use:
I am improving so much as a rider. Every time I get on, every time I calmly focus on breathing, relaxing an my position I get more confident and more competent.
It's a long one I know, but I repeat it like a million times a day and I'm sure it's helped!
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Post by holi on Feb 21, 2012 11:08:07 GMT 1
well done. Hacked today with a friend but an incident just confirmed I am not ready to go it alone yet! It was 4 young eventers going loopy running around their field by the road when they saw us - I managed to keep it sane but my anxiety was sky high and I know if I was on my own it would be awful. Oh well there's always another time
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rowanrachel
Olympic Poster
Life is better when you share it with Horses :-)
Posts: 741
|
Post by rowanrachel on Feb 22, 2012 23:13:55 GMT 1
well done. Hacked today with a friend but an incident just confirmed I am not ready to go it alone yet! It was 4 young eventers going loopy running around their field by the road when they saw us - I managed to keep it sane but my anxiety was sky high and I know if I was on my own it would be awful. Oh well there's always another time Just got to keep building up Holi, you'll get there in the end. Keep exposing yourself to as many situations as possible when your with company and you have them for support, then eventually you'll feel More and more able to go it alone. That's what I'm trying just now with our leading- just trying to go out over and over and over until it doesn't phase us any more. :-)
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helenc
Elementary Poster
Posts: 53
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Post by helenc on Feb 22, 2012 23:30:36 GMT 1
Rowanrachel is right. Just take it slow. Try analysing the hack. What went right that you made happen? What went wrong that you can learn from? What happened that was outside your control? Try writing down the facts as if you were an outside observer, keeping your thoughts and feelings separate. What would an observer have seen? I bet they would have seen you handling the situation.
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helenc
Elementary Poster
Posts: 53
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Post by helenc on Feb 22, 2012 23:32:28 GMT 1
My aims for this weekend: dressage on sat Then on Sunday I have a polework clinic 3 miles away which I am planning on hacking to! Should be on my own, which will be a massive challenge! There is a chance a friend will be coming too, but in a way I hope she doesnt so mick and I can try going alone!
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rowanrachel
Olympic Poster
Life is better when you share it with Horses :-)
Posts: 741
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Post by rowanrachel on Feb 24, 2012 20:53:53 GMT 1
My aims for this weekend: dressage on sat Then on Sunday I have a polework clinic 3 miles away which I am planning on hacking to! Should be on my own, which will be a massive challenge! There is a chance a friend will be coming too, but in a way I hope she doesnt so mick and I can try going alone! Well done you sounds like quite an adventure!! Let us know how it goes.. Xx
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Post by kidsmum on Feb 25, 2012 16:01:47 GMT 1
Would like to join this thread if thats ok! My dales pony that I had had for 23 years had to be pts last summer due to colic, I then bought a lovely apaloosa, felt absolutely right when I rode him, just clicked, got him home, rode him two or three times then my husband had to have a knee op and I had not enought time, and then I fell over walking the dog and couldnt ride for a month, it's now been nearly four months since I rode him. I have no-one to ride with at the moment, have to go alone, also no schooling facilities either, so hacking out is it... Have really lost my confidence since the last time, always had wobbles before but knew my pony inside out, keep finding excuses not to ride Have read Kellys book but will re-read and re-do the excercises, it did help before. It's so encouraging to hear other people have the same worries as me!
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rowanrachel
Olympic Poster
Life is better when you share it with Horses :-)
Posts: 741
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Post by rowanrachel on Feb 26, 2012 11:01:45 GMT 1
Would like to join this thread if thats ok! My dales pony that I had had for 23 years had to be pts last summer due to colic, I then bought a lovely apaloosa, felt absolutely right when I rode him, just clicked, got him home, rode him two or three times then my husband had to have a knee op and I had not enought time, and then I fell over walking the dog and couldnt ride for a month, it's now been nearly four months since I rode him. I have no-one to ride with at the moment, have to go alone, also no schooling facilities either, so hacking out is it... Have really lost my confidence since the last time, always had wobbles before but knew my pony inside out, keep finding excuses not to ride Have read Kellys book but will re-read and re-do the excercises, it did help before. It's so encouraging to hear other people have the same worries as me! Helo kidsmum, and welcome. Try and remember just because you have no 'schooling facilities' does not mean you can't school so to speak or do ground work- in even the strangest spaces. (something which my friend keeps getting on at me for as I say we won't be riding until the schools built- she thinks I'm just making excuses :-) so any little open space can be used to create a safe space to practice I suppose. Klaus hempfling uses red and White construction tape to create a schooling space in between trees or fence posts etc. And try things out in there first. Or maybe get someone to walk out with you maybe leading your horse for the first few times if you really feel uncomfortable. But if neither of those are an option- re read kellys book, take some big deep breaths and plan to ride out for say 5 mins then come back and see how that goes. Don't think you have to go on a big 40min hack for your first time back at it. Xx and most importantly- let us know how you get on and sendsome PICS :-) xxx
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Post by Serenbean & Justine on Feb 26, 2012 20:43:35 GMT 1
My aims for this weekend: dressage on sat Then on Sunday I have a polework clinic 3 miles away which I am planning on hacking to! Should be on my own! Update please helenc.......... Hope all went well X
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helenc
Elementary Poster
Posts: 53
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Post by helenc on Feb 26, 2012 21:23:08 GMT 1
Hello kidsmum *waves* Well we came 3rd in the dressage and qualified for the champs. I was tense and nervous which transferred to mick but I know I will get over this as we get out more again as this was our first outing for 6 months. Today we hacked to the clinic with our friend, but the big plus for me was I did it all in my GP saddle. This is the first time I have hacked in that rather than my Aussie stock saddle for 2 years! Mick was brill. The clinic was good. Mick was again excited at first but soon calmed down as I did. Then we hacked home. Mick and I led the whole way home. So all in all a brill weekend. How was yours?
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Post by Serenbean & Justine on Feb 26, 2012 22:37:20 GMT 1
Sorry to say I have to work weekends, stable duties was about all else I managed this weekend
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