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Post by kafee on Apr 9, 2014 22:52:14 GMT 1
Having only just found the time to read this thread: Well done, Caroline, I'm incredibly impressed with the weight loss, wish I could stick to a diet! Not that the progress that you've made with Tiger Lily isn't just as amazing, it's just that losing weight is less fun!
With Sarah's help you can't go wrong, and I'm looking forward to photos of you riding Tiger Lily. It may be a long time before you get there, because I know you won't rush, but you will get there. You two have such a strong relationship that it's just a matter of time before you're enjoying hackng out together.
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Post by portiabuzz on Apr 9, 2014 23:16:30 GMT 1
you've really inspired me to get on and grab life thank you xx Sent from my GT-I8160
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Caroline
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Post by Caroline on Apr 10, 2014 19:56:40 GMT 1
Fabulous walk with TigerLily today! We went to the edge of the campsite, she had a good look at the caravans etc but was quiet and good about it. Then we jumped the ditch and went into the forest a little way and took a wander through the grass and trees. Again, we could have gone further and she wanted to, but there was a herd of wild ponies ahead and I didn't want to get too close and tempt incident, so we turned back. She was an angel with the gates - very clever - she knows exactly where to put herself whilst we are going through the gates and is very co-operative about the whole thing. There were no scary moments at all today. She looked at several things and was a bit nervous/excited when we went into the forest, but it was all very manageable and we had a lovely time
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Caroline
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Post by Caroline on Apr 10, 2014 20:17:01 GMT 1
you've really inspired me to get on and grab life thank you xx Yes! Grab life! I think we can be so cautious about everything that we don't get on and do the things that really matter and really make us happy. Or we can get so caught up with the routine and obligations that there doesn't seem to be time. But if you really want something, it's amazing what time can be found! When I started all this, I was convinced I didn't have time to do anything other than work and do ministry stuff etc. I was overweight, unfit, a smoker - heading for an early grave and not having a very nice time getting there! I quit smoking (thanks to e-cigs!) 8 months previously and started the fitness and diet thing last July. I won't pretend it has been easy..lol! The hardest part is getting up and going out training after a late night working and then having to brave the elements. But when I was training in the rain, it actually felt fabulous in a strange sort of way. I pretended I was Rocky the boxer - running, punching, doing press-ups on logs as the rain ran down my face. When I was out of puff doing Randori (fighting a group of attackers - in this case, just my OH and a lot of imagination!), I imagined I was Jean Claude Van Damme taking out a violent gang. When I was power walking or running up a steep hill and convinced my legs were going to collapse, I imagined TigerLily was at the top. And somehow, once I start thinking about TigerLily, I lose all awareness of anything else I am doing I think I am on to the most difficult phase now. Getting fit etc was hard, but it was clear what needed to be done and the challenge was just sticking to it and getting on with it. But now we are in the TigerLily phase and the path ahead is less obvious to me and is obviously going to be very much dependent on how TigerLily feels about each stage. But I am in the best of hands. Sarah knows what she is doing and will guide us well. And I couldn't ask for a better result and response from TigerLily so far. As long as I get things right, she responds and we find our way forward. Each day a little better communication, a little more mutual trust, a little more progress. The next thing to address, other than the ongoing work with TigerLily, will be my riding and riding fitness. I need to get some practise in. I was going to go on some hacks, but I might take a few lessons as well to make sure my seat hasn't changed. I dread to think what a couple of decades and nearly 5 stone loss will have done to my balance, position and movement. I need to get on and get everything re-aligned and sorted out and my confidence up to where it needs to be for the ride of my life Sounds like a plan! hehe!
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Post by karin1966 on Apr 11, 2014 7:45:00 GMT 1
Wow, Congratutions! Firstly on your weight loss & secondly for following your own way with Tiger Lily, well done!
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Post by portiabuzz on Apr 11, 2014 9:45:19 GMT 1
go Caroline!
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Post by portiabuzz on Apr 11, 2014 9:45:43 GMT 1
i look forwards to pics in the near future of you onboard miss TigerLily!
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Caroline
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Post by Caroline on Apr 13, 2014 19:28:16 GMT 1
It's taken a week to get to this, but today we went on a walk that covered all the ground we covered on our last lesson with Sarah Weston. We even jumped the log! Wahay! I was a bit apprehensive approaching it because I thought she might get excited by jumping, but my concerns were unfounded. She just popped over and immediately dropped back to a walk by my side. We also passed some forest ponies which she pretty much ignored. Then we went up to the edge of the campsite and had a look at thngs. She decided to have a mini-spook at the wooden sign nearby (she has seen it several times, but today it was obviously more worrying). But it was the tiniest of spooks and she went straight to it then and gave it a sniff, which was duly rewarded with clicks and treats. That earned the sign several more sniffs...lol! TigerLily never misses a trick Then we went back to looking at the campsite. She had been perfectly calm and keen thorughout the walk, but seemed I noticed her respiration rate go up at that point and a bit of concern, so I called it a day then and took her home. I don't think she wanted to go home though. Once she is out, she seems to want to stay out and explore more - which is wonderful. It's a massive change from the horse that spooked every few yards and who I didn't dare lead up to the gate onto the forest, just a few weeks ago. There is a change in her personality too. She doesn't seem to want to argue about things and is quite clearly enjoying what we are doing and getting more and more confident. I am getting more and more confident alongside her too. The walk isn't a daily cause for apprehension anymore. I am still very careful and aware that things can change in a heartbeat, but I look forward to the walks too It's all good and I think our goal may be getting more achievable by the day. It wasn't long ago that the thought of riding TigerLily out on the forest seemed almost impossibly dangerous. Now I really believe it is going to be possible. But even if it doesn't turn out to be, I now have a horse I can enjoy a walk out in the forest with and that's a lovely result on it's own. So many thanks to Sarah for getting us here
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Post by Hannah on Apr 13, 2014 20:18:08 GMT 1
Sounds great Caroline For riding practise I can highly recommend June at Fir Tree Farm in the forest. She is an Enlightened Equitation teacher and also has a horse simulator which could be a great tool for getting you back in the saddle
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Post by nich on Apr 14, 2014 8:53:04 GMT 1
excellent story Caroline, thanks for sharing. OH and I love taking the horses for a walk (in hand) in the woods, there is something special and bonding about sharing the woods in this way rather than riding. We always do it when there has been heavy snow so riding where you cant see whats under your feet, with steep hills, would be foolhardy. and then we say 'why dont we do this more often'!
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Post by portiabuzz on Apr 14, 2014 15:03:51 GMT 1
envious of the woods
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Post by portiabuzz on Apr 14, 2014 15:04:22 GMT 1
am sooo pleased for you and for TigerLily xxx
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Post by Lulu on Apr 14, 2014 20:32:52 GMT 1
There is nothing better at building up a bond and trust in your horse, than hand walking everywhere. Lena is very reactive like Tigerlily. I'm back on board now, but keeping things local and within her comfort zones. I do venture further but she does get anxious but at least she relaxes once back in her comfort zone. Repetition seems to help, and keeping them feeling safe. Over the road makes her anxious as she associates the park with sheep or pigs, which stresses her. We now have sheep in paddock behind her with the cows, so she'll improve with seeing them daily. Shame they can't put the pigs across field from me lol. Lena would be stressed in field for a week, but the others don't care about any livestock. You are right to do the in hand work, I did this a lot with Lena as part of her rehab, as she reared over with me on March 2012, then totally severed tendon on off hind leg on Easter Monday 2012. Its been a long slog to get to where I am now, I do know how it is. But saying that, its always these ones that have the most to teach us:-D
You did well to lose the weight. I also lost weight as wanted to be 1.5 stone lighter to start riding Lena again after her accident. It was all the hand walking that did it, and stress lol ;-)
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Post by portiabuzz on Apr 15, 2014 11:51:18 GMT 1
whats so lovely about this is that TigerLily must feel so secure in that you are understanding her and not using any force makes me happy to think of it
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Caroline
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Post by Caroline on Apr 16, 2014 14:38:38 GMT 1
Some photos from Sunday's walk... This sign was apparently a thing of horror the day before. Taking a look at the campsite... She was very keen to investigate the fire extinguisher at the edge of the campsite... Walking through the forest... Love her expression here...intelligent and nterested but not freaked out "What's Mum doing with the camera? Is it edible?" Looking beautiful by the blossom All dung must be sniffed... "What's up there?" "That says bridleway..." What a star!
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