|
Post by wozzer on Apr 29, 2007 21:11:40 GMT 1
Was thinking, whilst eating my dinner tonight (like ya do ;D) for some reason about Caspar's "reliable leader for your horse" idea, which I like. A lot. Got me thinking. Own up - how many others are like me *raises own hand in the air* Sometimes, when I am riding, and something worries me or Lincoln, I actually stop riding him. By that I mean slightly freeze, or momentarily don't do anything at all, but kind of wait to see what his reaction to whatever it is might be. When I know what I should be doing is to continue to ask him to do whatever it was we were doing, where he should be going and at what speed. For example, if I was in the arena, and something exciting happened nearby (two horses in adjacent field came galloping over), instead of riding Lincoln along as if nothing was happening, I'd almost let him stop and have a look at it, waiting to see if he will react, almost expecting him to react, INSTEAD of asking him to carry on. It is as if I become a passenger for a while How many of you have got your hands in the air (or is it just me LOL!!) I have really been making an effort, lately, not to do this. I think that as riders with confidence issues, it might help if we try and remember to be the leader at all times, even when we are scared, and should not give the decision making over to our horses (unless in exceptional circumstances). I know this won't work in all circumstances, but do you know what I mean guys
|
|
|
Post by wozzer on Apr 29, 2007 22:14:53 GMT 1
Oh no, just me then........
|
|
|
Post by Casper on Apr 29, 2007 22:24:52 GMT 1
No, no Wozzer, not just you. I have been guilty of exactly the same thing more times than I care to remember. BUT I am learning to direct Bobby's energy more when I need to and also in my mind I say "Ask The Question". i.e. don't just sit there like a panicky passenger being scared to ask Bobby to continue to work in case he reacts - and ask him to do what I want him to do. Amazing the difference that has made. Whereas before I have backed off because of "what if this, what if that" now I stay focused and try to make him keep working. Not saying I will get it right every time but I am definitely making the effort to in the words of Mark Rashid "help your horse to direct his energy". It is okay if he feels he needs to move his feet, but you have to help him with the direction. Sounds simple but it is true and it works for me.
Hope this makes sense, sorry seem to have rambled on a bit!
|
|
em&ed
Grand Prix Poster
Grand Prix Poster
If I had just a little humility, I'd be perfect....
Posts: 3,276
|
Post by em&ed on Apr 30, 2007 8:33:20 GMT 1
my hand is up - look! *raises hand in air* when eddie was having a tantrum yesterday my legs came straight off his sides, without me even realising it when what I should have done is guided him away from the track with my left leg i just pulled his head round in a kind of panic (sorry eddie ) Instructor says we should ignore what they are doing and contine to 'ride' and by that I guess they mean "Don't just sit there" but i guess it is just a 'freeze' reaction
|
|
pebblesgirl
No Longer Posts on the DG
This poster can no longer respond to posts or PMs
Posts: 1,520
|
Post by pebblesgirl on Apr 30, 2007 14:53:16 GMT 1
my hand is up too lol!! I stop riding when i panic (normally with Pebs' ears up my nose lol) and go foetal,knees come away from saddle and bum raises up off of saddle about two inches.....must stop doing that.................
|
|
|
Post by wozzer on Apr 30, 2007 21:27:03 GMT 1
Hmmm....... yet I always used to ignore my first horse, William's., antics. He used to canter on the spot and do all sorts of tricks, but I trusted him so much. He never did anything wrong, just looked exciting to ride LOL! xx
|
|
|
Post by sidsmum on May 3, 2007 12:24:47 GMT 1
I have to put my hand up too. I am only just starting to have the confidence to ride through those 'Oh gosh look at THAT' moments. I wouldn't mind if Sid was a truly difficult boy, he isn't but he can be spooky and when he spooks he is so sharp it's easy to fall off. He normally gives plenty of warning that he's concerned about something and if you don't freeze he's usually happy to move along. I need the confidence to give him confidence and not stop riding. It's good to know you are not alone!
|
|
|
Post by Booze Fish on May 3, 2007 13:13:32 GMT 1
My hands up too!!! *sticks hand straight up in the air, in a teachers pet stylee*
Oscars got a thing about one corner of the menage and keeps spooking in it, even though he's fine in every other bit of it. I have to conciously (sp?) think to mysELf 'keep going, keep going' in the same rythmn as his hoof beats and really work him forwards ... sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt but like sidsmum says, its nice to know you're not alone when you realise your horse has dissapeared from under you LOL
xXx
|
|
apple123
Olympic Poster
Liberty May
Posts: 802
|
Post by apple123 on May 3, 2007 13:50:37 GMT 1
I do it too!! I've managed to get it down to just when I hack out now which is something I've never liked doing anyways. There's lots of scary bushes and a massive peacock farm at the top of the bridleway opposite my yard! I can feel my legs start to back off and the top half of my body tense in the same places each time I hack out and Libby isn't a spooky mare at all...it's all in my head unfortunately!!!
|
|
|
Post by kya on May 3, 2007 14:51:16 GMT 1
Absoloutely Wozzer. The incidents where I do that are less and less, but I hesitated when three dogs had a go at Blue this morning and this made him hesitate. Had to compensate immedeatly by getting down and running the dogs off. I think as long as you don't cease what you 're doing altogether, it's not that serious a matter, and sometimes don't you think there is an arguement for letting the horse look? Having said that, my riding partner stopped at a farm to let her gelding say 'hello' to a mare, and he proceeded to rear up and clamber onto the bank! She had waited a beat when he showed interest in the mare, and he conseuquently made a decision to take over. I let Blue look at blinking everything, but now tap his shoulder with my whip (it's a caress believe me) and he knows that's 'come on sweetheat, Mum's here, so all's well.' In jumping it's lethal I understand. They really can tell when you are thinking 'oooh geeeeeeees nooooooooooo, maybe noooooooooot!!' I'll tell you how that plays for me.
PS.. managed a rear in the early days with legs saying 'go on' during a spook/nap episode and hands saying 'help, God, no, stop.' Exactly what I deserved. Scared the hell out of me, but where else did he have to go??
|
|
|
Post by wozzer on May 3, 2007 20:46:58 GMT 1
Oh I know that PS, Kanga. Used to do that accidentally when jumping a very onward bound previous horse - hands saying no, legs saying yes, till a very kind soul pointed it out to me in desperation - LOL!!! xx
|
|
muffy32
Elementary Poster
Posts: 67
|
Post by muffy32 on May 4, 2007 8:02:31 GMT 1
my hands up. I feel like I shut down as a rider when me or my horse are scared. Im not sure what I do, I think I just cringe, go feotal, brace myself for the worst and hold my breath....not a great combination is it? lol I hate the wobbley legs I get once we are passed what ever was scaring us lol
|
|
js
Grand Prix Poster
'Tilly' - 1981 - 2010. Always In My Heart
Posts: 1,116
|
Post by js on May 4, 2007 13:54:23 GMT 1
And me !!! Been there, done that ! Lots of times.
Phew, so relieved I am not alone with this because it's made me feel such an idiot before now. Yes, you are right though. Need to stop being a passenger and concentrate more on being a rider when these situations occur.
Oh and muffy32 - I also get the wobbly-legs-post-scary-situation. They just seem to take on a life of their own don't they !
|
|
|
Post by kya on May 4, 2007 18:19:52 GMT 1
I don't know guys.. now jumping tomorrow for the first time in years (and first time on Blue) I will probably be limping back to base... but... I have found myself becoming more detached has helped. It sounds weird but take the focus off the horse almost completely. Mind your aids, balance, feel what's happening but stop internalising every twitch of the horse's ears for example. I've found not focusing on what Blue is feeling from moment to moment (probably wrong anyway) has made us a far more solid unit. He seems to be focusing on me instead. It's almost as if he's saying 'what do you want' instead of me sending him the message that I'm worried about what he makes of the situation. Sounds confused I know, but again, there's a much more detached, relaxed attitude appearing.
An example... trying to shake some clarity out of these ramblings, would be the joint hack I was dreading. I realised the other day how much attention I was giving my partner and her horse (who I don't like by the way). What were they about to do? Would he buck if he cantered? Gawd, you'd think I was riding him!! Gave that up the last ride, and it stopped a lot of my twitching in the saddle. Concentrated on my riding, my team, and zoned the other noise out- enough hassle right there. Somehow grounded me.
As Wozzer suggests... we shouldn't anticipate trouble when the horse is in all likelihood not going to act up if we don't turn on the 'electric bottom'. I have a classic 'electric bottom' for winding up any horse- well had up until recently. Manage the situation, look beyond it and on to the rest of the ride.
I think that shutting down feeling (I know that exactly believe me) is in reality throwing our horses out to deal with the situation by themselves... they aren't that bright. We have to look after them if we want them to look after us.
Develop the abliity to 'act' through the moment. I found great strength in my 'there now, what a silly boy' slow voice and sitting back and letting the reins loosen, when internally (for that ghastly split second something happened) I wanted to leap off and weep with fear. If (as Derek suggested) you were taking your young nephew on the roller coaster, would you say 'Oh God, I hope we survive this Sweetie! Grip my hand, we'll go down together.' No- you would put on your game face. Acting confident does help.
|
|
karenandco
Advanced Poster
Advanced Poster
there is never a quick fix,
Posts: 452
|
Post by karenandco on May 4, 2007 18:57:29 GMT 1
i don't do this anymore, as when i did let him stop out on a hack is when he backed up into a moving car, so from that point on i made an effort not to let him stop and look, unless of course it is safe to do so, i e on a country lane, looking at the big real hoses that they water the fields with which is really a big coiled up snake that is going to eat you and him in one swallow lol karen and co
|
|