Su
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Post by Su on Mar 22, 2007 17:38:09 GMT 1
Echo everyone above - well done for staying on and coping with the situation!
It does sound like Blue was very excited cantering in company. Do you canter out on your own? I would try to go in front next time ou try it, and defiantely have a good trot in company first.
My old mare used to get very excited in company but was better having a side by side trot first and then easing in to canter. You could try that??
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Post by kya on Mar 22, 2007 17:39:13 GMT 1
I'm saving this post to my Blue folder on my desktop. If ever I need to feel support in my riding, this is the one to read over. Thank you so much.
Should have prefaced this with my history, which was giving up at 16 after a couple of years on a nappy mare who bolted with me regularly. Smashed a knee amongst other things. Confidence was zero. 20 year break before returning to riding, so this is quite a journey.
We do canter on our own regularly, generally but not always on an uphill set of forest tracks with lots of transitions. I had no idea that a gag would raise his head Chris. That would help a lot. He stuck his head between his knees two days ago (no bucking) but it's not a comfortable feeling to have just the ground skimming away in front of your eyes. Again, thanks for being so good about this. Not ready to put him in foal yet- smile. (Should have got that blinking mare!!)
I felt so pathetic this morning I was bitterly laughing and crying at my second hand Stubben cloth and my fluffy seatsaver slung over the stable door. I was like four legged useless upholstery at full tilt.
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pd
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Post by pd on Mar 22, 2007 18:02:05 GMT 1
Chin up chick, sounds like your riding companion has more issues than you. Just keep riding your horse with sensible companions or on your own and you'll be just fine. It doesn't mean you can't be friends, but it would be safer if you didn't take these two horses out together eh?
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Post by jennyb on Mar 22, 2007 19:28:01 GMT 1
I can't add any more to the excellent advice above, and to be honest I'm too shattered to string a sensible sentence together, but I just wanted to say I think you're doing fantastically well. I do follow your posts, even though I don't always reply to them (sorry! ) I recognise a bit of myself in you, in that when things are going well, we think "That's it! I've cracked it, that problem (whatever it was) won't happen again, yippee!" And then of course are shattered when we realise it's not like that at all. But I'm coming to realise that life with horses throws these little blips at us now and again. I'm now referring to them as "off days" and sure enough, things usually return to normal within a day or so. Not sure if this rambling is making much sense! What I'm trying to say is don't let the blips get you down, it's not a reflection of how good a rider you are or aren't (and you sound a very considerate, thoughtful and capable rider), it's just your horse being a horse and doing what horses do now and again. He probably knows he shouldn't, but sometimes circumstances get the better of them and they forget themselves. I'm sure things will be back to normal for you very soon, chin up!
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gb
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Post by gb on Mar 22, 2007 20:53:44 GMT 1
Sorry, not read entire thread!! Just wanted to say that (a) big "NO" to stubble field, (b) this was me on 2 horses, one of which was my youngster the other was somebody elses horse, (older horse but FAAAAST TBX).
With mine it was pure excitement and happened 2 or 3 times at the start of the canter, the other horse it was also excitement but happened mid-gallop (how??). Anyway, my confidence was totally shot to hell.
The thing that did it for me was to go out regularly with somebody you totally trust and don't do what you don't want to do. The cantering uphill is an excellent idea, but only when you're feeling relaxed - don't do it until you feel ok about everything else up to that point, you must be ready for it, it's not a test. The more relaxed you are the better the experience will be. Spend the in between time visualising yourself cantering and bring in the emotion you want to associate with it. Do this at least twice a day, but meantime don't do the cantering.
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Post by kya on Mar 22, 2007 21:27:20 GMT 1
GB... I would say the stubble field canter (up hillish but 100 yawning acres and strange to us) is shot to hell at this stage. I'm still between pride and good sense, but if I hack with her in the near future, I'm demanding walk and trotting out until I get over this scary ride. It's a long time since I came home from anything and bawled out of pure repressed fear. Thanks for all the sterling and very comforting advice. I really do appreciate it and it made my day a lot easier.
Jenny... absoloutely. On the up side... we change our minds about everything on a heartbeat too. Feeling a great deal better. Confused but better. Thanks all.
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miggy
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Post by miggy on Mar 22, 2007 21:44:29 GMT 1
Aww kya, so sorry to hear about this horrid experience ........100000% NO to the stubble field.I wonder if you can trot with Blues head just slightly in front then when you are ready for a little canter just do a few steps then come back down to trot with your friend staying in trot. As has been said , i would also recommend having a ride on a safe sensible horse just to get the feel again. Good luck ma'dear but for heavens sake , stay SAFE
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gb
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Post by gb on Mar 22, 2007 21:55:52 GMT 1
Good decision girl, you are the same age as me, I have been through this and thought it would never work out. I now am in raptures at the thought of galloping my boy (or any horse). Do what feels right - that's the key.
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Post by wildrover on Mar 22, 2007 23:43:40 GMT 1
Kya . shure bejaysus what are ya bodderin about woman?
I mean .... disaster? humilated? worried what friends will think? ....
Firstly I'm figurin you gotta think ball n ox to whatever your friends might be thinking about your riding ability.... ya see.... thats a burden and a distraction... of no merit at all.
Next thing is to realise a 5 yr old is gonna do what a 5 yr old is gonna do ....
I'd be saying a 5yr old needs a solid hacking partner ... esp if the old confidence stuff is temporarily misplaced .... need to find it again .... and it dont always come that easily .. but it does come ....... if you do it a step at a time. Don't run before you can walk ......
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Post by kya on Mar 23, 2007 8:37:17 GMT 1
Quite right. Riding same forest on my own tomorrow morning to erase memory and then I'll make a new plan of campaign.
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Post by Casper on Mar 23, 2007 9:05:36 GMT 1
Good for you Kya! Everything will be fine, just look at how far the two of you have progressed. We're all riding there with you in spirit, if not in person. Wish I had a hacking partner like you over here, we would have great fun and really help each other. Enjoy your ride in the morning hun.
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Post by chrissiew on Mar 23, 2007 10:50:40 GMT 1
So glad to read your positive posts Kya - keep it up, you can and will do this. Let us know all the details of the lovely ride I am sure you will have tomorrow.
Ref. the bit advice - yes a three ring can help loads in keeping the heads up of these types of horses (I have friends who have had success with them in this way) - as I said as long as they are used sympathetically and with a training purpose (ie with the idea to go back to a milder bit hopefully in the future), then I don't see a problem in using one,. If it gives you more confidence, the upward spiral happens and things start to get easier, whereas, just battling away with a snaffle (which I presume is what you use) with no confidence will keep you in that downward spiral, which is not where you want to be.
All the best and enjoy that ride tomorrow with your lovely boy.
Just to add, he's a Connie isn't he? One of the friends I mentioned above who used a three ring for the reasons I have given, had a Connie mare who did the same thing and bashed her confidence to pieces - so much that she would only ride on a very tight rein in a pelham with double reins when I first started riding with her (horse was only 5 at the time!). I helped her work through her issues and gradually she downgraded to a three ring on the second ring and letting her mare have the rein on walk etc. Eventually we were hacking all over the downs at all paces quite happily and she ended up back in a snaffle with no flash and really happy and confidence on this little mare.
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Post by smudge on Mar 23, 2007 11:01:19 GMT 1
If you change to a 3 ring dutch gag - please try it out in a safe area first. It has the opposite effect with my mare - she tucks her chin right in to evade it and we have some awful sponge brakes and I have to gather up a load of rein before I get any contact again - not good in canter! My strong mare goes beautifully in a kimblewick though.
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Post by iceberg on Mar 23, 2007 11:21:51 GMT 1
Kya, I still havent got back on!!!!! So you are my inspiration and I will, sometime, so please please dont put yourself down. Its a hiccup like everyone says, and I agree with what all have said, a big no to stubbly field, and perhaps a quieter companion to ride with.
My friend was having the same problem with canter, it always turned into a rodeo, so when I had Toby (who couldnt / wouldnt go fast or far) we taught Nigel to just take a few strides of canter at a time behind him, any sign of bucking and he was pulled up and taken back to trot.
This worked for him, short and sweet canters. With lots of praise when he got it right. Nigel was coming 5 btw. and full of himself so could be quite scary if he really went. We found narrow tracks the best, not fields and because Toby was the 'boss' Nigel never attempted to go past him.
Dont know if you have already tried this, so sorry if its no help.
Im waiting for your posts, I'm SO jealous of you, you put me to shame. Im counting on you to make me get off my bum!!!!!! xxxxxxx
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Post by kya on Mar 23, 2007 11:27:56 GMT 1
Great stuff. Iceberg! There you are! Thanks for all those kind words and encouragements. Smudge and Chris... am I riding on one or two reins with the gag? Will kimblewick encourage his head up?
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