STOP PRESS - The I pledge to be positive thread

[sancho]

OK, so we all describe ourselves as 'mature' and 'returning to riding' and 'no confidence' in our threads......now this may sound radical but.....

how about we start being positive about our lot???

Go on, I'll go first:

I am mature and have had confidence issues but I am actually rather proud of the fact that I have a beautiful, happy horse. Altho I have a long way to go with my riding I have actually come a long way in the last year and pledge to go onwards and upwards in the coming months.

**steps off pouf and returns to settee**

C'mon ladies & gents, whose next????:D

[Em 1]

Thank you Sancho:D

I am proud of the fact that I can groom, tack up and ride my horse when 8 years ago I couldn't even tell you where the dock was (unless you had a boat of course!:D:D)!

[titch_]

Im proud of how far i have come, (this time last year i hadn't been in the same feild of a horse)

[shandy84]

ummmmm


I'm proud of the fact that I sought help when I struggled and thanks to that help I am now confident and have a much happier relationship with my pony, so much so that I went and bought another one :p

[heartofrainbow]

I am proud that ...

I have nearly finished my degree and pushed myself to achieve what I have done to date!

And that I have stuck by my pony even though most people would have just given up!

[CurlyWurlyRach]

Im proud of the fact that I had an epiphany recently as my horse hurt herself, it wasnt serious at all but it could have been nasty, if (god forbid) anything nasty did happen to her, I would seriously regret not doing all the things I avoided doing with her cos she's nutty as a squirrel. Im all set to bring her back into work soon.

[Ginger Thing]

I have had confidence issues about hacking out for the last couple of years, but now I have overcome them, thanks to my 2 lovely boys, and am now happily cantering out hacking, hacking alone and looking forward to a fun ride on Saturday :D

I have 2 fantastic horses and am a capable, confident rider! (that's my mantra! ;):D)

[*katie*]

I am proud of the fact that in the past 18 months i have gone from clueless novice, to novice with a sort of clue, to novice who didn't trust any horse not to bolt off with me or throw me off if i broke out of walk, to sort of novice who is now loving every minute in the saddle and after two years flatwork (too scared to get all six feet off the floor!) is starting jump work again! Things are looking very decidedly UP for me and my horsey confidence right now!!! I pledge to NEVER give up on myself and more importantly, to trust the horses i ride; and to always strive to be the best rider and carer i can. Now, i pledge to try and transfer this current horsey confidence to the rest of my life :D!

[Sammii]

I am ridiculously happy over the fact I had such a confidence low two years ago.

It it hadn't have been for that, then I would NEVER have met or ridden Red, let alone full loan him.

Making me smile just thinking about it. :D

[antonia :)]

I have overcome 2 fears this year, the were:
-Hacking out
-Jumping over 60 cms lol :p so much so that i jumped 80 :cool:

[CER1389]

I am proud of the way my confidence has improved and have recently been reminded of just how much. I NEED to be proud of that, and only just recentally realsied how proud I am of it. :D

[stormy's mum]

i am proud of stormy because though i sold her a while back she can now jump a full course with me on bored lol

[Virago]

:) Great thread, Sacho! :)

I am proud of overcoming my confidence issues (with a little help from NLP!) in the last year. I now enjoy riding more than I ever have. In the past few months I have learnt the basics of side saddle and I have ridden on a beach -this would have been beyond my wildest dreams when I was a nervous nellie!

This year I plan to do a dressage test for the very first time and also to learn to jump! :eek:

I am also proud to be a pupil of my RI 'M' - she doesn't come on NR so will not see this but she has taught me so much and encouraged me wonderfully when my confidence was low. She is an inspiration to me and she really proves the value of finding the right instructor. :)

I HEREBY PLEDGE TO STAY POSITIVE! :D

[avaadora]

I spot a bandwagon and by golly I think I'm going to jump on it! Great thread...

Erm... yes. I came back to riding recently (well autumn last year) and was all to pot. Then started doing ok. Then fell off and had confidence knocked by the reaction of folk at the riding school. Then started at new riding school and doing well (if I can get the bus times right!)- I've realised/finally been told how to correct some of the things I'm doing wrong (turns out there's bones in my bum that I should be sitting on ;), plus my crazy zigzag back- my hips lean to the right so my shoulders shift to the left to compensate :eek:!). I even went on a hack and ok there was an instructor with me but she stayed behind me most of the time and I had to lead and I even had a few good canters and felt very much the cowboy! Yee-ha indeed! Next major thing is to jump- haven't done that in 10 years (it was too windy the other day) but on the steady cobs I think it might actually be fun.

As for goals... well my ambition is to get a share horse this year, which is probably going to be harder than it sounds given that I like small hairy types but I shall persevere:cool:! I'm not the greatest rider in the world but I'd like to try a competition maybe. Even if I come last at least I'll be able to say that I did it :D I also want to learn more about horse care. I know bits and bobs but I'm always really interested to know more. So watch out Edinburgh folks... here I come! (And be on the look out for a share for me too... hehehehe... ;))

[cwb]

Erm...

....mature? Nah, daft as a brush - get my free bus pass in 4 months!

....returned to riding? Well yes, I have to cough to that one.

....lack of confidence? Nope - don't suffer from that, quite the opposite which can be nearly as bad :o

.....proud? You bet! I can get 3/4 of a ton of live kicking horse to do what I ask of it (most of the time).

.....enthusiastic? Ooooeeer, now looking to buy my own horse.....

[Skippys Mum]

[QUOTE=avaadora;1596337]I spot a bandwagon and by golly I think I'm going to jump on it! Great thread...[QUOTE]

Ditto....

Okay, for this years challenges I am going to get over the fact that Arnold is a bit wee for me. I am not going to part with him so I'll just have to "live with it".

When he is up and running again, I am going to be the positive, happy, confident mum that he wants (and needs) instead of the gibbering idiot that he had:o

I might not be going eventing:D but I'm going to be a "HAPPY" hacker (as opposed to a "clinging for dear life wishing I was home" hacker.

And my final challenge (lets see how many of you agree with this one)....

I'm going to see to the gang in the morning BEFORE I come on to NR (there are complaints starting from the equine department;))

[Abserd]

GOOD THREAD!!

I'm proud that i finally got the courage to help out at my RS, that i'm on level 3 of my progressive riding tests, am going on a jumping taster day tomorrow :eek: and will be doing my horse owners cert. in march!

Also proud of myself for helping my friend with her horses and hacking on saturday with so much confidence both on the horse and on the ground!

Hurrah :D

[sancho]

Hay, Great to get so many positive pledge's!!!!!!!:D

Keep them comin......

p.s. Fandango - STOP LURKING AND POST YOUR PLEDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!;):p

[rubysmum]

positivity - yeehaa sign me up too
i am proud that people never believe that Ruby is 18 - must be doing something right
i am proud that i made a good decision when choosing my daughters new pony - despite all the early tears [hers not mine]
i am proud that i got praised by my boss at yard for a particulalry excellent stable - may have an MA but praise for poo shifting means something too

what a lovely thread:D:D

[Shanny]

Well, I am understanding Trina a lot more and we are bonding well. We went out with a lovely lady (who has been so helpful - amazing who you meet when you get a horse), for 2 and a half hour hack and Trina behaved like a right Sweetie!!!!! So, I am feeling rather good (aside from a very very sore bottom) and quite positive.

[-jo-jo-w]

:DI'm proud that I have managed at least a month now without falling off/having a wibble moment when going into canter/been to scared to go into canter...or all of the above at the same time!:D

I can definatly see that I have progressed...My riding instructor says my name a lot less in the lessons. Hm maybe she has forgotten who I am! :o

[sancho]

See, we are rather good at looking after our horses and riding afterall!:D

Its nice to read positive comments rather then the easier negative ones - Im the worlds worst for that!:o:p

Im very proud of us all **warm fuzzy feeling being sent in bucketloads to you all***!:D

There must be more......Fandango I can hear you lurking....:p

[kackabella]

Thank you for MAKING me think positive thoughts!!

I am proud of the fact that although I am a beginner (only been riding for 5 months) and ridiculously unconfident and stupidly irrational, I am going to carry on riding and overcome my fears. Giving up is the easy option and I'm not taking it! :)

[learner]

[QUOTE=*katie*;1596092]I am proud of the fact that in the past 18 months i have gone from clueless novice, to novice with a sort of clue, to novice who didn't trust any horse not to bolt off with me or throw me off if i broke out of walk, to sort of novice who is now loving every minute in the saddle and after two years flatwork (too scared to get all six feet off the floor!) is starting jump work again!

Well I'm at about stage 3 of this and have just got my first horse so I pledge to try and be very positive and learn as much as I can!!

[Alle]

Great thread!

I am proud that I am regaining my confidence after a fall I took on December 30. I didn't get hurt, but it knocked my confidence a LOT. I've been riding my mare Sevigny, another TB/QH cross mare who is quite green and a huge WB gelding who is advanced, and last week had a great ride on each! :D It's the first time in several months that I felt that I can do this, and I did.

[Cobgirl]

I am happy that I am happy once more, riding. I may not be the greatest rider, or the most confident, but I am learning to love what I can do and will go from strength to strength!

[Fandango]

Well Sancho, as you know, I'm not just mature, but 'very' mature and have been returning to riding for the past 7 years!

I've had many ups and quite a few downs especially having bought a very young, green horse.

I'm so pleased I didn't take the advice of some (to sell him) but chose to listen to my lovely friends who saw in him what I did and still do.:o

I will be forever grateful to Sancho for loaning me her beautiful mare during my loss of confidence with Gil, and we both got our confidence back at the same time after one session of NLP and 'taking it slowly'.

Sancho is now cantering her daughter's nippy little mare bareback to her field and is the one who wants to go in front on hacks and wants to get galloping up on the hills! What a difference a year makes:D:D

I'm so very happy to have two lovely horses, a great yard and fantastic company on hacks.

I (and Sancho) pledge to enter some dressage and local shows this year and do more jumping!! :D:D

I'm so enjoying being a horse owner and spending my time with them, that I really can't remember what I did with my time before.:confused: There's a slight downside for the 'ball and chain' (sorry, husband:rolleyes:). He doesn't see an awful lot of me now!! Still, absence makes the heart grow fonder.:D

[sancho]

Woo Hoo!!!! She did it! :D

[Fandango]

Yes, and I got a bit carried away - sorry!!:D

[joshes mum]

Im proud that i now have the confidence to hack out alone!:D

[sancho]

Im proud that i now have the confidence to hack out alone!:D

I can really relate to that (see my rambling thread in General!). I took my mare out on our first hack alone for me and her!!!!!!!!!!:D

See pleadging to be positive really does work!;):D

[Nimbus65]

I love this thread . . . so lovely to hear us all being positive :)

I'm very, very proud of myself for not giving up. I honestly was to the point of stopping and it was only reminding myself how much I used to love being on the back of a horse that made me think hard about changing my approach. I lost all confidence in my ability to ride . . . second-guessed myself and beat myself senseless every time I felt like I wasn't doing something right . . . which I felt like was ALL the time. I had SO many lessons where I was near tears. After changing instructors, and giving myself a good shake (and after lots of support from my new instructor), I now really, really love riding again and have much more faith in my ability.

"I am a competent and able rider . . . I am developing feel, I ride with sympathy and I am in balance with the horse."

N

[kturner]

you cant have a rose without a thorn
you have to have rain to get the sunshine
without the bad rides you would never get the thrill of a good ride
without the bites and pushing you would not get the happiness of wonderful bonding moments
without the falls you would never get the canters and jumps
without my pains and tiredness i wouldn't get the pleasure of laying on the stable floor with him looking into those big soft eyes
without the muddy pony you could not produce a sparkling clean pony and have the rewards and bonding of that grooming session

lets look at the positives and brush aside the negatives we need to get there!!!

we had a bad day on Monday which made Wednesdays bonding, loving and riding so much more important, he was in a much better mood. we achieved so much more, but it we didnt have Monday we would not have appreciated it so much. the smiles and loving feelings on Wednesday were worth waiting for! I would give a thousand bruises to have what we got on Wednesday!

[Morganna]

I am very proud of the fact that, after a serious accident resulting in 3 surgeries to my head and 3 months off riding, that I was able to come back and ride a new horse. I have had moments of extreme nerves, fallen off and have really had to work hard to gain some of my confidence back but I am getting there. I might not be able to jump 3' or go galloping around the park without a care in the world just yet, and I am having to start all over again with re-learning everything on a completely different horse to what I am used to, but the fact that I can still get on my horse and do the basics gives me a great sense of achievement and I am determined to go forward with it and get back to the level of riding I was at before my accident :)

[Mary Poppins]

I rode a new horse in a new group with a new instructor on Wednesday, and managed to jump a course of 10 2 ft jumps - and I did it twice. I haven't jumped in about 2 years previously. I am still grinning!

[Smartie Pants2]

I am proud when I watch my daughter on her new pony, after a bit of a bad start, she is really starting to bond with her now:)

[sancho]

I am very proud of the fact that, after a serious accident resulting in 3 surgeries to my head and 3 months off riding, that I was able to come back and ride a new horse. I have had moments of extreme nerves, fallen off and have really had to work hard to gain some of my confidence back but I am getting there. I might not be able to jump 3' or go galloping around the park without a care in the world just yet, and I am having to start all over again with re-learning everything on a completely different horse to what I am used to, but the fact that I can still get on my horse and do the basics gives me a great sense of achievement and I am determined to go forward with it and get back to the level of riding I was at before my accident :)

Wow! **stands up and applaudes your bravery** :)

[Tatooed Lady]

Ahh, pride...."pride goeth before a fall", I guess I've slung my pride far and wide, if that's true!! :rolleyes:
Anyhow.....I'm proud, alright....proud that I've not only survived being thrown and dropped from our girl, but that I've had the guts to get back ON her afterwards...even if it's a month later....I'm proud that I've finally realized a dream that I had some 30 years ago....proud that I've made good decisions for her wellbeing and happiness. And proud that even though I've health issues that keep me from doing a lot of things I'd LIKE to do, I haven't rolled over and given up on making my dreams start forming into reality.

How could I NOT be proud of this:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e106/TatooedLady/Queen/QnZ2.jpg

Best buddies!!

[sancho]

Ahh that piccy is amazing! :D

Welcome to the 'Pledged' club!!!!:D