orbvalley
25th Mar 2008, 12:36 PM
Went out yesterday trekking with my OH from my RS. The plan was to leave at 9am trek up into the forest, picnic and trek back down. There were 5 of us, me and OH, another lady I ride with and her OH and the RI.
To give you the background picture - I started riding again last summer at my local RS after a long break and have been having 1hour lessons each week. I do fine in the school but am very nervous out hacking etc. mostly due to lack of experience outside of the school.
The day started off with bad weather and I was given a horse that hates me and I don't like her!:p She kicks and bites me when I'm grooming and tacking up but once I'm in the saddle is ok if a bit lazy. (to be fair she is also the RS plod for beginners and mostly does this job well)
So, we set off and within 5/10mins she did a small buck & whinny as we crossed a small stream. Didn't think much of it as I thought she'd just spooked:rolleyes:
The morning was spent mainly ascending but everytime she saw the minutest downard slope she'd buck and was getting progressively forceful. RI told me to lean back and try to sit it.
At midday was very glad to get off for lunch. Had our picnic in a snow blizzard (the sun doesn't always shine in the south of France despite what they say on a Place in the Sun!:rolleyes:) & eventually set off again for the descent.
Thinking perhaps she'd have tired herself out by now I thought I'd wipe the slate clean and start afresh only for her to put in two mahoosive bucks that left me hanging on around her head:eek:
Needless to say I was now very worried as I knew the whole afternoon was all downhill on a rocky road (no punn intended) and that one small buck was going to send me flying over the top. About half way down the RI said "maybe she's got a back problem!":eek: to which I had a small hissy fit!
Spent the whole of the descent tensed up (know this doesn't help but just couldn't relax) and didn't enjoy any of it.
RI schooled her for 10mins when we got back, sat one buck and 15 whips later had control of her.
Having reflected on it, I have learnt a few things from the whole horrible experience - 1) I should have got control of her after the first buck but don't have the confidence out hacking to do that. Will do next time as the alternative is it just snowballs. 2) Should have told the RI I was scared and ridden behind him all the way (think he thought I was coping well with her!)
3) Don't picnic in the snow, its just plain stupid:rolleyes:
PS - was planning on taking loads of lovely photo's but was just tooo scared to even take one hand off the rein! + would have only had lovely shots of the sky or ground!
If anyone hasn't already nodded off with my ramblings please feel free to offer any advice or recount your experiences of "little buckers";)
To give you the background picture - I started riding again last summer at my local RS after a long break and have been having 1hour lessons each week. I do fine in the school but am very nervous out hacking etc. mostly due to lack of experience outside of the school.
The day started off with bad weather and I was given a horse that hates me and I don't like her!:p She kicks and bites me when I'm grooming and tacking up but once I'm in the saddle is ok if a bit lazy. (to be fair she is also the RS plod for beginners and mostly does this job well)
So, we set off and within 5/10mins she did a small buck & whinny as we crossed a small stream. Didn't think much of it as I thought she'd just spooked:rolleyes:
The morning was spent mainly ascending but everytime she saw the minutest downard slope she'd buck and was getting progressively forceful. RI told me to lean back and try to sit it.
At midday was very glad to get off for lunch. Had our picnic in a snow blizzard (the sun doesn't always shine in the south of France despite what they say on a Place in the Sun!:rolleyes:) & eventually set off again for the descent.
Thinking perhaps she'd have tired herself out by now I thought I'd wipe the slate clean and start afresh only for her to put in two mahoosive bucks that left me hanging on around her head:eek:
Needless to say I was now very worried as I knew the whole afternoon was all downhill on a rocky road (no punn intended) and that one small buck was going to send me flying over the top. About half way down the RI said "maybe she's got a back problem!":eek: to which I had a small hissy fit!
Spent the whole of the descent tensed up (know this doesn't help but just couldn't relax) and didn't enjoy any of it.
RI schooled her for 10mins when we got back, sat one buck and 15 whips later had control of her.
Having reflected on it, I have learnt a few things from the whole horrible experience - 1) I should have got control of her after the first buck but don't have the confidence out hacking to do that. Will do next time as the alternative is it just snowballs. 2) Should have told the RI I was scared and ridden behind him all the way (think he thought I was coping well with her!)
3) Don't picnic in the snow, its just plain stupid:rolleyes:
PS - was planning on taking loads of lovely photo's but was just tooo scared to even take one hand off the rein! + would have only had lovely shots of the sky or ground!
If anyone hasn't already nodded off with my ramblings please feel free to offer any advice or recount your experiences of "little buckers";)