Look No Hands!

[Retty]

Hi, cantered today on the lunge and managed to take my hands of the saddle... woo hoo!

[Retty]

Makes me giggle to see the look on my face.. that's me concentrating!

[maverick927]

Well done, it'll be no time till you're jumping with no hands, like me in this picture. I hope you can see it alright as its a bit dark.

[maverick927]

Here's another one which is just as dark

[Retty]

Here's a pic of my daughter having a lesson on a friends pony.

[Retty]

Think the no hands jumping is brilliant! You must have very good balance and be v confident. It seems so hard when you're learning but today I felt I really made some progress!

[Retty]

Here's another pic of my daughter, my friend is helping her learn to jump so that in the summer she can go to a show, she's loves it and has very little fear, although I think I really must save up to get her some proper riding boots!

[Retty]

Here's another pic of me learning to canter today!

[maverick927]

Hi Retty.

It must be great for you since you feel you're really going somewhere.

The biggest I've jumped with no hands and my eyes closed was 2ft 6" but I didn't get there overnight. I started riding 10 years ago then had a massive break (5 1/2years) and then I got Maverick. So I was riding 6 days a week so progression was able to move quite quickly for me, but I tell you, you'll get there if you're willing.


'Quitters never win, and winners never quit'

[Retty]

Hi,
Yeah it's alot of hardwork isn't it?! But that I don't mind, my aim is to do a sponsored ride in the summer (only a small one!), I lost my confidence last year when I came off on concrete and nearly broke my back, it really shook me up. I bought Promise with a view to having her as a pet and thought I would never ride again. About 7 months ago I really wanted to try to ride and Promise and I had built a really good relationship so I tried riding again. At first I had to swallow my vomit even in walk and would shake and really have to stop myself from crying, it all sounds really silly but fear is really hard to control it just completely takes over and all rational thoughts go out of your head! I think I tried too hard at first and a couple of times Promise ran off with me (my own fault as I panicked and leant forwards with my legs gripping real hard on her and she just ran and ran! I tried hypnotherapy and different instructors and so on and just wasn't really getting anywhere. Now I have found a good friend at the yard that helps me and pushes me a little bit but never asks me anything that's beyond me, she has been helping me for 3 weeks now and we are up to canter! I am so pleased as now my aims seem achievable! I no longer feel sick but do sometimes have the odd panic here and there but always she is there to tell me "sit up, look ahead and breathe, you are in control, you can do it".

[galadriel]

Wow, you've overcome a lot. Be proud of yourself :) that's a huge accomplishment.

In the dark pics above, all I can see is what looks like Maverick's blaze/stripe and then a Santa hat on top :) I'm sure that's not it at all but it's what it looks like to me! The rest of it is just a dark blob. :(

Your daughter is awfully cute. Does she ride Promise too? As for boots for her, you know, kids outgrow boots quickly--I'm sure there must be somewhere with a lot of secondhand kiddee sized boots :) which might make that easier on the wallet.

In the meantime, you cantered AND took you hands off the saddle! Wild applause!

[Retty]

Hi,
Yes Danni does ride Promise. She is so good with her on board and will happily go over poles and do circles and stand still whilst Danni goes "around the world" on her. If Danni wants to stroke her then Promise will lower her head so she can make a fuss of her!

[Retty]

Here's a pic of Promise with her head as normal!

[Nickie]

Hi Retty

Where abouts in essex are you? I'm near waltham abbey and sewardstone.

I share a pony but we've had some problems recently and it would be really lovely to ride at a school again and get some of my confidence back - where do you ride?

Nicola

[maverick927]

galadriel, that is a santa hat on Maverick's head, there are also antlers sticking out of the top but its impossible to see. The lighting in the indoor is pathetic, but if you look closely you can see my arms out the side.

[kedwards]

Well done, Retty! Like mother like daughter, you both look great on your horses. Your daughter is adorable and I just love that pony!

[Retty]

Thanks for your nice comments. Nickie I live in the Benfleet area and stabled in Hockley, not sure where Waltham is. I mainly ride at the stables and to the woods or around the outside of the yard. The woods are ok but there is quite a bit of busy roadwork to get there, really the riding where we are is a bit restricted - I have been looking to move to somewhere with safe places to ride not just in an arena but it seems hard to find a really good DIY yard!