The highs and the lows!

[claude]

Why is it that riding is so up and down!

I went to the yard yesterday so pleased with myself for my solo hack and full of confidence - then promptly lost it all again when my girl turned into a spooky monster! I was a quivering wreak!

sigh :rolleyes:

[MeMe]

I know that feeling!

Repitition is the key, if she is a little sharp then give her a quick lunge or loose school to get the freshness out of her, then get on her, much safer :D

[Waikato Valuta]

Man do I relate!!!

I've had maddock for 3 or 4 years (Can't even remember now, lol) and it seems like he can be an angel one day and a monster the next. It can be hard to tell exaclty why he has changed but I agree that repetition is the key.

I have tried acting the same every time I see him and it has made a massive difference. If he's difficult I only ride for a little while and give him a lounge, I try and keep a cool temper and if i get nervouse on a trail ride I get of, but we dont go home i continue the ride on foot.

I dont let him get away with anything. and we are starting to understand each other better.

I have even been able to leave him for a few weeks of no riding and have him almost as good as the last time i rode him. When i first got him if i missed a day his traiing would be back to the begining, it was so frustrating.

This must be really frustrating after you had such a good hack recently. but dont worry just keep at it and i'm sure he will become the horse you've always dreamed of. if he's done it once he can do it again.

[larri]

LOL Claude - you haven't borrowed my horse have you??

Safi can be a law unto herself when hacking out - two weeks ago she was accompanied by two barking mad dogs trying to herd her along the bridleway and my OH and daughter on bikes.....she didn't bat an eye.
This weekend she heard a deer in the woods and I suddenly found myself facing the opposite direction and was carted off at a full gallop...go figure???

Spring is in the air - and in their heads as well :D

[claude]

Yes they are funny things!

I think she decided that because it was a little rainy and cold everything was scary - this from an ex hunter - pah!

you have to love them for their good days though! I suppose if we didn't have the lows the highs wouldn't be as good!

:)

[frenchtrotter]

think everyone can say they know how you feel. one day with my boy i can hack round in walk, the next hes doing his extended trot (trotter), and if you try to stop him he creates with a baby buck (silly boy)!!!

as for spookyness, touch wood, hes ok (hes very much a baby but not that scary) i just have a problem with his speed (when other horses are cantering mine is still in trot, and im sure i could out gallop some still in trot!!!!) i havent cantered him outside, inside yes and its fast (call me chicken, but i dont want to end up back in england before i have time to pull him up!!)

as the others have said, just keep plodding on!!!!

[Mary Poppins]

I know what you mean about the highs and lows of riding. Some days are just fantastic when you feel that you have achieved something then the very next day you can be in floods of tears because you feel so useless. That's horses for you I guess....

[Stella2]

I sooo know the feeling :rolleyes:

In addition to old the usual 'ups and downs'. I've found recently that my good schooling days don't seem to be coinciding with lessons. My instructor turning-up seems to be a cue for me to ride like 'a bag of hammers'. I keep feeling like running after her shouting "I'm really not this bad ....!" :o

[denise42]

I sooo know the feeling :rolleyes:

In addition to old the usual 'ups and downs'. I've found recently that my good schooling days don't seem to be coinciding with lessons. My instructor turning-up seems to be a cue for me to ride like 'a bag of hammers'. I keep feeling like running after her shouting "I'm really not this bad ....!" :o


Boy isn't that the truth :D I keep after my instructor too. " Really I did practice and I was doing fine " May be when our horses see the instructors they get it into their heads to show us how they can mess up the lesson. :p

[Luxie]

How true! I was wondering about this, and I think when it comes to a session with my trainer, I'm just trying too hard to reproduce what we've done in between times, and the tension ruins everything ...