Lesson Nine

[MadMumInKent]

Hello everyone :) I can't believe its Lesson 9 already! Today was good, as you all said it would be ;) I was put on a different horse today, and I'm in love :rolleyes: She's a 5 yr old bay cob called Belle, she's there on working livery, and is quite green, having only been ridden these past 6 months, before that they think she was purely a brood mare. My instructor said some stuff today that pleased me sooooo much! First of all, she put me on Belle as she thought I was ready for a more challenging horse. Secondly, when discussing the prospect of me loaning soon, I mentioned how I felt that it would be difficult finding one as I can't ride very well, but she said I CAN RIDE!! :D Perhaps I'm too hard on myself, I dunno. Anyway, Belle is an absolute sweetheart, she just wants to please, she is so cuddly and loves attention, I could have wrapped her up and taken her home! ;)

Belle has a 13 yr old owner, and I've asked my instructor to have a word about the possibility of a share. Its not something the owner has considered, but I thought I'd ask anyway. A share with a school girl owner would be ideal for me, having school age children, as it means that when I can't be there due to the kids, the owner would be. My instructor did say that it may be difficult as she's on working livery and is used by the school, but if you don't ask, you don't get ;) She said she'll have a word and then we can talk about it when I have my next lesson on Wednesday. Sorry for rambling on, but this horse is amazing... because she's not been used by the school for very long, she doesn't know the drill as much as the other horses, and so actually listens to what I want rather than just following the track. But if it all comes down to nothing, I can still enjoy her in my lessons, I'm booked on her for my next one, and I'd like to carry on using her regularly, I think I can learn a lot from her.

Anyway, as for the lesson itself, it had its problems, ie it took me ages to get Belle into a canter, but I got there in the end. My problem is that I lean forward when I'm trying to get canter, and that just ain't gonna work! What I did take away from today's lesson is the things that weren't said! The fact that I wasn't continually told 'hands' ... 'heels'... etc must mean that these things are now coming naturally.

I know I still have a long way to go, but I'm feeling much better about it all, in fact I'm on top of the world. Came home with a huge grin on my face, bursting to tell hubby about it, but he's just not interested. I told him anyway ;)

Enough rambling... thanks for reading!

[Bertie]

How fantastic - it is soo good when you come away from a lesson feeling positive about things especially after a bad one.

It definitely sounds like your really progressing and getting things coming naturally to you like your hands and heels all of which will help you get a grip of other things.

As for leaning forward when cantering it's common problem that quite a few still do in my lesson and once you get in the habit it can be quite hard to break, if you can break the habit now it will eaiser in the long run.

Good luck with possible share I hope it is workable for you if not just enjoy riding Belle in your lessons.

Keep us updated on how things go :)

[Justie B52]

Wooohooo!!!! I'm so pleased that you had good time today...I can already hear that chorus of 'Told you so'!!! :D

What about a photo or two of the lovely Belle next time you're there? She sounds fab and very different to the others you have ridden.

I bet being told you 'can ride' was a brilliant feeling :D Absolutely no reason not to get your loan now is there?! Even if it's not Belle, then I'm sure you'll find the right loan or share. :)

Like you, I think OH gets bored pretty quickly with horsey speak, bless him....he does try though, so I'm thankful for small mercy's! :rolleyes:

I'm chuffed to bits for you :D

Justie x

[denise42]

"" in fact I'm on top of the world. Came home with a huge grin on my face, bursting to tell hubby about it, but he's just not interested. I told him anyway ""

I know exactly how you feel ..
Thank goodness for NR, and my barn buddies..so I have someone to share all my horsey stuff with. :)

[MadMumInKent]

Denise - Its not just hubby that gets to hear all my tales... my mum does, my kids... I'm driving them all mad :D

Justie - thanks! I'll take my camera on Wednesday :)

Bertie - There's always something that needs working on. Next lesson I'll crack this leaning forward lark, and find something else going wrong ;)

Thanks for all your encouragement, I really really appreciate it.

[Casey76]

Good lessons are always Great aren't they?

And like you said half of it is what's NOT said.

Well done you... and don't mind your OH... we'll always listen to you here :D

[AmandaD]

Hello MadMumInKent.

Congratulations on your ninth lesson, you must be pleased your making such good progress. :)

I'm 32 and after more than 10 years of not riding I had my first lesson last Saturday. I've found an absolutely fantastic riding school in North London where the horses are extremely well looked after and the staff are really friendly.

My first lesson was a bit of an eye opener for me. I opted for a private lesson to gauge the level of my ability. I knew I would be rusty but was shocked by my lack of stamina and how much I have forgotten - I remember it being a lot easier! :eek: After my lesson I apologised to the gorgeous Flash, who I rode, and my instructor for being so awful and I opted for a group lesson on Sunday so that I am not the sole focus of the instructor's attention!

I had the same problem you did with the transition into canter. My instructor said something about it being because the horse had a large stride which, during the transition, forced me to lean forward in my seat to compensate for it - although I have a sneaky feeling she was just being nice :D Anyway, by the end of the lesson I seemed to have got the hang of it - although by the time I have my next lesson I will probably have to re-learn it all again!

Did you suffer from aches and pains after your first few lessons? I did trotting, cantering and sitting trot during my lesson. Its Friday now and I've only just stopped walking like a cowboy!! Seriously though did you have this problem? Perhaps you're fitter than I but if you did suffer, can you recommend any products to help - I've been using Radox and Deepheat which have worked so far! but reckon I'll be hurting again on Sunday!

Anyway, better go before this becomes an essay! Good luck with your next lesson and hope all goes well with your loan request - Belle sounds like a little darling. :)

[MadMumInKent]

Thankyou Casey :)

AmandaD - hehe, you made me smile - I apologised to Belle today too!

If you have got the hang of canter again in your first lesson for 10 years, then you're going great guns! Well done!! Aches and pains? I thought I'd never be able to walk normally again! ;) It does get easier. I was always told to have a long hot bath, but I never had the time (running around after 3 kids), but lesson by lesson, it got easier. The first 3 weeks or so were the worst. Then just when I thought the aches were gone for good, they had me riding without stirrups :eek: Well, I'm on lesson 9 now, and I suppose I must have been back at riding for about 4 or 5 weeks, as I try to have 2 lessons a week... I don't really get proper muscle pains now, just a mild ache for an hour or so after my lesson. But then I do only have half hour lessons, so its only short bursts. Oh, and I'm not fit, not by a long shot! So it will get easier, and it shouldn't take too long.

Congratulations on getting back to riding, you won't regret it I'm sure, and keep us updated, I love reading about returner riders and how they get on :)

[nicci1234]

hi i too love reading all the returning to riding stories i returned after 12 yrs in jan fortunaelty did not suffer with aches or pain until monday when i went to a day camp and had three one hr lessons god was i in pain by wed and i wish my instructor would hurry up and get round to canter going round and round in cirles in trot is starting to bore me lol
well done to all :p

[KarenMcD]

Fab! :D Glad to hear your lesson went so well - I'll be looking forward to seeing some more snaps next week. Go for it with the part share - sounds ideal. I've bottled it a little with the horse ownership thing - haven't been riding my best recently which doesn't make me feel worthy of owning a horse but I'm sure that'll change next week - well maybe anyway!

Know what you mean about the leaning forward thing in canter - I've started doing it too but will hopefully nip in the bud.

Overall - just really glad you had a good lesson - there's nothing quite like the buzz afterwards is there?!

Karen

[Wobblydeb]

A bad lesson was followed by a good one? Ooooooooo I just so love being right :p

Glad to hear it is going well. A share on an interesting non-typical riding school horse sounds wonderful. Good luck, but even if nothing happens, you still get to ride her :)

[Alle]

You are progressing so well...congrats! Good luck in getting a shre horse. :)