My first day with Zip :)

[MadMumInKent]

Gawd, I'm such a scaredy-cat! :eek: Went to get him from the field, and was pleasantly surprised when he came straight over to me when I called his name :) Thinking this was going to be a piece of cake :D Noooooo, of course it wasn't! I'm supposed to use a kind of bridle but without the noseband lead him in from the field with, as it gives more control than a headcollar, and everytime I tried to get him into it, he's turn 90 degrees and stuck his rear end in my face :eek: Round and round we went, I tried to get hold of him but off he went again, we were doing quite a dance! What I found a bit scary was the fact that when he turned round, he was putting his hind legs in a very good position for a swift kick, and so I moved just in case. He realised this was a good game and we did it for too long. In the end I summoned help, one person to hold his head while the other puts the bridle thingy on. So by now my confidence in my ability was shattered :( But onwards and upwards, off we went to the yard, tied him up and had a good grooming session. That went OK, I'm pleased to say :) Then came time to get him tacked up... same problem with the bridle that I'd had when trying to catch him. And when I eventually got his head facing the right way, he refused to open his mouth for the bit. Needed help again :( Eventually we managed to get into the menage, poor Zip, must have thought he had a complete idiot looking after him. The schooling went OK, then another grooming session (bonding and all that ;) ) and back into the field (managed to get the bridle thingy on myself this time!)

So all in all, I think my nervousness showed through, Zip felt it, and because of this, my day was, well, yes, enjoyable, but not as much as I thought it would be. I think tomorrow will be better, first off as I've asked them not to put him out in the field as I will be there earlier, so that will save up the tension of having another little dance around the field ;) But I think all in all, I'll be more relaxed tomorrow... there's no reason why I shouldn't be, he's a sweetheart, wouldn't hurt a fly, but today was the first time I have had so much responsibility by myself, and it was scary!

[aliw]

Well done madmum! At least you're not afraid to ask for help. Zip sounds really nice, even though he did take advantage of you! Any pics? :D

[MadMumInKent]

No more pics yet Ali, I'll try and remember my camera tomorrow :) Apparently he can be a bit difficult to get in from the field, and a girl told me that one day they were 7 of them trying to get him in :D He comes in for his owner fine though :rolleyes:

[Alle]

Things will get easier as you lose your initial nervousness and gain confidence with Zip. At least you were able to ask for and get help when you needed it. Well done! :) Zip certainly had some fun with you. :D

[Justie B52]

Hey MadMum,

Well I think you're very brave! You didn't give in, you just asked for help & got on with it....You've done brilliantly! You should be proud of yourself :D

Tomorrow will be much better especially as there shouldn't be any dancing involved ;) Please take your camera and get us lot some more pics!

Well done again!

Jus x

[Pickles]

I'm afraid this is what it's all about from here on in. Unless you just want to turn up at the stable and have a tacked up horse handed to you expect trouble. You only have to browse the news groups to see everyone on here has some niggle with their furry other half ;) .

It should get easier with time, Zip will learn to behave with you as your nerves subside.

Was it wierd being on your own in the school without an instructor telling you what to do. The first time I did this I was about 15 and had been asked to bring on a new horse at the riding school, didn't have a clue what to do with myself.

[kyanya]

As you two build up an understanding (and leading to a bond), things will definitely get easier. It shows by the fact that he is fine for his owner. He see's her regularly, she's kind to him and he know as long as he behaves, she'll be nice to him and feed him! It'll take a bit of time for him to come to the same understanding about you, but he will slowly but surely. And of course, this will be helped by your confidence growing in your ability and in him.

You've pretty much described how I first felt when I began sharing. I had very little confidence in my own ability and it meant that for a fair while, I wasn't enjoying sharing half as much as I had anticipated. I didn't like to tell anyone though, because everyone knew how excited I had been and I was worried they'd think I'd lost interest and persuade me to give it up. So for a while, I'd go along, worry about absolutely everything and breathe a sigh of relief when I was heading home with all my limbs still attached to me and all the horse's limbs still attached to her! The responsibility was really scary, knwoing that i was responsble for not just me, but also for Gypsy. However, it has become so much easier now! I've got into the swing of things and I'm really enjoying it. I can now confidently get Gyp in, groom, tack-up and ride without stressing about every little detail. We've had our hic-ups getting to this stage (including being dragged over in the mud) and there are still some things that concern me from time to time (like the way Gypsy sometimes will refuse to walk-on when I'm leading), but as my confidence has grown it's all become much more enjoyable and rewarding. I now know that I have the skill to cope with Gypsy, which I didn't know at the beginning. I also now know that I can deal with the responsiblity and I trust myself more.

Have fun with geting to know Zip. I'm sure it'll be a brilliant experience for you, despite the inevitable lows.

Also, do you know the name of the bridle thing that you use for leading to/from the field in? Does it have a bit?

[MadMumInKent]

Kyanya - You have hit the nail on the head! Your post sums it up for me, and I'm relieved to see I'm not the only one with a lack of confidence in themselves. I know it will get easier, and on the whole I think today went well, just a couple of sticky patches - could have been a lot worse! Thankyou for your reply, its made me feel loads better :) PS Yes it does have a bit, its exactly like a bridle but without the noseband. From what I've heard, Zip can sometimes be a bit strong when leading in and out of the field, so using it means there's more control there.

Pickles - I know... I don't expect everything to go smoothly, and I knew my nerves would be a problem today... But I've waited too long for this to let my nerves get the better of me :) My confidence will get more each day, and I know that me and Zip will end up best of friends :) My best moment of today was stroking his face and him holding his head against me, thats what its all about :) And yes, it was wierd without the instructor - but I did all the stuff I do in my lessons, even rode without my stirrups for a while :D

Justie - thankyou :)

Alle - thanks to you too :)

[Luxie]

Well done you, Madmum!

Now you know you can do it, and so does Zip. He's needing to know about you just as you're needing to know about him, after all.

I don't know if this would be right for you, but I always give Tally a little treat once his headcollar's on in the field, and now he's just about sticking his nose in before I've sorted it out.

It's bound to be a little bit up and down to start with (and even later on ...) but you've obviously got off to a great start.

Good luck to both of you, and keep up posted.

[NoviceNic]

MadMum - Practise makes perfect. My monster sticks his head in the air so I can't reach to put his bridle on. :mad: Now he puts his head down too low to put his bridle on. :rolleyes: This time next year you will forget all these little quirkiy moments you have with Zip. Write them down as a reminder of how far you have come. A friends Son rode Captain the other day. Captain was really naughty and napped to the gate everytime the yound lad upped his gait. I suddenly remembered he used to do this with me but I have now worked him out and don't let him. Have Fun tomorrow. :)

[Soupdragon]

Well done! :)

I think you did really well and should be proud of yourself!!

Jxx

[amandal]

You're doing fine and it will get better. For about the first 2 months with my share horse it used to take hours to catch him/get him out of the field/get him up to the stable yard. The worst time catching was 4 hours in the field to catch him - I took a book and read ignoring him until he came over, this was after 4 weeks of having trouble. The worst time leading him he let me catch him really quickly and then it took me 2½ hours to get him out of the field and up to the stable yard. He only came out of the field following another livery owner's husband who was rustling sweets in his pocket. Oh and then there was the time in the pouring rain, he was in a new field, 2 hours of trying to catch him later - and I knew about every trick there was by now - he only came over to me when I started eating the carrot I'd taken down for him as a last resort.

Then after this hell he'd put me through :) he stopped testing me constantly and his misbehaviour became much more playful.

I had the best year with him and you'll have loads of fun too. :D

[Wobblydeb]

Arghhhhhhh!!! All my colleagues are looking at me like I am mad because I am trying not to laugh out loud at Amandal eating the carrot - and now I've got the hiccups :D

[DITZ]

Ah dont worry, I had to ask for help the first time I tried to get the bridle on! That you managed it on your own the second time is all the confidence you need now. Well done!

[*toHorse&Away*]

Sounds brilliant! Don't mean the struggle with the bridle thing, but the bonding, grooming and cuddling him. Its early days for you both, so you learn about each other. I think you are really brave as it is such a big responsibility, but as long as there are people around to help you two will be fine.
Glad the ride went so well as well.
You are stars :D

[MadMumInKent]

Thanks for the responses everyone :) Amanda - I thought I was crazy, but I think you've beaten me! :D I'd love to have seen it - you standing in the middle of a field eating the carrot!

I've just got back from the stables, and today was a much better day! The nervousness was gone, Zip I think realised that, and it was all a piece of cake! Now I know why I wanted to loan a horse so badly - its such a good feeling when everything goes well :) No scary moments at all, and this morning I just walked into the field (nearly left a boot behind in the mud), put his headcollar on, tied him up, then put the bridle thats for leading on him so that he couldn't do our little dance. Why on earth didn't I think of that yesterday! So much easier because the headcollar just slips on, whereas the bridle thingy is a pain to get on cos I haven't hot the knack of getting him to open his mouth for the bit. But even that is getting better as I had no problems getting it on when it came time to put him back into the field. So all in all, a successful day, me with a huge grin on my face, and looking forward to Friday, though it seems sooooo far away.

Thanks for everyone's advice and support and confidence boosting, its really appreciated :)

[amandal]

Well if I'm going to be crazy I may as well admit that it wasn't the sight of me eating the carrot that got him, it was me going "Mmm, Mmm this carrot's lovely", his head whipped round and he came trotting over. :o

Glad it went better today, you'll have a great summer :D

[Justie B52]

Hey Madmum,

See! 'Told you so' ;) I knew you would have a better day today!!

Well done :D

Jus x

[Luxie]

Hi, MadMum, how did it go yesterday? Did you have a lesson with Zip? Looking forward to hearing how it went!

[MadMumInKent]

Hi Luxie :) Thanks for asking :) The lesson went well, my instructor gave me some tips on how to get Zip working properly, and we also started working him in an outline. Is that right? I think thats what its called ;) So that his head is slightly pointing towards the inside of the school as we go round? Anyway, I found it really hard to stay on the track while doing that! We kept wandering inwards, so thats going to need some practice!

I'm getting more and more confident with Zip as each day goes by, and he really is a softy, I love him to bits :) The only thing thats worrying me now is that when I dropped the money off to his owner today she said that it had been suggested to her that we go through some stable management skills tomorrow to make sure I know whats what. I'm worried now that I have done something not quite right, but she assured me thats not the case and she just wants to make sure I know whats what. It will be good to go through things with her, but I really am worried I've done something wrong in the past week :( Its been such a steep learning curve this past week, and there are things I've needed help with, and I've asked for that help when required. I did stress to her before we started that I've never loaned or owned before so hopefully its nothing serious...

[Trewsers]

Am sure you haven't done anything "wrong"! She prob just wants to help and give you some tips! Its well scary at first, me and OH bought our first horse ever a month ago and boy has it been a learning curve (v steep indeed :D ) Both of us must have looked daft at times, I was so nervous all fingers and thumbs trying to tie Joe up outside his box and turning him out into the paddock for the first time was nerve racking!!! He has taken advantage a couple of times (like the first time we picked his feet out!!!) but on the whole we're so lucky that all the other liveries have given us so much help and advice things are going great now! Feel like I've been looking after horses for years.... (well, almost :D ). Am sure you're doing fine!!!

[MadMumInKent]

Thanks for that Trewsers :) You are brave, jumping straight in with your own horse! I can't think of anything I might have done that was seriously wrong, but its still a bit of a worry. I'll update you tomorrow! :)

[cazrider]

Madmum.. glad to hear its going so well. I really wouldn't worry about doing anything wrong. It's almost certainly because someone's told Zip's owner you've asked for help, so she's offering it.

I have a new sharer for Sennie one day a week. A lovely lady who adores him, but like you her experience is riding school riding, so she's doing everything with me for a few weeks before she has sole charge.

You may find the person you're loaning off simply hadn't realised you'd need help, so is just trying to make sure you and her horse are comfortable.

Best of luck moving forward. He sounds lovely :)

[MadMumInKent]

I'm happy you've found a sharer for Sennie, and thats definately a good thing - spending a few weeks doing things together til she's confident in what needs doing :)

Although I'm a bit concerned that something specific prompted Zip's owner to do this for me, I'm happy that she is, I really want to know all there is to know, and more :) But I was thinking today that if I'd done something really silly, then surely someone on the yard would have put me right straight away, for either Zip's or my own wellbeing, so it can't be that bad, if it is indeed anything at all :) My little catalogue of errors this week are stuff like....

Doing his rug up wrong on my first day, but I did ask someone if I'd done it right or wrong before I put him out, as I had a feeling it wasn't done up right and I didn't want him going out in the field all fidgety.

Needing help getting the bit into his mouth.

Putting his brush boots on the wrong way round.

Stuff like rugs and boots I'd never done before, and now I've been shown, its easy, but it was just the first time doing it. Nothing drastically serious anyway ;) Unless there was other stuff I'm unaware of yet... :eek:

Thanks for reassuring me anyway :)

[Luxie]

Hi again MadMum - stable management - don't worry, I'm sure you don't need to! I imagine Zip's owner is just fairly dotty about him, and wants to dot all the i's and cross all the t's - imagine yourself in his/her position ...

Glad the lesson went well. It's difficult sometimes to get a correct bend without the horse falling in to the circle, but with practice you'll adjust to the way Zip goes, and the amount of inside/outside rein he needs to keep him happy and softly bent on circles. It's just so great to be able to work regularly with one horse and get to know how he's feeling and working each day.

You've got so much enjoyment ahead, I just know it!

Roll on Monday?

[MadMumInKent]

Roll on Monday indeed!! :D :D Thanks Luxie.

[Pickles]

She may have heard that you've had some help with things over the last week and wants to make sure you're happy now.

Try not to worry, it's a good thing she feels she can talk to you about the stable management side of things. Since you're new to all this it's much better that she approaches you to iron out any teething problems rather than keeping quiet but being uneasy.

[*toHorse&Away*]

Madmum, I wish I knew even a little of what you do.
Your "errors" seem the sort of the mistakes anyone could make when doing things for the first time and it does sound like a big scary learning curve. Crikey I still get myself into a knot untacking :o .....let us know how your meeting goes - I bet its nothing to worry about at all.
Good luck :) :) :)

[MadMumInKent]

Thanks for all the replies :) It was fine! She just wanted to formally go through things just so it was 'done'. She's more than happy with me, and she showed me some new stuff - sheath cleaning :eek: And then we gave Zip a bath, he was not at all impressed :D She also showed me to put a bridle together... I'm going to have to practise that one! A lot! It was clear as mud ;)

[Colorado Sunset]

Brilliant, its really good that the owner is willing to teach you things and help you with anything you dont understand. Lots of luck with him

Jo