Another first for me

[newnovice]

This won't sound like much to most of you, especially those who trail ride alone (!!!), but I had a first this morning. I keep my horse at a pretty big stable with about 30 horses. There's a very large sand arena for riding. I've had my horse for 10+ months now and I rode alone today in the arena for the very first time.

I've ridden alone out there with my instructor on the side of the arena during a lesson, but have never gone out there and ridden just for fun or schooling by myself. I usually ask the owner to ride with me or another boarder. I have gotten to be very good friends with a woman who bought a horse a couple months after me and we used to ride together, but she moved her horse to our trainer's barn a month ago and it's been tough to find somebody to ride with. Most of the others ride in the late afternoon and evening, which is hard for me to do. I decided to just grit my teeth and go for it by myself this morning:D .

Didn't do much, just walked in lots of circles and trotted a bit, working at keeping my mare busy and her attention on me, but I'm very proud of myself for doing it. Because of my schedule, I'll have to ride alone a lot this summer so I'm happy to know I can do it.

[holiday]

Well done, one of my liveries struggles to go into the arena by herself she always says she doesnt know what to do or how to correct herself. Keep at it and you will gain confidence and find that she will listen to you more and more. Lots of transistions through different paces are really useful to do!!

[Bay Mare]

Well done :) We all have our problem areas and you've cracked one of yours. That's really well done. Congratulations :D

[Ross]

Well done :)

Ross

[rather-b-riding]

I think that is definitely a BIG deal! Well done! I hope that I will be able to go it alone once I get my share horse. There will be no one for me to ride with either, so I will have to work up the nerve then too!

[Kimo]

Good going, newnovice! Hats off to you...

[Whatanejit]

Well done you!!!!!!!

Have never done it myself yet but will give it a go as soon as it is necessary.

Pat yourself in the back.
:D

[Imp]

Oh well done !!!!! :D I TOTALLY know what you mean, I haven't ridden my new horse yet partly due to a recent whiplash injury and partly due to the fact that I'm not used to riding on my own... always had RI there :rolleyes: I'm committed to riding this weekend (already paid for the lesson) as I wussed out last weekend because it rained :rolleyes: :rolleyes: My daughter has ridden her and I will have our new fellow livery and RI there but still feel nervous due to the gap since my car crash :eek:

I think you've been brilliantly couragous :p ;)

[Wobblydeb]

Well done you! :D I don't have my own horse, I just have lessons. A couple of times recently I've been left to my own devices and felt totally stumped and very self-conscious, so I can kinda guess how you felt! :p

[Little Dolphins]

Congratulations! I'm in awe of you and hope to be able to do the same:)
Enjoy your time with your mare; happy riding!

[Laetitia]

Well done. The more you do the easier it becomes, and before you know it you'll be off hacking round the countryside for hours at a time and enjoying every minute of it. Ll

[NoviceNic]

New novice - Fantastic. :D :D :D :D :D Another hurdle acheived.