Can I Brag?

[Nimbus65]

It's a small thing but my 8-year-old daughter moved up a class tonight - she's graduating from 2nd off lead rein to a much bigger/more advanced group and what thrilled me was not so much the validation of her riding but her own pride in being moved up. Her RI (who also teaches me) had tears in her eyes when she told me she would move Jules up . . . and Jules' little face just lit up. I'm so chuffed. She'll be the youngest in this class by a long way . . . but not much phases her and she's shaping up to be a good and gutsy little rider.

This group is learning to jump (which my little daredevil will just love) and routinely canters independently (which she can handle just fine).

I'm so thrilled for/by her! Just wish her Mama was so brave/competent!

N

[ajhainey]

Ah bless! And quite an achievement for an 8 year old, most of the lessons I helped out with at that age they were still on the lead rope! aj xx

[horsey1]

Aww I bet you are chuffed to bits:D she sounds a great rider well done her:D

[NoviceNic]

Fantastic and you should be able to brag. 8 yrs old and off lead rein. That is a big acheivement on an animal with a mind of its own. My daughter is 8 and just starting to go off lead rein last year. She has a perfect lead rein pony but off lead rein Bonnie is a bit confused because there is no-one to follow. But what I have noticed about Jazz is that she uses her legs perfectly. Watch your daughter I bet she uses her legs more than reins. That is a sign of a good rider. My daughter would love to hear about your little girls acheivements it would perhaps give them both confidence. I could set Jazz up with a NR account and then they could PM each other like email pals.

[Nimbus65]

Thanks guys - yeah, not only is she off lead rein but this new group has no lead file either . . . her two previous groups had a more experienced rider (i.e., a teenager) riding lead file so that they had a pony they could follow - this next group is totally independent and I suspect the RI will start encouraging them to work away from the ride (depending on the mix of ponies).

She is a good little rider . . . the irony is that her older sister (who just turned 10) is technically a better rider but really lacks confidence which meand she won't go into a group ride and panics so easily that she's spending loads of time on the lunge (which isn't a bad thing).

I do love watching my girls do something I not only love doing myself but longed to do when I was their age . . . thanks for all the lovely encouraging words.

N

[cloang]

Hi Novice Nic

I also have an eight year old daughter who would love to have a virtual friend. She has come off the lead rein recently but we still use it for hacks at the mo. She has an 12.1hh pony called Audrey.

She doesn't have a lot of friends who have ponies so would love to chat on here:D

cloang

ps perhaps we could swap help and tips, cos I sometimes struggle when we have problems

[Morganna]

Awww well done your daughter, you have every right to brag about how well she is doing:D I tried my 6 year old with riding lessons as she was quite keen to try it but unfortunately she is not very confident and tends to get panicky, she did really well in walk and does a fantastic sitting trot but she just would not attempt her rising trot for fear of falling off. I have put her lessons on hold for the time being and she can maybe try again when she is a little older.

But well done your girl, you must be so proud:D

[eml]

Of course you can brag. As an RI I am always delighted to be able to move really good children up a group even if it means going out of age band. I recently moved up a tiny 8yo into what sounds like a similar level group of 9/10 year olds and her grin was a delight to see when she realised that she was going to canter and jump by herself.

It is usually easier to get kids off the lead rein in a RS than on their own ponies as the RS ponies do a wide variety of work anyway so never become leader dependent. I had enormous issues with this when my own daughter was little. She was happily cantering and jumping on school ponies long before her own would accept that 'mum' did not have to be followed. I even had to hide behind the trailer when she was in the ring so that the pony didn't nap to me!:D

[Dummer&Drummer]

arr bless, of course you can brag :) x
im thinking i may let me daughter join up with nr as well and become a member, she is a real sweet 12 year old novice (quite nervous), we are currently sorting out our email at home. she was off sick a few weeks ago and came into work with me and was me for the day on here (we edited signature to say dd junior was on line for one day) and she really enjoyed it, although she is a very slow typer :)

[Lora]

LOL Good that she knows this is appreciated and no small thing to people other than her. And nothing better than a supportive parent. Pat yourself on the back. Of course she's gonna succeed, she's got you. :)

[Lori B]

Brings back happy memories of when my daughter came off lead rein. Shes 12 now and has a 15hh arab, they come on so quickly you have to savour every moment. Well done to you both:) :) :)

[Nimbus65]

. . . I'm not sure whether I will watch her . . . I know she'll work hard and love it. Hope she isn't too overwhelmed - it's a big jump from her old class to this new one. She's excited, I'm nervous. How daft is that?

N

[NoviceNic]

I remember when Jaz went off lead rope on hacks. She followed me for months and then one day her teen friend was with us and Jaz trotted off up to her friends side my heart was in my mouth. :eek:

[Nimbus65]

She did great . . . concentrated for the full hour, had a blast and sat Danni's excited little buck at the beginning of the lesson. She's been off the lead rein on hacks for a while now but won't hack with me :( She says she gets sick of being left behind and all the horses I ride don't like the ponies so she can't ride alongside.

I had a go at leg yield for the first time yesterday . . . feels amazing! But I couldn't get canter out of Poppy to save my life - really challenged her and she put in some almighty bucks (and as I was stirrupless at the time, it's a wonder I didn't come off).