Mental Moment and Still Beaming.

[NoviceNic]

OMG I just have to tell you all what I did today. It was sunny day and I was struggling tofit a ride in so I made Captain wait an hour for his tea and jumped on him and took him into the menage. Usual schooling for us both. Me to relax and Captain to relax and flex/bend more. Brilliant in walk but take him into trot and he was proving to be his usual stubborn self. :( But I kept trying. Then as I was letting him stretch his neck, Shannon came in with Lilly her Arab. Lilly is young, green but normally placid. As she rode her around Lilly apparently has decided to be a prat in Canter. All 4 legs in the air and Shannon gracefully landing on her feet.:eek: How do these kids land on their feet everytime. Me I would land on my head and be knocked out unconscious. :p Shann asked if I wanted to ride Lilly and I declined. :cool: . As I was just walking Captain around I suddenly had the madest moment I have ever had in 19 months. I said to everyone that as there were plenty people about I was going to try and Canter with no stirrups. :eek: Now I have tried trot before but as you will remember from the bareback challenge it is a very bouncy ride and I am all over the place. So to be honest I was preparing myself for a fall.;) Pulled up the reins and into trot, quickly into Canter. Leaned back and forgot all about steering. Just concentrated on staying on.:p . Smiling all the way round thinking how I was going to land on my feet when I pulled back into trot. I pulled back and very abrupt he went into walk. ** Daaaa. Still on horses back and :D :D . Thumped hand up in air and couldnt believe I had done it. Decided I would do it again and again. By this time I was laughing myself silly and my knees came up as high as the pommel and grabbed mane to stay on. I gave up then but I have just conquered my fear of "What If I Fall". Sorry this is long but I cant stop thinking about what I put myself up for today. Am I mad or what. :p

[domane]

you are VERY brave.... I have tried the no stirrups thing on MY bouncy cob for a very short time and gripped so hard I couldn't walk without looking like John Wayne (only the matures would remember him! :D ) for a couple of days!! I reckon.... and I'm NOT going to try it... that bareback is actually more comfortable than a saddle with no stirrups....

[NoviceNic]

I will tell you tomorrow when all the aches and pains come out in full force.:p I actually found Captain to be very bony in bareback. I never expected that of him being a cob. Quite surprised I was in agony the next day and I only did 4 strides in trot when bareback. :o I wish I had my camera today but then I would never of done it. :rolleyes:

[Imp]

Sometimes you just hafta go with the mood :cool:

Well done, I remember your bareback pics, next time you're Thelwelling around without your stirrups get somebody to standby with the camera for our sakes won't you? :D :D :D

Brave girl :)

[NoviceNic]

I have just read Bay Mare's thread and like she says she doesnt know why but she gets that feeling and goes for it. I just got that feeling and went for it. I hope that feeling stays with me for a long while. :)

[cazrider]

yay.. well done NN:D That surge of confidence is wonderful isn't it. Have to say canter with no stirrups is something I only do when NOT intending too. Brave woman!

I have just read Bay Mare's thread and like she says she doesnt know why but she gets that feeling and goes for it. I just got that feeling and went for it. That is so right.

[ANN H]

Well done! That's the best way to do it. If I plan things I tend to wimp out at the last moment. Haven't done much stirrupless work yet. Hope you're not aching too much!!

[NoviceNic]

Woke up this morning and fully expected to be walking all day like I had a bus between my legs. But nope not a twinge. Seems I may have found a way to ride more relaxed. :confused:

[domane]

I am SOOOOO jealous - took me FIVE days to get over the ride round Cirencester Park... and that was WITH a saddle :p

[Supercali]

:p I've had mad moments like that as well

Last year after doing groundwork with Cedric in his rope halter I decided to have a walk around in the menage bareback. He was lovely and warm :)
I was feeling brave and decided to have a little trot, only I didn't have any steering with the halter and lead rope and he decided that he wanted to choose this moment to go over the small jump I had set up :eek:

I closed my eyes and was bracing myself for the fall when I realised that I had made it to the otherside in one piece and still on top :D . The little b*gger - every time I asked him to trot he turned on a sixpence and went over the jump :rolleyes: after 3 times I decided that enough was enough and got off :o

[Whatanejit]

Yee hah!

We canter without stirrups a lot in our riding lessons but havn't for ages because you don't have to for stage 1 so we don't do it in the lessons. God knows when I'll ever do it on Cooper - havn't even cantered him with stirrups yet:eek:

It gives you so much confidence so well done.

At new year we hacked out from a yard in Northumberland - I was on an ex racehorse who was v. excited. Just as we were waiting for someone to close the gate behind us my boy took off from walk to gallop with a 90 degree spin up the hill :eek:
I lost one stirrup immediatly:eek:

However, all of that cantering with no stirrups just came back to me - I stayed in the forward seat with Left stirrupless leg pinned to his side, right leg still in stirrup hands on reins and neck strap of martingale!

I stayed on!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep at it!!

[NoviceNic]

I take back everything I said about not 1 twinge. Today foir some reason I am in agony.:confused: Why has it took so long to come out. I cant think of anything else that may be affecting me.

[ANN H]

Oh poor you - I can sympathise. It does sometimes take a day or two to hit.
The day after our 10 mile fun ride I felt as if I'd been beaten up. It was only my fingers and toes that didn't hurt, and then somebody had the cheek to tell me that it was doing me good!! Try some Radox Muscle Soak.

[HairyCob]

You are my hero NN:D I aspire to do the things you do... bareback and stirrupless...:eek: ...either would be a recipe for a fall for me:rolleyes:

Apparantly we are getting a 'grass arena' in the next week or so at my yard (not before time!) so I'll be starting some schooling in an arena with Dolly... maybe in a few weeks I'll be posting how you've inspired me and I've achieved stiruupless WALK;)

[NoviceNic]

Dont forget the camera HC..:D