All Change

[RustyMary]

I haven't been posting much recently as I was away in England for a month in July and haven't had any contact with horses. When I got back, I had a message from my RI to say she didn't have time to teach me anymore (for those who don't know, it's a very small RS and they have a lot on at the moment - she wasn't just being mean to me). So I started looking around for somewhere else and found a place that looked good, just over the border in Austria. And guess what - when I turned up nervously asking if anyone spoke English, it turned out that it's run by a couple of sisters who are American!

I went for my first lesson there today and to say I am bowled over would be a gross understatement. They are into natural horsemanship, groundwork and making a relationship with the horse, and the result was to me like a dream. I've often read on here about people, usually with their own horse, being able to move as one, only giving the gentlest of aids, but I never expected to find that in a school horse. The horse I rode before was great to start on but he was the original riding school plod - impossible to move without a hefty kick, which I hated but couldn't do anything about. Ginger, who I rode today, moved to the slightest pressure and it felt like I only had to think which way I wanted to go for her to go there. I've always felt as if anyone who had a horse that could do that would never let me ride it! It was so great and I just can't wait for next time - it's absolutely the way I want to go with my riding :D :D

[Whatanejit]

Aww congratulations Mary!

You truly have worked hard at trying to follow your dream re learning to ride.

you are an inspiration and truly deserve to have your own horse. I'm sure you would make a fantastic horsey mum.

These new guys sound great!

Don't forget your camera next time!

xx

Dee

[RustyMary]

Wow thanks Dee, what a nice reply!
Actually I think it's the other way round - you are the inspiration for sure. If I ever get my own horse (sadly very unlikely) I will be hammering you with questions about the lovely Cooper!
OH came with today and took pics, however we are a bit behind the times and on film, not digital - I'll put them up when they are developed.
Justi (still grinning :D :D :D :D )

[curlycal]

Rustymary, how wonderful for you,your new riding school sounds fantastic.
( I know what you mean about riding school plods)
Please keep us updated with how you get on.
Enjoy!!

Cal x

[raingodz]

That sounds like the ideal RS, I hope you have a great time there.

[Skib]

I am so glad for you. I'd been riding two years when I found my great and good teacher.
I dont know how long you have been riding? But may be this has come at just the right stage for you? That you have the basics in place and know enough to recognise it is what you are looking for?
Hope it all goes very well for you.
PS. I had also mean to thank you for the Akido exercises. So funny, those were just the exercise that Mark Rashid has his audience (us) do in the arena last winter. And I am so glad to have them written down.

[SupaTania]

Way to go RustyMare!

Glad to see you are back into riding, and should be back into cantering anytime now. (I remember we started cantering around the same time?)

schools/instructors who understand and really push you to achieve everything you can are great aren't they? I changed schools in June, and since then started cantering for the first time. Last Sunday I entered my first ever cantering class at a show AND I PINNED 4TH OF 15!! My RI also pushed me to enter a over fences class (18") and i did that as well! Pinned 6th in one of the over fences class!

So Congratulations, Happy Trails, and heres to many more days of excitement and riding!

[laura jeanne]

RustyMary, that sounds just wonderful for you. I look foward to hearing about the school, the horses and your progress- everything basically!

[RustyMary]

I was away for the weekend and came back to all your encouraging replies - thanks everyone! You can be sure I'll keep you updated :D

raingodz, I was very interested in your recent western lessons thread - they do western at the new RS and I'd love to have a go, though I'll leave it for a while until I'm more confident in what I'm doing in English.

skib, I've been riding for a year next week, though it's been very stop and start, mostly stop - I did nothing over last winter, which was another reason for looking for another RS. I think you are right though - this has come at just the right time. I grew up in a city and have never had much to do with big animals of any sort, so Mr Markus Plod was a wonderful horse to start on as he gave me a lot of confidence. But I was beginning to feel I wasn't getting any further with him.

Wow SupaTania, what amazing cantering results - that's fantastic! You are way ahead of me - but hopefully now I'll be able to start following in your hoofsteps!

laura jeanne and curly cal, thanks loads for your interest - I always want to hear your updates too!

Justi :D

[Trewsers]

Wow, that sounds great! You're lucky to have found such a place - its a shame there aren't more riding establishments like that over here - in fact, I don't know of any! Usually school horses need a lot of persuading - and quite frankly, on my old yard if you mentioned natural horsemanship or anything like that - you'd be met with a rather funny look! Not so sure about the new yard, but on the whole I've not met any NH people yet. Only on here of course......!!! Good for you anyway - bet you can't wait for your next lesson!

[teabiscuit]

wow keep us posted on your progress please :) it sounds like a fantastic place

[halfchaps]

Wow! I'm happy that you finally found a sutaible RS. Have fun!

[RustyMary]

Thanks for the kind replies guys! My next lesson is on Thursday and I absolutely can't wait :D

[Sparkie]

Sounds great there!! :D I had a NH instructor at my yard for a few months last year, and the ponies have improved loads since I've used some of her ideas!

[raingodz]

raingodz, I was very interested in your recent western lessons thread - they do western at the new RS and I'd love to have a go, though I'll leave it for a while until I'm more confident in what I'm doing in English.

I hope to have another two lessons in September. I did find it a much more natral way to ride, and would probably swap to western riding but for two things, 1) I like jumping too much and 2) the trainer lives about 90mins drive from where I live so would need a western trained horse of my own.

I think there is a stong NH link to the style of western riding that the triner I went to teaches.

[RustyMary]

I think there is a stong NH link to the style of western riding that the triner I went to teaches.

Interesting - because my new RS also has a strong NH link. I'm so excited I've thought of very little else this week, and I keep associating it in my head with The Horse Whisperer - the 'soft' feel of the horse (and all the other horses too I suspect), the strong atmosphere of content and ease shared by the people and the horses there, the feeling of partnership with, not dominance of, the horse. I know very little about western riding, but what I've read suggests all those things. OK, so I'm in the honeymoon phase I know!! :rolleyes: I'll say more when I know them better, and see if my first impressions were correct.

[NoviceNic]

Sounds like you will be learning loads with a RS which have all that experience. Brilliant. Look forward to the pictures. :)