What a difference a day makes!

[Trilogy]

This is my first post, so I hope this is an appropriate place! :confused: Also, please forgive the long post!

I used to ride when I was a teenager and although I never had any formal lessons I used to swop 'muck out time' for hacking time! I was always one of those girls who dreamed of horses 24/7 - driving my parents demented! :)
And throughout those years of hacking, I truly believed I could ride! I rode a beautiful 4 year old American Saddler Mare and was fearless!

The reality hit - university, jobs etc and one day I suddenly realised that 14 years had passed since I had been on a horse (gulp). I felt like I was letting that little girl inside me down and so immediately signed up for a few lessons. Only to find.....I CAN'T RIDE!! Everything I ever knew was wrong! I sat like a sack of potato's, held my reins rigid and... even worse I really believed that you really had to kick a horse to change gaits. :o

I have been taking lessons for the last few months and finally, I am learning how to ride properly! I have spent this time alternating between that wonderful feeling of joy of being around horses, and complete depression that now even a fast trot freaks me out! I have a great RI and am re-learning on some lovely horses but I have had such doubts in my own abilities and such guilt about what I thought was right before. I am still having confidence issues, but I found your forum and after spending hours this week reading (laughing and crying) over posts I realised that so many people were in a similar place - I went to my lesson last night and felt really great for the first time since restarting and I just wanted to say...quite simply...Thank you.

[Shadowlark]

Welcome to New Rider Trilogy!

I am also a returning teen.. I was taught to ride by a cantancerous Arab Mare.. fortunatly for me her tolerences dictated that I did learn some things VERY right ;) I was retrained at about 15, by a wonderful coach who just kept shaking her head and saying "oh well at least you have a seat.." I had a decent eventing career until I was 19 and then.. real world set in.

Now after a more then 10 year Hiatus due to real life I am back at it, it took months to regain some of my old balance etc, I realize now that it will never all come back.. and the idea of Jumping any obstacle more then about 2 feet makes me cringe. But I love every minute of it! I am in the midst of training my 5 year old Black Sabiano Arabian Mare Quest, and going tonight to view a super cute little Paint/Welsh mare who is exactly what i wasn't looking for in a second horse LOL!

Some of the hardest things for me since returning have been physical, the muscles arn't what they used to be. Most exciting have got to be the advances in equine understanding that wern't there when I was learning.

All the best, looking forward to hearing stories of your adventure!

[Faerie Rider]

Hi there Triology!

Welcome to NR!!
I only joined about a month ago you'll love it here I can't go more than a couple of hours without checking Threads etc!!:D Very addictive!!:D
I have only been riding for 6 weeks and was (am) a complete novice I am just learning to canter which I do struggle with I find getting into a sitting trot really difficult..where as the rising trot no problem. I help out at my stable to gain experience of being around horses and I have alot to learn.

Anyway enjoy reading the threads and most of all enjoy riding you have an advantage being a little bit older and relearning because you'll be more motivated and not in such a rush to learn everything at once as we all are when we were teenagers..sigh..those were the days..;)

Again welcome
lol FR

[sophie33]

I must be in a soppy mood Trilogy - your post made my eyes smart! Butwhat you say is so true - for those of us who have come back to riding as an adult or (in my case) started from scratch as an adult - this forum is a goldmine of helpful information and tips.
And as FR says - very, very addictive! :p

[Hallmarked]

Welcome to the forum Trilogy.

Just to let you know what you are thinking and feeling is completely normal. If you want a rollercoaster ride of emotions - take up horse riding:D

The only advice I can think to give you is be open minded and believe in your own abilities. Even on a bad lesson - look for the good bit, there's bound to be at least one. Most importantly remember - there is no such thing as mistakes - only learning experiences:D

[LindaAd]

Welcome to New Rider Trilogy!

<snip>

Some of the hardest things for me since returning have been physical, the muscles arn't what they used to be. !

Crikey -- and you're how old? Around 25? I'm 60+. starting riding again after a two / three year gap - and I've been surprised how I haven't been stiff, apart from the first couple of weeks, even after some pretty strenous lessons, with jumping, sitting trot, standing trot etc.

Sorry, that's a bit off topic, but I couldn't resist commenting ...

And welcome Trilogy, I'm glad we've been so good for you. It's a great board, with some great people - unique on the internet - even if it gets a bit silly sometimes. Glad you've been having such good lessons - look forward to hearing more about your progress.

[skewpie]

My 1st too! and hello Skylark hurrah someone older than me!{by 6 years} want to see if this gets posted only just finding my feet with this message stuff ,talk to me someone!!!!!

[Shadowlark]

Sorry, that's a bit off topic, but I couldn't resist commenting ...

Kissing 30 - and no it isn't that old. (Kudos to you) But when I look at what I could do 10 years ago and now it is very different! I don't mean the stiffness - that part passed quickly, my legs retained some memory thankfully! But to say, mount a 16 hand horse from the ground without saddle..that used to be second nature.. I can't even IMAGINE doing that now. I have to think a whole load more about my legs as they arn't just "there" anymore. My seat doesn't know how to just "give an aid now" like it used to. I can't 2 point forever anymore... you get the idea. I know it was length of time related.. had I gone back soon I would have done much better... There isn't a HOPE that my calves will fit back into my tall boots ever again either ;)

I also have severe Arthritis - but that is neither here nor there in terms of what I am thinking about.

[NoviceNic]

Welcome Trilogy. :D Look forward to hearing all about your updates on your lessons. Of course if you want to post on this forum it is an essential to include pictures. :D ;)

[Imp]

Trilogy = the past, present and future... a lovely positive name! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/lynda788/SMILIES/happy-thewave.gif

There are a lot of us 'returners' around and I had almost exactly the same childhood experiences around horses as you! Hopped on family ponies and friends ponies whenever possible, mucked out and poo picked etc. I hung around when the farrier or vet was there; standing a respectable distance back of course because it was never 'my' pony :rolleyes:

I returned at the age of 42 having not ridden in the ensuing 30 or so years! I too found that 1. stirrups and cantering in small circles were sent to try us, 2. I thought I could ride but blimey, I couldn't, 3. I WAS going to get that pony by hook or by crook and 4. even when all that falls into place it ain't plain sailing.

You'll be fine hun and we'll look forward to hearing more as you progress... we all like pictures and vids for added interest too :p

[Trace The Ace]

[B][COLOR="DarkOrchid"]I1. stirrups and cantering in small circles were sent to try us, 2. I thought I could ride but blimey, I couldn't, 3. I WAS going to get that pony by hook or by crook and 4. even when all that falls into place it ain't plain sailing.

Amen

Welcome Trilogy!

[Wobblydeb]

Hello and welcome Trilogy! Ooooooo I have SO been where you are now! :D

I knew I wasn't the best rider as a teenager, but at least I thought I could ride. How wrong I was! :p

The good news is that it is something us slightly older fogies CAN learn, and unpick bad habits with good instruction. It's been 2-3 years since I seriously got back to riding and taking lessons, and I can honestly say that I am a much better rider now than I was as a teenager :)

Enjoy and keep us updated as you progress! :)

[teabiscuit]

hats off to you Triology
horses are such a great refuge they're worth all the aches and pains :)

[Trilogy]

Thank you all so much for the welcome! So good to know that my aches and pains are not in isolation (Had to get my OH to carry up the stairs the day after my first lesson!!)

Long live the wrinkly riders!

[Trewsers]

Welcome Trilogy! I "returned" to riding age 34 - am now 37 - and quite honestly I was shocked - it was BETTER than I remembered it, but also a heck of a lot harder!!! I found that I had hardly any balance and NO confidence!!! Several hundred lessons later I think I'm getting there, tho I'm now the proud owner of my own horse and I intend to just have fun on her, even if that means just pootling about hacking or in the school - I'm only doing it for fun and if somebody had told me that all those years ago I'd end up with my own - well, I'd have walked around happily for hours, never mind all this fancy stuff...........! Sorry I'm rambling, hope you continue to enjoy your lessons!!!!

[Chinarider]

welcome to NR :D Its a wonder any of us have time to ride, the hours we spend on here !! sooooo addictive.

i think as youve already found out , lots of us are in the same situation, wondering what happened to those fearless flexible young boys and girls we once were:p

have fun , thats the main thing :)

[Murasaki]

Hello everyone,
Well this will be an interesting one to watch lol! I haven't ridden for years and years except for the odd lesson at local stables. My daughter has a Welsh Mountain pony and I want to share her passion for riding - ok, anjd indulge mine too! Talk about baptism by fire - have accepted offer of a 16.3 Percheron TB X........should be back in the saddle by next week! I have organised joint lessons with my daughter so will have good advice from RI - I'm always one to go full pelt for what I want to achieve but am wondering...have I bitten off even more than I can chew :) Wish me luck!

[rowdent]

Welcome everyone.. I am a returning rider too.. it's quite simply the BEST therapy! LOL and I so need therapy! ;)

I have the fantastic luck to have a share in a beautiful part arab mare, who has a temperament to die for.. and despite being a pensioner at 24, acts and looks like a 6 year old most of them time...:D

I didn't ride for nearly 15 years either.. but have found the transition, after the first few times, back into the saddle really easy.. it does feel like I have never been away sometimes.. but these days I appreciate it all so much more..:D

Good luck with your lessons triliogy.. what a fab name..:D

[Little Dolphins]

Welcome Trilogy!
I couldn't let that 'young girl inside me' down either:rolleyes:

So now, I'm an old-ish girl who's dived into the world of horses again and I'm having an up- and -down time! It has to be done, though. We gotta do it.

Hang on, girl!!!:D

[Alle]

Hi and welcome! The biggest thing I learned when I returned 3 plus years ago, was how little I really knew. I am a MUCH better rider now then I ever was. The confidence will come with the right RI and horses etc. I'm so glad you were able to not let that little girl you were down...enjoy! :)