Wibbly wobbly day 5... it was wibbly and wobbly too :(

[Imp]

Sorry no pics!

RA came to exercise Megan this morning. She did some long lining with Megs and commented that she's really learning. Then she mounted up for the real work.

Megan is hard work to get going but she's been doing side stretches, small circles in walk and building up to trot. It was soo hot today that poor old Megs was sweating buckets too. She spent roughly 40 minutes riding doing loads of walk/halt/trot transitions and moving her in different directions to improve suppleness.

Then I got on with a blimmin saddle and stirrups (and the Dually)... Megan was a pain in the A*SE!!! She fought me and could have represented her country in the PLOD OF THE YEAR AWARDS.

RA made me take her round some tight circles (did I say 'take' her, should have said 'haul' her). After a while I got fed up and had to make a confession... I always talk to Megan when I ride (actually I chat insanely to her); I go all high pitched and squeaky-mummy voice when she's going well and she responds to that and a couple of 'clucking' noises to keep it up, to reprimand her for not picking up or getting on with it I growl 'get ON with it' and she generally does. Soo, we'll never win a dressage contest, but we'll never enter one! All me and Megs want to do is ride our own private journey in our own private way.... the only thing that won't be private is our conversation as we go! RA looked and said 'okay then'... I don't think she's impressed

Megan goes better bareback than with the blurry saddle and stirrups, I can feel when she's going to obey me or disobey me and act accordingly even before I would have made an assumption either way under saddle. Does anybody know what I mean or am I an oddity?

RA said she'll ride her in a bit next time (ohhhhh dear, poor Megan) and will see what she's like in the bareback pad for me (good ).

[miggy]

Firstly well done for persevering
Secondly-I may have missed something but why dont you try a treeless. If its the feel of her back you like and she likes the pad thing-would surely be ideal.
I feel really secure in mine too.

[Bronya]

Bareback IS better. It's easier to balance bareback too, so you're not mad, and horses often prefer it, especially if they're trying to compensate for you 'cause you're injured (or in my case sometimes so tired I can't balance myself too well !!).

[Whatanejit]

Imp hun, I think Megs had just had enough - give her a break.

I don't mean give her a break from your daily sit ons.

For a mare who hates schooling she did well working for your instructor for 40 mins - that is loads of time - 20-30 would have been plenty.

Then to have the 'strong' rider hop off - she thought she was finished - then less strong mummy gets on - oh for goodness sake I'm in a huff now I'm just not going to move.:mad: , says Megymoo.

That used to happen sometimes with me and Coops - RI would ride him. He was going well - she pushed him a bit too far up to the 40 mins. I would then pop on and he would be like a snail.

No fair on them man!

Have a think about why the RI is there - you can change your use for her week to week, month to month but you should have a routine/programme set out.

E.g. Let RI school her and long line for a month or so.

You let yourself play, in your own time, bareback, bitless and pottery until you get your confidence and strength back.

When you are ready you could then start having lessons on her with RI riding her one time and you the next.

Just a suggestion - it worked for us.

Don't beat yourself up about it - you did well just getting on.

xx

Dee

[Imp]

Thanks folks

Dee, I think you're right, although Megan has been ridden by my daughter and a girl at the livery yard who's taken her over a course of ikkle 6 inch jumps - much to my alarm - it was over before I had anything to do with it. So she has been working more than once a week. That being said, yep, she saw me coming bless her! I'll speak to RA about what you've said as it sounds sensible and I'm happy just popping on each day for a 10 minute mess around. I will do the exercises though as they will help Megan become more supple, small circles and carrot stretches whilst mounted (funny, she loves that bit ).

I've also decided that I'm staying bareback for now, just because I want to; I always found stirrups to be an obstacle as I generally jumped on bareback as a kid and it feels right to me for now.

Today, I shall mostly be... BAREBACK