10 mile pleasure ride today :-)

[annareeves0]

Im posting in Nh section because; its really quiet in here and NH got me here!

Ive stressed about it on occasions but my friend and i were signed up for our first 10 miles pleasure ride today. They were picking me up at 8.45 and I had some butterflies when I first got up and again when she phoned to say they were on their way, but generally been Ok - we've done lots of longish hacks over the last few weeks in preperation and Rosie has been great out with another horse. Little silly on her own but with another great.

Trailering - walked straight in first time. Got to the other end, unloaded, she stood cool as a cucumber while i tacked up and I got her girthed up one more hole than ever beofre - she is fittening up REALLY fast! She was interested in what was going on but chilled. i was fine.

We had arranged to meet up with a lone rider to come round with us but she was horribly lost and by the time i phoned her incredibly stressed so we hung around for 10/15 trying to give her directions and make sure she arrived.

My friend was not doing quite so well. She was really stressed and nervous and her horse was a bit fidgetty. Waiting around wasnt helping and when i asked her she said she wanted to make a start. We rode over to let the lone rider know but when we said we were going without her, her face dropped and we didnt have the heart so we rode around the pond while our driver helped her tack up. By this point my firned is looking really uncomfortable and Im asking her if she's OK, what does she want to do etc. We go to the start point and head off with another lone rider joining us. Within the first 100 yards is a small but steep bank to go down and my friend isnt prepared to do it as is sure her horse will rush it and tank off. I also am not happy about how steep it is so we look for another route. Some other riders ask if its Ok to pass and as they do my friends horse bucked and her already taught nerves snapped and she got off. We pair the two lone riders up and send them on their way. After playing on the ground, she is still really tense and looking very upset so I suggest we go off in the opposite direction and have a little ride, just the two of us. We check back out and agree to ride in a small area and see how it goes. She gets back on but is still tense and upset and we have a little ride around. Half way round our 10 minute ride in an enclosed forest area she needs to get off for a tractor but gets back on and we have some very little trots and she feels better.

We go back to the car, get a cuppa (while Rosie has a little sleep tucked up behind the trailer) and look at our options; 1) go home, 2)go back into the inclosure for a ride alone or 3) go back to the ride now everyone has gone on ahead and just see what happens. She chose number 3 - for 10 mins and see what happens, as she REALLY doesnt want to go home and tell everyone she didnt do it. So we start again just about at the latest ride time but they let us go and we do 10 minutes and its going ok - peaceful, beautiful and both horse and rider start to relax. Im checking in all the time and asking if she wants to trot or lead, is she OK etc. 10 minutes strecthes out and before we know it we are at the point of no return - half way to the half way point. I let my friend make the decision. And we ride on

It was about 6/7 miles to the pub then 3/4 home and we had the most glorious ride. We did lots of walk and a bit of trot on the way there - it was quite hilly and by the time the pub was in sight the horses where pooped. We stopped for half hour, had drinks etc and then set off again.

Relaxed and rejuvenated we did the home run much faster with lots of trot and I had a little canter! Rosie was chilled and plodding along and i knew she couldnt be bothered to run away with me, even if she felt like it, so we had a little go and got a few steps. 2nd time i felt unbalanced and was hanging on the reins so she wouldnt go but no matter. 3rd time it was a long straight open run and it was now or never as we were close to needing to walk to cool down so I gave my friend the nod and we went! It went OK! It wasnt pretty, or balanced, or calm but Im still here to tell the tale and it was by a very long way my longest canter on rosie - maybe a 100 yards? Maybe a bit more? but now Ive done it in the open and it was OK I can think of a few places nearer to home where I might have a go at a few steps

We got back, untacked, loaded up and came home. Easy.

And in all of this I have to say how absolutely totally and utterly proud I am of Rosie. I couldnt have been more proud of her if i had given birth to her She was an absolute star the whole day and didnt put a single hoof wrong. We had a snort and spin to look at 2 people cantering up behind us but that was their fault not hers. She was brilliant - cows, deer, traffic, horseboxes, other riders, horses being silly arses, wild shetlands/donkeys/ponies, general chaos, lots of hard work, new sights, places, children making a fuss, dogs snapping at her heels, cantering in an open place for the first time, trailering, our partner horse bucking and being arsey, stressed riding partner, noise, stumbles, mud up to her knees and loads of boggy bits, crossing 2 streams, photographers, admirers - we had it all!!! She was fabulous, didnt bat an eyelid at anything and kept me safe (apart from nearly impaling me on a branch as she jumped a mud patch!). Lots of treats, a big bundle of carrots when we got back to the trailer and much scratching and rubbing and good girls etc later I think she had a good day too

AND I got my FIRST rosette at the grand age of 40 and I could not be prouder!

P.S. Will upload pics when can find bluetooth dongle for PC - bloody kids

[Yann]

Fabulous job It doesn't seem like two minutes since you were worried about even getting on her if I'm not mistaken, you've every reason to be bursting with pride in her, she's a superstar

[annareeves0]

Originally Posted by Yann

Fabulous job It doesn't seem like two minutes since you were worried about even getting on her if I'm not mistaken, you've every reason to be bursting with pride in her, she's a superstar

Its been about 5 months since I was nauseous at the thought of sitting on her with someone holding her head and no way could i get on on my own, never mind her moving her feet! Life's a funny thing, isnt it

[happyhacker101]

well done to both you and Rosie - am sooo glad that it went well for the two of you.

Onwards and upwards......

[learningcurve]

Sounds great fun, your pony was a star.

I quite enjoy babysitting someone stops me worrying about anything else.

Looking forward to the pics.

[perkypinky]

What a lovely post!!! i used to do pleasure rides and loved them your account bought it all back! well done to you and your lovley pony. You will remember this for a long time to come - i remember my first pleasure ride and that was about 8 years ago!!x

[Skippys Mum]

I am grinning from ear to ear reading this - I remember all your threads when there was no way you would dare ride her - and now look at you - you're the babysitter.

Well done and cant wait to see the pictures

[Kimmy C]

Well done sounds like you have a good one there and well done to your friend to persevere and 'go all the way' . Now you have done one the next will not be anywhere near as nerve wracking. Cant wait for the photos !

[annareeves0]

Actually I think having to 'look after' my friend did help actually. I know that if the tables had been turned Id have wanted her to say 'its Ok if you want to go home' or 'its OK if you want to do something different' or 'its OK if you want to have a go but we can be prepared to turn back at any point' - so thats what I did . Knowing you dont HAVE to makes it a lot easier I think.

Worrying about someone else meant, to be fair, most of the time I didnt give Rosie much thought - I just expected her to do what I asked, when I asked because I had other things to worry about. I do beleive, in general, horses live up to our expectations - the problem is we often have very low expectations or expectations of 'bad' behaviour

And after checking in, thanking the organiser (it was VERY well run) my next question was - when's the next one?!

[tiga]

Sounds like you did brilliantly. No time to worry yourself when you've got someone else to look after.
You have inspired be - I am now going to look for some fun rides for me and Izzy.

How long were you and Rosie 'in training' for? Was she pretty fit before you started getting ready for a 10 miler?

[annareeves0]

10 miles at walk/trot doesnt really seem that long a way. We have only been hacking out at all for about 6 weeks! (can you tell Im not really a very patient person - once Ive made a decision i go for it!)

Rosie was always 'exercised' as we had always done lots of games and circling on a daily basis but we worked up to a couple of 6 mile rides last week in around 4/5 weeks. I am sure however that this is not 'done properly'. But I have never pushed her hard, she has never seemed 'dead' tired or sore and in general we amble along at a leisurely pace - Im not in any hurry She has been a bit 'footy' over stoney ground but we had some front shoes put on last week and she's is fine. We wouldnt have made today barefoot.

She was tired today but at around the 6 mile point which we have done several times but i think the different terrain did that. She hasnt seemed unhappy or stressed so Im going to go with that and am pretty sure that she is the type of horse who would let me know if I was pushing too hard! I am sure one of the longer distance riders might help you with a fittening plan if you wanted one

Its funny where you get inspiration from - on the classifieds here on NR I saw a pleasure ride - it was way too far but it did inspire me to find something local and here we are.

We are supposed to be doing the sponsered ride at Rockbourne next week but that does seems REALLY scarey as is loads of gallopy jumpy horses!

[Mimi + Me]

I was looking in the Cafe area for your post and couldn't see it so started a thread asking how your ride went

Glad it went well and it sounds like Rosie was a complete star. Well done, I hope this is the first of many pleasure rides you do - they are quite addictive! What colour rosette did you get? (I'm SUCH a kid when it comes to rosettes )

[annareeves0]

Originally Posted by Mimi + Me

I was looking in the Cafe area for your post and couldn't see it so started a thread asking how your ride went

Glad it went well and it sounds like Rosie was a complete star. Well done, I hope this is the first of many pleasure rides you do - they are quite addictive! What colour rosette did you get? (I'm SUCH a kid when it comes to rosettes )

I tend to be a NH section stalker so post in here and like to keep things for posterity and need this to stay around for more than 30 days until i get around to putting our story in chronological order in the diaries bit!

We had the choice of colours so i chose purple as its my fave but really I probably should have gone for red as Rosie's colours are red and black.

[Skeeder]

Thats brilliant what a brilliant achievement you must still be elated big pat on the back to you and to Rosie
I bet it was so much fun doing a fun ride I keep looing for something local fancy doing one at some point so you have inspired me
Hope you find the dongle to post the pics

[EnduranceAli]

Well done to you and Rosie, and your friend (she was very brave to carry on, and I bet she is proud of herself for completing the ride)

This gives me a lot of hope for the future. A couple of years ago I was tackling longish rides by myself with Frayne, over bridleways and lanes that rarely see riders (some had only just been cleared by the council) - all sorts of terrain and unknown stuff. However, due to my worsening health and not riding so often (which means Frayne is either ploddy or nappy), I have lost my nerve again.

Currently I just go for 30 minutes walk/trot up one of the roads - getting off if Frayne is not 100% sure of a vehicle. However, in 3 weeks time I will just have her to concentrate on again, keeping her at a livery yard where I will have practical and Parelli help I really intend to get out on her more, explore our beautiful countryside, including beaches, and do the local Bridleway Association rides next year.

If you can do it, then I can

Ali xx

ps Looking forward to seeing the piccies.

pps I would have chosen a purple rosette too.

[Daisy_Roots]

Fantastic report and a really good outcome

I think you're right, if you need to help someone else, then some of your fears go. It has sometimes worked for me in wobbly moments.

Well done you You have every reason to feel very proud of you and your horse. Looking forward to the pictures

[fairlady]

Originally Posted by Skippys Mum

I am grinning from ear to ear reading this - I remember all your threads when there was no way you would dare ride her - and now look at you - you're the babysitter.

Well done and cant wait to see the pictures

Ditto the above.

WELL DONE, SOUNDS A FABULOUS DAY

[tiga]

Sounds like a perfect day - you get to ride all day, have a drink at a pub AND get a purple rosette!

Definitely inspired now.

[Mary Poppins]

Well done, it sounds like you had a great day in the end. I'm so pleased that your friend found her confidence and managed to get round. You sound like a very supportive friend.
Just need to see the photos now.

[kturner]

I am really proud of you both. I knew you would get there in the end. It just takes time, and sometimes lots of it, but once you get going, it becomes leaps and bounds. Having other distractions definately helps as you forget all about your own horse.

I am also jealous that you having a great time, and I am literally housebound waiting for op. Summer is finished and I have hardly done anything with pony.
Will have to recover in winter and catch you up again next summer.

Please keep us updated with your adventures, I really love to hear about you both. Keep forgetting to go to that blog thing as well. Much better here, then everyone can read.