Last Saturday I was posting asking for advice on exercises to keep us occupied as I had confined us to the school due to terrible nerves. I was scared to get on and worried about spooking. We had ridden in the school that day with no issues but I had to keep reminding myself to breathe. The following day was slightly better and I felt able to ride back to the field solo - a big leap as I had to dismount to open the school gate and clamber back on. I then had a lesson on Tuesday, RI brought her horse and we hacked round the back of the castle. All fine.
Well today I'm off work and had some choices in regards to what I could do, but all would be done alone. School and hack back, walk out in hand or hell, why not ride round the back of the castle solo, a hack I've been aiming at over the last year - its been a sort of challenge I'd set myself but not yet achieved. Funny thing is, I was nervous but not that nervous. My sensible side reasoned that I haven't solo hacked properly in a couple of months, shouldn't I just do a mini one and work up to this? Nope. The daredevil side was feeling particularly strong today. It just felt right so I chose solo hack - mounting outside of the field (something I hate doing incase I fall off and he runs) all fine. I must have sung my heart out to disguise the noise of any pheasants jumping out of the bushes and shots being fired in the distance and Flipo had a couple of attempts at turning back for home, but overall he did fabulously. He was hesitant at times but I'm so grateful that is all he manages in terms of nappy behaviour. Even riding past the wild little welshie that had been moved fields nearest to the road didn't cause any problems. We were out for 45 minutes - our longest hack yet. Flipo, I love ya!:wub:
So just a message to everyone experiencing similar (and a reminder to myself) when you're feeling low, maybe having a nervy blip, don't for one second think that it will always be this way. You might be surprised at how quickly it bounces back with just a little bit of determination and effort.:wink:
Flipo the bog pony (think he's been taking lessons from Ziggy) says hi!
(ETA - I always wonder, when people say they just brush the bit where the saddle goes in winter, do they really do that, or is it just me:redface
Looking slightly better (but only cause the sun came out!)-
Well today I'm off work and had some choices in regards to what I could do, but all would be done alone. School and hack back, walk out in hand or hell, why not ride round the back of the castle solo, a hack I've been aiming at over the last year - its been a sort of challenge I'd set myself but not yet achieved. Funny thing is, I was nervous but not that nervous. My sensible side reasoned that I haven't solo hacked properly in a couple of months, shouldn't I just do a mini one and work up to this? Nope. The daredevil side was feeling particularly strong today. It just felt right so I chose solo hack - mounting outside of the field (something I hate doing incase I fall off and he runs) all fine. I must have sung my heart out to disguise the noise of any pheasants jumping out of the bushes and shots being fired in the distance and Flipo had a couple of attempts at turning back for home, but overall he did fabulously. He was hesitant at times but I'm so grateful that is all he manages in terms of nappy behaviour. Even riding past the wild little welshie that had been moved fields nearest to the road didn't cause any problems. We were out for 45 minutes - our longest hack yet. Flipo, I love ya!:wub:
So just a message to everyone experiencing similar (and a reminder to myself) when you're feeling low, maybe having a nervy blip, don't for one second think that it will always be this way. You might be surprised at how quickly it bounces back with just a little bit of determination and effort.:wink:
Flipo the bog pony (think he's been taking lessons from Ziggy) says hi!
(ETA - I always wonder, when people say they just brush the bit where the saddle goes in winter, do they really do that, or is it just me:redface
Looking slightly better (but only cause the sun came out!)-
