for the first time since I started riding again..
… Then I fell a second time!
I had my 13th lesson yesterday.
We began the lesson working without stirrups (the entire lesson became working without stirrups). It was pretty good, I love LOVE riding without stirrups as it feels so much more comfortable and my seat and position is much better. I was riding the same horse as last week - Tyzer.
I think I was a bit nervous because of the previous week where I didn't feel like I was in control as much when Tyzer kept going off into canter. I was really trying not to grip too much and stay a bit quieter in the saddle which seemed to be working.
All was going well until I was asked to canter.
Every time I tried to go in to canter I felt myself slipping to one side. My balance just didn't feel right and I would half halt and ask Tyzer to slow down. My RI kept telling me to just go for it and my body would respond and just go with the motion. So after a couple of failed attempts to get in to canter (nerves!) I finally cantered.
The canter lasted one length of the school until I felt myself slipping again - I totally panicked and realise now that I must've gripped which only made the unbalanced feeling worse :/ I pulled on the reins (I know I'm not meant to but it was a reflex) - Tyzer slowed down but I was already falling. I know I screamed as I fell and hit the ground. Luckily it was quite soft and wet (not sure if it being wet was a good thing!) I didn't hurt myself except for a slight ache in my neck.
My RI said that I had fallen off in walk - I tried to explain my balance feeling off and she told me where I was going wrong. i.e. gripping, reins should be longer and she told me to lengthen and hold on to the front of the saddle if I need to.
Well, I wasn't going to be defeated. So I got back on Tyzer, totally ruining her coat because of my now filthy clothes. I tried again. And again. And again. But now, every time I tried to go in to canter, I felt my self slipping and stopped. Now I know I was winding the horse up with my starting and stopping but I was trying to keep my legs still and lengthen reins and go in to canter.
I forgot to mention that there were jumps in the middle of the school again so that made me even more nervous! I told my RI that it just added to the nerves but she told me that Tyzer would NOT jump. I do think the jumps added to the nerves because every time I was going past them I felt myself slipping which tells me that I must've been tensing.
Anyway. So I tried going in to canter several times and failing. I finally did it right for several strides but I wanted to go again to give me that confidence back. So I went again.
I tried a couple of times, but Tyzer was beginning to respond less and less and getting her in to an active trot was becoming a challenge.
As I was going past 'E' in a very half arsed trot, my RI told me to canter at 'C'. Tyzer wasn't having it so the RI came closer (round about 'H') going, 'Come on Tyzer! Come on!!!'. Tyzer sped up a slight amount but not enough and the RI picked up a bit of the school and chucked it - I think behind Tyzer.
And off Tyzer went! I don't have that much experience but it was the fastest I had ever gone and as we neared the jump which was just after 'B', she bucked and I went flying. I fell towards the outside and just missed the fence landed a little bit before the jump - I was dragged a couple of strides but I'm not too sure how that happened. I hit my head quite hard this time and I was shaky all over and frustrated with myself.
I do know I wound up Tyzer with the starting and stopping but I just couldn't get to grips (and balance!) cantering without stirrups
The time for my lesson was over but my RI wanted me to get back on Tyzer. I wanted to as well because I know I've got that hack planned in Dubai and I don't want to be nervous. So I got back on Tyzer. We walked round the school at which point my RI asked me to get off near the gate. I asked if I could go round another time or two in trot and try a couple transitions just so I could feel that I was in control. I did this and got off at the gate.
I was very shook up at the time but it all feels quite surreal now. I remember falling off and being thrown off almost as if it wasn't me. I don't think I'm nervous of riding at all, but I am nervous about cantering. That's two not so good weeks once with stirrups and once without. I also wish I could get back on soon and try cantering again because my next proper lesson will be in 3 weeks time and I know I will panic just before that lesson.
I'm not sure why I've gone through to type this all up but I felt like I needed to get it off my chest because I don't know anyone else who rides and/or who would get it. My RI was very encouraging telling me I was brave for getting back on etc, but I didn't feel brave. I felt so - stupid? I knew hardest thing was supposedly getting back on, but tbh the hardest thing seemed to be doing the same thing I did when I fell off (cantering).
Anyway, if you've got this far, thanks for reading! Any advice would be great
… Then I fell a second time!
I had my 13th lesson yesterday.
We began the lesson working without stirrups (the entire lesson became working without stirrups). It was pretty good, I love LOVE riding without stirrups as it feels so much more comfortable and my seat and position is much better. I was riding the same horse as last week - Tyzer.
I think I was a bit nervous because of the previous week where I didn't feel like I was in control as much when Tyzer kept going off into canter. I was really trying not to grip too much and stay a bit quieter in the saddle which seemed to be working.
All was going well until I was asked to canter.
Every time I tried to go in to canter I felt myself slipping to one side. My balance just didn't feel right and I would half halt and ask Tyzer to slow down. My RI kept telling me to just go for it and my body would respond and just go with the motion. So after a couple of failed attempts to get in to canter (nerves!) I finally cantered.
The canter lasted one length of the school until I felt myself slipping again - I totally panicked and realise now that I must've gripped which only made the unbalanced feeling worse :/ I pulled on the reins (I know I'm not meant to but it was a reflex) - Tyzer slowed down but I was already falling. I know I screamed as I fell and hit the ground. Luckily it was quite soft and wet (not sure if it being wet was a good thing!) I didn't hurt myself except for a slight ache in my neck.
My RI said that I had fallen off in walk - I tried to explain my balance feeling off and she told me where I was going wrong. i.e. gripping, reins should be longer and she told me to lengthen and hold on to the front of the saddle if I need to.
Well, I wasn't going to be defeated. So I got back on Tyzer, totally ruining her coat because of my now filthy clothes. I tried again. And again. And again. But now, every time I tried to go in to canter, I felt my self slipping and stopped. Now I know I was winding the horse up with my starting and stopping but I was trying to keep my legs still and lengthen reins and go in to canter.
I forgot to mention that there were jumps in the middle of the school again so that made me even more nervous! I told my RI that it just added to the nerves but she told me that Tyzer would NOT jump. I do think the jumps added to the nerves because every time I was going past them I felt myself slipping which tells me that I must've been tensing.
Anyway. So I tried going in to canter several times and failing. I finally did it right for several strides but I wanted to go again to give me that confidence back. So I went again.
I tried a couple of times, but Tyzer was beginning to respond less and less and getting her in to an active trot was becoming a challenge.
As I was going past 'E' in a very half arsed trot, my RI told me to canter at 'C'. Tyzer wasn't having it so the RI came closer (round about 'H') going, 'Come on Tyzer! Come on!!!'. Tyzer sped up a slight amount but not enough and the RI picked up a bit of the school and chucked it - I think behind Tyzer.
And off Tyzer went! I don't have that much experience but it was the fastest I had ever gone and as we neared the jump which was just after 'B', she bucked and I went flying. I fell towards the outside and just missed the fence landed a little bit before the jump - I was dragged a couple of strides but I'm not too sure how that happened. I hit my head quite hard this time and I was shaky all over and frustrated with myself.
I do know I wound up Tyzer with the starting and stopping but I just couldn't get to grips (and balance!) cantering without stirrups
The time for my lesson was over but my RI wanted me to get back on Tyzer. I wanted to as well because I know I've got that hack planned in Dubai and I don't want to be nervous. So I got back on Tyzer. We walked round the school at which point my RI asked me to get off near the gate. I asked if I could go round another time or two in trot and try a couple transitions just so I could feel that I was in control. I did this and got off at the gate.
I was very shook up at the time but it all feels quite surreal now. I remember falling off and being thrown off almost as if it wasn't me. I don't think I'm nervous of riding at all, but I am nervous about cantering. That's two not so good weeks once with stirrups and once without. I also wish I could get back on soon and try cantering again because my next proper lesson will be in 3 weeks time and I know I will panic just before that lesson.
I'm not sure why I've gone through to type this all up but I felt like I needed to get it off my chest because I don't know anyone else who rides and/or who would get it. My RI was very encouraging telling me I was brave for getting back on etc, but I didn't feel brave. I felt so - stupid? I knew hardest thing was supposedly getting back on, but tbh the hardest thing seemed to be doing the same thing I did when I fell off (cantering).
Anyway, if you've got this far, thanks for reading! Any advice would be great