Flipo came back from retraining three months ago and since then I've tried to pack in as many rides as possible to clock up time in the saddle to help lessen the nerves about riding. Our time in the school has been about improving our partnership so that Flip listens to what I ask and also working on his flexibility (he's pretty stiff on his offside).
We've done some mini hacking and it is very clear that he prefers this to working in the school so I try to get him out and about after our schooling, even if that means me walking him home via a longer route in hand (because my nerve comes and goes in respect of riding solo).
The clocks are about to change and I won't be able to ride during the week. Added to that is the prospect of days like today during the weekend when the weather isn't great. I've overcome my fear of wind, Flipo isn't particularly fussed but based on his tendency to trip over his own feet on a regular basis, I'm not too enthusiastic about riding when its icey:cold:, in fact I know I won't ride then!
So I've got a couple of questions.
1. What sort of goals should I set myself and Flipo riddenwise over the winter? I intend to use the weekday evenings to concentrate on some groundwork so thats a given, but I'm worried about not being in the saddle that often. I need purpose to our schooling sessions otherwise Flip just takes the pee, but can I achieve much being in there only once a week? The school is very much our safety zone, so if I'm not riding as often I'll want to spend time in there to keep things ticking over.
2. The most I've gone without riding in the last three months is one week and the thought of getting back in the saddle has been crippling on these occasions. I know alot of people will say 'maybe you shouldn't ride then if it upsets you that much' but once I'm on I love it (well 90% of the time!) so I know its just about chipping away at it and eventually I'll get there confidence wise. Faced with the possibility of not being able to ride regularly because of the weather, how do I help my confidence and motivation stay intact?
Does anyone else worry about this? How did you get on last year?
Things have been going pretty well up until now but I feel that the momentum is about to drop away and before I know it I'll be dreading my first ride in the spring because I haven't sat on my horse for six weeks (lets face it, if the winter goes the same way it did last year then January will be a write off).:redface:
PS I will, weather permitting, still be getting my weekly RS lesson but my nerves relate directly to riding Flip, I have no confidence issues riding the RS horses.
We've done some mini hacking and it is very clear that he prefers this to working in the school so I try to get him out and about after our schooling, even if that means me walking him home via a longer route in hand (because my nerve comes and goes in respect of riding solo).
The clocks are about to change and I won't be able to ride during the week. Added to that is the prospect of days like today during the weekend when the weather isn't great. I've overcome my fear of wind, Flipo isn't particularly fussed but based on his tendency to trip over his own feet on a regular basis, I'm not too enthusiastic about riding when its icey:cold:, in fact I know I won't ride then!
So I've got a couple of questions.
1. What sort of goals should I set myself and Flipo riddenwise over the winter? I intend to use the weekday evenings to concentrate on some groundwork so thats a given, but I'm worried about not being in the saddle that often. I need purpose to our schooling sessions otherwise Flip just takes the pee, but can I achieve much being in there only once a week? The school is very much our safety zone, so if I'm not riding as often I'll want to spend time in there to keep things ticking over.
2. The most I've gone without riding in the last three months is one week and the thought of getting back in the saddle has been crippling on these occasions. I know alot of people will say 'maybe you shouldn't ride then if it upsets you that much' but once I'm on I love it (well 90% of the time!) so I know its just about chipping away at it and eventually I'll get there confidence wise. Faced with the possibility of not being able to ride regularly because of the weather, how do I help my confidence and motivation stay intact?
Does anyone else worry about this? How did you get on last year?
Things have been going pretty well up until now but I feel that the momentum is about to drop away and before I know it I'll be dreading my first ride in the spring because I haven't sat on my horse for six weeks (lets face it, if the winter goes the same way it did last year then January will be a write off).:redface:
PS I will, weather permitting, still be getting my weekly RS lesson but my nerves relate directly to riding Flip, I have no confidence issues riding the RS horses.