Hi everyone.
just some progress piccies of me in lessons with my sensitive redhead. i've been riding for over 20 years, but was a backyard rider for most of it, before getting into pony club. just started getting regular riding lessons again for the first time in 12 years or so (spent last year on ground work lessons!). you guys may have seen these before, but i've got some new ones from my most recent lesson. plus a bunch of my old man who's out on retirement.

anyways, critique away. i know my flaws very well, but it's always good to get feedback.

( red goodness )

Hello everyone I am seeking help in locating a place to trail ride in central CA near the Fresno area. I will provide some back story on why this is a challenge.

My husband I recently moved to Fresno. I am a great horse lover since I was a small child. I would love to ride, but we are not in a financial position for me to do it often right now. My husband on the other hand is not so good with horses. As a young boy he was basically short stopped (the horse stopped he didn't) and broke his arm in several places. Since then he has had little interest in horses. He's fine with them on the ground (will help me brush, tack up ect) but doesn't want to ride them.

Today we were up in the Shaver Lake area and he expressed a mild interest in giving it a try again even stopping at a trail stable to inquire about prices, pace, length of ride ect. I would really love to do this with him. I know he'll never love horses the way I do, but I think this would be a fun way for us to share something together sometimes. The only problem is that the people at Shaver Lake were not very friendly and they don't provide helmets. Also upon further thought my husband realized that riding up and down mountains for the first time on a horse was not going to make him feel very secure. I want him to be safe and secure. I really want to build a positive horse experience for him even if it's not something he wants to do all the time.

So equestrian friends is there anyone who can help me out by giving me the name of a good stable in the Central CA (Fresno) area that would do trail rides in a semi-flat (I'm not crazy there are mountains all around) environment that don't cost too much? Thanks for your help.

Also on a shorter note I'm looking for somewhere I could maybe volunteer a few hours a week on the ground (or saddle) with horses. Any suggestions would be welcome.

i've been getting some weekly lessons lately (due to a confidence crushing fall a month ago) and i'm pretty amazed at the difference in my horse. gosh. My instructor is pretty awesome and has been great with helping me keep my energy down & chilled, and i am building up my toolbox of skills to help me deal with my sensitive redhead. i am very impressed.

you are welcome to critique. i do know my faults, but it's always good getting feedback.

( My awesome redhead )

After a hard and fast fall last week, the first thing i did was call my friend for a lesson. She came out yesterday & i am SO glad she did. Firstly, she made me Mount up, ride half a circle, dismount, walk half a circle... rinse, repeat. this helped relax both my horse and i. she then made me ride around on a long rein & we focused on flexion & getting him to worry about ME and not what is outside the circle. so yes, a great confidence builder. i'm very happy.

and for the first time evAR i had someone there to take pics of me & she even did a short video.

( my big redhead )

Hey guys. I've just recently purchased a green broke Hanoverian mare who has only been off the farm maybe once or twice in her lifetime (she's seven!). Since I have plans to show her in the future, I've decided to take her to a small show that I'm taking my other guy to this weekend, just to show her the sights and hopefully get a good ride in the warm-up ring. I wouldn't call her spooky, she's not a difficult ride, but just from having her move in to our barn the past few weeks, it's taken her awhile to really settle into things - she's just a bit anxious and nervous in general (running up & down the fenceline for no reason, things like that).

So, the point to my post! A friend recommended Omega Alpha's Equine Calming Formula (otherwise known as "Chill"). She claims that it was great for settling down her green horse when he was starting to show, without making him too dopey. It doesn't show up on drug tests because it's herbal (or something like that).

Just wondering if anyone has heard good or bad things about it, or tried it for that matter. I have no idea how my mare will be at the show, but if she is acting silly it might be worth a shot. I really want her to have a positive experience at her first horse show. My other guy has the total opposite personality - he usually gets super lazy and relaxed at shows more than home - so I'm totally new to this angle of horse ownership :P

All tips are appreciated! Thanks.

Hello all,

I have two questions for everyone, both relating to confidence and anxiety issues.

So Gaelin and I just got back from a schooling event in Fort Plain, NY yesterday. We had an AMAZING dressage test (riding at BN level, three 9's, need I say more?), then had one refusal on cross country at a rolltop jump, but rode the rest of the course amazing. Unfortunately, I had three refusals in stadium, and was eliminated. Now my problem is this: I've realized after one refusal, my confidence drops way down, and then I start worrying that Gaelin's going to refuse the next jump, which he proceeds to do, since I think he feels my anxiety. (I would just like to say that the refusals were not one right after another- jump 3, 5, and  7.)

I have the same problem on cross country, although not this particular time.
So does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my confidence back in stadium and X-C, so I'm not freaking out?

My other question is this: My trainer and I have discovered that Gaelin has anxiety issues on cross country, especially when we're schooling with other horses. He'll see two or three horses trot or canter past/around him to get to a jump, and starts throwing his head and trying to run at the jumps. As of right now, I deal with it by riding him (at a walk) away from that specific jump and turning him in a circle to the right (we have problems with the right-bend). Sometimes he calms down, but sometimes he doesnt listen to me at all, and instead of going forward, he starts backing up, even if I don't ask him too. 

Anyone know how to correct this/ have suggestions as to how to get him to stop?

Much thanks!

Nell

x-posted to my journal.

I have recently decided to start jumping again. This is something I haven’t been doing regularly for years now. The problem is that whenever I have a jumping lesson coming up I get really nervous. And I mean *really* nervous. I get so rigid that by the time I have my horse tacked up and warm I’m mentally and physically exhausted. It really is ridiculous because right now my horse is a really solid jumper and very easy to control. I haven’t had any really bad falls or anything so I really should have nothing to fear. In truth I love to jump. After every jumping lesson I find myself waiting for the next one, but when it actually comes I find myself chickening out again for no apparent reason. Has anyone experienced something similar? What helped you? I have even considered taking pills or drinking herbal tea or the like to help me relax a little. Is that a bad idea? I’m starting to get really frustrating with this so anything that may help would be most welcome.

( To illustrate: here are some pictures of my horse Patria jumping… with other people -_- )

Some new pics from my last hunter/jumper show. I was mildly terrified, considering it was only the second time we showed 3'6", but he took care of me like a pro. Back-story and pics behind the cut!

Hi all ---

After all the mess a few weeks ago, I am a bit hesitant to post here. BUT Fugly has a really good post today about what it's like to be inside the head of an older rider/re-rider. It is comforting to see that I'm not the only person out there with these issues.

So I strongly recommend http://fuglyhorseoftheday.blogspot.com/2008/04/cant-i-just-order-some-guts-from.html to anyone younger, who doesn't get the "older woman afraid of her horse" syndrome. Fugly herself has a case of it!

As for my lovely girl, she's moved to a place with more turnout, and it really suits her. We've had some, ah, adventures, but yes I *can* get her to realize that it's easier to cooperate with me than be naughty, and that being ridden past some goats is not the world's end. Carrying and occasionally using a dressage whip helps!

Does anyone have any tips for helping someone get over a fear of horses?

The girl I am talking about is I believe roughly fifteen years old. She has been riding for a few years now. When she is actually riding the horse, she is completely fine, no fear whatsoever and a fantastic rider. But the moment she's on the ground or in the stable with it? She's visibly terrified of the horse, no matter how sweet a horse she's put with. She says she doesn't understand why she's afraid herself as she hasn't had any bad experiences with them, I'm assuming it's just down to the sheer power and size of them.

Does anyone have any ideas that could help?

Thank you all so much who replied to my earlier post. I've gotten so much great advice and support and I appreciate it all very much.

And I've got 2 of the best therapists ever in my barn. All they ask for are treats, kisses and skritches, and I think I can oblige them :)

Once again, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. You've given me hope that I'm going to be okay. Blessings to each and every one of you!

I'm at the end of my rope and need a bit of help.

ive ridden alot of horses in the 12 years ive been around them. i was always the kid that didnt have her own but was willing to climb on everything and anything. because of this i would consider myself a fairly good rider. i learned how to deal with alot of different issues and different personalities. ive rode quite a few horses that werent exactly what i would call safe. my first mare was a chronic rearer and was NOT fixable. i lived through it and learned to "ride around it" because she was all i could afford.
now that im in school ive had the opprotunity to start riding some really nice arab show horses on the campus farm. last semester i started in a breaking and training class which has led to a training show horses class this semester. i was pretty much handed an unbroke 2 year old that only knew how to lead. with the instructors help and guidance (shes an amazing teacher) we taught them how to longe, long-line and bitted them back and slowly started to climb on. the filly that i was given for both semesters was a little chestnut mare. shes not really what i would call a pretty arab, but she was definitely cute enough for some local arab shows and such.
shes always had a bit of a snotty streak to her (kicking at longewhip, balking at leg ect.). her momma was the same way from what ive been told. ive been riding her since december without too many problems until today. on monday she was body clipped in prep for the sale (the end result of the class). today we went back to our usual routine of longeing, bitting back and then riding. she as alittle squirrely while longeing, but i figured it was mostly because she felt weird being clipped. so i went to climb on and i knew things werent right. she just felt completely different. shes normally fairly relaxed, and if anything alittle lazy. we started walking a working on bending and she kept throwing in little bucks and crow hops. so i ignored them and went on with our warmup, we started jogging and she snapped and THREW herself on the ground. i got off before it was too late and we longed somemore. she got pissy on the longeline and threw herself down again. we longed and longed until i thought it was out of her system and i climbed back on while still on the longe line. we went around some and then again, she went to rear up and throw herself sideways to the ground. i jumped off in time. this happened another four times before we were able to walk forward on the line without a tantrum.
now, ive ridden horses that were out to hurt their rider before. but NEVER have i been on a horse that didnt care if they hurt themselves in the process. at one point she threw herself down so hard that she knocked the wind out of herself. but continued to do it two more times. i guess im just in shock and alittle shaken up by all of it. today was the worst ride ive ever had. i dont mind when horses have issues, thats fine they can be fixed. but when they have so little respect that they will hurt themselves just to get at you, thats when i start to lose faith. shes not my horse, so i really have no say in what happens to her. i guess it comes down to a horse like this really not having any sort of value. it was one of those moments when i really had to ask myself if this is what i want to do for the rest of my life, and yes it is. it didnt scare as much as it made me think about all of it. i was pretty proud of myself that it got worked through (as much as it could in one day) without losing my cool and without getting hurt. what are your opinions on this? when is it time to give up on a horse thats deemed "dangerous"? to what extent are they worth trying to work through their issue? any other thoughts are welcome.


(PS: just so there is no flame war. these horses are all immaculately taken care off. she has no physical problems and nothing has changed since our last ride on friday except that she was body clipped)

So, a little background before I tell you why cantering in my lessons these past two weeks made me so purely happy. Because just said like that, it sounds pretty ordinary, like "Whee, zomg u guys, I CANTEREDED today." But it means a lot to me.

( And why? )

Hi Everyone,

I figured I'd pop in in case anyone was interested and give an update. For those of you who may not remember, I posted back in October after having suffered a VERY severe injury from falling off a cantering horse at my barn. I had a compound fracture in my forearm and a shattered elbow which resulted in two surgeries and 3 months in which I was unable to ride. I had expressed nervousness at riding again, but was determined to defeat my fear and get back on the horse as soon as I was allowed.

The good news is, I healed UNBELIEVABLY fast and well. I've regained almost all the strength in my arm and kept up with my exercises these past 3 months. I made sure to stay around the barn, stopping by in lieu of lessons to help tack, groom and help with general barn work. My instructor was fabulous and accomodating, and so were all the others at the stable. My arm felt more and more normal every day until it eventually began to feel as though it had never been broken. I still feel it a little bit in that I can't straighten it as fully as the right arm, or bend it as fully, and sometimes it cracks (non-painfully) when I do my exercises, but other than that, it feels like a normal arm.

I had a doctor's appointment on the 27th of this month. After inspecting me, my doctor/surgeon told me that I was good to go. I could get back on the horse! Right away I went to the barn and told them I HAD to get back on as soon as possible. The longer I put it off, the more I would psych myself out.

So this morning...I got back in the saddle.

IT WAS FABULOUS.

We just walked and did a bit of posting trot, but that's all I wanted to do, honestly, and it was wonderful. I wasn't nervous, funnily enough-especially when you consider that I was riding the same horse I fell off of. The only time my heart flew into my throat was when he reached his head down suddenly to scratch an itch on his leg with his nose, mid-trot. I had a flashback of him yanking his head down the way he had when I fell, and I had to literally stop him fully and just take a few deep breaths to calm down. My instructors were fabulous, and it was great to see the other riders cheering me on for moral support. "Only do what you feel comfortable doing. If you start to get scared trotting, just slow him down and walk."

Other than that, it went great. My instructors both commented that I looked great and natural, especially for someone who hasn't been on a horse's back in 3 months. But it is astonishingly like learning to ride a bike. Once you know, you don't forget. And I felt my body just ease right back into it. I hadn't forgotten. Little technical things I'd forgotten about (like sunken heels and outside leg and diagonals), when Kim (my main instructor this morning) pointed them out, it was like my body just immediately clicked and remembered fully.

It was a great lesson. Back again next week, as usual! I'm so glad to be back in the saddle. I really, really missed it. I don't plan on cantering anytime soon (I want to wait at least a few months to let the arm heal even more and don't think it wise to do a higher-risk activity right off the bat, and my teachers agree with me), but just being there with the horse is such a pleasure. Everyone was so nice and happy for me. I trotted by one of the other women who ride there who I get along with really well (she was trotting towards me on her horse and we passed), and she gave me this big grin and just said, "It's so wonderful to see you back on a horse. It really is."

So...baby steps, but slow and sure! Yay.

Every so often I my confidence in my riding ability just ups and runs away. I'm pretty sure it has to do with the fact that I can't always squeeze in a ride. I see Linus every day to feed him, and I'd love to leave from work and go straight to the barn, but I have a dog at home that needs to be let out, then I get distracted, and by the time I make it out to the barn, it's pretty late.

( I need to break this viscious cycle. I took the first step today )

Well, I can ride again. Sort of.

My confidence went kablooey when I got launched a few weeks ago. It's slowly coming back. YAY!

1. My elbows work.
2. My heels pop less.
3. My seat was connected Thursday, which never happens, and I stayed with him... once or twice. LOL.
4. I think I can release again!

YAY! I'm such a mess.

Back to homework. THE SEMESTER IS ALMOST OVER. *squee*

Thanks to everyone who replied when I posted about my post-fall fears and worries 2 months ago now! It really helped.

I'm still waiting to find out if I'm going to have surgery - I really ought to have answers or timelines this coming Tuesday.

I had been thinking, with the time off work, and the need to start all over again, it''d be a while before I was back in the saddle.

That said, funniest thing happened when I went to get my hair cut. Turns out my new hairdresser is an avid rider with a few horses, and we got talking. We had an interesting chat and when I was leaving she said that if I'm around this summer she knows some nice animals that need to be ridden. Even better, they are nicely mannered horses, should I need something bombproof to regain my confidence on.

I love horse people. (:

I was definately nervous and self-doubting last time I was injured (2 strange accidents, I have some awesome luck-haha) but this time? I'm good - excited even. How very unexpected!