diary of a nervous novice's lessons

And in a continuation of my determined mood... yesterday two of us were offered two horses - one of whom I find a tad scary (more of because of what I've seen him do in the past than anything about his recent behaviour or my experience of him). I knew what I had to do and volunteered for scary horse. I was tense, he was grand if a bit stubborn in places. First attempt I couldn't get him to canter a 20 metre circle because of two much tension on the inside rein (and maybe leaning in as well having read eml's comment on Skib's thread). He fell back into trot and circle was too small! Second time really focused on using my legs and managed to keep him cantering in a reasonably good circle shape.
Then I got to pick out Flicka's front feet - a real sign of how far she has come..
 
Glad to read your comments too Sophie. I was taught in these new lessons to steer trot using my hips, but it hadnt dawned on me to do it in canter. I always think of these things after the lesson - as my current hacking escort says, "Hindsight is a wonderful thing."
 
Feeling like a pillock!

I've been meaning to reply to your post for days skib - because no-one has ever told me to steer with my hips but it makes sense - I'm going to try it in my next lesson.
Tonight - though I just want to express my feelings of stupidity. I've just got back from going down to the yard and turning Flicka out with her owners other horse. A couple of weeks ago the other mare, Brandy, took a few lumps out of Flicka. Since then Brandy has clearly been dominant.
Tonight I made sure they both had seperate haynets and turned them both out. All fine - they ignored each other. There was another - very helpful - girl on the yard - and I should have asked her to help me get them in. But I thought 'no I've got to get used to doing both of them'. Flicka was right by the gate and Brandy was miles away so I set out to get Flicka first. Flicka was faffing around the gate a bit and I was busy trying to get her to back up so I could open it more. I didn't yet have the leadrope clipped on. I could see Brandy meandering over but didn't shout at her to go away. I think I was relieved because Brandy seemed to be turning away to go again - and then she seriously went to double barrel Flicka. She missed but Flicka bashed herself on the gate and then legged it. I let go of her.
Everything was fine. The helpful girl caught Flicka. No-one was hurt. Bit I feel useless. Thinking now:
1) I should have got help getting them in.
2) I should have growled at Brandy to go away.
I don't think I was wrong to let go - Flicka was leaving I couldn't have stopped her. But I do feel a pillock. Anyone got any ideas what I could have done better...
 
Been quoting John Lyons today so his first rule is, Dont get Hurt. You didnt get hurt. I know nothing about bringing in horses other than the ones I know. But I am sure I have been told 100 times not to try and hold a horse you are leading that wants to go - or it will drag you.
And have also been told that horses have to sort out their own relationships with other horses. When my share mare argued with the horse in the next box, I was told to get out of the box and stand well clear.
The next John Lyons rule is that the horses should not get hurt - but how can we stop them quarrelling? My fav. is currently off work due to being kicked in the field.

I will add a few words about the canter steering with hips - my current excellent hacking escort with whom I managed this the other day in canter (to my joy), immediately warned me that the main danger of steering with hips was that the rider fell i.e. tipped inwards. That one must sit vertical. And we practiced that riding circles in walk. I dont have a lesson this week. So am no nearer to trying this in the school. But the weather is lovely and I am seizing the chance to hack a new horse instead.
 
thanks Skib. Talked it through with my RI who said I should have let go of Flicka when Brandy headed over and taken Brandy in first. Left to herself Flicka would have got out the way. But, as you say, no-one was hurt.
Had a good lesson on Friday. Was offered Chester who I like or Kas (who is more of a schoolmaster but I've been a bit scared of since he took off with me last time I rode him). Took Kas, and tried steering with my hips. It was great: 20 metre circle in canter and fairly good serpentines in trot. However, I will have to try it on another horse before knowing if it was Kas or my use of my hips! He is the kind of horse who goes - 'ah she wants a 20 metre circle, here you then dear' - lovely but difficult to tell if I was asking well or if he was just being helpful!
 
:bounce::bounce: A good week! Good lesson tonight - did some v little jumps and lots of forward seat. At first I put my stirrups up too much, my seat felt more secure than normal but after five minutes my thighs were killing me so had to lower them.
And then - ta da - put the flags out etc - I rode my share horse Flicka!!:bounce: My RI rode her first in w,t,c and then I rode her in walk! She has a very forward going walk but she was great. So it is a little step, but I'm very pleased. Next week on my two days sharing I am going to practise taking her bridle on and off (which she hates and flings her head about) and then on Friday the same drill: riding her with my RI there to hold my hand. My RI envisages me building up to having a pootle in the school on my own on the days I'm sharing her.
 
I hadn't realised how long it is since I updated this. Although one way or another I haven't had many lessons since. Can't remember exactly but 2 I think both pretty non-eventful.
Today I had a half an hour private on Paddy. Now he is one of the horses I have been scared of (ho-hum - there are too many of these). He is a lovely piebald cob, built like a tank. When I last rode him I found him v hard to handle - very lively and forward going, tanking off in canter at the drop of a hat. But that was probably two years ago. Today he was very, very good and I enjoyed riding him. He was probably quieter because it was private and he is more chilled generally these days. But I think it was also that I am a better rider, and I don't grip with my knees! Anyway it was fun and he is extremely comfortable - like a very forward going armchair!
 
help me think positively!

So, since I lasted posted, last week I had a goodish lesson on Kas the lanky schoolmaster. Then last weekend I bought myself a body protector (my mum gave me the money for this ages ago so I thought I'd better buy it before I fell off and had to explain to her that I hadn't bought the thing yet!).
So tonight first lesson in bp - baking hot - I was sweating like a pig in the thing. First part of the lesson I was on a cob called Chester. Failed to get him cantering properly on the left rein in forward seat - but otherwise pretty pleased with it - felt I did some good work in trot and canter with no stirrups - had that lovely 'yeeha I'm a cowboy feeling' I get when sitting trot goes well!
Then we swapped horses so I was riding a very speedy cob called Winnie. He was very forward going in trot but I felt okay, but I messed canter up totally! I was too tense, winnie went into turbo mode - RI shouted relax your inside hand but my brain didn't compute it. Winnie cut inside my body kept going outside - I think there was momentarily no horse underneath me! Somehow I stayed on but I think I hauled myself back into the saddle with the reins!! Poor winnie - I must have pulled his mouth so, so hard. So good news is that I stayed on, and didn't feel scared just mean for hurting Winnie. But I didn't canter Winnie again. I feel I should ride him again soon - maybe in the next lesson - and right now I don't feel nervous but I know myself - when it comes to it I'll get tense and that will make it more likey I mess it up again. So... any tips on thinking positively, thinking of Winnie as a blank sheet and not recreating the same problem!
 
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I think a lot of it comes down to practice, the more you ride the slightly sharper ponies, the more you'll become accustomed to it and find them less scary and relax more.

Do you tend to hold your breath when you worry? I always found working on taking deep breaths in and out always helped regulate my nerves and helps keep my mind focused on the task in hand.

Just to make you giggle, I lost my confidence v.badly at one point, so Noel used to make me recite lines of Shakespeare back to him, to take my mind off being nervous so I would stop tensing and making myself feel insecure. Many a time I would be trotting/cantering with no stirrups on Bianca (who was always such a sweetie) repeating lines of Twelfth Night! :giggle: but it did the trick!
 
Thanks bitsnpieces. Yes I do hold my breath. RI used to make me count to keep me breathing. And now I try to talk to the horse which keeps me breathing, but of course I forget when really tense! That is a very funny image of you reciting Shakespeare - sadly I'm not sure I know enough to do the same!
 
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