I keep my new horse (of 6mths) on a DIY yard. After not being around horses for almost 8 years previous to this I have found it hard getting back into riding. I have lost some of the confidence I had as a kid and definitely some of the softness and balance. All of this affects my relationship with new mare as I fumble around, get nervous at times, and am more worried about people watching me as I ride, rather than concentrating on our progress. So I know what it feels like to be new, nervous, and feel like you're not quite doing your lovely horse justice.
Anyway, a lovely man has just joined our small yard with his new horse. He has had 3 riding lessons before, and no stable experience, and it's a DIY yard with practically no facilities
He's getting on fine with the stable side of things, gets to the yard early, mucks out, feed/ hay/ waters in record time, does his share of the poo picking and is always ready to help the rest of us out with anything. But I'm not sure how he's doing with the riding. I have heard no mention of a riding instructor as yet, and he doesn't seem to have a horsey wife/ family around to help, it's just him! New horse is such a darling. Same type personality as my mare - laid back but sensitive, I think she's the same breed mix (TBxID) though she's bigger at 16.1hh.
Last week he fell off while out on his own with her, but fair enuff got back on and both parties were OK though shaken. This morning he couldn't get the bit into her mouth. At first I wasn't sure whether to butt in or not. He's actually asked all of us to advise him if we think he's doing/ not doing something etc, but I know how awkward it makes me feel if someone watches me when I feel I'm making a fool of myself. Anyway, I stood by the door and murmered, yes that's it, nearly got it etc, and finally went in to help. I stood at her neck and demonstrated the technique of, right hand under neck to grab whole thing and bring nose down, while thumb goes into corner of mouth and hand pushes bit in. He tried another 2 times then asked me to help. She was a bugger with me too so I guess that would have made him feel a bit more at ease.
Then I asked him how he was getting on with the riding and he mentioned trying to cross the road at the end of our bridle path The crossing is on a blind corner and most of us shoot accross it as fast as possible when we're absolutely sure nothing is coming. There's no time to be prancing, spooking, or dilly dallying around. So it shocked me that he would even be attempting to cross a road at his stage, let alone something like that. The horse shied anyway and they havn't tried it since thank goodness. I also noticed that his hat was the wrong way round (I told him before he mounted of course).
I think it's great that he's taking on such a big challenge, but I am worried about him, and his poor girl. She is laid back and sweet tempered but she gets very stressed sometimes and I think this is frustration at being in a new place, a stable which she's not keen on (Outdoors with dim light and she can see all the others go past at morning turnout), she's in isolation at the mo (grazing on her own) till we pair/ herd her up, and she's got to deal with a complete beginner riding her (he's doing OK in the practical dept).
I am really beginning to like her and wonder if this is why I'm taking such an interest. But I am increasingly worried about them both, and feeling guilty about the effect this could all have on the mare.
Of course I, and the others are around to help, but we tend to be there at odd times, there's lots of space in between when there's no one around should anything happen. I was thinking of asking him out on a hack, or a shared schooling session. My mare can be a bit spooky at times, and I'm not sure we're at the stage that I could trust her to be calm and take the lead should a bad situation occur on a hack, but she's also a bugger to school with other people, as she is constantly distracted.
Can you suggest a way for me to gently and subtely help these two out? I want them to make the best of it, I really do. Any idea's?
Anyway, a lovely man has just joined our small yard with his new horse. He has had 3 riding lessons before, and no stable experience, and it's a DIY yard with practically no facilities
He's getting on fine with the stable side of things, gets to the yard early, mucks out, feed/ hay/ waters in record time, does his share of the poo picking and is always ready to help the rest of us out with anything. But I'm not sure how he's doing with the riding. I have heard no mention of a riding instructor as yet, and he doesn't seem to have a horsey wife/ family around to help, it's just him! New horse is such a darling. Same type personality as my mare - laid back but sensitive, I think she's the same breed mix (TBxID) though she's bigger at 16.1hh.
Last week he fell off while out on his own with her, but fair enuff got back on and both parties were OK though shaken. This morning he couldn't get the bit into her mouth. At first I wasn't sure whether to butt in or not. He's actually asked all of us to advise him if we think he's doing/ not doing something etc, but I know how awkward it makes me feel if someone watches me when I feel I'm making a fool of myself. Anyway, I stood by the door and murmered, yes that's it, nearly got it etc, and finally went in to help. I stood at her neck and demonstrated the technique of, right hand under neck to grab whole thing and bring nose down, while thumb goes into corner of mouth and hand pushes bit in. He tried another 2 times then asked me to help. She was a bugger with me too so I guess that would have made him feel a bit more at ease.
Then I asked him how he was getting on with the riding and he mentioned trying to cross the road at the end of our bridle path
The crossing is on a blind corner and most of us shoot accross it as fast as possible when we're absolutely sure nothing is coming. There's no time to be prancing, spooking, or dilly dallying around. So it shocked me that he would even be attempting to cross a road at his stage, let alone something like that. The horse shied anyway and they havn't tried it since thank goodness. I also noticed that his hat was the wrong way round (I told him before he mounted of course).I think it's great that he's taking on such a big challenge, but I am worried about him, and his poor girl. She is laid back and sweet tempered but she gets very stressed sometimes and I think this is frustration at being in a new place, a stable which she's not keen on (Outdoors with dim light and she can see all the others go past at morning turnout), she's in isolation at the mo (grazing on her own) till we pair/ herd her up, and she's got to deal with a complete beginner riding her (he's doing OK in the practical dept).
I am really beginning to like her and wonder if this is why I'm taking such an interest. But I am increasingly worried about them both, and feeling guilty about the effect this could all have on the mare.
Of course I, and the others are around to help, but we tend to be there at odd times, there's lots of space in between when there's no one around should anything happen. I was thinking of asking him out on a hack, or a shared schooling session. My mare can be a bit spooky at times, and I'm not sure we're at the stage that I could trust her to be calm and take the lead should a bad situation occur on a hack, but she's also a bugger to school with other people, as she is constantly distracted.
Can you suggest a way for me to gently and subtely help these two out? I want them to make the best of it, I really do. Any idea's?
