Realising a Childhood Dream: Riding and Horses Blog

Group lesson Wednesday 17th December 2025:

I had Dizzy for the first time! She was really lovely - quite like Fern, forward and has a very sensitive mouth. After having had Kris so often, I was needlessly exaggerating my aids, so I need to remember that there's no need to with her! A squeeze suffices!

We worked on rhythm and suppleness with leg yielding and Christmas pole work (trotting poles in the shape of a Christmas tree!) Oh, and as all the farm's horses get tinsel on their browbands during the Christmas and New Year period, very festive indeed!

I got to groom Dizzy, put her bridle on and lead her back to the field.


Hack Wednesday 17th December 2025:

I had Tonto. He was way more energetic than the last time I had time - just a joy to ride! I got to put his bridle on and lead Magic for a minute or two from him when we were crossing the road. I've lead horses and ponies before, but never when mounted! It was kind of fun!


2 hour hack Saturday 27th December 2025:

I was on Beauty. I was the only customer on the ride, so it was the leader, the owner's daughter and a load of the young helpers and I. It was great fun! Two of the younger girls were making up horsey lyrics to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas". I can't remember them now, but things along the lines of "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me twelve ponnniiiiiieeeeessss! On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, two saaaaddles!" Etc. I do remember that a ridiculous number of horse lorries were included (more than they had gifted themselves ponies, even!) and yet no chauffeurs. They're far too young to be driving...! Anyway, it was just so incredibly sweet and made me feel like I had walked right into one of my old pony books, Jill's Gymkhana or something! Beauty was wonderful as always. I really love her. She really lives up to her name and has the kindest eyes which just reflect her whole personality.
 
1.5 hour hack Saturday 3rd January 2026:

I had Beauty again! She's such a dream, but was at a significant disadvantage this time around, as everyone else was on ponies and she was the only horse (she's just over 15hh). There were about 7 patches of ice we had to pass which couldn't be avoided (some about a metre long and covering the whole path) and we did have slips. I did see my life flash before my eyes at one point, but I also knew that Beauty would take the best care of me that she could, and indeed she did. That was the scariest ride I've ever had, though. I'm not sure I would opt to ride in those conditions again, had I known just how bad it was that day. Any more ice and they would certainly have classed it as dangerous and cancelled, but it was already possibly a little bit too much for my liking, especially because Beauty is that bit bigger and heavier.

Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Volunteering Tuesday 13th January 2026:

I started my green card training (training RDA volunteers must complete before they can actually help out with the horses and riders)! Finally! They haven’t had a green card-trained instructor for a long time, and the RDA needs people to do things their way in their training for safety, which meant all I could do was help out with poo picking, fundraising events and occasionally moving the odd trotting pole around before.

We went over the basics: how to approach and lead a horse, tack up, check the girth etc, assist the rider to mount, leading and sidewalking (the leader guides the horse/pony and focuses on it; the sidewalker is meant to completely concentrate on the rider).


2 hour hack Wednesday 14th January 2026:

I had Kris. He was a very good boy, lovely and forward! Like I've said before, you just never quite know what you're going to get with him! It does keep it interesting, haha!


Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Volunteering Tuesday 13th January 2026:

I got to do some sidewalking as part of my green card training! It’s always amazing to see the smiles on the riders’ faces. For the most part, I managed to describe everything in a way the young rider I was helping could follow and they did it, but does anyone have any tips on how to get them to put their thumbs on top? I tried demonstrating with my thumb, but they just weren’t getting it and kept putting it right back under. Think it might be a case of asking if I can physically adjust them.


1.5 hour hack Friday 23rd January 2026:

The weather was pretty horrible on Friday. Very heavy rain at points and quite a strong, bitingly cold wind. My friends cancelled for the lesson, as one of them lived where the weather was even worse (I know, because I had to travel near where she lives, and it was dire - well done, public transport, for even getting me through to the farm, honestly!) After talking to the instructor and getting her opinion, we agreed that I'd do my hack first (just me, as the others on it had all cancelled anyway, so we were flexible) and then see what the weather was doing afterwards, as there was the possibility of joining a lesson with someone else I already knew and got on well with.

I had Kris. The hack was really cold, but still fun! The ice has gone, but, with all the rain, the fields are very wet. We did get two quite nice canters in in the driest fields (still quite wet!) as well, although they occasionally became what I call "tranters" = a couple of strides of trot in between canter strides! Kris was brilliant. He doesn't like wind and did try to walk sideways at times, but was such a good boy! He only had one tiny spook at something, like a sudden shudder, then carried right on. We spotted a deflated helium balloon tangled up in a fence before the ponies did, thankfully, so the leader hopped off Magic, turned her around and I held her while she removed it. Possible disaster averted! The chances of them not spooking at that...nil, really! Even as a human, I can see why it would have been bloomin' terrifying! Magic is very spooky and Kris can be (depends on his mood, it seems - and he sometimes spooks just because one of the others has).


30 minute lesson Friday 23rd January 2026:

Remarkably, the rain went off and the wind died down a bit just as the other customer turned up for his lesson, so I got to join a lesson! It was really nice to see the guy again too, as it had been a long time, so we got to catch up a bit as well.

I had Fern and he had Duke. They're brother and sister and you can tell they love each other, but also that there's a bit of sibling rivalry going on - they tend to race each other in canters on hacks!

We worked on suppleness, straightness, half halts and turning shoulders while keeping the hands even rather than pulling one rein or the other. We had to walk and trot around trotting poles forming a square (turn around the forehand) and then added trotting poles in a straight line as well. I haven't had Fern for a while, let alone for trotting poles, so was a little apprehensive. She did rush a bit at first, but I managed to get her listening to me and it ended up going really well! Just slow that rise and keep breathing, girl! Do NOT tense up those hands on those reins! 😄You have to have very soft hands with Fern and really have to work with her. If you tense up, she'll get more and more excited. If you get heavy-handed (even a little), she'll toss her head like mad and start prancing.

My instructor praised me for applying corrections quickly when I didn't have my hands even, which felt very good! Really good lesson. We've all been missing our lessons, but there weren't any over Christmas (they only really have the one instructor) and the arena has also frozen over several times this winter (I can't remember it doing that once last winter - it's been hard, literally!)
 
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Group lesson Friday 30th January 2026:

It was just the two of us in the lesson. I had Kris. We focused on balance, suppleness and rhythm, starting off with riding on the 3/4 line at walk and trot and then going over curved lines of trotting poles, also at walk and trot.

I managed to get Kris into trot a lot sooner in my warm up than I normally do, which my instructor said was very good, and I’m getting much better at making sure he doesn’t cut corners and keeps going after the end of the poles. However, we just weren’t getting the rhythm quite right when we went over the trotting poles and he hit a few of them. I need to keep working on swapping a long dressage whip from one hand to the other too - it’s just awkward for now, as I haven’t done it for so long and could barely do it in the first place!


1 hour hack Friday 30th January 2026:

It was a Kris day - I had him for my hack, too! It was also a quiet day, probably because the horrible rain, wind and general greyness is ongoing and has been for weeks now. It was just the leader and I for the hack and we had a nice chat. The fields are so muddy and churned up at the moment, though! Mud central! It was a nice ride despite the ground. We mainly stuck to walk and trot and had one short canter, due to the conditions. Oh, and the deflated helium balloon is still caught in the bushes…as long as it doesn’t fly out onto the path again!

Oh, and got another classic photo with Kris. My friend took it, so I didn’t see it until the evening when she sent it to me. Kris, in true Kris style, had stuck his tongue out! 🤣It made me laugh so much!


RDA volunteering Tuesday 3rd February:

I got to help out with sidewalking and leading again, which was great! Still got a lot to learn, but it’s so lovely to get to know the participants’ and ponies’ personalities and see how much they’re all getting out of their lessons. They had put together a bit of an obstacle course on Tuesday with cones with numbers to go around and through. Number 7 was mysteriously missing!

I need to work on remembering when I should be on the inside/outside (it changes when leading depending on whether there’s also a sidewalker or not) and on allowing the right amount of slack when leading (depending on the participant, pony and what they are doing). I need to work on my multitasking too - it’s a lot to lead the pony and/or check the participant’s okay, chat to them if they’re chatty and listen to and help them follow the coach’s instructions!
 
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Group lesson Friday 6th February 2026:

It was just the two of us yet again, sadly - our other friend was meant to join us, but had a migraine and had to cancel. I had Kris and we repeated the exercises I did with Fern on my lesson on Friday 23rd January (walking and trotting around trotting poles forming a square/turn around the forehand and then adding trotting poles in a straight line). Kris was a total superstar and I was a lot more confident, having done the same exercises just a couple of weeks ago! My friend hadn't done it before, so our coach actually had me demonstrate, which felt really good. I still need to concentrate more on maintaining a steady rhythm before the corners, but was generally very proud of my progress after this lesson. I was also praised again for getting Kris into trot quickly during our warm up - too much walking just makes him switch off.


Hack Friday 6th February 2026:

I had Fern. She's generally quite excitable, but this hack was something else! She spent practically the whole hour snorting, whinnying to her friends and brother in the fields and also tossing her head. She's usually vocal for the beginning, then calms down. I struggled to keep her in a sensible walk - it was an almost stationary jog, for the most part! She's very good at trotting/cantering on the spot, as sometimes that's what you have to do with her to make sure she's actually listening and following her rider, as opposed to just blindly following the rest of the herd! It was a horrible day and I think it was due, in great part, to the wind bothering her. The weather's been so consistently awful over the past month or so that the horses and ponies also haven't had the same amount as exercise as they would normally get, as lots of customers have been cancelling and there are almost no fields where we can canter and let them get their energy out at the moment, as all the fields are soaking wet and ridiculously muddy! One is also very full of rabbit-hole sized holes now, sadly, which they have been filling in with stones where possible.

How is everyone else holding up in this horrible weather, if you're from the UK? Are you still managing to get out and ride? Do you have access to an indoor arena?

I'm not sure it's the same all over the UK, but Perth and above have been awful in Scotland, with Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire, Angus and Dundee particularly badly hit. I don't even ride in any of those areas, so I don't know how the horses and riders there must be feeling at this stage!


RDA volunteering Tuesday 10th February 2026:

Yet another very wet and miserable day, but a great one nonetheless! I was so glad to have my Equidry - best birthday present ever, so thanks, Mum! I got to help fill in the details of ponies and riders in "the book" and also got to do a bit of sidewalking again and a lot of leading. I also took a couple of ponies down to the barn and tied them up. I definitely need more practice with quick release knots! I can do it, but then I get so unsure I pull the end to untie it (to make sure it is a quick release knot!) before having to do it all again, but still lacking the confidence. I must have done it at least 8 times today! We typically don't need quick release knots where I ride myself, as they just keep the headcollars on lead ropes attached to the wall which are put on/taken off as appropriate when a horse or pony is being "tied up" or "untied". Oops!

Does anyone here have a little story or something to help me start committing quick release knots to memory? You know, like parents use to teach kids to tie shoelaces, haha? And to judge how much rope to give the horse or pony before tying said quick release knot? I know it needs to be enough for them to eat/drink and move a little/not spook and hurt themselves, but that it also has to be short enough for them not to end up tangled up in it (as it would seem some horses/ponies are rather prone to doing anyway!) I had also forgotten how to leave the reins twisted under the throat lash, so had just tied a knot in them. What do others do with the reins if a horse/pony has to wait around for a while?
 
Oops, have fallen behind again!

Group lesson Friday 13th February 2026:

I had Fern. We worked on walk and trot, using the 3/4 line (instead of going right out to the sides of the arena) and then going over trotting poles. Our instructor had laid out the trotting poles in pairs - A, B, A, B - with the As being in line and then the Bs also being in line. First we had to go over the As, then the Bs, then find a middle point to go over all of them. It was only about the third time I had done trotting poles with Fern and, while she did start to rush occasionally, I am getting so much better at slowing my rise, breathing and keeping the rhythm, which I'm really proud of. I didn't think I'd get her neatly over the poles, especially when we only had a tiny bit of pole to go over in the first two stages of the exercise, but, besides hitting the odd one, we did it!


Hack Friday 13th February 2026:

I had Kris. It wasn't the most enjoyable ride ever for me, as it was just me and a group of kids, a couple of whom were beginners whom I felt obliged to help check on and chivvy along, but it was okay. One of the older ones was quite chatty, and Kris was very good.

I also got to do some grooming, tacking and untacking.


RDA volunteering Tuesday 17th February 2026:

I did some more leading, sidewalking, typing up and untacking. It was really enjoyable, and afterwards I had an early birthday celebration with my volunteer friends at a café. One of them made me a lovely cake, which just made my (early) birthday! Mmm! I got nice cards too. It was the first time I'd got to be at the RDA anywhere near my birthday, so it was really nice to get to have that time with them.

Quick release knots are still stressing me out. Does anyone have any tips? Do you have a little story or something that could help me remember? I know there are a couple of different ways to tie them, even though they are meant to end up looking the same in the end. Am I best to just get a shoe lace or a spare bit of rope and keep practising? Are there any good demonstration videos anyone knows of? Thanks in advance!


Group lesson Friday 20th February 2026:

The first time I've ever got to ride on my birthday, I do believe! I had Duke. I got quite frustrated during the lesson, as did Duke, as the pony in front kept slowing down, meaning that we lost our rhythm and ended up unbalanced, cutting some corners - one really feeds the other with riders and horses, doesn't it? It was my least enjoyable lesson in a while as a result, and I wasn't happy with it.


Hack Friday 20th February 2026:

I had a Duke day - had him for my hack as well. Thankfully, we both got to relax and enjoy the hack! We had a different leader from the past few weeks and it was mainly other adults on the ride, all of whom were very nice, and only one of whom was a beginner. We had the best canters we've had in a long time! Some of the fields had dried up a bit and the holes in one of them have now been filled in. Duke's sister Fern was also on the hack and the two of them always motivate one another! There was one field where Duke was extra specially forward and it was all I could do to stop him going far past his sister, who was leading his ride - good fun for all!


Sadly, I wasn't well last week and the had a dentist appointment when I would normally ride, so ended up having to cancel the alternative day I had booked. Ah well - looking forward to this coming week, anyway! Fingers crossed the weather doesn't continue to be quite this miserable!
 
RDA volunteering Tuesday 3rd March 2026:

The kids went on a wee "nature trek" around the grounds, looking out for their assigned numbers and then identifying the animals that went with them (sheets stuck to trees). The sun was shining and everyone had a lovely time! I did sidewalking for the first two rides, then took one of the ponies who had finished back to the barn and followed the fourth ride to take the sheets down when they had finished with them,


Group lesson Friday 6th March 2026:

I had Kris and we were doing pole work. Our instructor asked us more questions than usually about our warm up - "What's the goal you want to have achieved by the end of this warm up, and how are you going to get there? What are you going to do? - which I thought was really good. My warm ups aren't particularly well thought through yet. I'm still spending half my time trying to work out what the other rides' plans are and how to avoid potential crashes! I don't know how anyone ever survives warm up rings at shows...don't think I could ever do that! Our first activity was TREC-style - we had to navigate our way through a pole-bordered path, focusing on our approach and getaway and using leg yielding to try to readjust as and when necessary. Our second used the same poles, but this time we went over them in a certain order at trot. How does anyone ever remember a whole course? I have frequent "Satnav errors", as we've come to call them! I'd so be disqualified in a competition for going the wrong way! Kris was much supple on the left rein than the right. Some of my approaches were off, but that also improved with time and practice! I still need to work on keeping a steady rhythm, though.

Any tips for training my brain to remember a course (but especially when it's one you don't get any at home preparation for/can't walk first)? We've been told we're probably getting to jump next week...for the first time since November, as the weather's been so bad, so that's quite exciting!


Hack Friday 6th March 2026:

I had a full-on Connemara experience again, getting Herbie for my hack. Kris was having more of a reluctant, ploddy and behind the leg day (although I did get him woken up as the lesson went on); Herbie started off a lot calmer than he sometimes is, with no problems mounting etc., but ending up spooking numerous times on the hack and trying to bolt twice! We did not part company at any point, thankfully. I lost a stirrup for a minute or so, but I kept breathing, circled him and got him listening again each time. We'll call it a win for my confidence! I also bridged my reins in parts - useful skill I only learned last year and had never actually put into practice before now (I don't count a simulator, somehow)!

I also got to groom Dizzy and put her saddle on.
 
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RDA volunteering Tuesday 10th March 2026:

I did a lovely range of things, including sidewalking, leading, taking a pony back to the barn, giving out 'letters' for the riders to post in a post box and helping to clear away the equipment used at the end. Really enjoyed myself! I would happily do something like that in my own lessons! The riders first had to weave through cones (that I have done at walk and trot in my own lessons); then ride through two parallel poles for a straightness check (something else I have done myself); go over poles in a zigzag formation (I've done poles in all sorts of formations now); get a beanbag and then drop it in the correct colour of hoop (never had the chance to do that, though my aim is admittedly rubbish in general); get a 'letter' and post it through a post box (I'd love to try that) and then use the two parallel poles to practise their square halt before returning to the start point. They had a great time! I think horses and ponies really appreciate variety in lessons as well.


Group lesson Friday 13th March 2026:

I had Kris and we were focusing on suppleness and straightness. While we had been meant to be jumping, in the end we stuck to flatwork as it was very windy again and we had another rider join us who is quite a nervous rider and doesn't jump. It was good!

We started off with a warm up involving some three point serpentines in walk and trot on both reins. I think/hope I may finally be getting the hang of serpentines! They always used to confuse the hell out of me. I'm also finding it helpful to think about, in the words of my instructor, 'almost leg yielding' into turns/corners. I definitely need to keep thinking about preparing my turns in advance too, though, particularly at faster gaits (even trot).

The second part of the lesson involved going through three sets of parallel poles (with gaps between each set) to check for straightness. We did this at both walk and trot, then did the first and last in walk and only trotted for the middle set. For the most part, I thought that Kris and I did a pretty good job. My instructor even praised me for riding my turns well, which I don't think she's ever done before - I'm generally being reminded not to cut corners etc.! Kris is a smart Connemara - if there's a shortcut, he will try and find it, including cutting corners! I need to keep working on keeping my inside leg on in corners/turns and making sure I have a good rhythm and energy going before the corners/turns, as well as remembering to prepare in advance. I was also guilty of letting Kris decide when we went into trot once, and was quite rightfully told off for that!

I got to put on Kris' bridle and attempted to put on Tonto's, but Tonto refused to stop eating! Every time I went to put the bit in his mouth, he stretched his head up as high as he could to grab more and more hay. He did NOT want work to get in the way of second breakfast, haha! In the end, my instructor had to come and help me, oops.


Hack Friday 13th March 2026:

Another Connemara day, with Herbie for my hack again! It was a VERY different Herbie I had yesterday compared to Herbie of last week, however! Rather than spooky and bolting, I got the Herbie who really needs you to keep your leg on or he'll go at a snail's pace and have zero rhythm to speak of. He only had the tiniest spook at a wee motorised landmower with no human in sight. He had a good look at it, but that was no reaction at all for him, really - clever boy! He tried giving up on two of the canters 3/4 of the way through - and they were just short ones - but did go back into canter relatively quickly and smoothly when asked. The third was much nicer - I think he prefers that field! They all do, because they know it brings them closer to home and lunch! It's always interesting to see just how different horses/ponies (and humans!) can be from one ride to the next. A few years ago, I hadn't been around equines enough to fully recognise just how different their personalities can be and how they have their moods and preferences just like humans. It's been great to have the time to really get to know the horses and ponies where I've been riding for the past few years - I love them all, and their quirks! - and will miss them all so much when I have to move.
 
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RDA volunteering Tuesday 17th March 2026:

Today was quite different, but really fun! In the first class, I did some sidewalking for a mini trek and then helped the other child clean their pony's feathers (well, one leg's worth, anyway) with the hose, shampoo, water and a brush. In the second, I continued helping riders to wash their ponies'/horses' feathers and also had to do some holding and leading and attempt several quick release knots (fail on that front - I had 3 lovely people try to show me again, but now I'm even more confused than before, as they all have different ways of tying quick release knots!) In the third, I did sidewalking for a lesson in the indoor arena. That rider is almost non-verbal but LOVES trotting and always has the biggest grin on their face before and during a trot! It's lovely to see! I wasn't really needed in the fourth and final lesson today, so ended up having a coffee break with some of the other volunteers.

Such a nice day! The rain even held off! I got to do the weekly crossword with a friend before my RDA volunteering and go for a dog walk with an RDA friend after, which I absolutely loved too.
 
Group lesson Friday 20th March 2026:

I had Kris. He was not really in the mood and was behind the leg a lot! It was only one of my friends and I. After our independent warm ups and a canter on both reins, we did some pole work and light seat practice. We were focusing on the five stages of jumping - approach, take off, in the air, landing, get away - along with rhythm, straightness and suppleness.

As it was the first time since I had jumped since November due to the bad weather we’d been having and I’m still quite new to jumping anyway, I didn’t think it went too badly. I at least managed to keep him in a canter - he has been known to go right back down to a walk when he reckons a jump is beneath him and wants to demonstrate it! I still need to work on confidence when asking for canter (and making sure I don’t tense up and instead remember to give with my hands), rhythm and a clean and organised get away (not letting Kris slow down and cut corners).


Hack Friday 20th March 2026:

I also had Kris for my hack! Knowing Kris, he could have been a lot more into it, but he could also have been a lot less into it. You take what you get and make the best of it sometimes! It was quite a nice hack, on the whole - I just had to work harder than usual with him, especially when it came to keeping him in canter (and ideally pre-empting when he is about to shudder to a walk/halt).


Group lesson Friday 27th March 2026:

I had Kris again! We did much the same as in the previous lesson, but it was good, as we had (in theory, anyway) had some time to reflect and try to improve on the pointers our instructor had given us last time.

We demolished one jump and had one very sticky moment where he got nappy and decided he didn’t want to move at all. My instructor tells me that he responds particularly well to a firm command and changes in tone, so I’ll try that first if it happens again! If anyone is reading this, have you ridden a pony like this? If so, what advice have you been given, and what worked for you and that pony? More bonding time would be ideal, of course, but I had already groomed and petted him before the lesson, and he knows I usually have a treat (carrot or apple) for him as a thank you afterwards.

I’m usually pretty good at just setting a pony up, letting the jumps “come to me” and going into light seat naturally, when I feel Kris take off, but I was all over the place last week, unfortunately. I didn’t get left behind, but I was overthinking going into light seat and not just letting Kris do his thing after setting him up, and he is the kind of pony who generally just needs that.


Hack Friday 27th March 2026:

I got to ride Paddy for the first time ever! Paddy is a 5 year old - the youngest pony I’ve ever ridden. He’s not your average youngster, though. I am under no illusion about not being at the stage where I can ride/stay on and bring on youngsters in general! He had his moments of showing his age, bless - we ended up almost cantering on the spot at one point, as he was not understanding trotting first, and did break into canter for a stride elsewhere where we don’t canter - but he was so chill on the whole and did generally listen well to my aids. Both him and the Connemara the leader was on also did some very fast, uncomfortable trotting at points when they thought the lead horse was getting away (much longer strides than either of them!) but Paddy would always listen and slow down when he felt me slow my rise (after a minute or two, anyway!) He had the tiniest spook ever at a tractor, but didn’t react to anything else at all - impressive! He’s also lovely and comfy!

None of my friends have ridden Paddy yet, including the two who are more experienced than me, so it was a great experience to have!
 
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