Re-riders check in please?

[FlashGordon]

This weekend we had a "heatwave" and temps hit close to 40! The sun was shining and the horses were all feeling good and enjoying the nicer weather.

It left me itching to ride.... but also a bit overwhelmed at the thought. It seems I am forever in this rut of taking time off, having to start over, get fit, work on my position and bad habits, get used to a horse, etc. It has been this way for 7 or 8 years now. It seems as soon as I get myself in order, and get a horse going--whether it is mine, or borrowed-- something changes and it is back to square one.

I try to remind myself that riding is a journey, it is not about achieving anything in particular but instead learning and growing and enjoying the horses along the way. But I've literally been at the very same point for way too many years now, and it is starting to get frustrating. It isn't like I have any major aspirations-- just ride for 20-30 minutes, 3-4x a week, hit a few local shows and clinics each summer.

And I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed rehabbing my current horse... at some point, he and I should be able to get out there and do some riding. But the thought of getting us both riding fit right now is sort of daunting, and I am not sure how much he will really be up to. Which is totally fine, I am just glad he is alive! ;)

Have any of you guys been in this position, and how did you break out of it?

I'm worried that I'm on the verge of shelving riding altogether for awhile.

[VAHorseGurl]

I was unable to spend Saturday with Pete, but did spent time with him on Sunday. It was nice, while we didn't ride, we spent quality time grooming and talking to each other.

With all his hair, I'm not finding his 'bumps and scraps' quit as easily, so I went over him very well with my hands and did uncover a rather new scrap between his point of hip and flank. So, I cleaned it well and then dressed with the purples stuff. LOL

Painted Pete the folks about the barn called him till he established himself in the herd. Not sure whether to laugh to cry about this. :confused:

I'm looking forward to riding at least 1 day this week, now that the sun is staying out a bit longer (6PM here) and I can get to the barn by 5. LOL

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

It seems I am forever in this rut of taking time off, having to start over, get fit, work on my position and bad habits, get used to a horse, etc. It has been this way for 7 or 8 years now. It seems as soon as I get myself in order, and get a horse going--whether it is mine, or borrowed-- something changes and it is back to square one.

:yes: That's been me, all right, since I started riding as an adult ten years ago.

My plan for breaking out of this cycle is taking one thing at a time. I found an instructor I like and I'm taking weekly lessons. I'm working out every day to stay in shape. I'm just going to focus on getting my chops back right now. I'll worry about bringing the little paint horse back into work later.

But I see how this cycle happens. I've cancelled lessons for the past two weeks in a row. For really good work-related reasons, but you know what? I'm not cancelling another one until somebody in a black robe with contempt powers orders me to. That's my new resolution.:yes:

[onthebit]

Flash I've been in that cycle as well for several years now. I don't even look at old pictures or video of me riding and showing, it is way too depressing. And now I am back in the saddle on two super green 4 year olds!! Of course when I bred them I didn't realize I would be training them after so many years of mostly not riding but that is how life worked out.

I too try to now look at my riding and horse time as a journey and something to be enjoyed, even if the circumstances, my progress (or lack thereof) etc. are not what I had originally thought they would be. I'm getting better at it and enjoying the tiny breakthroughs, and sometimes the big breakthroughs, that the greenies and I have made.

I wish I could tell you how to break the cycle as I can't officially say I've broken it myself!

[FlashGordon]

Hey thanks guys. Knowing I am not alone in this makes me feel a bit better. Perhaps this IS just the life of an adult re-rider?!? The stop-start over and over?

Most days I am ok with it. I swear. But dunno... I guess thinking about trying to get back into the riding game, as much as I want to do it, has got me in a bit of a funk! Sometimes it is hard to take each day as it comes. Maybe I need to work on that. ;)

OTB I am glad you are enjoying your babies!! They are so darn cute. And p'Aint congrats on finding a good instructor, they can be hard to come by.

VA when is your little mare coming? Hope she works out for you she looked sweet.

[Catersun]

Hey flash...

I don't know if I count as a re-rider or not... but i'll add my two sense in anyways...

How do you and mr. windsor feel about driving?? or at least ground driving? I know it's not the same as riding, but it may be a good alternative to get Mr. W stonger and prepared for riding while giving you a chance to grow your horsey skills. That is unless you already drive.

I'm hoping that if I ever have time again.... to get the old guy fit by ground driving for a while before I reintroduce riding (and hopefully I'll be a few pounds lighter again) and Mir.. well I bought her a nice comfy fleeceworks pad so she is goin to have to tough it out and carry my keester around. I'm SURE she'll survive lol

I'm thinking it would be fun to go tool around a course or two at huntjumpSC's shows hoping that they have them this summer.

[cranky]

I rode on Sunday on one of the first free rides that I've done in weeks. It's been so, so cold here that I haven't been able to drag myself down to the barn on these bitter cold days or nights, unless I had a lesson scheduled. But with the break in the cold on Sunday, I hustled myself down there yesterday afternoon. It was actually very pleasant. The very first person who I got to know at the barn was also ridng and there was no one else at all around. So we enjoyed a very nice ride in the ring together. Each doing our own thing, but also having a conversation the entire time. It was rather lovely.

I have been losing weight since last March. I had lost about 50 lbs by the time I started re-riding back in September. Right around that same time my weight-loss seemed to come to a complete halt. I kind of relaxed my efforts for November & December (didn't stop working on it, just didn't work as hard) and have recommitted as of the start of January this year. Well, the scale is not cooperating at all. I have been running 3-4 times a week, 2 personal training sessions a week, eat Jenny Craig for breakfast & dinner, ride 2x a week (supposed to be 4, but there is that frigid cold thing). I am just so frustrated. I thought that I had lost all of one pound in January, only to be up .6 of a pound again this morning. I'm completely demoralized about it.

The reason I bring this up is because riding is giving me that added incentive to lose weight and get into shape. I'm looking at it now more from the perspective of training for my sport, being fit for my sport, being an optimal weight for my sport, rather than that I want to be a size six or whatever. Mentally this is helping me, but I am unbelievably frustrated to the point where I am actually starting to be really depressed about it all. How can I consider myself an "athlete" when I'm still at least 40 lbs overweight? ARGH!

Anyway, so the riding is going very well. The cross-training (running and strength training) is going relatively well. But I'm not having the result that I want.

I guess I'm just venting a little bit. On a good note: this is a jumping week at my barn so ... yay!

[SarahandSam]

I need my lessons. I worry that if I didn't have lessons I would stop riding altogether. For a stretch this fall when I was instructorless, it was just impossible for me to find motivation--I didn't have anything immediate I was working toward, I was scared I'd screw my horse up, I had other things to do, I didn't have a car to get to the barn that often...

Now that I'm back in weekly lessons, I have the motivation of trying to look like I'm improving. (: I hate looking like an idiot or feeling like an idiot, and so I work really hard at my lessons so that I can feel each week like I'm a little bit better, and so I can go ride Sam and feel like I'm not making him regress. I want to get up to a weekly lesson on a schoolie and a weekly lesson on Sam now as soon as the weather breaks a bit. For me, having an instructor to hold me accountable when I slack off is the best way to keep me focused.

Seriously though, you can come ride Sam sometime. (:

[Trevelyan96]

Flash, I am exactly where you are and can so sympathize! Just when Trav and I get it together and all seems to be going well, we get hit with something that tables the riding. Injury, weather, now injury again. Our high point in the last 9 years was doing an Intro Test A in January and keeping the trot. Now he's hurt again, and when he finally is able to be ridden we will be back to walk rehab for months.

Rico is perpetually green and cold backed at 8 years old, and I am perpetually unbalanced, so there's no getting on him for me, and trainer has been MIA for the last 3 weeks. DH nags constantly that I should be able to ride him, and trying to explain that having me bounce off his back at this stage in his training/rehab would set us back even further is like speaking Russian to someone who only speaks Spanish.:mad:

I guess I'd be a lot less frustrated if I didn't have to deal with anyone's expectations but my own!

But hang in there. Sooner or later spring will come, there will be more time to ride just before the summer heat sets in. (Where's the "irony" icon when you need it.) It IS a journey, and I guess we have to be content at this time in our lives to sow the seeds and wait for the harvest.

[Trevelyan96]

I\I have been losing weight since last March. I had lost about 50 lbs by the time I started re-riding back in September. Right around that same time my weight-loss seemed to come to a complete halt. I kind of relaxed my efforts for November & December (didn't stop working on it, just didn't work as hard) and have recommitted as of the start of January this year. Well, the scale is not cooperating at all. I have been running 3-4 times a week, 2 personal training sessions a week, eat Jenny Craig for breakfast & dinner, ride 2x a week (supposed to be 4, but there is that frigid cold thing). I am just so frustrated. I thought that I had lost all of one pound in January, only to be up .6 of a pound again this morning. I'm completely demoralized about it.



Hey Cranky... don't get too hung up on that number on the scale. It sounds like you're building muscle in place of fat, which weighs more, so the numbers may not be going down, but I'll bet you're still looking and feeling better!

[Minerva Louise]

I'm right there with you; feel like I am smashing my head endlessly against a wall. I skipped today but promised I'd show up at the barn tomorrow. Some progress would be nice... I've lost the weight I needed to lose and I hit plateaus there too but nothing like the frustration level I have with this horse. I guess I should be at least glad he is a sound thing. We've not had any injury things sideline us. I think he stays sound by refusing to work hard enough to create an injury however...

[GettingBack]

Oh SO glad to hear all of this - it makes me feel so much better.

This weekend I tried a new horse - one that is supposed to be my "getting back" horse. No more greenies, no more sillies, no more - just picking up a lovely older gent who doesn't know a whole lot about bending or anything fancy-pants like that, but is totally solid, sane and has foxhunted for the past season (and is quiet for that).

He is 11, I'm 32, and neither one of us needs to hurry up and do anything. So we'll be doing the on again off again thing, I'm sure.

[FlashGordon]

Well I had debated starting this thread but I am glad I did. :)

Cater, I was actually thinking about learning to drive. Win is pretty sane and confident and I think he'd be the type that could do it. A few folks at the barn drive, and there are a couple horses that are proper driving horses, so I wondered about perhaps trying to learn. Have you had a chance to get back in the saddle yet?

Sarah I am seriously going to take you up on that sometime. Sam is such a cutie I love him. I want to come see Tom's place anyway.

GettingBack, I know just what you mean about a nice older gent... I hope that horse works out for you, he sounds like a nice boy!

Thanks to all for sharing your support. I figure hey there are enough of us lurking around here on COTH, might as well trade some stories...

[Linny]

I jumped on Sunday for the first time in about 18 mos. It was my first ride on the horse, a schoolie owned by trainer at barn where Ti is boarded. Horse and trainer were kind. Keeping it easy and low key. My goal is to be bored by the jumps and begging for them to be raised!

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

Cater, I was actually thinking about learning to drive. Win is pretty sane and confident and I think he'd be the type that could do it. A few folks at the barn drive, and there are a couple horses that are proper driving horses, so I wondered about perhaps trying to learn. Have you had a chance to get back in the saddle yet?

I bet you would loff driving.:yes: I haven't done very much of it - no instructors in my area - but I took a few lessons my last visit to the mountains. Fun fun fun.

Jackie - I'd love to ground-drive mine, too - but I've never done it. Do you already know how? I bet my really quiet old fellow and I could do it if we had someone to help us.:)

[Sdhaurmsmom]

Oh, am I in this position right now.
Seems like something's always interfering with progress. Horse gets upper respiratory ills. Arena is destroyed by wind. I get sick. Winter arrives, with no lights and no indoor. When the weather is good during the day, and the sun is shining, I'm trapped in my office (well, it IS how I pay for the horse.)

IT's a hell of a lot easier to keep up a schedule if you have a lit, indoor arena to ride in. It's a hell of a lot easier to be a year-round rider....in some other place but the midwest. I am kind of down about this lately. Our arena is rebuilt now, but the footing won't be completed until spring because they say they have to soak and dry out the lime screenings base 3x before putting the footing down; and of course, it's freezing. There probably will not be 5 days in a row that aren't freezing, for months and months....(banging head on wall icon here.)

[GettingBack]

Had a lovely lesson on a schoolie today. Surprisingly enough...no nerves! I got on, no fast heartbeat - no panic - even laughed as I fiddled with my stirrups and the horse stepped off a little. W/T/C both ways and even a canter circle. Was it pretty? Absolutely not - but I wanted to jump at the end of the lesson, but since we were done I didn't want to push it.

*I'm BACK!*

[Catersun]

Well I had debated starting this thread but I am glad I did. :)

Cater, I was actually thinking about learning to drive. Win is pretty sane and confident and I think he'd be the type that could do it. A few folks at the barn drive, and there are a couple horses that are proper driving horses, so I wondered about perhaps trying to learn. Have you had a chance to get back in the saddle yet?


Thanks to all for sharing your support. I figure hey there are enough of us lurking around here on COTH, might as well trade some stories...

I have!!! Twice!!! lol. I've been taking lessons when I can squeeze one in with the same trainer paintmisbehavin is. I'm hoping to ride the large red one tomarrow if the weather holds out and the wee children can be content with daddy. I'm dieing to try out the new fleeceworks half pad I bought her. The lessons have been good. I'm doing LOTs of strengthing exersices off the horse as I have a lovely position when I am standing still, but lack the suffcient muscle strenght to hold that position while in motion... But it's getting MUCH better. So It's going good so far.

Mr. C is a pretty experienced driver, and I learned to drive before we started dating. I don't have a cart, but I ground drive my oldster when I get a wild hair. Someday we would love to own a draft pair and taking the family carriage driving. Or more likely we'll be taking our grandkids. I highly reccomend learning to drive. It is amazing how the independant hands can carry over to riding.

I have more to share.. but have been crazy busy and I need to get over to the barn and feed.

[ClaraLuisa]

I'm glad to see this thread (although not sure I'm a re-rider--started this madness when I was 48.)
I almost cried on Monday when I couldn't get out of work to ride--knowing the rest of the week would be cold and snowy, with lessons cancelled and almost no-one at the barn at night. My horses are both the type that need steady work or they are spookasaurs in winter, especially with the ice coming off the roof (as it seems to do steadily while I'm in the indoor.) And I am a total wimp. I do not like spooking around the arena alone at night--it's tough enough with some company to provide moral support, and/or with SUNSHINE.
What my riding will be like by the spring, I almost don't want to know. My "goals" are pretty much down the tube right now. Show in April? Yeah, right.
Fortunately, once I do get to the barn I generally forget to be miserable. The horses are still there, rather happy to be loafing, and very content with grooming, treats and an old-lady exercise ride (that is to say, short, bundled-up, and mostly W-T!)
Thanks for the virtual company, it helps to know how other folks are dealing.

[FlashGordon]

Cater I am so glad you are back in the saddle! I am sure you need the downtime too, with two little kiddos. The riding/horse time has to be a much needed break!

What you said about driving and independent hands is kind of interesting and something I had not thought of, but could definitely benefit from.

To those of you guys jumping, hooray! I'm impressed. I don't trust my eye when I am not jumping regularly, so I've just refrained from doing it bar a few times with Dan last summer (in which, I just hung on, he did the rest! ;) )

Hopefully spring will arrive and some of you guys will get more opportunity to ride.

[MSP]

Riding lessons! I started back taking riding lessons in preparation of my youngster. Now that I have her to ride when ever I want some times weather and schedule can get in the way so I still have my lesson every week.

It keeps me riding! It doesn't hurt that you can ride year round here also!

[equineartworks]

I haven't had a lesson since before the holidays...I am such a slug...

I think I have used every excuse known to man since then. It's been literally a high a 10 degrees every day or it has snowed, iced or otherwise crapped from the skies and with my MS, being out in the cold just does bad freaky things. I know, I know...I CAN ride. I shouldn't make excuses. It is the best thing in the world for my confidence, strength everything. But I just keep putting it off.

I'm just blah...blah, blah, blah.

[GettingBack]

I not only cantered in my lesson last night and today...but I jumped! For the first time since my last accident!

It was pathetic, yes, they were itty bitty crossrails...maybe ~18" max...but I jumped! Getting better all the time. The lessons help keep me motivated for sure - I would feel badly about cancelling on the trainer....

[mswillie]

I joined tonight just so I could say thanks, now I know I'm not alone. Career change, kid in college, me going back to college, another career change and all the sudden 8 or 9 years have flown by without horses.

By sheer dumb luck I recently started riding again. I'm 49, out of shape, and I don't bounce like I used to. But the horse is kind, if green, I have an indoor available to use, and spring really will be here before we know it. In fact next week on the east coast looks like a veritable heat wave is coming.

I'm getting out, getting some (much needed) exercise, and making new friends.

I'm off now to visit the "womanly sized" rider forum. Nothing fits anymore. :sadsmile:

[Linny]

Great job all of you re-riders!

Welcome mswillie. This is a great board for support for re-riders and people who fit the category "the rest of us!"

This is a tough time of year for those of us in cold climate. I applaud all of the re-riders that stick it out all winter. There are so many times when it's so cold, I contemplate taking a pass on riding. I usually overcome it and ride, but some days are a struggle!

[crzychestnutrider]

As a 40 something re-rider I live for my lessons! They keep me motivated. After my nasty fall this summer and the ensuing 8 weeks in a cast, I feel like a beginner again:no: My biggest problem is the "fall" has taken over everything I do! But I had a breakthrough a couple of lessons ago and jumped a fair bit higher than the dinky crossrails I've only managed to get up the nerve to do. I HATE being chicken! The good news is I've been offered an amazing opportunity with a totally free ride! Now I'll have no excuse for not having the legs for the shows! I just spent the last 2 hours freezing my a** off getting to know her(a grooming session made in heaven). Probably won't hop on her for about a month, she needs some groceries on board first.
I can't wait for spring and I swear the first one who complaines about the heat is getting a road apple to the head!

[MissIndependence]

Well, I am the obsessive re rider. I not only came back but with more drive and obsessive desire to compete than I did as a junior. Apparently 25 years of not sitting on a horse was more driving then I had thought. I know it took me a good year back to feel like I had any strength, position or eye. Most people won't ever want to show or ride the way I do now....but I think the problems are the same for adults who juggle jobs, kids and other responsibilities. I guess take it one step at a time. Don't get down on yourself and remember that you ultimately do this because you love horses and being around them. You can only do your best. Some people simply cannot rearrange their lives to ride all the time....so be realistic about what you can handle. I have an angel of a husband and son - both of whom have willingly made A LOT of sacrafices to give me the time and space to ride. My husband helps take our son to school in the mornings 4 days a week so I can go ride my horses in the morning before work. I am sitting at a horseshow for 2 weeks running my business out of a camper (ha) while my husband and son hold down the fort. When I get back we will take a weekend and do something around my son's interests to give him some special time. Just do your best to have fun and not make riding yet another pressure in your life. For me, it is the ONLY place I am not stressed out and therefor it has become again an enormous importance to me. It took me 25 years of working to find a way to afford it.....but I came back appreciating the little things in a way I had never imagined. Good luck!!! It will work out :)

[cranky]

Great job all of you re-riders!

Welcome mswillie. This is a great board for support for re-riders and people who fit the category "the rest of us!"

This is a tough time of year for those of us in cold climate. I applaud all of the re-riders that stick it out all winter. There are so many times when it's so cold, I contemplate taking a pass on riding. I usually overcome it and ride, but some days are a struggle!

This is why I signed up for two riding lessons a week for a while. It's really helping to motivate me to ride during these cold, cold days. Without these scheduled lessons, I probably wouldn't be riding half as much.

This is a jumping week for us (we alternate weeks, jumping with dressage/flat) and I'm having a blast. We've been doing some gymnastic work and also my trainers have started to raise my jumps a little bit too. I think I'm finally making some progress, so I'm actually a little excited about my riding now.

[Catersun]

Flash- THere are MANY styles of driving. Primarily what I learned the basics of (if that)was achenbach (sp) My teacher's teacher(John) who set me up with my teacher(Susan) is/was an old style carriage driver. I haven't been able to keep up with Susan and I haven't seen John since he moved his business(he does leather work now and builds western saddles), IE it's been years since I"ve seen either of them (pre husband and first wee child) Driving is an expensive habit is the only downside to it in my opinion. Hence why Mr. C and I will be driving our GRAND kids around.

My lessons have been really enjoyable. THey are a good treat. I had planned to ride today... I nixed that idea though when I woke up to snow on the ground. :-P Freak'n BRRRR. But bewteen work, the house, the kids, the busband, adn the animals... well... there just isn't enough time to get everything done that I want to do. Oh well... the baby is only a baby for a very little while and I'm throughly enjoying having someone to snuggle with. :-) Soon enough we will all be heading out to the barn to ride together.

Mom dad and sis all love horses... if we have to, we'll guilt the little boy into riding with us ;-)

[Transplant]

Another re-rider here! I just started back after a good 20 years away. I'm a lot more out of shape than I was then so its going to be a slow progress.

Its been deathly cold but I'm super committed, one week I took lessons at 3 different schools because the original school's outdoor ring was iced over. Now I'm down to two lessons a week.

I love it but its sometimes frustrating because I used to be able to jump and now I can't even hold a good canter. It will come, I tell myself. :)

[paohatch]

I wanted to get into driving when as a re-rider at age 40, I met this 90 yr old at a Christmas party who told me she got into driving more often after having a bad fall during a foxhunt. That fall occured when she was 75 yrs old. :eek: I thought.. heck! I may not be able to ride at 75 but I could drive perhaps :-) :winkgrin:

[GettingBack]

That is a very cool story paohatch - I want to be hunting at 75!!!

[LSM1212]

Checking in.

With all the crappy weather we've had lately (below zero temps so indoor was frozen... and yes, I know... I'm lucky to have an indoor at all but doesn't do me any good if it's frozen) and then the snow/ice storm that knocked power out for a week, I haven't been riding lately. :(

But will start back up tomorrow. For me, what sucks, is if I take even a week or so break. I'm back to square one.

I've only been able to take 3 lessons since the first of December where I normally take them weekly. Between the holidays, frozen indoor, bad weather, and trainer traveling a little bit... it's just not been possible.

And I agree... Lessons are what keep me motivated and give me something to work on during the week until the next lesson.

All the goals I had for this winter to work on? Welp, haven't even really started. *sigh*

But warmer weather is on it's way... even if only for a short time. So this will give me the kick in the pants I need. :D

[equineartworks]

But will start back up tomorrow. For me, what sucks, is if I take even a week or so break. I'm back to square one.



That's how I am too...and why I get so down. I really NEED to get my butt in gear.

Seeing my DD walking around breaking in her new Ariat field boots (half price at VTO! Think Heritage II's for the same price as PLEATHER!) motivates me because she passed her hand me downs to me. I finally have REAL boots! (of course I have to take them to the shoe guy and have zippers put in and a little more cough, cough elastic)

[Rienzi]

Old goal: to look beautiful on the horse. New goal: to stay on the horse
Old goal: lovely 20m circle posting trot. New goal: to post for 20 meters in ANY direction without looking like a frightened goose tied to the saddle.
Old goal: cantering smoothly on the lead that I asked for. New goal: cantering. Eventually.

I have one lesson a week and the trainer rides 2x per week. One time to make progress and the other to fix my horse from my riding!

Very frustrating. And some times I just don't feel like riding. In fact, those days, the thought of going to the barn makes me depressed. So I tell myself, you know, you don't have to ride if you don't feel like it. Just go to the barn and spend some time with your horse. And about half the time I'll feel better when I'm there and go for a ride. I've gotten so now that I don't beat myself up over the other half.

Well, hell's bells. Who am I trying to impress anyway?

[Vesper Sparrow]

I took 35 years off and started riding again at 51 (I'm 54 now) so I don't know if I can claim to be a re-rider, since the interval was so long...

Boy, do I know that back to square one feeling. If it isn't physical issues (when my back bothers me, I have to stop lunge lessons and my attempts to learn to jump), it's confidence issues. I can lose confidence over the most inane things, like cantering a horse that my friend fell off of and broke her arm while cantering. Even though I have a much stronger seat than my friend. One week I'll feel great jumping 18" and the next week, it looks huge to me and I don't want to go over anything more than poles on the ground.

And sometimes, I think I'm just losing it altogether. :eek::eek::eek: Over Christmas, I got a new dressage saddle with a big flap. The first couple of times I tried mounting with the new saddle, I got myself all twisted up trying to get over that flap and I fell off, sort of, onto the mounting block. Then I transferred my klutziness onto my old saddle, which I have never had problems with. I just couldn't remember how to mount. I think I've finally gotten it again, but it's taken over a month.

It's frustrating feeling like you've taken 10 steps backward. I can't imagine how frustrating it is to my trainer...

Anyway, what I'm working on when it is warm enough to ride is being comfortable with a really forward canter. I can do it on the left lead but not on the ride lead. I have to say that my trainer has the patience of Job.

[Quin]

Checking back in too. It's weird how the confidence thing comes and goes, isn't it?

I've been re-riding for about 5 years now. For the first couple of years I absolutely lived from lesson to lesson. I still try to lesson once a week, but because I can ride our own at home, the impetus has not been as great. And then the weather is off, or the ground is bad, or the horse seems a little off, or some such excuse, and pretty soon I've not ridden for a week again.

A bit discouraged lately because I did want to start showing again. I lost most of last year when my horse had a medical problem. He's fully recovered, but we had just started doing single fences again at the time of the first show on our local circuit in December, so we decided to skip it - he wasn't legged up to do full courses, even for the wimpy 2' "fences" I do, so I told myself we'd wait for the January show. In January, of course, we cancelled at the last minute due to the really rotten weather. Keeping my fingers crossed for this month!

[Skeezix]

Lessons were what I really enjoyed too. I rode in a group lesson with the kids and loved it. They enjoyed it because who knew what was ever going to come out of my mouth!

One of the funniest comments came as I was entering the ring one night for my lesson. One of the group's younger sister (4) was talking to her little friend, telling her who each of us was. As I rode by, I heard her whisper "and that's the old lady" My coach was holding the arena door and was horrified. I thought it was the funniest thing and got the biggest laugh. One thing about being a rerider . . . we can really laugh at ourselves and then just a keep on going!

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

Old goal: lovely 20m circle posting trot. New goal: to post for 20 meters in ANY direction without looking like a frightened goose tied to the saddle.


:lol: I'm glad I'd put the coffee down before I read this.:lol: I'm presently in the process of *cough* rediscovering my posting trot. Thanks for the image.:winkgrin:

[LSM1212]

Old goal: to look beautiful on the horse. New goal: to stay on the horse
Old goal: lovely 20m circle posting trot. New goal: to post for 20 meters in ANY direction without looking like a frightened goose tied to the saddle.
Old goal: cantering smoothly on the lead that I asked for. New goal: cantering. Eventually.

I have one lesson a week and the trainer rides 2x per week. One time to make progress and the other to fix my horse from my riding!

Very frustrating. And some times I just don't feel like riding. In fact, those days, the thought of going to the barn makes me depressed. So I tell myself, you know, you don't have to ride if you don't feel like it. Just go to the barn and spend some time with your horse. And about half the time I'll feel better when I'm there and go for a ride. I've gotten so now that I don't beat myself up over the other half.

Well, hell's bells. Who am I trying to impress anyway?

Now that was funny.... I don't care who you are. You sound just like me.

I'm doing this for fun, right? It's a good day if I end my ride w/ a leg on either side of my horse. :D

[ReSomething]

I dunno. It was very lowering when I first started re-riding. Hands, still there, check, walk, check, posting trot, check, canter, not so much. Been going on four years now and I still have canter issues. An awful lot of it is lack of confidence in my position. Which is dumb. And then I go through the pesky work and family related issues, no time, out of shape, not enough money. I do manage to keep riding through the winter pretty much. Last year the power went out for three days at the ol apartment and I never had so much motivation to get out to the barn as 20 degree temps in the house. No lolly gagging by the heater not wanting to get out to the cold barn then!
I still want to jump, it has been very frustrating to get OK at it and then seemingly lose that OK, but hey, I'm in it to have fun, try something new every once in a while. Life is too short to torment myself with all the what-if's. When the weather gets nice this Spring and I go visit my parents I'll treat myself to a really nice trailride at the park. Spring air, creak of leather, smell of horse, ummm.

[FlashGordon]

I dunno. It was very lowering when I first started re-riding. Hands, still there, check, walk, check, posting trot, check, canter, not so much. Been going on four years now and I still have canter issues. An awful lot of it is lack of confidence in my position. Which is dumb. And then I go through the pesky work and family related issues, no time, out of shape, not enough money. I do manage to keep riding through the winter pretty much. Last year the power went out for three days at the ol apartment and I never had so much motivation to get out to the barn as 20 degree temps in the house. No lolly gagging by the heater not wanting to get out to the cold barn then!
I still want to jump, it has been very frustrating to get OK at it and then seemingly lose that OK, but hey, I'm in it to have fun, try something new every once in a while. Life is too short to torment myself with all the what-if's. When the weather gets nice this Spring and I go visit my parents I'll treat myself to a really nice trailride at the park. Spring air, creak of leather, smell of horse, ummm.

Oh yeah my canter work sucks too. My core is very weak at the moment and I tend to collapse when I get tired at the canter.

Luckily Dan was highly accepting and just carried on as he was meant to, unfortunately not all horses are quite so forgiving... especially the green/rusty/unfit/goofy I seem to always be riding. I collapse and they go whaaaaaat and start diving, racing, or losing momentum. SIGH.

I can deal with any trot on the planet, but I'd kill for a really decent, balanced, metronome canter... where I can just sit there and look pretty. :)

I think I need to do some yoga, or something.... or western pleasure?!?

[Rienzi]

I have found that hula-hooping has really strengthened my core. (I was hoping to learn to hula hoop. Ain't happenin. But it is good for my core, even if i have to pick the dang thing up 100 times in 15 minutes becuase I can only get it to around 7 times at a time.)