Rusty Riders and those lacking confidence

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Rusty Riders and those lacking confidence

This group is for riders lacking confidence or have ridden before, had an accident and can't get back on or have just not had the time and have gotten a little "rusty".

Location: Gweek Riding Center, Telkwa, B.C.
Members: 26
Latest Activity: Jul 1, 2014

Discussion Forum

How do I get the confidence to ride again? 7 Replies

Started by Barbara Chapel. Last reply by Shirley Apr 10, 2010.

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Comment by Kate Green on October 2, 2012 at 10:40am

When I was a teen I did not show, but I had as much fun as I could riding other peoples horses. I would gallop to my hearts content, even tried jumping once. I hope to achieve that skill again someday, weather I show my horses myself or not.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on October 2, 2012 at 8:39am

Ladies, one of the greatest comforts for me in my disability, is the fact that I DID gallop, jump, trail ride, show, etc..  In my youth I actually got out there and RODE MY HORSE, and boy did I have fun!  It is so much better that we have done these things even if we can't do them any more.  Of course I was always horse poor, but at least I rode.

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on October 1, 2012 at 7:01pm

I dealt with the pain by layering Advil every 2-3 hours and getting off after 10 mins.  This worked very well because there were only 2 of us in the class and she could go from one to the other, essentially we got 10-15 mins. private time with her while the other rider practised.  Today I am very stiff and sore and am taking things slow, my horse is also taking things slow so we both can recover.  Now I know I can still ride but with limitations at the moment and I believe it will get better.  No more 6 hour trail rides for a while :-)

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on October 1, 2012 at 6:53pm

My lessons went very well, I felt like I had achieved something really great.  I hadn't been to a reining clinic for 12 years and it was something I really needed to do.  The clinician was great and very perceptive, she is also suffering from pain and  tends to push herself to far in order to carry on.  The great thing is she was able to see where I was making mistakes with my horse, turns out he is a perfect mirror of me and my training a little unfocused at times, knows the stuff but loses his focus once it is done and moves on to something else.  Also, learned that my left hand is a "bully" and corrects too quickly which has made him over sensitive turning to the left, did alot of work balancing that.  We still use a snaffle until we get the hang of the balanced way of riding.

Comment by Kate Green on October 1, 2012 at 5:49pm

My last lesson was a little rough on my body.  I lost my balance 3 or 4 times. Good news is that I didn't fall off and self corrected automatically. Bad news is that I wrenched my left hip again and torqued my lower back badly. Friday was excruciating   I also broke the rubber band on my stirrup.  It has taken me all week to work out the kinks. My lesson was on Thursday last week.  Once my hip was affected it over stressed my knees and ankles.  It was sooo hard to work on my feet all weekend.  I have recovered (mostly) and hope to ride again soon.  It makes me feel better that I can make mistakes and not hit the dirt. It used to be nothing to do that, but takes effort now. I too suffer from the bitterness. It's hard knowing that there are ways that I can no longer move, things I can no longer lift, and I know that there are jobs that I must do for my horses and my home that no one will help me with.  I work a very physical job . I just cant quit. I can never quit and give up completely.  My will and my family's needs just wont allow that.

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on September 29, 2012 at 2:49pm

You ladies are inspiring and like you the guilt and bitterness creeps in.  Guilt because I can't do enough for my horses and bitterness because I remember what it was like to show and keep them in top condition and now I have pain limitations which prevents that. Like you I do what I can, have come to that same conclusion and persevere.  Still facing 3 Xray tests hand, hip, lower back and an ultrasound for a lump and most likely an MRI if they can't find anything the traditional ways, have had blood tests the doc found low iron. All this to happen this Wednesday Oct.3.  Anyway, so far no fear just keepin' on keepin' on.  Today I ride in a reining clinic, just for the fun of it :-)))

Comment by Jackie Cochran on September 29, 2012 at 12:53pm

Yes Marlene, the constant guilt because I could not do better for my horses quite sucked the joy out of my life too.  This is the big reason I decided not to own any more horses after mine died unless I could board them at a good stable, and since I do not have enough money coming in for that I get my lessons at a good stable and I have learned how to enjoy other people's horses.

I am still waiting on my RStor security aid.  I am dreaming of little trail rides, and Mia is also dreaming about little trail rides too.  Last week, when Debbie took a class out to the trail Mia was there at the end of the line, bright eyed and bushy tailed, no tack, no rider.  Debbie had to tell her that she could not come.  I really think Mia can understand English AND that she can "pick me up" mentally, she volunteered for the trail ride AFTER I found out about the RStor security aid and had told Debbie about it (with Mia at the other end of a long pasture.)   I guess she (Mia) is tired of the ring too.  So before I rode her Friday I apologized for not having the RStor yet, so no trail ride, and she took the disappointment gracefully.  I PROMISED her that as soon as I got it we would go out  on the mini trail, I've already arranged it with my son for him to go with us into the woods.

I want to say how much I admire you ladies, keeping going through all the pain, frustration and guilt.  At least now I do not hurt riding so it is much easier for me than it is for all of you.

Comment by Marlene Thoms on September 29, 2012 at 12:27pm

Jackie you are always an inspiration to me to keep going as best I can even when it seems pretty frustrating. The more I do the worse my body feels. The less I do the worse my head feels.

 Cindy, sometimes I could tend toward bitterness, but more often I feel guilt that I am not able to do the best for my horse. Jackie's approach certainly would help that. I do get help now with hoof trimming (though I'd love to be able to do it myself), and caught on that heaving bales is A Bad Idea, and try to find low energy ways to do the water in winter. How to give him turn out without him gettting grass laminits or getting fat. I've kind of got it worked out for now, and he's seems happy and healthy. Just as important, I am not overdoing or taking risks riding where he might spook because if I get injured or keep sending muscles into spasm I can't function and I'm on my own now looking after my animals (and myself). So I don't allow myself guilt, I just do what I can. If I find a young lady who would take Sharif for a spin more often than I do, I'd free lease him part time.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on September 29, 2012 at 9:03am

Yeah, the bitterness can take out what joy is left.

Almost 30 years ago a drunk driver veered across the center line and hit my car head on.  Just like for falling from a horse I went limp right before impact and I escaped with "just" bruising.  This wreck triggered my then undiagnosed MS big time, plus it really messed with a lot of my joints.  I got 6 weeks of physiotherapy three months after the wreck.  The therapy was painful.  In the next 5 years I rode maybe 10-12 times (?), and I tried to get up on one of my horses at least once a year.  No matter how I rode after a few minutes in the saddle I got excrutiating lower back pain, and my exhaustion worsened rapidly.  Several years later I finally got diagnosed with MS.

Personally I just had to accept that my MS was really messing up my body, and that it had really messed up a lot of my physical/neurological systems that are really necessary for good, secure riding.  I DID NOT HAVE ANY CHOICE IN THE MATTER. 

The main side benefit of those horrible 5 years was that it gave my body a chance to heal.  Now that I know about homeopathy I am sure I would have healed quicker and better if my pysician had treated me with those proven therapies, but all I got was some pain medicine, therapy that belonged in a medieval torture room, and a brief discussion on some stretching exercises.

At least I had good health insurance and a relatively understanding work environment.

When I got back to riding I was SOOOOO WEAK physically.  After much thought I realized I needed to ride horses that other people rode, there was NO WAY I could keep a horse fit enough to ride properly plus these horses would have regular hoof care so I would not need to trim their hooves myself.  I needed help, I needed someone to groom and tack up otherwise I'd be too exhausted even before I got in the saddle.  I also needed someone in the middle of the ring for the horse to go to if I lost control over my limbs.  I ride mostly at the walk, and I found out that I am not useless, most horses have "holes" in their training and these holes really show up at the walk.

Bitterness cripples me.  Acceptance and a lot of adaptation keeps me walking on my own two feet. 

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on September 29, 2012 at 1:41am

I wonder, do any of you experience bitterness because you can't do the things you used to regarding riding horses, training, etc.?  I have noticed in myself bitterness just below the surface, I try hard not to let it escape but when I am in real pain it is very difficult.

 

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