Can we have an adult re-rider support group?

[KateKat]

[QUOTE=TarheelJD;5958721]

I had a fun, relaxed hack around the pasture Saturday, but Sunday, in the arena, I couldn’t get Tajar to listen to me to save my life. His trainer had to get on him to make him behave, and he was a brat even for her. Sigh. Two steps forward, one step back. Story of my re-rider life. But a bad day with him is better than a day without him.[/QUOTE]

Amen to that!

I had my girl looked at by the vet last week because her lameness was better, but still there. He thought it was her coffins again, so I got them injected. Discussed changing her shoeing a bit, since I do want to focus on fixing the cause rather than just injecting. Partially some very early arthritis, rest the vet feels is preventative stuff.

But I spent the last week and a half riding the horse who gave me the confidence to buy my horse in the first place, and it was definitely a trip down memory lane. What a kind soul who is the complete opposite of my girl in terms of the ride you give him. It took me a better half of the week to get used to him again, so no wonder its taken me over a freaking year to learn how to ride my girl! Shes just so much more complicated and less forgiving of my mistakes. Good for learning, but also not always great for my ammy self confidence. Definitely appreciate the old guy much more now!

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=OneGrayPony;5958050]
Hi everyone!!! I’m back after a wonderful several days at Hunter’s Rest. [/QUOTE]

I just sent an IM to HR about checking it out next year. Hunting is way high on my bucket list…

@TarheelJD;5958721

But a bad day with him is better than a day without him.

Love your sentiment. Agree entirely.:yes:

I feel so bad this evening. Everyone had their teeth floated today, and B’s were the worst…:sigh: Guess his moving around had him falling through the cracks schedule wise. The poor guy must have had an awful time of it chewing… At least now he is on the right path back.

[Rebels_Princess]

Wondering if I qualify as a re-rider…lordy knows I could use the support group. I had to retire my ol’ faithful of a mare last summer. I kept her until she came around sound and then found a lovely trail riding home for her where she has plenty of horsey friends. And I bought myself a very cute 2 yr old OTTB. She is 3 now and will be 4 in March and I just adore her. I just got married in Oct and we are trying to finish building our house and I’m trying to bring along baby too (please note…not pregos here…just refering to my filly. I confuse a lot of people). I must have lost my mind. I haven’t been able to really ride in almost 2 yrs now.

[shelliblue]

Great picture Spacytracy!

Hunter’s Rest sounds like a fun time!!

I had a lesson Sunday and in an effort to fix my gripping leg, I rode without stirrups! And they my trainer took the saddle away too!! Lucky for me the horse I lease is wide more surface area to sit and great to ride bareback! I really want to fix my leg so I rode again tonight without stirrups… I have a feeling I will not be walking so good tomorrow!!

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great week!:winkgrin:

[Hinderella]

Perhaps a special edition of the adult re-rider hunt at Hunter’s Rest will be in the making next year!
OGP is right, there’s nothing like it. I’m usually very timid about my riding in general and jumping in particular, but the horses at HR are so darned perfect that you can stop thinking about what could go wrong, and think about what can go right.
And hunting is such an amazing experience that you actually become someone else for a couple of hours, someone so totally in the moment of riding and hunting that you can stop over-thinking, as so many of us adults do.

[Starda01]

[QUOTE=Hinderella;5960761]
Perhaps a special edition of the adult re-rider hunt at Hunter’s Rest will be in the making next year!
OGP is right, there’s nothing like it. I’m usually very timid about my riding in general and jumping in particular, but the horses at HR are so darned perfect that you can stop thinking about what could go wrong, and think about what can go right.
And hunting is such an amazing experience that you actually become someone else for a couple of hours, someone so totally in the moment of riding and hunting that you can stop over-thinking, as so many of us adults do.[/QUOTE]

I’m in, I’ve read all the threads about it, and I wanna go baaaad!!:yes::yes:

[Pancakes]

Shelliblue, that is what my trainer is going to make me do soon! I’m dreading it but it pays off so much…

I had a fantastic lesson this morning. Dash had a “come to Jesus” lesson with her owner/my trainer yesterday and BOY did it make a difference. It makes me think of what I need to do to become a more effective rider. Dash was very supple both ways today and was MUCH more responsive to my leg and hand. We only did walk/trot, because we were doing well and I wanted to end on a good note. She comes apart more at the canter. She did great today though!! She was getting barn sour, but she’s better now. It’s sad because I’m not supposed to give her peppermints or carrots afterwards though so she doesn’t think there’s anything great waiting for her.

The lesson was needed. I had an AWFUL weekend at work and I was just mentally beat down. Even after only 4 hrs sleep, it’s amazing how much more elevated my outlook and mood was after riding.

I keep wanting to splurge on a pair of Ariat Heritage breeches. They were SO comfortable when I tried them on! I think I’ll get a pair of TuffRiders though, and see how they are, at 1/3 the price. I can’t wait until my new helmet comes and I don’t have to deal with swamp hat! It’s an IRH ATH.

Anyway, I love reading about everyone’s trials and tribulations, for better or worse. I’m sorry for all the health issues. It’s wonderful so many people get to own their own horses though, and all that comes with! Being a re-rider can be hard but just remember that it’s all for the love of horses. They make everything better

[Opus1]

So, last week’s lesson … (I type this as I’m getting ready for bed for tomorrow’s lesson.)

I’ve been riding the same TB in my lessons for the past couple of months. He’s a good guy, very sweet on the ground, does well when I’m on him. But he’s a bit bouncy.

Last week was a little chillier and that particular day had a little bit of wind. I knew it was going to be an interesting lesson when he spooked when I was grooming and tacking him up. A couple times, actually. Get to the ring, free lunge him. Get on. He was good. We had a break and I took a photo of my trainer on the rail with her phone. As I was giving it back, he spooked. BIG. As in, looking at the ground, one rein in my hand, and the whites of his eyes showing. I stayed on. And looked convincing at that.

So, then we were doing some sitting trot, no stirrups. I almost got bounced out of the saddle a couple of times. I’d be good for the first 1/2 lap, but then I’d overthink it, and sure enough, tense up and start to bounce. Then freak a little before getting him to stop. Just a little freak. Like, ‘I am NOT falling off like this!’

I got more into it towards the end of the lesson, thankfully. And I’m sure we’ll be doing more of the same tomorrow morning.

Then at the end of the lesson, I had my legs out of my stirrups, hanging and stretching them. I had them stretched out towards his head, so he looks back, looks at me, then my feet. Seems cool. And spooks big. Again. I stayed on, no problem. (He also spooked, again, in the stall, when I was giving him a treat. Right after I called him a ‘Spooky F–.’)

Leave it to me to nearly bounce off while sitting a trot with no stirrups, but survive two big spooks, no problem.

:le sigh:

[RolyPolyPony]

I’ve been waffling about joining - y’all have been scaring me off with your “I haven’t ridden in 70 years and had my first lesson and jumped 2’6”! and “after not riding for 15 years I started again last years and got an OTTB and retrained him and just finished out first Grand Prix!!” Ok, well, to me, that SOUNDS like what you’ve been doing But I figured I have nothing to lose and have been enjoying reading the posts here, so here I am!

I started riding again about 2 years ago after like 15 years off - the usual stopped when I got to college and then just couldn’t afford it until recently. I’ve had another slight setback over the summer because we moved and my old barn, where I was quite comfortable, became too far away and I had to find a new barn. That took a couple of months, and I swear I lost everything I learned in that brief time off!!

Anyway, I found a new barn that I really love - it’s been a bit hard because I really bonded with one of the lesson horses at my old barn, so leaving him was tough. But the new place has been wonderful, and this month I started a 1/3 lease on one of the schoolies there! I am quite enjoying getting to ride in a lesson and a practice ride every week and am hoping the practice ride will really help with both skills and confidence…the latter especially!

So, hello!

[Dewey]

Welcome, RolyPolyPony! Love that screen name!

[iechris]

Ah… the Wednesday curse strikes again! I have my lesson Wednesday before work and the joke is that in the winter it rains every Wednesday morning. Due to working full time, it is hard for me to make up lessons. Started raining last night and currently there is a tornado warning.

Finally dragged in to a Doc-in-the-Box and I do have a sinus infection. I’ve been feeling sick off and on for a few weeks. Beautiful weekend last weekend, but I was feeling sick (totally stuffed head, sneezing, etc) so I decided to make an adult decision and not go to the barn. Probably won’t get to ride until after Thanksgiving unless my trainer does a lesson next Tuesday.

Sigh… I had just gotten back on a roll again after the last time I had to miss a few weeks. The joys of being a re-rider!

[spacytracy]

RolyPoly, you will NOT find me jumping 2’6" any time soon!!! I can do it on my pony, not so much on my greenie.

I’m learning to canter. Seriously. I need to learn to canter. This whole “green horse” thing - this horse has taught me more than i’ve taught him!

[jaslyn1701]

Welcome RolyPoly! The only time I have ever jumped 2’6" was during a lesson when the horse spooked and we jumped out the ring - and then I fell off.

I was totally over the moon last weekend because the Finnster and I made it over a cavaletti a: without me tensing up rock hard and b: as a result he did not try to race away.

And I too need to learn to canter my horse - just have the visions of us tearing around the ring at Mach 104 and me with a frozen brain…

[shelliblue]

Pancakes - Yes it does work. The true test will be in my lesson this weekend! The bareback (only my second time) was a little scary because I did not want to come off! Part of my issue is in trusting myself! I am glad you lesson was great!! That is always such a good feeling!!

Opus1- I probably would have hit the ground!! I hope you lesson was good today!

RolyPolyPony- Welcome!! The extra rides do really help!! I am only getting ready to canter!! (I hope to be a Dressage rider someday- no jumping for me anytime soon!!)

[Pancakes]

Welcome, RolyPolyPony! I haven’t jumped 2’6" in years, and I’m re-learning everything from the start now, so that is months off at the very least…right now my lessons are walk/trot mostly, some canter, and my trainer will throw in some cavaletti next week (on her horse, not my lease horse). Don’t worry, everyone moves at their own pace on here, whatever that is. We’re all here for the love of riding and celebrating whatever achievements we have, and to support each other through the not-so-great times too!

iechris – get better soon!!

Jaslyn, spacytracy – the canter is more complex now than I remember before, I agree. It seems so much faster and then when you get tense, it’s even worse!

I get to ride tomorrow and Friday since I only can make it out once next week. Hopefully I’ll take some more pictures this week! I can’t express how gorgeous the grounds are where I ride, and how perfect the weather has been.

[Opus1]

[QUOTE=RolyPolyPony;5962735]

So, hello![/QUOTE]

If I took enough valium before and enough vicodin after, I could probably manage 2’6" …

===

Seriously, me and cantering. It was SO much fun when I first started riding. It was my fave gait. Especially when I learned how to sit it, and I could almost separate my hips and back from my shoulders and ride the hell out of it.

Now? My trainer asks me if I want to canter and I just kind of zone out. What, huh? You’re talking to me? Umm, well it’s hot/cold/windy/dry/dusty/wet, I’m tired/not feeling it/sleepy/uncomfortable, my horse is spooky/being a butt/too frisky/too sleepy …

I’m 99.9% sure I could manage it if it just happened. Like the horse just went from trot to canter without me asking for it. It’s just the buildup that kills me. (To be fair, the last horse I rode 12 years ago bolted on me when I asked for a canter. Three times in a row. Emergency dismounts all three times. I’m starting to wonder if that has anything to do with my hesitation now or not, or if it just adds to the mix of being old.)

==

Today’s lesson was much better. No stirrupless sitting trot, but my posting is getting more fluid and the horse and I finally seem to be riding at the same speed. Oh - and no spook! It was even windy with large leaves flying all around us. (I kind of wonder how much of this guy’s spook is truly spook and how much is a way of trying to get out of working. Eh. Maybe he was just having an off week.

[jaslyn1701]

Opus1 - I know exactly how you feel. The times I have played around jumping Finn over a small x and he canters away, it’s soft and I can ride it. But ask me to actually, dare I say it, ask for the canter…

Also like you, canter used to be my favorite gait - except when I lost my cue one time, but my trainer fixed that (lesson: you are to trot and pick up the canter at the light pole. Me: Gulp - shaky ok… As we are going along and the dreaded pole is rapidly approaching, I hear “Canter NOW” - and I did.

Oh for the kid I used to be - no formal lessons, but would jump a horse over who knows how high with no helmet and probably in tennis shoes - and my body knew what to do. Sigh.

[RolyPolyPony]

Hehehhe, yay!! Thanks for the welcome, and the reassurances that you’re not all galloping around jumping 5’

Cantering - oy, I hear that! When I first started back, it took me almost 6 months to agree to canter - of course, once I did I realized it wasn’t as bad as I’d built it up to be…though getting a FORWARD canter? Eeep I was so worried that during the time off between the move and finding a new barn that I’d end up back at square one and be terrified of cantering again, so I was SO pleased that I wasn’t. Of course, cantering over crossrails is still a problem - I’m hoping my new trainer lets us stick to the trotting and then sometimes cantering away that we’ve been doing for a looong time Which she probably will because god knows I currently have NO jumping position! Half-seat on the flat? Totally fine. The minute a jump enters the picture I’m standing in my stirrups practically up at his ears!

But even with all the frustrations of “I SWEAR I used to be able to do this when I was 12!!” it’s so incredibly good to be riding again. No more 15+ year breaks, please!!

[CVPeg]

Welcome RolyPolyPony!

Whew! That was one tough course we just did! (In my dreams…)

Actually, I do have a greenie, but he has some issues, so we are limited to W-T, but lots of it. Vet comes Saturday and we’ll find out if we can do Gait #3 yet. I did have a preview when we were out in the field a couple of weeks ago, and he was full of himself. His canter in place for a couple of strides was lovely so the work/meds/backontrackblanket must be working…hoping it will feel this good in the indoor…my favorite gait, too, Opus.

Jumping may never happen…:no: because of his issues. But it is more fun seeing the improvements rather than needing to ride like a banshee “back in the day”…

The ouchies are the same for all of us, I believe. But there is great advice here. My knees are holding up as we play “find the mounting block” at the end of each ride.

But actually reriding has been worth every ridiculous dollar that’s going in. Haven’t felt this good physically in decades. (Anyone else think the gym is the most boring place on earth?!?) Now that the fitness is improving, the weight is slowly improving as well.

Let alone the comraderie that being with people of like minds creates.:yes:

And putting your nose into a warm soft neck and taking a whiff - no better drug. Glad you have that lease!

Iechris - so glad to hear you caught that sinus infection. I had one for 4 weeks in Sept and was foggy the whole time, until I finally got the antibiotic - had to go to an ER on a Saturday, so another big bite out of the wallet - but it was that, or drive an hour each way and wait for 8 hrs at a clinic. Breathing better now though!

Also, SO happy that, even with a couple of quick bouts of snow, that the weather has been really good for November! Please, please, please I hope it stays like this - snow on Dec 24 - Jan 2, and then melt again, ok?

[TarheelJD]

[QUOTE=CVPeg;5964423]
And putting your nose into a warm soft neck and taking a whiff - no better drug.[/QUOTE]

:yes::yes::yes::yes::yes: