Can we have an adult re-rider support group?

[leonine]

Aww, CVPeg, sorry to hear about the knee. We had one of those a few months ago when Z slid into-and-then-over the pasture fence. I must have gone out to feed about 2 minutes after it happened, because I found him standing on the other side of the broken fence looking absolutely shell-shocked and as though he had no idea how he got there. Here’s hoping B’s clears up quickly! And enjoy that indoor. I’m jealous.

I do miss many things about my younger-rider self: the courage, the willingness to get on any horse, the ability to fall and bounce back up… but my re-rider self is more patient (with the horse, although not necessarily with myself) and understands more. Riding has clicked intellectually for me in ways that it never did before and I understand more clearly what I want from Z and what I’m asking for and why. So I’ll take that as a good thing.

[spacytracy]

Winter is just the worst. I don’t think you’ll find many places that DONT have frozen mud paddocks right now. I hate it but I really dont know how to combat it, besides re-doing my paddock with geotextile, screenings, etc.

Part of the reason I gave Dublin away is because when not ridden, he was starting to act like a total idiot, and with the paddocks either muddy or frozen solid, I was worried he was going to kill himself. My other two are sensible (aka lazy) and don’t run around crazy on that hard ground.

We are having really bizarre weather here. Its warm, then a day later its down to 10 degrees at night. I’m not sure the horses know what to do with their winter coats!!!

[Dewey]

Thanks for posting that, Opus. It’s very encouraging! I have decided to start with the ten-week program from the link I posted earlier; if I can complete it, I will decide what do do long-term. I doubt I will get a personal trainer (that is so not me), but if I cannot stick to the program by myself, I may have to join an exercise class. We’ll see. The ten-week program starts on a weekend with one 30-minute aerobic workout each day complete with recommended warm-up exercises.

I am considering trying to ride my bike to work one day each week starting this coming semester. It’s not that far, but the idea of arriving at work sweaty and of not being able to haul my bulging briefcase back and forth has put me off. But let’s face it: these are excuses. I should be able to plan around them. I don’t use my briefcase every night anyway.

I plan to explore some alternative routes to work on my bike.

[Dewey]

Welcome, PonyPenny! I think you will be glad you went back to riding.

[spacytracy]

If anyone is motivated to do running (outdoor or treadmill) I’ve done this program before and it really does work, if you stick with it.

http://c25k.com/

[spacytracy]

Hey guys - quick opinion. I sold a saddle through consignment for $500. If I take store credit I get the full $500. If I take cash they take 25% = $375.

I don’t know what to do! I don’t shop at stores a lot (I’m an online bargain hunter) and I don’t “need” anything. But the cheap side of me doesn’t want to lose $125.00!!!

Argh.

[Dewey]

Is a 25% commission normal? That seems high to me.

[spacytracy]

I agree, I think its high, but I knew that going in so I can’t really say much now.

[Dewey]

I would be inclined to take the cash, but that’s because I don’t need to make a big purchase. You can look at it that they earned their commission by helping you sell the saddle. You’re not losing $125 because to get the full price from them, you have to give up control of your money, which you could put into a savings account to earn interest or spend shopping for better bargains elsewhere.

[spacytracy]

That’s what I’m leaning towards, otherwise, I feel like I’m going to buy stuff I don’t need just to “use” the gift certificate.

[Opus1]

Yeah, I’d take the cash. By bargain shopping online, you’ll probably end up with the same amount of stuff you’d bought if you took their store credit.

The only way I’d keep it, is if I knew I was about to make a couple bigger purchases where it would be handy to have the credit.

[TarheelJD]

I agree - if you don’t need anything now that you can use the $500 credit on, I’d take the cash.

[elizabuggy]

I think I have introduced myself to some of you and have been lurking for awhile :). I am a re-rider, back to riding for the last 4 months. Rode hunters throughout my childhood until I left for college (16 yr break!). I am obsessed again and so excited to be riding. I am currently doing 1 lesson a week, but am planning to part-lease a horse starting next month (hopefully, if it all works out!). I love reading your stories and can relate to many of you. I have 2 little kids, husband, job, and now added horses back in the mix. Exciting, but scary at the same time to juggle it all!

Had a super awesome lesson on the horse that I may lease this week. She is only 4 and 1/2, but crazily quiet. My trainer started her and rides her several days a week, so she has great habits/start. Little brag—I jumped her 3 ft. Biggest she has jumped yet. It felt amazing. I love how light and quiet she is. I am happy that (as of yet) I am feeling super confident on her. She is a baby, but so much like the horse that I sold right before going to college. He was a super quiet, kind 5 yo. I love the idea of working with a younger horse and growing with them. Maybe it is the mom in me I am still getting my old riding legs back, but excited about the future!

[TarheelJD]

elizabuggy – good for you on the 3 ft! I’d kill to have the confidence to jump 3 ft. again! Post pics of your soon to be leased mare when you get the chance – we love pics!

[Dewey]

Welcome, Elizabuggy! We look forward to hearing all about your progress with the mare. I love the greenies.

[HoosierHorseNut]

so, i had an awesome lesson on the mare yesterday. she’s gotten a good handle on the sliding stops, so we were working on trot and canter pirouettes and lead changes.

a little background: i’ve ridden off and on since i was 11. rode through high school, stopped during college. got married, rode for a while before and after my first kiddo was born. had a bad fall off a horse and messed up my ankle. went back to riding, then got pregnant again. didn’t have time/money until first child was 11. found a barn we love, rode for a year, and bought the mare. she was 7yo, appendix, very downhill, afraid of ground rails. trainer laughed and said, “what the HELL did you get yourself into?” been a work in progress since. march/april of 2010 we had a series of injuries from which i had to rehab the mare. which turned out ok, because we were able to fill in some holes in her training. (by this time i had gotten to be a MUCH better rider. found a nearby barn that had warmbloods to take lessons on. trainer at first barn has no problems with her riders taking lessons at different barns-like clinics)

so now i’ve written a small novel. hehehe

[spacytracy]

That’s awesome Hoosier!

Can I see pics of all your horses? Even if they’re not yours? I think it would be fun to put “faces” to the training.

As for me, my local gym is offering a special and I’m tempted to join. I hate the thought of the gym, but bottom line is, its flipping cold outside, so I’m not doing that, and I am really bad about self-discipline. With a gym, I at least am held accountable ($$) for it. And they have a daycare that my DD really likes. Sigh. I dunno. I really want to get back in shape after the surgery so I’m ready to ride and show this summer, so I think it might be a good choice for me.

[RolyPolyPony]

Wow, elizabuggy!! I had about the same amount of time off and am barely not terrified of jumping crossrails!! Granted, before I stopped riding I was riding an off-the-track QH who was a huge sweetie but a terrifying ride so we barely even cantered, let alone jumped! Go you, brave woman! And we want to see pics of the horse too!!

[Dewey]

SpacyTracy, sounds as though the gym would be a good choice. Just make sure you don’t overdo it after the surgery.

I rode my bike to my office yesterday. I am on break still, but I had some stuff to do there, so I went in. It took me 35 minutes each way. It wasn’t a bad ride, but I had to cross the bypass, which was a bit scary; in addition, I had to wait for quite awhile as there is no traffic signal there. I can take alternative routes but the bypass has to be crossed at some point.

My chain came off the chain wheel twice each way. This has always been an occasional problem, but it is probably just an adjustment that needs to be made. It always happens when I switch from 5th gear to 10th.

I am very stiff today!

[HoosierHorseNut]

[QUOTE=spacytracy;6063146]
That’s awesome Hoosier!

Can I see pics of all your horses? Even if they’re not yours? I think it would be fun to put “faces” to the training.[/QUOTE]

http://www.myspace.com/multiple_ids/blog/386644323

here’s a several year old blog post that i made. you can really see the change in the mare.