A breastplate is a wonderful device. I find it easier to grab onto than a bucking strap and more reliable than grabbing mane. When I get panicky and want to resort to my hands, I grab the breastplate instead.
And I wear a body protector at all times on the trail.
I’m so happy to have found this thread….
I’m a re-rider as well. I took lessons as a teen then it got too expensive for my parents so I stopped until college when I took a few more lessons. The lessons were group based and went very quickly, I had one very bad lesson where the horse went a bit sideways going over and jump, I lost my balance and actually ended up hanging on partway under the horse and the instructor was NOT HAPPY with me (apparently because I lost my balance) and I never went back. The combination of embarrassment from falling, anger at the instructor and sheer pain trumped the enjoyment of riding.
Shortly thereafter my fibromyalgia resurfaced and I found myself in a black hole of pain and depression that enveloped me for a couple of years.
Eventually I reemerged and focused on my career, then marriage and kids. I purchased a few horses as broodmares and pasture jewelry because I still loved them but was still afraid to ride. Finally last year I purchased a 10 yr old “grade” TB gelding who was supposed to be an old ranch horse and seemed to have a kind soul. He did have a kind soul on the ground, however he seemed very green and defiant in the saddle—refusing to step over shadows or walk down hills, rapid backing when asked to do something he didn’t want to do, pinning his ears and thinking of bolting when I asked him to JUST WALK —and I knew he was too much horse for me so I hooked him up with a trainer to “re-school him” and found a hunter looking for a new mount to lease him. Come to find out (through a lip tattoo that I had never looked for thinking he was “grade”) that he was only 5 and had been off the track for a few months when I purchased him. :eek:
Despite finding out his was just a greenie, I had enough time on him to realize I didn’t have the natural balance I used to, I over thought EVERYTHING while in the saddle, I didn’t remember the leg cues very well and I was enormously afraid of falling. It also reinforced that riding was not as fun as it used to be.
Luckily, my 4 year old decided that she really wanted to learn how to ride and I found someone willing to give her lessons 20 minutes away. Lisa has been my saving grace. She is funny, skilled, totally willing to mock herself and best of all she totally understands my issues. Not only is she teaching my 4yr old how to tack up and ride, she’s gotten me up on her neighbor wonderful 19yr old palomino gelding who packs me around so I can just enjoy being on a horse, without worrying about what is about to go wrong. The first trail ride was wonderful, although it took me most of the ride to finally relax and realize he wasn’t going to bolt/spin/back up/etc. Within the first 10 minutes of the second trail ride I found myself relaxed and trusting the horse so Lisa coached me very gently on hand position and cues. 
I know I’ll get better, but I don’t envy the day we move on to trotting much less cantering and I find myself flopping like a dead fish and getting sideways again. Meanwhile….I love this thread, I’m so glad to see other re-riders and know I’m not alone!
Wow Piatt, so sorry to hear about your experience with this 5 year old, supposedly 10 year old non-grade grade horse!
A breastplate is a wonderful device. I find it easier to grab onto than a bucking strap and more reliable than grabbing mane. When I get panicky and want to resort to my hands, I grab the breastplate instead.
I just ordered one. My guy goes in a standing, but with his conformation the saddle slips back, and the place that the breastplate hits on his back is closer to me than the martingale strap, so it will be a nice OSB to grab.
Holy hell, when the gelding I was riding picked up a nice, forward trot, I thought I was going to rattle right off! I’m starting to see why WP quarter horses have appeal, lmao. How long until I actually feel like I can handle all the basics again?
First - I’m sure you’re probably riding better than you think you are. When I first got on and videotaped it I thought I would look…erm…scary. Well I did look scary but not in the 3/4 of the way falling off way…more of the “wow, how did my Eq get that BAD way” This is silly, but the way our minds work.
It does get better. I’ve been riding almost every day for the last two weeks. Though I still feel insecure at the canter (which on my beast is so imbalanced he feels like he’s going to fall right over) my leg is pretty danged quiet, and I’m getting tighter and tighter in the tack.
The place where I’m feeling it the most now is my lower back…man oh man do I get sore there!!!
Random question for the reriders:
Am I a total ass for bailing on a lesson because I’m sleep deprived due to work … and because I was all PMS-y? I always try to get out there and deal with it, but this time I said screw it. I know I’m an adult(!) and can make my own decisions, but I can’t help but feel guilty. Especially since I only ride once a week.
[/whine]
[QUOTE=MyssMyst;5912945]
I’m starting to see why WP quarter horses have appeal, lmao. How long until I actually feel like I can handle all the basics again?[/QUOTE]
I think it depends on how many lessons or rides you do a week. For me, on once a week lessons, it took me about 2 months to get the basics down again and not feel like I was going to tumble off if my horse tripped or did a little sidestep. Then about 4 more months to feel solid and centered, but not necessarily pretty. And 2-3 more to feel like my equitation was pretty (enough) again. Like where your shoulders, legs, hands, eveything line up and you remember how this is exactly the way your body used to feel before you stopped.
In fact, that last milestone I just hit about three weeks ago. And it was absolutely fantastic.
Of course, I haven’t rode since, but I have two lessons scheduled for next week. Hopefully, it’ll feel the same. And hopefully, I can find a way to do two a weeks (or half lease) at the beginning of the year. I’m at that point where I can’t really advance like I want without getting more saddle time.
[QUOTE=spacytracy;5912771]
My problem is going fetal position on a horse. What I need to do is sit up and back.[/QUOTE]
This is me – exactly!
ST: So sorry about your tumble – hope you are feeling better. The surgery sucks, but as you say, at least you will be out of the saddle during winter, as opposed to spring or fall when it’s pretty riding weather.
And ballistic and luv, sorry to hear about your recent falls. Hope you are doing OK.
OneGrayPony – glad your pony is better!
I bought a Tipperary vest last year, because I knew we were going to do a couple of “baby” level events this year, and it is required for the XC. I don’t know how much protection it actually offers, but I figure it can’t hurt. And it really isn’t uncomfortable to wear. After a little while you sort of forget it’s on, unless you need to duck low under a branch and your chin hits it.
My boy and I had a hard weekend. We just don’t seem to be “clicking” these days. he’s gotten a little bit smarter than me, and I have to catch up. And I have to be more assertive with him when I have to correct some of his mischevious ways. I know this will pass if I put in the work, but it is draining. I am thinking good thoughts for next weekend, the weather forecast looks great.
If you think you are so tired that it might affect your safety, don’t do it. Often I find I’ll get on and work through it. You can always whine to your trainer and say, “can I have an easy lesson?”. I used to do this a lot, but it is happening less and less these days as I’m feeling more confident.
I find at my age (57), the more saddle time the better. Use it or you’ll lose it.
With the sit-up thing, my trainer’s constant yelling at me to sit up has become internalized and I hear her say “sit up” almost always when things start to go wrong.
[QUOTE=TarheelJD;5914369]
My boy and I had a hard weekend. We just don’t seem to be “clicking” these days. he’s gotten a little bit smarter than me, and I have to catch up. And I have to be more assertive with him when I have to correct some of his mischevious ways. I know this will pass if I put in the work, but it is draining. I am thinking good thoughts for next weekend, the weather forecast looks great.[/QUOTE]
That describes me and my gelding to a T. Especially since he’s been off work for nearly half a year, and I have been riding my half-lease, a mare who’s the same age, much greener but so much more cooperative, so going back to Mr. Pickle has been a bit of a shock. I have to gird my loins when I get on him. But I was doing OK before with him, so it is just a matter of more saddle time. And I so know the feeling of being outsmarted by your horse, god forbid…
Okay…I am thinking in an effort to get ahead and fast, taking a sabbatical from work and being a middle aged working student for six months. Has anyone else thought about doing this? I’d get to ride five/six horses per day and decompress from the rat race. Housing is paid for. Oh, and I would be around much younger folks all day.
Anyone so obsessed as I and think this a good idea? I love riding so much and could see myself making a career change, albeit a major lifestyle change as well! : )
OMG ballisticgirl, if I could swing that and find someone who’d “have me” I’d do it in a heartbeat!! Go for it!
Thanks for the support, OneGrayPony! My boyfriend thinks I am crazy! He’s soooo right. ; )
[QUOTE=ballisticgirl;5914682]
Okay…I am thinking in an effort to get ahead and fast, taking a sabbatical from work and being a middle aged working student for six months. Has anyone else thought about doing this? I’d get to ride five/six horses per day and decompress from the rat race. Housing is paid for. Oh, and I would be around much younger folks all day.
Anyone so obsessed as I and think this a good idea? I love riding so much and could see myself making a career change, albeit a major lifestyle change as well! : )[/QUOTE]
OMG!! If I could get away with it, I’d totally do it! It sounds like a dream come true. But I could never get that much time away from work. And my husband might think I’d lost my mind.
If you can swing it – do it!
[QUOTE=Vesper Sparrow;5914404]
And I so know the feeling of being outsmarted by your horse, god forbid…[/QUOTE]
HA! Humbling, very humbling.
Hey…on another note, all you re-riders,
Do I invest in shipping boots for a twelve hour journey or use regular standing wraps? Ten years ago there was no such thing as a shipping boot.
Curious to know thoughts on this one?
**Guess I was floored to see Pessoa branded shipping boots at $100!
I’ve done both, but I prefer wraps. That being said, I seem to remember the long distance shippers saying not to wrap at all because there is too much of a probability of injuries from the wraps coming undone. I could be misremembering as I haven’t had a horse shipped in 2 years.
[QUOTE=ballisticgirl;5914682]
Okay…I am thinking in an effort to get ahead and fast, taking a sabbatical from work and being a middle aged working student for six months. Has anyone else thought about doing this? I’d get to ride five/six horses per day and decompress from the rat race. Housing is paid for. Oh, and I would be around much younger folks all day.
Anyone so obsessed as I and think this a good idea? I love riding so much and could see myself making a career change, albeit a major lifestyle change as well! : )[/QUOTE]
Do eeeet! If not for you, then for all of us reriders who wish we had had the chance. Man…it would be awesome to stop working just for a little while and ride, ride, ride. Plus do barn management stuff, I actually really like that aspect of horse care.
On a side note, had kinda off rides with my horse this week. Kind of a letdown after our awesome lesson last weekend. Like you Tarheel I think there are just some times I don’t click with my horse. We’re both stubborn and like to think we know what’s right.
But…big step for me, after slightly depressing lessons I gave her a break on Sunday and rode her, for the first time, bareback!! Eeeeek! It was like childhood fantasies come true. We even did some cantering. It was pretty darn cool!
Ballisticgirl… I prefer wraps because I’ve had boots come off too often during anything more than a quick trip… as the same time, poorly done wraps are even more dangerous than boots coming off (IMHO of course).
On a side note, had kinda off rides with my horse this week. Kind of a letdown after our awesome lesson last weekend. Like you Tarheel I think there are just some times I don’t click with my horse. We’re both stubborn and like to think we know what’s right.
I have rides like this with my guy too. I’ll have a wonderful ride and think whee we’re finally getting it and then the next ride will be back to the stiff-necked, lugging on the bit, strung out, imbalanced greenie that he is and I’ll be flopping like a fish (I swear, the two things HAVE to be related somehow grin)
I think…it’s normal.
[QUOTE=OneGrayPony;5915305]
I have rides like this with my guy too. I’ll have a wonderful ride and think whee we’re finally getting it and then the next ride will be back to the stiff-necked, lugging on the bit, strung out, imbalanced greenie that he is and I’ll be flopping like a fish (I swear, the two things HAVE to be related somehow grin)
I think…it’s normal.[/QUOTE]
But, at least your excuse is you have a greenie! I have a super experienced jumper who I’m supposed to be learning from (and I have learned a ton, so its not really fair to be whining but still). Can my excuse be that she’s a mare? :lol:
[QUOTE=OneGrayPony;5914884]
I’ve done both, but I prefer wraps. That being said, I seem to remember the long distance shippers saying not to wrap at all because there is too much of a probability of injuries from the wraps coming undone. I could be misremembering as I haven’t had a horse shipped in 2 years.[/QUOTE]
My horse wears shipping boots.
I’ve heard this about wraps too. But, I wouldn’t do a long haul without any leg protection. My horse has a big scar on the inside of his left leg from a shipping injury when he was young (before I bought him).
If you decide to do wraps, is there someone you trust who can verify the wraps are done properly? Either way (wraps or shipping boots), I would think the transport would stop at appropriate intervals to check on the horse, and they would hopefully catch a problem with the wraps/boots.
I always seem to have the best rides when there is no one else around. As soon as there are witnesses, my mare makes a liar out of me. THAT drives me nuts!
Just once can we show everyone how nice you can be, why I spent the money on you, and why the heck I keep climbing back on board? Really, is that too much to ask?
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