Chessington 30

30th August 2010

Chessington Equestrian Centre, Chessington

So I arrived in good time to say hello to Tom and see (with a hint of relief) that Ronan was tacked up ready for me, and that he hadn't disgraced himself over the weekend at the Pentathlon. I found out there were 11 of us on the day ride, and was a little bit intimidated by riding in such a large group, so figured I'd try and get near the front and pretend no-one was behind me As 10am neared, I got Ronan out and asked someone to take some photos of me on him. We then stood around waiting for ages as apparently the ride wasn't actually going until about 20 past. Oops. Ronan was very patient though and mostly stood still. As we walked over to the livery yard side, Ronan was being a little lazy, as expected, and I figured I'd have to work hard on him the whole day. But once we'd got all the riders together and walked down the drive, he transformed and started walking out really nicely. Good, good. He was fine on the road and the bridge over the very noisy A3, and then we trotted/cantered along the path next to the field. He was fine - quite eager, but the brakes worked. As we went along the bridle paths, I took advantage of the riders behind me having fallen back by letting the ones in front go on whilst I halted and made him wait, then did a few halt-trot-halt transitions, between the lead and back groups. He was very good. Once we'd crossed back over the A3, we went on a route that is new to me (not hard - I've only done 2 there!) and had a few more trots where he was keen but stoppable. I did have to work on keeping him at a safe distance from the horse in front though. We had a couple of canters on a grassy stretch along the path in the Country Park, and he kept putting his head right down and veering to the side. I was a bit unprepared and puzzled at first, but the next time I just made sure I held his head up and he seemed ok. We stopped for lunch on a grassy area by a pub, and someone from the yard turned up with sandwiches and drinks, scoffed whilst we held the horses, all of whom were eager to get as much grass in their bellies as possible! Then we remounted, and I was chuffed that I managed to mount from the ground - I've only tried a few times since riding again, and it's not been pretty. Granted I cheated by lowering the stirrup about 6 holes, but most other people had to find something to stand on to clamber on. I'd initially though we were going to ride out a long way and then ride back again, but it turned out we were doing lots of loops, so that we were never actually that far from the yard - handy I guess in case anything went wrong, and only once did we see the same bit twice. Ronan had felt a bit tense when I got back on him, but didn't do anything worrying. We were going through a wooded area, when the escorts turned right onto a smaller path. Then was to turn into an 'interesting' decision, as we shortly found ourselevs ducking under *very* low braches, and walking down a thin path, and it became apparent that it was a footpath rather than bridlepath. Rather than try and turn 11 horses round on a narrow path, we went on, but then the path kind of fizzled out. We had to pick our way through ferns and around trees and more low branches for around 10 minutes, until we eventually found a wide track again. With so many horses, I'm not sure what else we could have done. It was funny, but I ended up with a lot of scratches on my arms and neck, and a couple of the horses (escort and Ronan) were starting to get more wound up. Back on the bridle path, the escort horse was getting joggy and going quickly, and the 3 other horses ahead would trot to catch up. Ronan became very joggy, and so I was trying to make him walk properly, then trot when I told him he could catch up. Trying, not necessarily winning - he was getting stronger and stronger. At one point, the track went downhill a bit, so I made him walk, but the all the others ahead trotted on, so when I asked him to trot he was some way behind, and cantered instead. And I just couldn't break him to trot until we reached them. We then reached a couple of grassy tracks, and it was time to let off some steam. Ronan was good, but was getting stronger, and knowing that the escort horse was getting wound up I had to keep him away (by this point I was just behind the two escorts). But it was a nice track, and he was certainly controllable, if harder to stop, and he was enjoying it. Then on (I think) the other side of the loop, we had another canter. I thought he'd bucked a couple of times before in canter, but no-one had noticed. This time however, after trying to run on, he most definitely bucked - big - and then bucked again. He tried to tank off a bit, but I brought him back and he bucked again - just in exuberance, but they were quite big. He was also trying to overtake a couple of horses, and I mentioned I was having issues so we all dropped down to a walk. I then checked with those behind me what had happened, and they confirmed he'd done some big bucks, but that I'd apparently sat them well and looked fine. It's odd, as after the first one, when I was still tipped forward, he'd tanked off a bit, and then bucked again. I remember thinking at the time that I was a goner, and would come off, and accepting that must have helped me relax and stay on. How contrary. After walking for a few minutes, the escort asked if I wanted to canter again and I said it was fine but I'd shout if I was in trouble. This time though, it wasn't me in trouble - Ronan had indeed bucked as soon as we cantered, but then the horse next to me copied and it was his rider to shout out. That was the end of the cantering! Ronan was continuing to get more wound up though, and was constantly jogging, going sideways, and generally being tiresome. When we had to stop for a gate to be unlocked, as it took some time and he wouldn't stand still, we had a huge gap round us where everyone was keeping out of the way. I do like my personal space. The escort's horse was also pratting about, and once she'd finished with the gate she came and spoke to me as we were riding along (everyone else in walk, her and myself prancing) and said that the likely reason was that both of our horses were quite unfit, had already been out for hours and were tired and aching, and were just being grouchy. Her words were of some comfort to me, as it was a situation he's unlikely to be in very often, so hopefully he'd usually be as he was this morning - forward, but with brakes. Strangely, after we crossed one particular road, he went from being drenched in sweat and prancing around, to walking (actively, but walking) and gradually drying off. He then stayed calm until we got back to the yard. I don't know why he suddenly changed, as he doesn't know the area. I guess maybe once I knew we were heading home I relaxed a bit and he pickled up on that? I was glad to get off, but that was probably more to do with having been riding for 5 hours than wanting to get off him particularly. The ride gave me more confidence in myself, as he was being silly yet I was coping with it. Yes, a few times I did wonder if I should ask to swap, but never actually wanted to do that! It did make me lose confidence in him a bit. With Tom, I feel completely safe on him out hacking - I can stop him, he doesn't spook etc, yet with Ronan so wound up, and after the bucking and getting strong, I felt that at the slightest excuse he'd take off. I think I need to make allowances though - he was on a non-typical ride. 11 horses, out all day, with the excitement of getting lost. Plus he'd gone away over the weekend to do pentathlon, and only arrived in the yard 10 days ago. He's still settling in. In terms of getting strong, he was in a plain snaffle and cavesson today, so there's a lot of scope to refine the braking system without getting severe. I've got a lesson on him on Wednesday, then a 3 hour hack on Sunday. If he's how he was this morning, I'll put an offer in. If he's wound up, I'll maybe have to think about it. I don't want to be in the situation where a few weeks down the line I'm too scared to go near him. But I really can't see that happening - I'm probably just cautious after losing my confidence on Tom a couple of weeks ago. I don't want it to happen again! In a way, he's even more perfect for me. Last time I though he might be a bit ploddy put hacking, turns out he's not. And he was a lot of fun. Only mild annoying thing is that he shakes his head a lot, even with a nose net on, which stopped it completely in the school the other day. At the age of 12, if it's a habit, he's unlikely to get over it?

Chessington 28

26th August 2010

Chessington Equestrian Centre, Chessington

When I arrived I saw Rowan was tacked up, and knew they'd put me on him instead. But with only two of us in the lesson, I wasn't nervous about holding everyone back, and was quite happy to be on Rowan again. He seemed harder work today, and not to go as nicely, but then I wasn't particularly trying to make him go in an outline, whereas yesterday it was the focus. With just the two of us we worked in open order and took it in turns to canter circles in the middle of the school. Rowan was going quite nicely, but our circles weren't especially circle shaped, and the canter broke a couple of times but I'll take the blame for that. We went over some trotting poles, and he was good, then went over a couple of cross poles and straight poles about 2ft high. Not knowing what he was like over jumps, I was a bit apprehensive, but he (lazily) popped over the cross poles, then went we approached the straight for the first time, he dithered to one side then the other. My steering went out the window and we went around the jump instead of over. I'd just expected him to go for it! The next couple of times I was ready and we went over ok. I also watched L ride him around a few times, so see how well he *could* go. He's not the easiest in that he seems to be quite lazy, and needs a lot of leg, but he is responsive, not dead to the leg. I wasn't as wowed today as yesterday, but then yesterday we were working on going in an outline, which I've not done before, so that gave me an additional boost. Plus yesterday was a private lesson so I only rode for 30 minutes, but today was for an hour, so it took more effort! I think he's a perfect first horse, my only concern was that I wasn't really looking for a first horse, given that I'd shared before. But as I lost my confidence so easily two weeks ago, I probably need to under-horse myself a bit. And it would be my first time as a horse owner, even if it's kind of 'owner-lite' by being on working livery. If in a year or two I was desperate for something more advanced, I could buy another as well, or even instead of. Whilst I like the idea of a horse for life, it's not always practical. Anyway, thinking of the here and now, he's ideal for what I need currently, and is available at a suitable price, and I already have a home for him, in fact the very stable he's in now. And I think he's adorable. Surely that's a good enough reason to buy? I'll hack him out on Sunday and Monday, but then it may be time to make a move...

Chessington 27

25th August 2010

Chessington Equestrian Centre, Chessington

So last weekend, Leon mentioned a new chestnut had come in for selling. He said it'd be perfect for me as he was a big saint. I didn't think much of it, as I'm still hankering after Tom, and after having such a fabulous hack on Tom that day I was happy to wait until they felt I was ready to share Tom. But today I arrived (after for cycling an hour in the pouring rain) to be told I was riding Rowan. Rowan? Who he? Never heard of him. I wandered outside, and went down to the end box to say hello to Tom, and noticed there was a gorgeous big chestnut next door to him, with a really handsome head. He was tacked up. It then dawned on me that this was Rowan, and was also the 'saint' that Leon had mentioned. I had a lesson with Cat for the first time, and it was really quite good. She didn't really know what I'd done in previous lessons, but I mentioned I wanted to learn how to ride a horse into an outline, but felt it was way beyond me. So she decided to prove that I could do it. And I could. On the beautiful Rowan anyway. Sometimes. Really using my legs and seat as well, rather than sawing at his mouth. And I actually felt the difference in his back. Wow. We walked and trotted a lot, as the arena was a bit waterlogged and I was still nervous of cantering in there. But we did then have a canter on each rein, and he's lovely. He has an odd stride when cantering, and feels really wonky and very up and down, but kept the canter really well, and was very responsive - when I started tipping forward, he stopped. And more to the point - I wasn't nervous at all. I even asked for canter in my 'bogey' corner. He also spooked once when the dogs ran over, but rather than running off, just spooked and stood still. I love him. So much so that I asked how much he'd go for, as a ball park, but Cat then phoned the dealer and owner to find out. And I got a price. And could keep him there on working livery. I'm going to try and hack him out on Sunday, to see how he goes, and have another couple of lessons on him, before I take the plunge. But...I may buy him...

Chessington 26

22nd August 2010

Chessington Equestrian Centre, Chessington

How odd. Why is it that on Wednesday, I was too scared to canter Tom over some poles, yet today I did a 2 hour fast hack, on a very joggy and full of beans Tom, including two full pelt gallops over open heathland, without a moment's nervousness? Fabulous ride. There were 4 of us - Matt, the escort on a very forward going Cha Cha, an instructor's daughter on a bouncy Apollo, another yard worker on Harvey, and me on Tom. So I wasn't exactly in the company of beginners. Yet even that didn't make me feel nervous. We did the Esher Common 2 hour loop, except we went a quite fast so were slightly less than 2 hours. Tom was joggy from the start, and was raring to go. But as usual, he was very soft in the mouth and went at the speed I asked. It spattered with light rain a few times, but on the whole we had fine weather. We did a lot of trotting through the bridlepaths to get to Esher, then had a fast canter up the hill once we'd reached the common. Then hit the sand track on the heathland and we were off, but rather than stop where we usually do, this time we continued on for what seemed like ages to have a really nice long gallop. Then a breather, followed by another one. Tom was fabulous as usual. Then he jogged most of the way back in order to keep up with Cha Cha. I was feeling so happy on him that we even diverted to pop over a couple of logs (about 6 inches high!). Then when Apollo diverted to jump over a bigger log, I was tempted to follow, but I'd left it too late and so carried on. Next time. This was definitely one of the best rides I've had recently, and I just find it so odd that I can be so full of nerves one day, yet have not a trace of them today. Stupid head.

Chessington 25

20th August 2010

Chessington Equestrian Centre, Chessington

It was my first private lesson since I started the group lessons, and my first private lesson with Diane since my initial assessment back in May. The first thing that springs to mind is that half an hour feels incredibly short now! I was on Patchwork, who I'd requested, and he is probably the yard favourite horse, being so good and easy to ride, and incredibly comfortable - in trot, you just feel like you're floating, so a nice choice for a stirrupless/reinless lunge lesson! We worked on my position, where I need to sit up and on my seat bones rather than hunched forward a bit and on the front of my seat. It made me realise thought that I sit much better without stirrups, as I naturally sit tall and stretch my legs down in order to keep my balance. Guess if I do enough stirrupless work that position will become second nature, whereas at the moment as soon as I get my stirrups back I tip forward again. Diane gave me some tips that I'd not known before, and having been in the group lessons where there's less focus on you, had not been picked up. Mainly that my legs are in the wrong position and I use the bottom of my lower leg rather than the calf to give leg aids. Having done that for 3 months, when I tried using my calf yesterday it was almost ineffective, as the muscle is so weak. I'm also a little frustrated that I've spent the last 3 months relearning to ride, and now I find I've been doing it all wrong and have to start again. As well as my position, we worked on downward transitions using my seat and legs (as I had no reins!). This was actually much better than the only previous time I'd tried this, and by the end I was getting the transitions pretty much on the marker. Sometimes, anyway. There was a definite improvement by the end of the lesson, but of course without the very regular riding, I'm probably going to forget a lot of it before I next ride in the school. I'm hacking out tomorrow, so I can practise bits then. With regards to sharing, I'm still disappointed, but it's not the end of the world. Nothing has changed from how it is now - I can still ride Tom in lessons/hacks, and if things work out with Ernie, great, and if they don't, I can work on my riding and in a few months maybe I'll be ready to share Tom. Que sera and all that...v

Chessington 24

18th August 2010

Chessington Equestrian Centre, Chessington

Rode Tom in the group lesson, and I told Diane beforehand that I'd fallen last time and lost confidence, she said we were going to be doing pole work today and working on medium walk and medium trot, so I didn't need to worry. The first time we approached 'that corner' where I'd had the bad transitions last week, he baulked a bit, but that may well have been my nerves. The surface got all mashed up with the rain last week, and was a lot deeper and a bit boggy at the time I fell. He didn't seem to like going over it though, even today. I was nervous about cantering again. The first time was on the right rein, which is his best and not the one I fell off on. He was fine. Quite forward but listened to me when I asked him to slow, and Diane said he'd picked up on my tension. Then on the left rein, his worst and the one I'd fallen off on, we were supposed to pick up canter in the C-H corner, which was the dodgy one and where I fell off. I asked Diane if I could canter on the next corner instead, but when I got to C, figured I had to beat the demon so just went for it. And he was fine. But that didn't seem to have built my confidence back up at all. We then went over 5 poles on the 3/4 line, first in walk, then stretched out to try and get a medium walk, then in trot and medium trot. I guess I was being over-sensitive, and sending negativity to Tom, but I was getting more nervous, and felt he was getting strong (he has the softest mouth ever), so when we moved up to canter poles, I chickened out. Rather than have me give up, Diane suggested I swap onto Harvey and do the exercise, which I did but again I felt that he was being strong. It was windy, and either I have got a chip on my shoulder about riding in the wind, or the horses actually get silly in it, or maybe a bit of both. It did make me feel a little better that the guy now riding Tom, a very effective rider, had issues, and struggled to keep the canter, and also had a run out over the poles. Not just me then... Diane did say that Tom was not a confidence giving horse at all, at 7 years old, he arrived at Chessington a year and a half ago, quite unschooled, and although he was shared for a while by a great rider there, he's not done much since. I really do want to go ahead with the share, and bring his schooling on, even if I just stick to walk and trot in the school for a while. He's fabulous to hack, it's just that he seems to have got the better of me in the school, and I need to learn how to better deal with it. So I'll try and have weekly lessons still on some of the other horses, and build the confidence back up. For now, I'm going to have a private lunge lesson on Friday, then have a few more private lessons before going back to the groups. After having my confidence and ability gradually built up over a couple of months, I've gone charging in to the group lessons, with people of a much higher ability than myself, and lost confidence because I can't ride as well as them.

Chessington 23

12th August 2010

Chessington Equestrian Centre, Chessington

The evening didn't start well - a puncture on my bike, discovered half a mile from home (luckily) meant I had to walk it back to the house and run the mile to the station to catch the train instead, even so it meant arriving 10 minutes after the group lesson started. I phoned ahead and warned them I'd be late, and they'd got Tom ready for me when I got there. There was a big group today and the 5 others had already warmed up. I joined the back of the ride and warmed up with some trotting. Today's flat exercise was to change the rein on an incline and then back along the centre line, cantering to the back of the ride. First in trot as a group a few times, and then individually. It was straightforward enough, but as with the other time I was late, I couldn't focus, and after we'd ridden the exercise 3 times as a group I still couldn't work out what we were doing and had to watch the other 5 carefully to work out what was a very simple exercise. The first time I did it individually, Tom was trying to nap to the rest a little near the end, and when I asked for canter, he plunged forward and ran on a bit. I sat up, got him back to me and all was fine. The next time, I should have been ready and expecting it, which I kind of was, but I lost my balance when he plunged, tried to hang on, but ended up coming off. It happened quickly so can't really remember details but I think I must have rolled as I came off in front of him, and was aware that I needed to get away from his legs. Either way, thanks to the recent rain I was covered in mud, and two hours later my right arm and leg are quite sore. I was then given a leg up from Steve, and had an even less elegant remount that in the TREC competition last weekend. We then trotted round as a ride for a couple of laps before coming into the middle for individual jumping. I was nervous, especially after he'd run out yesterday and the fall today, so didn't do anything. But that means that I haven't 'properly' ridden since coming off. Maybe it was due to my being late so perhaps I wasn't mentally prepared. My two worst rides have both been on Tom and have been the two times I've been late. But having had my confidence knocked on Saturday and yesterday, what little I had left is now completely shattered. And due to being away for running this weekend, and an interview on Tuesday I'm not riding again until Wednesday, which mean 6 whole days for all the negativity to amplify. I feel like I've stopped making progress. Tom is one of the easiest horses to ride there, and if I can't manage to stay on for a simple trot-canter transition on him after 3 months of riding regularly again, maybe I should just stop bothering.