another one

[fleabitten]

Decided to do some schooling in the field today. Was looking forward to it and was even going to give mum a wee lesson at the end. He didnt feel right today. It was like he wasnt even listening to me and doing the bare mimumum. Not even trying to control his speed on the slight ups and downs of the field. And he was hard to steer as well. But then again he is always a bit of an ass in the field. He works better in the arena - easier to steer. I dont know how to make him work better for me. I feels like I was trying my best to ride him right but he just was refusing to bother really. Maybe I should be satisfied with what he is already doing and just not worry about doing any sort of disciplining with him. But then again I worry about him getting into bad habits if I dont keep it up as he is a crafty pony.

Anyway, he spooked in one corner for no reason whatsoever - except I was changing my whip over. I do this regularly so I cant really use that as an excuse. Then I was doing some transitions from halt - trot - halt like we were practicing in my lesson. I was coming down the slope and of course he was letting himself run on and I was trying to halt him. btw - this slope isnt even a slope - seriously its hardly even there. But the more I pulled, then I had to shorten my reins up - all of a sudden he just ducked off the track and took off at a canter having a bit of a hop. I felt like I was going to crash and burn at any minute because there was nowhere to ride him to and I had no control - probably wasnt breathing either. In the end I rode him at a solid barrier of stuff beside the old stable and he stopped. I was wobbling but I refused to get off and ended up doing a few minutes of transition work to end right and then got off as I was too upset and scared.

After a while we were thinking that it might have been his teeth but then again he could have been just taking the piss. Anyway, Helen had suggested last week to get his teeth looked at so we had rang the dentist anyway and hes coming out next week. I actually hope its his teeth so hes not getting all thingyy on purpose. Taking advantage of me being scared or whatever - thinking he can get out of doing stuff by running out, stopping or taking off etc.

Ok, have to try and think positive now. A list....I got on him again looking forward to a nice session. I got him more responsive by doing the transitions. I enjoyed it before the taking off incident. I finished on a good note. Im going to get on again and continue to school in the field. Another plus was that me and mum didnt have a fall out over it. It always seems to happen on a Thursday - me getting scared/chickening out and then a big row. Thankfully, we avoided it. She said she wasnt scared for me falling off and getting hurt (thanks mum) she said she was thinking 'oh no another pony were gonna have to sell' Oh yes - the big plus was that I DIDNT fall off - woo!

Perhaps its the grass.

Sorry for the moan - just need some advice and encouragement. Do you think I handled the situation right or should I have done something else?

Thanks for reading this - cake for all

[dannyboy]

munch munch munch.......swallow, thanks for that!!

I think you handled the situation really well. You stayed on even when you had been frightened and finished on a good note. A few months back, you woud have been straight off but now you are definitely growing in confidence. OK, so he was being a bit of an ass, maybe his teeth are troubling him but even if not, just be consistant, don't let him off with bad behaviour. I don't have much experience with horses but I think it's pretty similar to my 2yo little girl - give them an inch and all that!!! Well done Flea!

[fleabitten]

Well, I can sympathise with him on the teeth thing - I just got my braces tightened yesterday and theyre killing me. hehe! Thanks DB - really appreciated ;D

I must have a sticky ass or something - thats about half a dozen scrapes this week and i havent even lost a stirrup, lol!! probably jinxed myself now

I was worrying that by not continuing until i had finished what I had planned that I would be letting him off easy. Mum had suggested I get off and calm down but I was adamant that I wouldnt get off and let him away with it.

Thats put it in perspective now - ive established a good start of trust with Kieran and I think its being put to the test at the minute. And youre right, I probably would have gotten off a few months ago - i actually did when I first was trying him. He sidestepped like a spook and i got so scared by that I just got off - although I think he was running off a bit then too.

Also, it sort of reminded me about princess doing that - although she did a much bigger buck - Kieran always seems so smooth and bouncy - even when he did take those big leaps over the jumps or taking off. Its not sharp or jerky - maybe thats what keeps me on hehe!

Thanks

[scattymare]

Methinks you are being tested to see what boundaries can be pushed. You did really well to stay on and I thionk it's far better to do a small amount of something good, rather than lots more of something thats not right if you see what I mean.
I'm not really the best person to advise where to go from here as I'd have got off! But I do think you will need to find a bit of extra braveness to cope with this stage - if he is testing you, he will need to learn now that you won't stand for it and you will keep going regardless.
Could you maybe get your mum to lunge you on him? That way you can concentrate on getting him working but not have the worry of him being cheeky and having an unscheduled canter across the field.

Oh and that cake was Yummy!

[fimacg]

I think scatty's idea of being on the lunge is a really good one. After a couple of weeks they do start to push the boundaries. You did really well staying on him and sorting him out until you could finish on a good note. Yes get his teeth checked but also take your time with him, go for a nice hack out with your aunt and cousin again and take the pressure of both you and him to perform again.

[duckles]

Flea- you worry too much!!! Kieran is just behaving like a horse- in a while you won't even notice his occasional naughtiness- its all part of the bonding process.
You actually handled your fears really well, so give yourself a pat on the back and never dwell on the bad days.

[fleabitten]

Well, Mum wants to sell him. I dont think she realises how much I have improved - she says she hasnt seen any improvement. I think she thinks that because im still getting scared that i havent improved which is totally unfair. She says shes sick of me gurning and I said i cant help getting scared. I see her point - it brings a lot of distress to everyone. She says its meant to be fun and it doesnt seem to be improving from her point of view. Feeling crap now and confused

[brigadier]

Flea,
ask your mother to give you a chance, I know she will be very protective as all mothers are, but really selling this horse so quickly is not the answer and she needs to be giving you some confidence by having a little faith in you. From what youve said- you did really well and handled it well. Some horses are a*ses in the field, they get the grass under their toes and they think its an excuse to misbehave. Its probably because a lot of the smaller horses and ponies are only ever ridden in arenas and fields and when they go in the fields they are galloped, they then associate being ridden on grass with galloping! It may be that when you ride on grass you need a stronger bit (I usually never say this as I dont believe it in any other instance) to help your brakes! But like you say- there is nothing wrong with your stickability these days, and to say you havent improved is just wrong, I can tell youve improved just by the way you are writing your posts!

[fleabitten]

Hes actually a wee star in the field - better in an arena but he is just as steady and easy to handle for the majority of the time. I dont know whats got into him.

Mum just thinks that whats the point in terrifying yourself. Well, tbh most of the time its great but when something happens like that you really cant help but be scared.

I agree about the field thing - the RS horses and ponies are only really galloped in the fields so when we ever had a lesson in it they just went wild. However, they were very good in the XC lesson but maybe that was because they stood still when it wasnt their turn.

Was thinking about giving schooling another go tomorrow - downgrade to walk and trot for the time being and make sure hes under control - baby steps. Just mess about really and experiment, see how he feels. He was quite fresh tonight when I went to catch him - bucking and running about and shaking his head which sort of made me a bit nervous looking at it but whenever I went up and saw him standing i just wanted to ride him so at least i feel happy enough to get on again.

Thanks for your advice brig

[racaille]

The way to shut your mum up is to shut up yourself Flea! Stop gurning and telling her you're scared, then she won't know and she'll think you've turned a corner!

I do think you've got to just get on with it now though. You've got the nicest pony in the world but he is a living breathing creature. Of course he'll spook at things from time to time. That's what horses do.

If it's any help, all of us have our demons but we mostly put a brave face on it ... ie, smile, get on board and stay there as best we can.

[fleabitten]

Thanks everybody for the advice Had another go at riding in the field today and he shot off again - for no reason that I could see - we were cantering innocently round - I thought maybe a bird flew up behind us. Anyway - the saddle slipped a bit but I managed to hang on!

I did enjoy it today and mum even got on for 15 mins at the end ;D She said he was harder to ride than Princess - lol!!

[kitcat]

Well done Flea. Have you thought of printing out all your posts on here and showing them to your Mum? That would show how much you have come on. Your increased confidence really shines through in the way you write now compared to before.

[fleabitten]

Yes, ive started an achievement book and looked back at all my posts from when I got him ;D And I showed mum. Perhaps printing out my posts would be a good idea too as well as just making a note of a good ride. Although I mightnt have enough paper haha! Really there has been more fun times than crap times which is good - and most of them have actually been over Easter - right up till this week, when everything has gone tits up as Lucinda Green would say.