hairy moment

[fleabitten]

went out on Kieran this afternoon - my auntie rang up and said she would come over on her horse (L) and we would go out together. I had planned to go up through one of the farmers fields cos its a public footpath but there was scary cattle in it so we decided to go a different route!

You should have seen me dragging myself on - I was like a granny - out of practice already. Anyway - when Kieran heard L whinnying he actually pooped himself he got that excited, lol!!

We went on the bridle path - well one of the parts of it and auntie says oh what a nice opportunity for a canter and off she canters. Well, im like ahh what do I do??? I wasnt gonna stay and have him prance around and be a prat so I booted on and as soon as I asked for canter he just exploded into bucks! All you could hear was me going 'arghhhhh what are you doing???' up the lane! Didnt do a girly scream it was more like I was shouting at him! Overtook L and managed to get him stopped after a few strides past her! Didnt loose my stirrups or fall off - the amount of times ive nearly ate dirt on him recently! The funny thing was that he didnt feel like he was going to take off after her - perhaps I was too quick and kicked on before he could realise that she was leaving without him! I wasnt even all shaky and upset after it bizarrely! It actually sort of gave me more confidence cos I felt more confident when the cattle started running up and down the hedge on the road and he was all joggy. Very strange!! Maybe because I keep defying gravity -

Anyway, it felt quite weird but comfortable to be back on him again - he must be feeling better!

[spotti]

Yay for Flea ;D A few months ago that situation would have had you in tears, but just look at you now! Cantering past scary cows and not even caring - wooooo!

[fimacg]

go flea, your confidence is coming back again

[fleabitten]

I hope so - i think it depends what sort of mood you are in whether you are all over the place emotionally before you go out or whether you are sort of stable!

Still feel nervous at the thought of jumping though! argh!

[zoe]

May 18, 2009 11:06:09 GMT fleabitten said:

Still feel nervous at the thought of jumping though! argh!

you'll be fine keep reminding yourself that you stayed on while he bucked up the lane - jumping should be easier than that!

(I know it's easier said than done my confidence is iffy and it drives me mad sometimes. Keep ploughing on )

[FirenLady]

Well hung on Flea! Its really great that your confidence since having him has soared, even if you do get the odd hairy moment

[fleabitten]

It was rodeo as well - thats another achievement I can put in my book!! I was like 'hi boy! what do you think youre doing!' - like he was being naughty chewing his leadrope or something - at least I wasnt holding my breath! ;d

[scattymare]

Naughty Kieran.
But wow you are coming on leaps and bounds (literally! ;D)
Don't jump until you're ready. One day like I was you will be faced with a log and go 'yeah I can do this' Better to do it with confidence and because you want to rather than just because you feel you should be doing it.

[fleabitten]

Wise words scatty - I totally agree with this. I think that horse riding is a different nerves situation - like other things even though you are nervous you can still try them and usually you will be fine. But with horses you have to want to do it and be positive in order for it to work. You cant just be nervous and not really wanting to do it - you actually do have to want to do it.