Horse Owners/Experienced riders - HELP

[NaeNae]

Is there someone more experienced at riding who could do some work with him??

My sil is a born and bred country chick who has been riding since she walked she'd be happy to help but both my boys are 15.3hh and she doesn't like big horses

I could ask the trainer to come out, he has a thing for my sil so I reckon he's jump at the opportunity. But I'd feel bad if we did all this work and had him out and then BAM I fall preggers again.

I know I am being a tad unrealistic wanting horses and babies but it may take a while to fall in and I don't want fear to stop me from doing what I love and waste this time now.

am I making sense at all? prolly not but I didn't get them to just sit in the paddocks and i am by no means a quitter. I have ridden both successfully I know I CAN its just getting there.

Dee - You're right I need to do much more work with them. Can I ask why you'd go the QH first, he is the queiter of the two and thats why I am assuming you'd go him first.

[Jakabella]

Nae

I have 6 horses and I ride them all - I have not riden for the past 10 months as I have been preg with Bella but this weekend I am getting back on! I have a pure bred clydie, an american QH, 2 ex race horses, a mini pony and another welsh pony.
I have brocken the clydie as I got his when he was 6 months old and he is now 18 hands high!

If it was me I would spend a few days / weeks lunging them both and getting them back into some condition - they will be frisky and so they should be! I will be lunging all of mine before I get on - not coz im scared as I have been ridding for 20 years now and cant count the amoutn of times I have come off but because thats what the horse deserves - they have been on a huge holiday and it would be silly to not think they will be feeling good!

After the have quietened down on the lunge then I would ride in the round yard - beacue if they decide to play up then they cant get a run up and if they decide to buck you can pull there head around and then they cant put you off. We are in the process of building a round yard so I can take the next steps with my Clydie and also teach my mum and dad to ride the Qh and one of the ex racers.

You dont have to be back to where you were before all the things in your life ! My best advice would be TAKE YOUR TIME - its a great bonding experiance for you and your horse if you take it slow and just build up to it. You can even lunge first then get on and WALK - the the next day or next time you ride lunge and the walk then trot - just build up to it!

Dont be inpatient like me and get on and expect to back to the elite leve I was before I fell preg!!

Please feel free to PM me or anything else if you would like some more info.

I wish we were closer so we could have a ride totgether!!

I cant wait to hear how you go!

Good luck and trust your instincts!

BTW - Monty Roberts has some fantatic DVDS that I have and I could copy them and mail them to you if you are interested!!

Kate

[NaeNae]

Thanks for your advice Kate.

yesterday I got offline and went out with my boys. Clyde always expects to go first whenever I go into their paddock with the lead rope but I decided to go with the QH first.
Maybe being off the good grass has help as i have two jenny craig paddocks and they have been rotating in these for 8 weeks now 2-3 weeks in each with extra bails if more food is needed.

Anyway I took my saddle to the round yard. QH you really need to keep on im to keep him moving but he did a great job, there was a little bit of mucking around and kicking out at the whip when I'd crack it behind him (never ever whip him) but after 20 min he was doing great and when we'd break he'd come right up to me and rest his brow on my belly (cute) nice and low. SO I decided to see how he would go ith a saddle I did everything slowly and let him sniff the blanket and the saddle (have to let the girth down 4 holes) and he didn't even flinch when I did it up. I gave him another 20 min with the saddle on he was such a good boy. Then the spong bath afterwards and I walked him the long way around to the smaller of the two JC paddocks.

ClydeX cracked it at me and wouldn't come near me so I just went and hung out the washing then I saw him watching me so I grabbed the halter and caught him and gave him a go as well 20min without sadle and he was a tad more frisy and just wanted to canter so I pushed him and pushed him until he listened to what I was wanting. Popped the saddle on his back had to let the girth out further for him and gave him another 20 min followed by a sponge bath which he LOVED and also took him the long way round. He was more forward moving but he gets like this when he hasn't been worked.

So (weather permitting) on my days off I will give them both a work out but will focus on riding the QH first I almost felt like I could have got on him yesterday. Mind you they always have me draped as far over their backs as I can reach when I am standng and I put as much downward pressure as I can, and I do swing my legs up and rest them on their back.

QH became really smoochy and followed me around rather than following Clyde and stood their and had a big cuddle with me after they both had finished Clyde kinda avoided me but then came up close. He is a bit of a stand offish horse.

I love them both sooo much, I waseben insopired to clean up ALL the saddles and bridles even my SIL's stuff. I tell ya I am sore today though

[Jakabella]

Nae,

Excellent! Well done whet you did is perfect! I am inspired to get back on all my boys now too!
The new horse we got 2 days ago is straight off the race track so he will be a challenge! I got him for my mum but I have to make sure that he is sound before I let her get on!

Good luck with your boys and enjoy!

Kate

[AngelPunks]

I had a girlfriend ride while pregnant right up until 4 days before she gave birth

[NaeNae]

I had a girlfriend ride while pregnant right up until 4 days before she gave birth

Yeah I have heard of people riding up until they drop I would love to be like that but given my history I doubt I will even be working through my next pregnancy - will be taking it very easy

Kate thats awesome you so should there is no smell better than horse and leather and the great outdoors. and the sound of their hooves hitting the ground

I so hope to be riding in a couple of weeks at least, I don't mind if I only get 1 or 2 rides in before I fall pregnant because that would be something and something is better than nothing

[AngelPunks]

I wish I could ride again, I had a BAD fall about 22 years ago and I've not been on a horse since - I do miss it, the freedom, the smells. I can still be around horses, I can saddle a horse etc no problem - just the minute my leg gets over the saddle I freak

[Phteven]

Schaz, nerve is a funny thing. It might be that if you can just ride around on a lead for a few minutes you'll be fine but then again maybe not.
My sister was in a coma after a fall and took ages to recover, you would think that she would never ride again but she didn't remember the fall so she had no problems getting back on again even though she rode like a sack of potatoes for a while there (I hope she never reads that ). Other people have really gentle falls but that's it - they can never ride again.

[Visitor9]

Nae
put some trotting poles down just in a small area and do a long lunge in a small portion on the circle it will give them a need to concentrate and make them work up a a sweat so much more. Then jump on him in the round yard as a relaxing walk you can gradually lunge less and get more out of them in a ride.

I have only ever had one bolter but he quickly lost interest when he realised it isnt fun to bolt in a small circle.

LOL I have another problem how to work a seriously out of work pony 12 hands when I am 5'10 lol . Before I get DD riding him?