Arguments, Sweat and Satisfaction

There's always been a tarty, argumentative side to Honey. You put too much pressure on her mouth and she sucks back to fight you and tell you that she prefers that you ride on the buckle - for schooling that's a little impossible. And whilst we are far from any form of schooling, the point I'm trying to make here is that, if you hit a nerve, she's honest enough to go "oi, bugger off". She's never usually the explosive type, she's never the horse who will be unreasonable usually either. I guess in a sense, I've been led to believe our arguments are small, like the kind you have with a partner over leaving their dirty clothes around, annoying but never dramatic.

Today I got to experience pissed off Honey for the first time. I know she's been getting sick of her girth lately, because she's so obese, I have to make sure the girth is done up enough before trotting work. She was absolutely beautiful before I did it up an extra hole, working on a loose rein, using our "dressage arena" to its full potential now that it's dry. She was just so pleasant. As soon as the girth was done up though, she changed and showed signs of being girthy. This isn't new behaviour, I've dealt with it for some time, she just doesn't like pressure of any sort. But she was in such a good mood, and I ruined it. I guess my counterattack is that I didn't want the saddle to slip around everywhere. It was in it's usual place, not too tight, not loose, perhaps it pinched a litle, but she is always sensitive in that area. I'm sympathetic to her issue with the girth, I ensure its a gradual process. Anyways, I walked her around until she returned to her proper striding and sneezed before asking her into the trot.

Immediately she kicked her back leg out. I quietly asked her forward again and she did so, working lovely for half a circle. Then she kicked out again. I growled. She got angrier and threw herself sideways to tell me something was up, though she continued to trot out. Before she let me discover what mistake I had made, she then threw herself up off the ground and then kicked out. Needless to say, I can put up with a lot, but rude behaviour even if its to say "hey, I don't like this", is not acceptable. So I growled again. I admit, I was annoyed too. I know she was telling me something, but I heard her loud and clear and was about to act, yet I was a second behind her. The old me, having jolted my leg badly with her stunt, would have gone "that's it, I'm done I can't handle this." Much like Honey though, I can be fiery too. So I halted her, got off, checked her over, checked her expression. She wasn't showing pain or agitation, she was looking at me waiting for my next move. So I made one.

After my ride, my friend Kate was meant to have a lesson. I bought out the lunge lead and a halter just in case because their last ride had ended up with Honey walking off with her. So I got that on her and said "you want to be an idiot, do so then." And she proceeded to be one. Spring is in the air and she is full of it. She ran around like a lunatic, trying to canter and do what she wanted to. And I waited. She eventually looked at me and went "well are you going to ask me something?" and then stopped and turned to look at me. But I just replied with "but I thought you wanted to run, so off you go." By this stage, she was like "oh... but I'd just really like to be doing stuff with you. I'm sweating, and my saddle has moved, and I think it'd be more fun to do something with you." She started to lower her head to the ground, slowed her trot right down, ear on me, eye on me, mouth was twitching, and I knew right then that whatever teenage rebellion I had just faced was settled a bit. I took her saddle off and rearranged it, and hopped back up.

It wouldn't be me, without a bit of nerves. What she had done had unsettled me. I've normally not dealt with her like that, then again I've never ridden her in the beginning of Spring before either. I got up and the first couple of circles at the walk were good. She was waiting to see if I would push past my nerves and try for a trot again. I did, and it was lovely and consistent on her "good rein"... she tried to canter again but I told her no and she listened. She got excited to be trotting again, and by the time I changed onto the other rein, her ego reappeared. She was so excited, and since it was her rein that she was more argumentative on, when I asked her to keep it steady, she blew through my aid and tried to canter. She's just not balanced enough to carry me and her at a canter, and the ground is still firming up from the big rain from the other day.

So I lost it. I'm angry with myself for doing so. But I had had enough. She was so full of it, and I had completely given her the benefit of the doubt, I'm always concerned for soreness, because I know that she has been in the past (though not through her back)... and always assume she's reacting from pain. But because today she was on a different page than me and we just kept clashing, I got angry. It was slightly surreal though, because normally I'm a nervy rider. I don't push boundaries too far in case they end me on the ground. Instead, the swear words arrived and the yelling began. She tried to canter, I told her off for it. She ignored my aids, she got a series of half halts and a "don't want to listen? I'll bloody well see that you do!". She sped up, she got my hands closing down on the reins and holding until she slowed back down. And so on. She argued back, throwing in canter stride after canter stride and then she even paced. It was messy, and looking back on it, a necessary evil that was slightly embarrassing. All I wanted was a nice circle of trot, without her speeding off or trying to canter or trying to avoid. I'm always told to toughen up a little and I certainly did so today. She was tired and sweaty, but still wanted to muck about, and I was short breathed and getting a great workout, but I never gave up. I ended up getting weak through my leg dramatically, and had to resort to sitting trot. Honey went "what the, haven't done this in awhile"... and she listened. She stopped rushing off, and it was the most beautiful trot I've experienced from her in a longgggg time. I only did about 5-6 strides and then reverted back to posting and we got our whole circle. I told her she was a good girl, and she just finally clicked. She got so happy for her praise I got another 2 circles out of her and then cooled her down, patting her for her good effort in the end.

It was entirely messy. I probably went about things in the wrong manner. Our frustrations were taken out on each other, but we finally got what we wanted from each other. If it had of been a soreness issue, I knew she would have shown me again and again, but it was just freshness and all that Spring fever that's already coming through. I feel accomplished even so with all the messiness, because I didn't give up. I didn't allow my fears to step in and stop me... and I didn't allow her little antics to scare me off. I hope the next time, if something similar occurs, that I handle it in a better manner, and don't resort to yelling at her to listen, but I don't think I was extremely cruel either.

The plus side to it all, was I was riding for at least 4omins... and that means she would have burned off some of that fat! And hell, I think I did too!

Chelle x

The New Lease of Life in Spring

I've always had a love/hate for spring. My love is for the magic of life that is created or re-bloomed in spring, and the growth that occurs. However I hate it from a horse perspective - especially when you own a horse who gains kgs just by the smell of grass! Needless to say, every year I get excited for the arrival of spring, signalling the end of a cold winter and moving into the warmer months. For most horse riders in the NZ climate, it means more riding - our paddocks begin to dry up and are no longer muddy, and the weather is more comfortable. Although September is classed the "rainy month"... you can still get a lot more done than in winter time.

For me, I spent the winter preparing for the return of spring, which would allow me more riding time. I got a few things that I was needing riding wise, and I got Honey's teeth done also. Minus vaccinations and a saddle fitter (which would be pointless as Honey is so obese, no bloody saddle minus a treeless is going to sit perfectly on her atm) her list is fully ticked off and she is more than ready to commence ridden work.

And apart from financially, I've also been preparing her via lunging which was going well. I am very careful not to overdo it, making sure my circles are large and not impacting on her shoulder.

I had a ride before her teeth were done and it was terrible to put it bluntly. She was in obvious discomfort in her mouth and so I was so thrilled to have the dentist so quickly. He was absolutely AMAZING and helped Honey tremendously! The proof was in the pudding today, when I rode her for the first time since the appointment. All of her head shaking and irritation ceased and she was rather calm with her head. However I do think she's girthy or cold backed like my old mare April, as she's doing similiar reactions.... she's stopping and kicking out in her first 10ish minutes of work still and acted up as soon as I did the girth up an extra hole. I understand with her being obese not the most pleasant experience... but she is a bloater and not to mention with the saddle slipping forward the girth does loosen off. I feel like I'm an evil person with the way she reacts. But then she calms down when she's warm and works beautifully, much like she did today. I was very impressed, her straight lines are improving and I focussed a lot on making her do large serpentines and changes of rein just to keep the walk interesting since the ground was too wet to trot!

And for me, I just recently bought some flexi irons, new jodphur boots and jodphurs, and felt extremely comfortable up in the saddle today, and the general ache I usually feel in the saddle wasn't present so I'm guessing the flexi irons have done the trick and if its not them, its the jodphur boots!

Well this is a short blog, to reopen the story towards the growth or if I can be incredibly cliche, the re-blooming of Honey and I in our training towards great partnership and new adventures!

Chelle x

It's interesting to see how one day can motivate you to do something you wanted to do, but after the first try ending poorly, you had kind of avoided any further attempts. For me, riding Honey out the back where I fell off is VITAL for us to announce we're back on track. I tried to get out there before, albeit on a lunge and when she was sore, and it was the beginning of her rearing episodes. Furthermore, she eyeballed the spot where I fell off more than once, and at first I was confused at what she was looking at and then I remembered and realised she was nervous because of it. And thanks to my easily set off nerves - let's just say that was a ride that went the wrong way right from the beginning. So the back was left for when "I had mastered going fast again".

Deep down though, this didn't sit well with me. I'm mean yeah I was thrilled that we were riding in a bigger space again because the fence was finally moved out, but it was still a "safe zone". I was riding in a paddock she lived in, was in every day, knew well and was relaxed in. Of course she'd be alright to ride in there - if anything a little too cocky cos she knew where her tie up area was and enjoys stopping right by it. But overall, the bigger space wasn't really testing us. All the gates were shut, we had the same routine with every ride - it was becoming predictable.

In the weekend, I went to Oxford ODE with my good friend Sophie. It's always great to get out and watch the competitions around, and I enjoy being a spectator. However as I was watching, I began to feel a yearning. It's no secret I want to jump one day, and eventing at ridiculous, tiny heights is something I want to do way later down the track. But watching everyone riding around, in big open spaces, I became envious. I ride in enclosed areas because I have boundaries and I feel safe in them. I think its another reason why I like competition dressage - there is an arena, and it has a boundary fence all around. Sure a horse could leap out, but the reality is they generally stay within the markers. I felt the urge on Saturday to break free.

Now don't think I instantly went out into the big paddock to ride. I'm not that confident! But I tacked Honey up by my shed, and had all the gates open. After hopping up, I rode her from the shed, through her paddock, through the paddock resting beside hers, out the back gate to my back paddocks and into the side I fell off on. The walk there was interesting - Honey got confused as to where we were going, and then really excited as we went towards the back gate. I don't think I've ever had my heels down so far in my life, but I made SURE I was breathing evenly to allow for none of my nerves to come up.

We walked around for a bit and she calmed down, before doing the girth up another hole. This sadly made her a grumpy moo, and I know she gets worried things are going to hurt and pinch, but we checked to make sure she wasn't pinching and then walked around some more, but she decided she didn't want to be ridden anymore and dug her toes in a couple of times. Got her back to swinging through her back again and then asked her to trot and it was all forgotten about! She pretty much was racing around, she seemed really excited, even though she looked like a grumpy moo because she took me by surprise with how fast and fresh in the trot she was, and I took up my rein. Her downward transitions were TOTALLY bogus, so despite not really meant to be trotting for more than 5mins, I think we did a little more trying to sort out a decent transition down. In the end I got it, and by that stage the saddle had slipped, my leg was dead and we were both grinning from ear to ear! We walked back to the shed and was thrilled with our successful ride! I even got kisses from my never too openly affectionate pony!

I can't wait to ride again on Wednesday! I will be doing it out there again, but this time I'm bringing a walk & trot dressage test with me, its Training Level Test 0:1 so it's easy peasy but will it be for me and Honey? Haha, all I know is that we need to start doing things like this to prepare if we ever WANT to go places. I know she's not fit enough to even think of competition, I don't even see us going anywhere until next year, but the variety will mature her! And now that I've been out in places where there was opportunity for things to go wrong and it didn't, yeah my confidence has boosted a bit. Now to just sort some bad habits of mine and get out into bigger spaces, that are unfamiliar! Even at a walk ^_^

And to finish this off, here's some pics from the last two rides. I didn't post about our last ride before the recent one, but it went well, with some prepared trotting :) And the saddle is getting back further with each ride now, woohoo!

Exceeding Expectations

I wasn't expecting yesterday's ride to be anything special. Whilst we've been plodding along in our fitness scheme (no pun intended), we've not had any rides that have made me go "OH MY GOODNESS". Honey's been awesome, I've been working hard, we've been steady from starting out. Her sourness to her tie up area is disappearing and her tempo is improving. But apart from me having little breakthroughs in my own position/riding, nothing has made me grin so much as yesterday did.

The reason? My friend Sophie. She came to me over her upcoming dressage test that she couldn't figure a couple of moves out. So I wrote it out, and when I went to ride Honey, I was asked by my friend Leslie who takes my photos, what a certain move was as I mentioned I'm going to help Soph with it. So, I went, let me show you what I remember from the test. I'd only looked at it once and remembered 80% of it, so that wasn't so bad. We did it all at the walk and it was Honey's first dressage test ever. Bless her she got a little confused, but I exaggerated everything so it wouldn't impact her shoulder on the circle work. We got from the start to the end with no troubles and I was so pleased! Honey seemed quite happy with herself too, she seemed to have a bounce in her step after all the praise I gave her.

Tomorrow I'm riding again and will hopefully be able to get a video of the dressage test. I'm going to take it out with us and do it correctly this time haha!

And to finish this blog off, here's some pics - all work was done on a loose rein and me using my legs - woohoo!

Riding; my all time addiction!

It's like a new chapter, or beginning.

Honey had her chiropractor visit and has the new saddle. Riding her now is like a new thing. It's addicting, more so than I thought it was before. And all we're doing right now is walking!

Our first ride on Tuesday didn't go incredibly well in the beginning. Honey, as expected was very difficult to convince that the pain she had been feeling under saddle was no longer there. It took a lot of convincing, but when we got there, I was so thrilled! She felt lovely and even, and I was able to concentrate on myself more than I have been able to lately.

And then today, WOW. I know walking is beneficial, but my goodness I enjoyed it so much today. We had a huge space because I moved the fence out of our way... and she just powered on out! Granted she wanted to trot, and I had to try everything - trying to think walk and ignore jogging and sit deep, let her break into it (only once) for a few strides to get it out of her system, and then even shut her down and say "no, Honey I want you to walk." I was a little hesitant to really go "NO!" with her, my ride on Tuesday taught me that forward is better than nothing at all, and I didn't want to suck her back. We got there in the end, and we only had one nappy moment, which one is more than enough. She's napping towards her tie up post, and being quite arrogant about it. But I made a point of ignoring the pole and riding her forward and we got passed that issue well.

I'm really loving riding on a loose rein as well. I'm having to trust in myself a lot to do this, not so much that I'm scared of something happening, but I rely on my hands a lot for balance and don't want to just make a grab at them, which will frighten Honey. I feel the saddle fixes this notion within me a little and offers more support for me to correctly build my balance. I've done a lot of work in the past on using my legs on this mare for turning etc, so she knows her aids well. I slackened off with my hands and just guided her with my legs for a bit today. It felt really awesome to be back at that, because in the Wintec 500 dressage saddle and before she was "fixed", obviously me using a lot of leg made Honey go "UGH!" Now I feel the freedom to use my legs correctly, in the manner they're meant to, and retrain my arms/hands. It's great!

But the thing that I really enjoyed about today's ride was being able to feel that I'm actually breathing up on my horse. Of course I always have, but I know I have a habit of forgetting to breathe too. The Isabel has helped me realise my core a lot more, and I've realised I've been collapsing with my upper body a little before. Now I can really feel my ribcage expanding, and with the exercise I learnt from the Sally Swift book, breathing has become a new thing that I'm fully aware of in the saddle now. I felt like a lot of my nerves that could have played up were toned down because of my breathing. Honey of course, picking up on my breathing seemed to relax from the trotting urge and just walk out lovely. It was really rewarding for me, to notice so many things in about 10-15mins.

To be honest, I didn't want to get off. She's become an instant delight and I'm looking forward to doing more and more with her, once she's ready to of course! Sticking to the plan in place for sure!

On Sunday I have another ride, and my friend Megan is popping out. I wonder if she turns up when I'm riding, whether she'll notice the change in Honey or not. A shame only one of us can ride her at the moment, or I'd let her ride her to feel the changes!

Anyways, to end this blog, I'll just put up a few photos ^_^

Doubt; that hindering bastard!

Instant results.

It's something we don't see much in life. I can put myself on a diet... and won't see any changes... I can use whitening toothpaste, and again it takes awhile. But one thing I have noticed in the past is how quickly a horse becomes brighter - to the point you wonder what crack you were on before to think they were "alright" - after they've seen a chiropractor.

The professional I used was absolutely brilliant... I came away with a good explanation of why my horse was sore, how to treat it and how to assist her on her riding road of recovery. She answered all my questions and provided some great tips. She was a pleasure and to see instant results in Honey - to see her stand underneath herself properly... to see her tracking up, her ears and eyes going from back and dull to forward, inquisitive and bright, and to just overall see a horse holding itself together, letting out a deep sigh and just relaxing - it made Honey look more like a horse than she has in a while!


So with the pain addressed, the new saddle sitting in my house was taken out today to sit up on her back, and see if there was any way it can be used on her. I was dubious on the fit - I've never seen a saddle sit so high on a horse before and be told - that's a "good" fit. But after watching a series of clips by this particular saddle fitter > http://youtu.be/U2mKz0uP_K8 I became aware that the modern concept of saddle fitting is sadly mistaken by what I was always taught as a kid. His explanation really helped me come to understand how different horse shapes mean saddles do need to be positioned differently. And made me relax a little with how high my saddle is sitting - since Honey is built with a little wither (what he describes a "mutton wither"). So not only is she obese, but she's also harder to fit a saddle to.

Here's what we're facing atm...

Fat horse with lack of wither +

Saddle that is unable to sit a little lower - but is on the horse's back =

Me sitting in my saddle like a boss on the upper half, but my short legs cannot mold to said obese pony because her belly is stopping the effectiveness as well as my stumpy legs! Haha but it doesn't appear to be a really *bad* fit. I did doubt it - to the point I rushed to facebook to my best mate/instructor and went "looook how do I fix this" and yet I already had come to the conclusion earlier that it was her fat under the saddle preventing it from sitting right and the only way I could think of getting it gone was by riding her anyways.

So the main theme for this blog was to set out and be all 'woohoo Honey's back in business!' and explain my saddle situation, but its actually turned into something eye opening and rewarding. Because I went and asked for help, I was pointed out by my good friend to realise, I'm not as stupid as I feel. That I need to believe in myself a little more. That just because I don't ride as exceptionally well as others - I can see mistakes those riders make, and make good ground support and advice. That I can direct others well with what I see. But when it comes to me, I'm blind. It's like I stuck the training wheels back on. I've had two years out of the saddle... out of what? Thirteen or so years? It's hardly anything to feel like I don't know a thing. I need to trust myself a lot more. And my ability to listen to my horse - I'm always listening, but I'm not regarding what she's saying as something I can come to a conclusion on my own about.... yet who was the one to back and start her - apart from a couple of sessions with my good friend, it has been all me, so who else is in this relationship that I need to consult other than myself and my horse?!

And reading through this blog, I realised its a number one theme. I doubt myself - whether its my ability, or how to discover what was wrong with my horse, or to eliminate problems - I'm so used to rushing for advice, that I'm forgetting the one voice who I don't have to wait to answer on a forum, or facebook. My inner voice. Who knows how to respond well. It's common sense. It's something that's always there and I over look because I feel inadequate to my friends who aren't held back by whatever. I have a lot of limiting problems in my riding - but the number one factor is doubt. That sly bastard, I really wish it could be something easier to fix, like having piano hands and needing to go "thumbs on top" every time I ride (uh... I do have to do that anyways but you get my point!). Doubt will be a hard thing to overcome, but I think I'm ready to do so. I gained confidence in getting my prognosis to the chiro correct, and I have a saddle well equipped to put me in a secure position up on my mare. I've become the type of person who is interested in educating myself - so I need to trust that judgement and stop hindering everything with "what if I hurt Honey?" "what if this happens" "what if that occurs, what will i do?" "What if" needs to be removed from my equine vocabulary.

So with that, the blogs should become more frequent again. I ride Honey for 10mins on Tuesday at a walk, and I'm sure I'll have things to say about that! So I'll leave this here.

Chelle x

Educating Myself.

It's been a long time since posting, namely because I have been trying to understand where we went wrong. I figured, if I posted a blog all the time about how frustrated I was over not knowing what to do with Honey, then there would be a lot of pointless words and thoughts posted here. It's taken me to now, getting advice, trying things out, and reading up to realise how detrimental and ignorant I was on bringing Honey back into work. I was more focussed on showing myself I can still ride, and jumped right into the basics of dressage - albeit Honey offered, I never asked her from the beginning - but all the same this has caused a sore horse who is not a happy camper in the slightest.

But I feel at least, I have tried my best to figure the problem out, have sought advice, and am now booking in for a chiropractor to come out to Honey. I've spent the last two weeks online browsing similar situations, and learning from my mistake by reading well thought out plans and then that led me into studying. I'm actually quite thrilled. It's been a few years that I've purposely gone to the library to pick up specific horse books for study (normally use the internet and horse and pony magazines), and at the moment I'm reading "Centred Riding" by Sally Swift, a book I read when I was about 16-17. It's really an eye opener... with how much I've slipped backwards when busy doing our my thing.

I wasn't rough on Honey bringing her back into work ... but I wasn't considerate as much as I should have been. There are things I could have done better, things I didn't realise I was doing, and the situation was a bit sticky. But now, I have a great plan set up, will take on board the advice given to me by the chiropractor coming out to Honey, and also will work to improve myself constantly. I was so worried about thumbs on top and heels down, that I forgot that breathing, and body awareness are a huge key in not blocking Honey. I know I have a habit of forgetting to breathe in the saddle sometimes... without even being aware of it! I'm so looking forward to the opportunity of trying some great techniques I've been reading up on to help with myself and Honey too. And to correct some minor issues I had. Further more, I'm looking forward to riding again.

Especially since tomorrow this time I'll be able to glance across my room and see my very own Wintec Isabell sitting there! I've waited six darn years for this opportunity and now I finally will have the saddle I need for my leg. I'm sure Honey and I will go leaps and bounds ahead when we're both ready for ridden work again.

And speaking of getting myself ready... I've gotten very serious. I'm on a diet, I'm exercising daily and I'm working hard to become the best I've ever been. For myself, and for my horse! So thrilled!

Well thats the update. Will post again when Honey's had her visit and hopefully get back into the swing of things! ^_^

x

Even when the clouds are grey, Honey makes it shine.

Yeah I know its a cheesy title, but it had to happen some time or another :P

As I'm conflicted with how to address the problem with Honey and her soreness, I have achieved another goal that I've had for a very long time.

It's weird to think back on the years of what I used to do, that slowly has stopped, or become limited, and not exactly knowing why. Sure there's been the fact that since 2007 I haven't owned a horse with heaps of experience, with my green horses... but neither of them were/are nasty! And things had stopped before I sold April too, so I'm not really sure, but as Mum and I sat in the specialist's office this morning talking about Bailey and April... I realised that lately I've been thinking more of the past and how much fun it was, than the present. And lately I've felt a few things that I've wanted to do, one was jumping again in the future, and the other is sit on Honey bareback.

As you can see from the picture attached, it clearly happened :)

I wasn't so much nervous as I was worried about -how- I was going to get up on Honey. Thankfully I didn't go flying over the other side of her, much like I had thought I would with my shocking balance. When I was up on her though, I felt a great deal of achievement, whilst Honey stood there dozing in the light rain. Although I was a bit worried about what I would do if she tried to move, I soon relaxed and as the above pic shows, I felt comfortable because my bad habit of gripping with my knee and thigh stopped and my leg was hanging loosely.

For me, there's nothing worse than not having a saddle. I like the support I can gain from having a saddle, and because I am aware when I lose my balance, I end up relying on my hands, I've never want to be horrible and haul on a horse's mouth, in a saddle, let alone without one. It's again something I need to fix, and on my list of things to improve in. So for me to take away a "life line" so to speak, shows just how much I trust in my mare... and in my ability. It's exciting to see bits of the past, returning to me as I gain more and more confidence. And hopefully it will continue!

As for other news, I have been offered surgery on my leg, after many years of waiting. I'm not too sure what to do. I've just gotten over two years of rehab, and gotten my life somewhat back on track... just to have more rehab, surgery and all that... its a lot to think over. I hope that whatever decision I make, it's the right one for me.

Chelle x

The burn of awakened muscles.

It's ironic that I have been saying for some time now that my life is boring and slow and not much happens in it. And yet here I am, finding it hard to get in a ride almost every day. It's frustrating that since Thursday I haven't been up on Honey. Weather, swimming outings, and other excursions had prompted my visits to the paddock to be brief, filling up water or mucking out before leaving for another outing. It's become odd to feel this way, and hopefully adding the gym back in this week won't make the time shorter. I think the last few days, or should I say I hope, have been a little out of the ordinary and will settle back down this week!

Today I woke up with all the intentions to ride Honey, but I'll admit it, I wanted to get truly stuck in with her, and I wanted ground support with me. I'm not exactly cured from my nerves with my sudden confidence, and after our last ride, yeah, I think I've lost my brass balls. Sadly my friend who has been helping couldn't come out. In a sense, it's been a blessing in disguise though.

Honey's a little sore. It had to be expected she would start to show signs, I mean, she's spent months off and now had a week of riding! She's unfit, and feeling muscles she didn't feel before. And so through her shoulder on one side in the trot, she's stiff looking. It looks like the leg is a little stressed/tired. She's not unsound or anything, but I think that's possibly the reason why when its on the inside that she couldn't pick herself up to trot correctly the other day. It's not horribly painful, she was happy to trot around on the lunge in the newly made larger riding area, and when she trotted out more actively, it was barely noticeable. It was just in her lazy trot.

When she was first put under saddle, for a few weeks she was going really well. But before I grew the confidence to take her out into the back paddocks that are bigger, we did ride in a small space with lots of corners/circles. Rider error, I helped her shoulder get sore then too. In the end it was ran out of her by a capable rider, who just got that leg fully stretching and working. Sadly three days or so later I fell off her and shattered my leg. Anyways my point here is that because of circle work, her shoulder can get stressed. And whilst I made a point of making my riding area bigger than it used to be when I was nervous, it's to be expected that she would start to feel the impact again. I've been as careful as I can, and because I felt like I needed to accommodate her shoulders more, I changed the riding area today, and then found out she was already feeling it. I believe it doesn't help that the saddle is forward and I feel I'm too close to her shoulder. I'm rectifying this as soon as I can, in getting a longer girth and trying to push her saddle back, where it belongs.

So I feel a little bit frustrated. It's a situation where, I know what I've done wrong, but feels inevitable at the same time. I'm not some rider who can go out into a big arse paddock and ride around on the buckle. I've improved from before and made my riding area bigger, but I know straight lines are the key here. So thankfully with the expansion again, I should be able to improve our straight lines. I am trying so hard within my own boundaries to keep pushing. It just sucks that I'm not able to be like my friends, who don't batter their eyelids at what size of an area they're riding in. Who can balance and control better than I can. But I can't sit here knocking myself either. I'm weak physically myself, but I'm striving for a better rider every time I get up on my horse. I'm asking more of myself than I thought I would at this stage. And I'm achieving it. I guess this blog should be titled "Impatience". I want so much, but have to wait for the good things to develop.

Tomorrow I plan to ride Honey. I'll see how we go now with more space, and how her leg is with trotting. The big canter she did on the lunge today (I made my circles so big they followed the outline of the riding area) seemed to help it immensely. So hopefully we'll see some results. Until then, I'll try and get a new, longer girth in the next week or so, and then getting that saddle back ought to help too. I know stopping the muscles after awakening them is the worst thing I can do, so even if I just walk her around, it'll be better than nothing!

And I think she has lost a little weight already, and so have I... we're building ourselves up on the right path now!!

Chelle x

Eventually going it alone had to happen...

And its not like it was a really bad thing. I'm not sitting here with the regret of panicking and getting off, and I'm not broken anywhere, but I actually believed that after riding all by myself and alone after my big accident, would have made me feel like I was on top of the world. It was a goal that I dearly wanted to achieve, but it holds no true spark like the trotting goal did. I guess it has to do with the actual ride, if I'm honest, it wasn't a very good one. I'm still trying to figure out if it was all my doing or not, but it's not like it was so horrible that nothing went right and by the end it was alright, just very brief.

Because today was the first day I felt the weakness of my leg back up in the saddle.


I actually was worried I wasn't even going to get up into the saddle. Miss Honey bloated something chronic as I was girthing her up today, and she hadn't gained any extra weight, so I knew she was just feeling really good about herself, having the past two days off and all. Sometimes she's the most perfect, albeit excited pony to gear up for a ride, and on other days, she thinks ridies should be done her way, and one thing she'd like gone is the girth! So since Leslie wasn't there to hold the stirrup, I was a little worried I'd make the saddle slip since we're both porkers. To my amazement, I was up on my first attempt. I thought to myself, "wow, maybe I can get back to doing everything I used to with ease" at that point.

Now I should mention that the wind was pretty decent... it was blowing quite harshly through my paddock, and whilst Honey is a gem in wind, she still was a little unsettled by it. I wasn't exactly nervous to the point I was aware, but I did feel like I wasn't riding her as well as I usually do. We managed to warm up well, although she kept trying to trot off. Once in the trot she leapt into it too excitedly and tried to run off so she could canter, and because I told her no, we had a bit of an argument. I managed to get a couple of nice circles out of her before changing rein and thats when it happened. She didn't trot, she just paced. Which I couldn't understand. So I blamed it on myself for having nerves, and tried to keep pushing her through into the trot, and every time I'd get a stride or two, she'd just try to canter off on me. It was a mess, she started side stepping her corners whilst trying to zoom and I was so damn confused as to what I was doing wrong. I checked my hands, my legs, and tried my best to post through it all. I kept my heart rate down but still I couldn't get her to maintain a trot. It stumped me completely, and I felt stupid for allowing her to canter the other day because clearly that's all she was thinking of. I couldn't get her to think trot, no matter how much I tried, and we began to argue again, to the point where Honey just shot out and I told her no by giving a firm half halt and asking her back to me and she just threw herself sideways. By doing that she jolted my leg and basically I spent the next 10-15 ish minutes riding through pain that kept growing and growing.

But I didn't want to give up, and stuff all the work we'd done to date, so as soon as I got 4 strides of proper trot out of her, I pulled her back to a walk and made her walk until she was calm and listening on both reins before climbing out of the saddle. Once on the ground my leg was shaking which really sucked. I guess the reason I felt so let down by today's ride was because pain stopped me from really enjoying it. I feel like I've been in this fantasy world, where my injury isn't as big a deal as it has been. That I'm empowered and able to do what the hell I want and apart from aching and feeling weak in it for the rest of the day, I'm not limited. Today that world was broken. I'm not all woe is me and depressed... because like I said in the beginning, I stayed on. I didn't hop off because it hurt, and I tried so hard not to be nervous and worry, and I actually don't even remember having a SINGLE thought that I was in danger of falling off. Because it wasn't like I was... whilst she was a tart in our argument, I felt in control of myself, I just didn't have the ability to stop her from leaping sideways and flaring up my injury.

And instead of making it all about myself... because I know Honey picked up that her leap did something to her Mummy, and sort of nipped her attitude in the bud, I went on to take off her saddle and lunged her over a jump. I started it out small and made it a bit bigger. She did really well considering, and didn't refuse, even jumping from a stand still, so yay I was smiling when I was done. Of course being alone, meant I sucked photo wise, but I did manage this shot..



So there were some things to take away from today's experience positively... and the rest is food for thought! And note to self, never ever let your horse's tail go without regular combing - fingers or detangler etc!!! I did, and it took me 40mins to sort through the bloody thing. Needless to say, Honey wasn't a happy horse with all that pampering. But I gave her a carrot afterwards, so I was forgiven, haha!

Hoping tomorrow to ride again, and it'll be a better one! For now, its resting this darn leg so it stops twitching!

Chelle x

Memory Lane... New Goal!

For some ridiculous reason, I decided I was cleaning my room completely today. Not only was it exhausting and took forever (I still have clothing to sort out!), I realised as I sat amidst my stuff lying around everywhere that the plan I had woken up with and thinking it a good idea, was clearly mistaken!

However something came out of it, as I found my ribbon stash that wasn't from April or Evo's shows. They were my ribbons back in the day when I went to a riding school, and when I helped a friend with her own horses at an in hand event. Sorting through them, I found the younger me had written on the back of each ribbon stating what one was for, and when I came across a 3rd in 60cm jumping, I was slightly stunned.

I remember the ride, and remember winning it now, but its very surreal. To look now at the fact that I find a pole propped up on tyres scary enough to go over, let alone a jump with any substance. Yet back then 60cm was small to me! The worst thing is, I never had a jumping accident to make me scared, but I just don't feel like I can jump these days. I used to on April, but I used to do anything on her.

So thinking it over, I've decided I'm going to jump Honey. I need to overcome this odd fear, and whilst I can't see it happening any time soon (haha said the same thing about cantering earlier this week), I think its a good goal to set. It doesn't have to be a big one, 40cm perhaps? I'm going to work towards it anyways!

I just thought I'd briefly leave this goal here, so if I forget it, when I read over my blog, I'll be reminded! Who knows, maybe I'll be able to return here with pictures of it one day!!

Chelle x

Speeding Violations

As I sit here right now barely able to move due to some wicked sunburn, it feels slightly surreal that yesterday I felt like I was flying. For someone who's first full week back into riding ends on Thursday and so far have only had two days out of the saddle in that week, it's kind of amazing and unbelievable that yesterday I was urging for Honey to canter.

It's so not like me in the slightest!

When I had the grand idea of riding Honey last Thursday, I didn't exactly imagine I'd be doing everything we had been doing just before the accident within the space of seven days! In fact, I didn't imagine trotting would become so easily a thing to do and enjoy, let alone when Honey sneakily tried to canter, I all but kicked her into it. And then asked her to do so three more times, so that the trotting in between, whilst controllable and balanced, was near clocking up the speed that would leave even the fittest rider breathless! It was like a much needed hoon on Honey's behalf, to really get going and afterwards, everything just fell into place.

It's ironic because just ten minutes before our first trot, I had been sitting there, going "oh crap no don't you dare you bloody horse!" to two very persistent geldings! One had broken from his paddock, and ended up realising he couldn't get into where we were, and decided to snooze in the shade of the trees. The other is Honey's now closest friend and is notorious for climbing out of his paddock when he feels it fitting enough to do so! Whilst both lovely horses, I wasn't exactly thrilled that my in heat, flirt of a mare, with the loss of her usual male buddy, was pretty much hanging the neon sign out for all the offers she could get. I found that she became increasingly interested in her closest friend in particular, her attention span dropping away from me and to him every time we'd come around to his side of the riding area. Needless to say I did panic. I am only human after all, and I knew if one of them were to run for it, well, I was pretty sure the slapper of a mare I was on would have been likely to try and join in. Thankfully, my brain doesn't seem to shut out options to remedy a situation like it did in the past so I started to really ask for her attention back, and when I felt like I had it solely on myself, pushed her forward into the trot.

I'm not going to lie, it's been nearly two years (yes, so I keep saying!!) since I've trotted, and I'm not exactly the fittest person around. In fact, since I was all but banned from the gym by my doctor and gym trainer for a month-6 weeks, I feel flabby and weak. So whilst I've been trotting around in this last few days alright-ish, its one story to go from a working trot that's just standard really, into a fully fledged, "if I wasn't trotting I'd be pacing up a storm around a track like I used to" kind of trot. It was consistent, I had to hand it to her for that, but when she first clicked into full gear, I wobbled around like a lame sack of potatoes on her back. I was way back here, whilst she was up there, waiting for me to catch up. And it was frustrating in the beginning. To be trying to find myself on an actually well balanced trot that racked up some mega speeding violations on such a sunny day. I felt lame, even though the odds were against me to get it right away, given my current condition. But I'm someone who wants to not watch others ride well, and be able to as well.

Needless to say, I missed a post or two and Honey went "okayyyy" and just pinged into a canter. Not exactly the nicest transition, but she was just so happy to be speeding, that she just threw herself into it. I was a bit concerned with her trotting that fast into a canter, but then I did realise that I was on a Standardbred... and by this I don't mean to be breed racist, but when they're green to cantering under saddle, sometimes they just need to be run into it... and since she was balanced, I couldn't fault her for trying really. I don't know where it came from, me the person who hates speeding and likes plodding, suddenly became as excited and determined as the ginger underneath me and wanted to fly. So here we were, speeding around the riding area, going "no not in this corner Honey, but here go here" and her just trying to get it when I asked. Of course the canter was shit, I can't exactly expect her to be able to do anything but wobble-canter being unfit, obese and lugging me around too, but it was better her last couple of attempts and she held it longer too, so of course I treated her like she'd just won gold again. And hell, when you have a horse that willing to try, with her "I did it, see, you just saw me do it, aren't I a clever girl" face on, how could you turn around and tell her it was shit?!

The thing I liked the most about the ride was that we were flying and then the next minute we were back to a walk, calm, collected, and working together like we hadn't just treated the paddock as a race way. Some people always have to get onto their horse and say "hey now, its walkies not trotties time, so stop jig jogging and bloody walk!" and that's what I was expecting to have to do as Honey will always be a forward thinking horse. But she was able to just drop back down to an active walk and listen to my leg and hands with ease. In fact the walk, as expected was a 100 times better, and I felt that even when I put my leg on and held my reins with a bit more weight in them, she didn't suck back like she usually does and do that "I'm working, I'm doing the head thing, but yeah, totally forgot HOW to walk again... sorry!" walk she does. It was nice not having to keep niggling over and over with my outside leg to keep her out of her plod mode and into a proper walk with swing from behind. I don't expect her to be able to carry herself and me as well as I'm used to, both being porkers, but I do expect her to try and be active in all her gaits. So it was a nice change not to nag at her and get "oh trot?" cos I've put too much leg on or whatever.

I was once told by my instructor that schooling is much like driving a manual, you have to keep the foot pedals in balance. If the horse isn't moving actively, then more leg is needed than hand to accelerate forward. But if there's too much activity not allowing for correct bend and use of the body, then more hand to help vibrate and maintain is needed. I love this theory and use it whenever I'm riding, but I'm still rusty as hell. And with Honey still being so unfit I need to be patient.

In a sense, thats why Honey's show name is Lovebug. Whenever I ride her, even the horrible rides, where nothing comes together right and all we do is argue over what we want to do, its like I'm absolutely obsessed. She's bitten me, and got me under her spell of needing to ride her so much that I come home, and could go back out and ride her again! And all my thoughts now are just horse related. I feel like sitting in front of my computer is not as much fun unless I'm doing something horse related. I guess the whole point to this blog is simply that - I can't stop thinking about my horse that I'm now needing to speak about her somewhere! Even if it comes out boring and rambling to the majority of my audience. Even if by the end of it, ya'll all get sick of hearing "two years" "accident" "I love Honey" and leave me, I can look back on these words I've written and be able to smile to myself.

Well I'll end this here. I'm on TM with my best friends looking at horses... which is never a good thing!

Chelle x

When you're not panicking after a spook, you know you've struck gold.

There will always be a time where things need to be tested. It makes sense really, when we get new things, such as a camera or phone, we play with it, check out all the cool stuff it can do, we're excited and just happy to have it. Then its time to see what it can really do and start testing it. Although horses are far from technology, the same rule can somewhat be used here. Our first ride was fun and exciting, and not much went down at all. Our second was checking out what we could do still, and then today our ride was somewhat testing. More so from my point of view, seeing just how much I could throw at my obese, unfit mare and also myself really.

Of course comfort zones are something humans like to stay in, and especially me. If there was a club that you could join for people who don't like to leave what they feel safe in, I'd be a life long member! For crying out loud, I've always wanted to just PLOD down a beach, but my fear for big spaces keeps me in my paddock, and even in a riding area (albeit bigger than my previous one, so I am getting better). Of course little by little I challenge this, but I'm generally the type of person who if scared, I will retreat back. Its something I really need to work on, and I'll get there, just within my own steps. Since breaking my leg, its obvious I've become more nervous, and have always thought "uh oh, what if you come off again and break something else?!" It wasn't my first break, but the biggest break and the hardest to recover from, so rationally some of it would be normal fear. I was worried my balance would let me down with the smallest of slip ups, and I'd hit the turf easily. I guess this first week of riding is really going to broaden my outlook on things as we keep rediscovering ourselves.



The ride started out better than it had on the 7th, although I could tell Honey was a little too eager from having the day previously off. She proved this by trying to trot half way into our first round of the riding area, and was sadly disappointed when I told her no. I waited until she was settled into both reins well before asking and of course, I got a no in return by her kicking out her leg. Needless to say, it was amusing to see her personality under saddle back. She didn't resist after that little remark and trotted off, all too eagerly again. I had new stirrup leathers, and down a hole or two than usual, which felt bloody good in the walk, not so much in the trot. I was trying to post but felt the push to come out of the saddle much greater in the beginning, although I got there in the end! I'm thinking it might be just something I'll need to adjust to, rather than bring my length back up and looking bunched up. It helped my leg tremendously too, I didn't feel like the feeling in my leg went numb for a change haha!

After our trots on both reins, I went back to the walk and worked through that, focusing more so on myself, and once I had myself in place it seemed to help Honey get in hers really well. I always have a tendency to ride with my hands low and turned in rather than thumbs on top and it irks me with how "difficult" it seems to be to achieve the consistency with my hands, and so I worked really hard on fixing that today. Thankfully, it's shown up in photos that I actually did. It was great to see that once I stopped breaking the line from bit to elbow, Honey began to offer more of herself, to the point that she'd go to step under herself and slip a little because shes a bit too heavy to carry herself as well as she'd like! Never the less we were both trying really hard to achieve what we were doing and there were some LOVELY moments today where everything just clicked. I really love them! Still need to work on getting more activity into it, the one thing I find with Honey is she'll offer her to soften but she doesn't maintain her tempo and almost takes littler steps. I kept niggling with my outside leg to maintain it for her and we'd get spurts of active walking then she'd go "oh right I'm doing this with my head" and slacken off. Almost like she can't multitask, but bless her, she's trying... and we'll get it correctly and not her just softening at the mouth soon I'm sure!

Like I suggested in the previous blog, I brought a pole into the situation today. Of course with my Dad showing up, she was pretty amped up at the random man walking across to her, and oogled him more than she ought to have, and so her attention span was ridiculous by this stage, she was too busy looking at the 4yr old child that comes out on most visits, then my Dad, and then this weird pole in the middle. She didn't do anything stupid, but it did take awhile for me to regain her attention, namely with walk-halt transitions, and a bit of nagging from my inside leg saying "hey, weren't we relaxed and schooling before?!" But she didn't see the pole as a big deal, and almost went to jump it on the third time over it, which would have been totally laughable on my behalf. Thankfully she didn't though!

After another trot we cooled down and it came time for my test for the day. It was purely my fault it happened, I dropped the reins, and Honey was just cruising as she does, and so I let go of the reins all together and just enjoyed the freedom of feeling safe on my horse, happy to be back up in the saddle, and Honey saw the child clapping and went "trot time? OKAYYYY!" Well she went to stride off, and I snapped my reins up (not tight, just grabbed them). Stupid mistake on my behalf. Like I said to my friend Beka who wants to come out and ride Honey sometime, she's cool stuff, but if you reel her in or make a sudden grab at her head, she becomes cool stuff, either in the air, or with speed. She's never nasty about it, but my fright to her made her go "HOLY CRAP!" and shoot off. It's a good thing I didn't panic further than the rein snatching and just said "woah no" and Honey stopped immediately. I'd dropped her in the deep end and she reacted just like she has whenever someone else in the past has since the accident. Luckily for me, she doesn't wanna end up back on more paddock rest, and she was pretty certain she wanted to stop too. Of course this made her all jumpy underneath me, and so I had to cool her down again. I hadn't realised the child had clapped the first time, until she did it again, and Honey leapt up in the air in fright. I managed to get her calm, to the point she was back onto thinking about just me and ended on this little note....


So I was pretty darn stoked that when I hopped off, I hadn't gotten off because I was scared. I hadn't panicked and given Honey something further to over think, and supported her whilst she calmed down. I think handling this situation, albeit something small, but something still big enough to unsettle the "old" me, shows that I've found the strength and determination to get on with things. It shows that I have found the drive that's fueling me to continue this for myself. I guess in reality, I'm damn over hearing "why do you have horses if you don't ride them anymore?" from people too.

I'm finally riding for me, and boy does it feel good!

Well that's this blog finished, you poor souls if you made it to the end here. I'm just after comments on whether the stirrup length I've currently got going looks better than before. If anyone could comment on that (here or facebook) that would be grand. And to end this, I'm just gonna to post a couple of my favourite pictures from today's ride. Hope your first week of 2011 has been good everyone, mine certainly has been!




Chelle x

Lovebug; Let's get you up to speed.

Some girls always wanted the grey noble steed from fairytales when they were a kid. Or a magnificent black horse much like Black Beauty. I was a little different from the herd, and had always wanted a chestnut pony. Liver chestnut to be exact. Well I've not yet gained that wish yet, but I've come close with owning two lovely dark chestnut mares, and Honey just happens to be one of a kind.

Her story, much like the tales you hear from most Standardbred owners, comes with a sad beginning, and the hope of a new life when rescued by one of my best friends and great instructor. Since then she has lost the title of "dangerous" and "unstoppable" and become the bravest, safest, most enjoyable ride I've personally owned. Yes Evo had all the fancy tricks under saddle to make the way towards the riding career I want, but the reality was I needed something smaller, more compact in movement, but could still turn into something special with the right training. Honey's exactly that. Her nature is second to none, and so long as she's being ridden, she doesn't care whether its just plodding around, or off establishing her canter. She's the type of horse to excite their rider because being ridden is fun to her. I think thats what I like about her the most.

She has her quirks, she has her typical mareish arguments, but we match so well, that we'd do anything for each other. And its only recently that I've rediscovered why I always have been so happy to tell everyone that Honey is my one true riding partner. After a freak accident that meant I shattered my leg almost two years ago, I've been somewhat in a limbo of pain and desire to ride, but allowing myself to let the pain overrule my ability to just get on with this. Admittedly, this has meant Honey has barely been worked, and become quite the porker. In the last couple of months I've realised the extent to my mistake, and like a true horse person, I am guilty, but working towards rectifying it. I guess as horrible as it sounds, her weight gain has been a blessing, because it was what triggered me to start thinking of ways to get the weight off, all coming back to riding work.

And with Evo's departure, I got the grand scheme that I was going to have a farewell ride, despite not riding him myself (he has been ridden numerous of times) since my accident in Mar 09. It didn't go as well as I had hoped for it, nothing bad, and so I was left wanting to ride, and Honey was certainly glad I wanted to. Of course the fear kicked in, I'm not scared of her, but had little faith in myself, and just needed the lunge line and ground support, whilst I did everything up in the saddle. It went better than I expected, more so because of two things - the grand effect of riding a horse who's head dominant in a flash noseband (a new addition), and the sudden appearance of brass balls between my legs. Not only did the obese ginger try her heart out and soften so she felt so lovely in my hands, she tried to carry herself correctly, despite the mass of belly both she and I have. I couldn't not reward her efforts, and I only knew one way of doing so, asking her to trot. I've not trotted, hell I thought my leg wouldn't cope! But I didn't seem to remember that at the time, just determined to give her what she wanted.

It's ironic, something that used to come to her so easily, a click, a squeeze, etc, was so hard to find. Namely because the poor girl was stunned. She hasn't been allowed to trot, because of her ridiculous Mummy going "just walkkkk Honey" whenever there was a chance of it occurring. She was highly hesitant, something I've barely experienced with her before, even when backing and starting her, she's always been super brave. It took me nagging her, and praising her for jogging and then over praising her for taking two strides to actually show her that hey, I may have gone some where all that time back in 09, the same worry she has carried with her with other riders in the past near 2 years, but I sure as hell wasn't planning on going anywhere this time. This seemed to give her the courage she needed, and soon we were trotting circles upon circles until my leg felt like it burning and going to fall off! It was the boost we both needed and after crying tears of joy upon her neck for what seemed like forever, I left with the notion that I had conquered the world. The things most horse riders take for granted are the things I treasure the most.

Of course when history is being made, no one is ever able to take photos to document it, but the next day I went with my new found attitude, my camera and photographer for the day, in my fresh pair of big girl pants and rode my horse in a bigger space than usual, off the lunge, walked, trotted, rode for freaking half an hour with a bung leg, I couldn't feel my legs when I was done, Honey even threw in a wobble-canter and I didn't panic. It ended on the buckle, and the drive I felt, the pure NEED to ride her is back. I remember before the accident, how obsessed I was with riding her. How I loved it, how we were learning what softening and carrying meant, and working from behind etc. And she remembers it all now, and despite her physical limitations, is so freaking over the moon that her lazy, paranoid, over thinking the situation of a Mother, realised how simple it is.

Just get up and ride. I wished I had clued myself onto this strategy earlier.

Tomorrow, or should I say later today, is our third ride. She seemed a little bit annoyed that yesterday there was no ride, and to be honest I was too! But I'll make up for it tomorrow I'm sure. I'm hoping to introduce a ground pole tomorrow to navigate, and work on maintaining tempo at both the walk and trot. I'm sure Honey will try to throw in another excited wobble-canter, but for the first time in a long time, I can say I don't care! ^_^

And to end this ridiculous long blog of my emotionally filled story of how much I love my ginger ponz, here's a few snaps from our 8/01/11 ride. Please note, due to belly size, and short girths, my saddle is forward.






Chelle x

An Introduction of Sorts!

If you've stumbled across this blog, then you're either a fellow Equestrian enthusiast, or someone who has an interest in reading the inner thoughts of a horse crazed adult, who wants the world, but needs to work towards achieving it first.

My name is Rochelle, I'm currently 24yrs old, and I have been riding horses for the past thirteen years, although I'm far from being someone who can comfortably ride a horse at the basic gaits. A part of that has to do with the nerves that I was gifted when I was about 15, where the "I'll jump anything you put in front of me and go as fast as my horse will carry me" attitude was met with the reality of my first broken bone. I guess you can say whilst I love the sport, I'm more paranoid than the average flighty Thoroughbred!! The other, more larger part is because I'm partially damaged, and have little strength to my right leg. I won't bore you with the logistics, but because of this, I've spent more time dreaming of riding, than the actual reality in the past two years.

However, I recently received a great dose of confidence and motivation to ignore the pain and just ride. So with the notion of not only starting a brand new year of 2011, I thought it would only make sense since there's been so many changes with the beginning of this new decade, to document it for the masses (I kid, we all know it's just my friends who have nothing better to do) who will read this blog!


Changes, for a totally new horse experience!

I've owned my own horses since I was 16. In that period of time, I had Bailey, my first pony, as my only horse for about 3 months or so. Since then, there's only been an extra month where I only had one horse, as I sold my second mare April, and looked around before buying my gelding, Evo. That was back in 2007, and from then I had two, and then three horses when I got Honey a year and a half later. Tomorrow when I go to the paddock, I will only find one horse there - Honey. Today Evo moved along in his journey of being a dressage/show pony to a home where he could actually be one. He was bought by me with all the right intentions, but not having the physical ability to ride such a forward moving, expressive animal, made me make the decision to give him what he so rightly deserves. And whilst it only has seemed to hit now, that the day is basically over and I'm almost ready for bed, I'm not as sad as I thought I would be. Perhaps because that Evo has gone to a home much like the one I used to offer him, although with the ability to get him out and about. I'm super excited for him, and wish him and his new owner the best luck!

And that leaves me with my beloved ginger mare, who suits me in every way to dabble through a world where she learns how to school under saddle and I learn how to trust again in my riding, in myself and most importantly in my horse.

I'm excited, because 2011 has signalled a new start, one that has already started despite the few days we've had into this year.

I hope you join us on this journey, I'll try to keep it interesting!!

Chelle x