Horse Riding

A diary of my learning experiences to date

Since I was a child, I've wanted to be able to ride. I've had various experience with riding horses over the years, but never really got a good stretch of continuous riding and so never really got to a stage where I could say honestly that I could ride with any degree of competence. Then, last year Robbie and I went to Galway for a weekend and ended up going horse-riding one of the days we were there. It was his first time on a horse and he loved it, so we decided then and there that we would both take it up seriously when we got back. What with one thing and another getting in the way, we finally got to begin our lessons in June 2002. So here is an account of our progress to date...

WEEK 1 - First things first, an introduction to the horses. Mine was a beatiful auburn coloured horse called Autumn. Robbie's is a chunky one called Tim. So on we got, this was an experience in itself! My horse was quite high, and my legs quite stiff so I had to get a 'boost' from our instructor! Anyway, I finally got up there and we began by walking around the arena, learning how to steer the horse. We were also shown how to hold the reigns, and how to adjust the stirrups while sitting on the horse. Haven't got the hang of the reigns yet! After walking for a while, we got to trot for the first time...it looks so easy when you see someone else doing it, but easy it is not! Practically impossible in fact! Trying to sit up and down in rhythm with the horse, and remember to hold the reigns properly without jerking them, and steer the horse at the same time - it's too much for me! The instructor said it is like learning to ride a bike, all of a sudden it will just click and you won't even have to think about it...I felt like asking her for some stablilisers! It will be a while yet I think before trotting 'clicks' with me. Looking forward to next week anyway...

WEEK 2 - Well, last week I realised just how unfit I was! I was in agony the day after our first lesson. Hoping I won't be too bad this time. Today, we were mostly walking/trotting again. I'm beginning to get the trotting right, but as soon as I get into the right rhythm, I realise I'm holding the reigns wrong, or I'm going off course. When I try to correct that, I lose the rhythm, and end up bumping up and down again, ouch! I'll get the hang of it eventually I'm sure. Robbie is progressing about the same. We also got a demonstration of cantering, and were told we'll be doing that soon! Can't wait. Also learned how to check our girth (i.e. if the saddle is tight enough). We're being brought on a hack next week to see if that'll help us with our trotting!

WEEK 3 - Leg and bum pain not too bad after last week! Must be getting fitter. Today was definitely the best so far. I had a different horse today, called Pied (as in The Pied Piper - wonder how they came up with that name???). Different horse, different rhythm, but after a while I got into it. Think the trotting is finally beginning to click. The hack was great fun, especially trying to stop Pied from snacking along the way! He's a very hungry horse, I nearly went over his head when we walked into one of the fields as he suddenly lunged for the ground to munch on some juicy grass!! And then the best bit, we got our first canter! Mine was a little unexpected though, we had just got to the bottom of the field and our instructor was explaining how we were to canter back up to the top, I was getting Pied turned around when he just took off! I just held on for dear life! I can't describe how good it felt though. Definitely as good, if not better, than one of the rollercoaster rides in Alton Towers. The second time we cantered up was even better as this time I even remembered to keep my eyes open! We both felt very proud of our achievements today, even after our instructor told us that she had two five-year olds doing the exact same last week! Really looking forward to next week and more cantering!!!

WEEK 4 - In a word, awful! After two weeks break it was like being a total beginner again. This week we swapped horses, Robbie took Autumn and I had Tim. Robbie is getting on fine, but I am useless! We walked/trotted around the indoor arena for a while first. My feet kept slipping through the stirrups so that didn't help. I'm still holding the reigns wrong. The only thing I'm getting right is that the up/down movement for the trot finally seems to be coming naturally to me… I was 'lunged' (trotted around in a circle with no reigns) to help me get a better balance on the horse and to make me rely less on the reigns for balance. Later, the instructor gave us both whips to speed the horses up a little. As soon as Tim saw it out of the corner of his eye, he just took off into a canter!! I had to drop the whip again to make him slow down. But I was proud of the way I managed to hold on when he went for his unexpected run! Then we went for a short hack. It was fun but I'm still having great problems stopping my feet from slipping through the stirrups, think perhaps they were too long…must try shortening them next week and see if that helps any…

WEEK 5 - Things went much better for me this week. I was back on Autumn and Robbie took Tim. We went straight out for a hack. No problems with my feet slipping through the stirrups today, and didn't do too badly with the reigns. We did a good bit of walking/trotting on the road and through the fields. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it! However, Robbie didn't fare so well, this week he was having problems with his stirrups and with the reigns, and controlling Tim, so he was very depressed at the end of the lesson. But I'm sure he'll be back to normal next week, we all have bad weeks once in a while! At the end of our hack, we got to do a little bit of cantering in one of the fields, it went quite well I think, but still a long way to go! Hopefully we both improve greatly next week…

WEEK 6 -