Marleen, while I don't know you personally I have given lots of lessons to people struggling with all those same emotions. Not to brag but I was really good at it too, and that's because I was exactly at their same place at one time.
24 yrs ago a two yr old filly I owned and raised reared and flipped over backwards on me and broke my spine in two places. Left me paralyzed from the waist down for about 45 minutes besides the long recovery. So.. I KNOW how it feels to want to ride so badly with every cell in your body except those pesky self preservation ones.
Good for you! Keep up the good work, the more you conquer the fear the less, and less it will raise its ugly head.
Karen G www.princesscarriage.com
--- On Sun, 2/7/10, sassy me808 <sassyme808@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: sassyme808 <sassyme808@yahoo.com>
Subject: [haflingerfriends] A MileStone Day (First Ride on Charlie!!)
To: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, February 7, 2010, 1:46 PM
Well, it finally happened! I rode the most beautiful, wonderful horse in the
world today! I met Charlie's young rider today at the barn so she could put some
time in on him. I had him in a stall last night so he would be clean and dry,
so I got there early to groom him and spend some snuggle time before she
arrived. She tacked him up and rode him for an hour or so, while I cleaned the
stall and observed. He was downright mellow and even being a touch lazy, which
is unusual for him. She even cantered him a little, and he did fine, no anxiety
on his part. I decided it was time. I helmeted up, got on my riding boots,
tried to keep my pulse under control, and.....he moved away from me when I got
on the mounting block. I know he was picking up on my nerves, which contributed
to the disaster last spring. I did some deep breathing, layed over his back
from the block, got up and down from the block over and over. Finally, he
relaxed, I relaxed..... .and I was on! I immediately flexed him to each side
while I took deep breaths. He didn't move until I asked. I had him take a few
steps, then did a one rein stop, which stopped his feet instantly.
Flex....flex. ....Breathe. ...then we were off! Walk and trot around the arena,
stop to pose for pictures, then more walk trot, whoa's...back up three steps at
the whoa...all the things I learned in my lessons. I'm absolutely enthralled
with him. He feels strong and balanced. His walk is big and easy to move my
hips to, and his western jog is so comfortable I could ride it all day. No
wonder his young rider likes to trot him so much! I never even knew that my
saddle is very comfortable too! I'm so happy I decided to stick it out with him.
We are on our way! Thanks for letting me gush, and thanks for all the wonderful
advice and support that I have received here. I think that without this group I
may have caved to outside opinions and given up on him.
Marlene in Oregon
and Charlie!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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