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 Expert
Posts: 1304
 
| I had just posted (about a week ago I think?) about needing some helpful riding advice and I've started working on what you all said I needed to work on! I've started to do planks and am going to make it my duty to work out more and try some different kinds of exercises- yoga, zumba, etc. I also used my saddle for the first time in a lesson (hasn't been ridden in since last summer and only a few times as I bought it right around then) and it feels SO much better to ride in! The saddle isn't too small like I thought, I have a few inches between me and the pommel and just enjoy riding so much more in it and I'm barely sore today! I'm still having some issues with putting pressure on the outside of my feet in the stirrups and my ankles being sore. It's mostly my left foot/ankle so I'm not sure what I'm doing there but I'm going to try and turn the stirrups out some more and see if that helps. My seat is getting a lot better too! One of my biggest things I'm still havin a little bit of a hard time with, even though yesterday was a lot better, is confidence to go faster. Right now I'm just loping the barrels but when the horse I'm riding wants to go faster, it feels good but I automatically just hold him back. Since it's only been a few lessons I think it's good I've been going slower but I'd like to progress and I need to get this fear out of my head! Can anyone give me some good advice on how to overcome this? It sounds kinda bad but I often think that a drink or two would help. Lol  |
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 Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
 
Location: In my own world | You will get more brave in time. How about picking just part of the pattern to go fast on? Like from 3rd home and when you get comfortable with that work on in between barrels. Keep it up! You will get there!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | From reading your posts, it sounds like you started back riding but you are only able to ride once or twice a week? Plus you are trying to ride the pattern too?
You have probably already figured out that getting back into riding shape is work. You really need to be riding everyday for at least an hour doing basics, forget about the pattern and going fast for now. Otherwise, you are going to be really sore and be more apt to develop bad habits because you are not riding enough to get fit and work on your riding basics.
On the plus side, doesn't feel good to be back on a horse!
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| Thank you guys, I appreciate the encouragement and advice!
I think that maybe getting some speed in one part of the pattern may be a good idea! I may just try that. Usually at the beginning he wants to speed up and after each barrel so...basically the whole time which is obviously normal. Lol. I like how it feels but my mind tells me to stop and I just need to relax.
And yes, unfortunately I'm only able to ride about twice a week due to working two jobs that don't pay the best (in my last year of college, internship plus caregiving job) and I travel about 20-30 minutes for these lessons! I really wish I could ride more! I want to work on the basics and get back in shape in the saddle but without having my own horse anymore, I'd hate to pay to go everyday. It helps though because we do spend most of the time walking, trotting, loping circles, and trotting the pattern to get the correct form. I've only loped the pattern during a lesson twice every lesson! Riding is what I really need and want to do as often as I can and I wish I could ride more but it's not really financially doable for me right now when it comes to the cost of lessons and gas! Some of my soreness was that I was riding in a saddle 2 sizes too big for me and that I just need to get back into that hang of things. But I definitely see what you're saying! Luckily I am feeling less sore and more comfortable in the saddle and I think I'll just have to work with what I have right now. It feels so good to get back into riding!
I'm really trying to get back into riding, get experience barrel racing, etc so I'm able to look into purchasing my own horse and continue pursuing barrel racing once I'm out of college and stable! Luckily my instructor has barrel races at her arena so I'm able to go to those and in the near future exhibition and get some more practice that way. Just trying to get the guts to progress as far as I can right now and need to buck up and get some go. |
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| To get relaxed and your muscle memories back ... get out of the stress of being in an arena and go trail riding even if you have to find a state park with a rental string to go
riding for 3-4 hours at a time. They have deadheads and some horses with a little spark for you to pick from...
This gets your mind on terrain, sights and lets your butt get connected to your brain to tell you where your horse is at and what he is doing without thinking about it ... also builds your confidence and automatic reflex actions when you spend 3-4 hours in the saddle vs an hour of arena time.
Just like young horses ... people need the hours in the saddle too!!
GOOD LUCK .. |
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| I'll see if I can do that! That's how I really started riding was trail riding. Almost every day after school I would get on my horse and take off until dark or rain! It was a new adventure every day and I loved it. My horse could be spooky or wouldn't go over bridges or culverts and it was just one more thing I experienced and learned. Trail riding is the most relaxing thing out there in my opinion. |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Riding in two point at all goats for extended periods of time will help with getting more confident with speed. Not only does it strengthen your core muscles & work on balance, and work on flexibility of your ankles, you're also in the position you need to be for when you ask for speed. When you get more comfortable with that position, and you feel strong on that position, you'll also get more confident for speed as well. Strength builds balance, and better balance & feeling like you're in control builds confidence.
Working on ankle stretches & range of motion, and relaxing your legs will help with the ankles. |
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| Thank you! I will have to try that as well, I definitely think that'll help too! I had to look up what two point meant at first. Lol |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| Didn't you say that you just returned to barrel racing? It will come to you. That is exactly why the 4D system was set up, so that everyone can win. It will give you a lot of satisfaction moving up from one D to a faster one. Give it time. It may not happen over night. |
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Expert
Posts: 2121
Location: The Great Northwest | The Divisional races are perfect to build confidence and starting a new horse. |
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| Thanks guys! You're right and luckily my instructor has divisional barrel races at her arena (IBRA) so I can start out there! Last night's lesson went really well and then someone came to rent the arena so we ended the lesson with a trail ride which was so nice. So excited for the future  |
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