VictoriaHelen.

EQUESTRIAN CHALLENGE - DAY FOUR

“a ride that changed my life”

honestly, i’ve ridden far too many ponies and horses, for far too many people. i can’t remember a ride that specifically changed my life. so many rides have left me on a high for weeks or months, all i do then is to aim for that in my riding for the next however long. i think however a ride that changed my life would have to be a ride on my old mare tikarla. she was the horse that changed my life. the horse that took me from competing at 80cms and thinking very naively that i was brilliant, to someone competing competitively at 1.20cms but knowing i had flaws and working so very hard to correct them. i went for regular lessons and found my trainer who i ended up working for and just learning ever so much. 

the main ride though, that sticks in my head was a lesson i had when i’d been riding her for about 3 or 4 months. i went for a lesson with the chief instructor of my pony club. i’d been having a few issues with her bucking, lifting her head in front of a fence and running through the bridle. i’d miss my strides and everything was a total mess. it was a wintery morning, january some time, my boss took me down and i can’t remember why but i was so nervous, maybe of failing, thinking i’d make a fool out of myself. i just remember her telling me that all of the problems were stemming from my riding. i was a bit too heavy and i was driving with my seat. she made me shorten my stirrups and stand up. i spent the whole lesson standing and eventually was jumping a course at about 1.20-1.30. it was amazing the difference is made, i was rhythmic and well set up. it was the first time i felt in control, from then on it was only upwards!