If you dont want to read quite a long question, than please dont comment "too long". If your prepared to help, than thanks
Well, I've only been at my new yard a month or so, and so far I dont know many people. I know a couple of people well enough to say, "Hi how are you", and, "beware the grounds really icy today ", etc, but not really well enough to have proper conversations with them. I share my horse a few days a week, generally two up to four days in a week, which makes it even harder to get to know people . Plus the fact i am PAINFULLY shy of new people, and the way I behave around them makes me look impolite and like I'm not bothered to talk to them, but really its because I'm REALLY shy of them. I mean, i've had one ride in the arena one day with a girl I know very vaguely from school, shes in my year but I've never had any school lessons with her so i dont know her well at all. So at the moment im kind of a billy-no-mates in the yard. Except for the girl from school who's even SHYER than me, plus I hardly ever see her up the yard because she keeps her horse at a completely different part of the yard (its a very big yard) and quite often she's not there even when I go to look.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Anyway, SO to the subject of the question, the daughter of the owner of the horse I share has asked me on a hack. She's my age but she's one of those perfect girls with immaculate hair and makeup, and she goes to a different school which is known for being a bit kind of ... I cant really describe. But the general theme of the school is the girls are very conscious of their hair and nails etc ... you know what i mean. She doesnt seem unkind, but I always feel a bit stupid around those kind of girls. I suppose she seems quite friendly, but I seem so awkward around these people cos Im shy, and I never know what to say which makes me seem silent and rude. It doesnt help that shes so ... perfect.
Anyway, so I'm suspecting her mum asked her to ask me on a hack because I'm generally aloneish at the yard and she wants me to "get out there and meet people" (shes that kind of woman). There is a chance that she actually wants to get to know me, but I've given her no reason to want to, I try to avoid her at the yard because I feel I'm bothering her or being awkward if I say "Hi" or try to chat. I suspect shes asked me because of her mum making her, or because she just pities me.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com So when we're on the hack, I feel quite stupid around her allready, plus I've had lots less horse experience than her. Because the share horse is fairly new and I havent ridden her too often, the noseband on the bridle confuses me SO much. I forget which type it is, but its not a regular one, and I'm scared I'll get it wrong in front of her. I've got it wrong before, but luckily I had the presence of mind to ask a couple of people if the noseband is correct, and they've corrected it for me. I would hate to set off on a hack with the noseband done up wrong, or having to ask the yard staff or her if its correct, because she could tell her mum I'm stupid and not right for to share their horse. Also the horse hates having the girth done up, and breathes deliberately out, and I'm not very strong and its really hard to reach cos the horse is massive and the girl might laugh to see me struggle.
When I'm on the hack, I'm fine in walk, and trot etc. I'm fine in canter in the arena, but I'm not very confident in canter on hacks because canter on open ground can quickly turn into a very fast gallop. Plus the last time I was on a canter on a hack when I was still at riding schools (it was probably five or so months ago) I lost both my stirrups on the biggest, cart-horse type with the broadest back and the bounciest canter, and it took sheer stickability to stay on. I'm lucky I generally have quite good balance, because with two more riders cantering/galloping behind me, a fall couldve ended very badly. Anyway, so if she asks me to canter, or worse, gallop, what should I do? any tips to make me feel more confident in the gallop? I've barely galloped at all, just a couple of times with the riding school a year to eighteen months back, even then I'm not sure it actually was a gallop. The instructor said canter, but it seemed a LOT faster and it didnt have the same rythum as canter at all, it was similar but a lot more jolty. I was unsure wether to try and sit to the rythum or lean forward, but i tried to sit to the rythum and I jolted my back so painfully I could barely breathe. I want to try to gallop but I need a confidence boost. the horse is 17 years old so shes not going to be super-speedy, but shes very big, taller than I probably should ride for my height and age. My main fear is that I couldnt slow the horse down if I had to. Also, if I need to stop, even if i did manage, there'd be no way that the othe
Just take a breath, ok??
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
You are a good person. You are worthy of having a "perfect girl" as a friend. Don't think that she's only hanging out with you cause her mom's making her. Horses tend to be an equalizer among down to earth people.
