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Mina
Aug 25, 2010 20:22:42 GMT 1
Post by nellie on Aug 25, 2010 20:22:42 GMT 1
I have ridden Mina for the first time in her new home! To put this into context, after the party I went down with some kind of 24/48hr bug. It was absolutely the fault of my job ( !) because it's been VERY stressy and a LOT of hours recently which is a very bad thing. Anyway the net result of feeling feeble and stressy was that I've been very jumpy which is a very bad thing when you are trying to help a horse settle into a new home . Mina has been picking up on my nerves and I've been picking up on hers so, with the handling of her on the ground becoming quite tense, the idea of riding was making me feel quite ill . But up stepped two lovely fellow owners at the yard and my husband, Akis (who is totally oblivious and therefore Mina is really chilled with him). They had clearly decided I needed help to get over this hurdle and that today had to be the day! First they helped me to lunge her and that was really reassuring as she was so quiet and sensible (actually, all she wanted to do for me was to stand still but I'm sure I'll get more commanding as I become more confident) and then one of the girls hopped on board to take her for a stroll round the school. She (Mina!) was as good as gold (of course, I hear Avril say!) but that gave me great confidence. So up I hopped and off we went for a little hack. I do have to admit that one of the girls came with me. She borrowed a very sensible cob and off we pootled. Mina was fantastic! We went behind, beside and in front and, indeed, Mina felt that some of the alternative paths looked far more inviting despite her fellow cob having already set off in completely the opposite direction. Avril, we took your advice and did a couple of nice, as long as possible, trots up hill. But we then followed this up with a fab canter up another hill, popping a little log on the way ;D! We were only out for half an hour, perfect for our first hack together, and I came home feeling relaxed, confident and happy... and in love! It was so lovely to be reminded of why I fell in love with Mina in the first place . All I've got to do is to sort out my nerves on the ground - which I had not anticipated. However, I was much better after our ride and so was she... so fingers crossed! Oh, and I have to mention all of this took place in the most horrible rain - which Mina just ignored, how perfect is that?! Anyway, her reward was to be turned out tonight in her new rug, looking like a right smarty pants with a nice bit of haylage to supplement the little bit of grass she hasn't yet eaten (my but can she hoover up the grass!). Helen
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Mina
Aug 25, 2010 20:35:45 GMT 1
Post by melsaunders25 on Aug 25, 2010 20:35:45 GMT 1
Hi Helen well done for your first hack, after all the excitement of actually buying Mina and the shopping trips, reality hits and it can all be a bit overwhelming, but after having met you i have know doubt that buy the end of the week you will be completely organized and confident, and also Mina is such a lovely girl you will be having so much fun together. Glad your feeling better and i hope this rain clears up for you.
Kind regards
Mel x
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ange
Full Member
Posts: 219
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Mina
Aug 25, 2010 21:44:55 GMT 1
Post by ange on Aug 25, 2010 21:44:55 GMT 1
Well done Helen for your first (not so quiet - with all that trotting plus a canter and a jump!!!) hack - if you can do that in the saddle first time out then your ground nerves shouldn't take long to improve! Maybe try a bit of Em's massage on Mina - it might sooth you both!
All the best, Ange.
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Mina
Aug 25, 2010 22:30:39 GMT 1
Post by liz on Aug 25, 2010 22:30:39 GMT 1
Wow, Helen! I'm so pleased that you've had such a great first hack on Mina She sounds a real saint! I'm sure you'll be fine with handling her as she is so mannered, by the sound of things. Try chattering to her quietly as you potter around - give her a lovely scratch on the withers - I'll bet that will relax you as much as it does Mina. I never worried about riding out in the rain, wind etc and, believe me, it did get windy on the top of the Quantocks! I used a quarter sheet in really foul weather in the winter as my horses were clipped. I have to say I rarely had any trouble because of the weather and it wasn't until a friend of mine, of many years standing, told me she avoided riding in the wind that I even thought about it being a problem! Onwards and forwards, Helen!
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Mina
Aug 26, 2010 10:35:17 GMT 1
Post by angelac on Aug 26, 2010 10:35:17 GMT 1
Hi Helen That sounds really great Very impressive for a first hack. I'm sure the handling on the ground will fall into place as you get to know each other. I know what you mean about men being oblivious Mine was eventually a bit too oversure and decided if he climbed on my tricky cob all would be well.( Actually he had been good as gold for me that morning) Well its a tale best saved for the party or similar, but lets just remember horses are great levellers Actually since all ended well it still makes me smile now. Hee Hee !! Well guess I'd better go and do something if I want this pm with the horses! All the best with Mina
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Mina
Aug 26, 2010 11:09:24 GMT 1
Post by sarah on Aug 26, 2010 11:09:24 GMT 1
Hi Helen, I am so sorry that being poorly has impacted on you bonding with Mina, but having had such an amazing first ride on her ( cantering and jumping - I am VERY impressed. ;D ) I think you will soon be very relaxed with her on the ground. She sounds like a real treasure and I cant wait to read about your next few rides, and also how she settles in. More stories and pics please! Best wishes, Sarah.
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Mina
Aug 26, 2010 15:14:38 GMT 1
Post by cobblergirl on Aug 26, 2010 15:14:38 GMT 1
Hi Helen Gald you are feeling better, Sounds like you found a good yard , plenty of help when you need it Most . Its good news you found out early on, one less thing to worry about . Akis sounds like he going to enjoy looking after Mina too . "" So relax " and enjoy, all that lovely riding you will do All the best Sue
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Mina
Aug 26, 2010 19:05:43 GMT 1
Post by sharonspiers on Aug 26, 2010 19:05:43 GMT 1
Hi Helen Well it seems to me that you have got off to a pretty good start considering you felt poorly. At least you have some good support at your yard, as well as a chilled husband. I have to say that when we got Sula home we were all rather over awed by it all. Speaking for myself, my confidence went up and down rather a lot. I can see why some people say it takes up to a year to really settle with your horse. If you can not only canter but go over a small jump on your first hack then your confidence is gonna come on in leaps and bounds. When i'm starting to get carried away with my thoughts i just drop my shoulders, take a long slow breath and concentrate on relaxing and remembering what Avril said about Sula. It really helps.I feel like a different person to who i was 3 months ago. So much more confident and getting to know Sula is proving wonderful. Anyway good luck and i look forward to seeing how you settle together sharon
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Mina
Sept 5, 2010 16:48:30 GMT 1
Post by sarah on Sept 5, 2010 16:48:30 GMT 1
I hope everything is going well with Mina, and that she is continuing to settle in, and giving you some lovely rides.
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Mina
Sept 10, 2010 0:20:48 GMT 1
Post by nellie on Sept 10, 2010 0:20:48 GMT 1
Thank you all for your lovely messages and I'm so sorry I haven't posted for so long . I'm so slow at mucking out it's usually 8pm by the time I get home and then I fall asleep straight after I've eaten (all that fresh air and exercise)! However, I am determined that I am going to get better at mucking out and at arriving home at a more sensible time as I do miss my regular MySafecobs hit! So a quick update: Mina and I are making great progress. We have had some wonderful hacks and Mina really stepped up to the mark beautifully when we needed to provide a safe and steady escort for a rider out for their first ride (on a lead rein) on a cob that prefers to tuck in behind. The ground work is really coming together too and it's so interesting what you say, Sharon, as my confidence has been on a roller-coaster ride and I too have started relaxing my shoulders when I feel tense . And, Liz, I do have a good old natter to her as we go along - which is an improvement as when I am really tense I sing (unless I'm hacking and it happens to be "Rhinestone Cowboy" which is my very relaxed and happy song). The others on the yard continue to be a source of great help, support and inspiration, I really count my blessings for having landed at such a place. All I've got to sort now is the job... but I'm even feeling more positive about that now!
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Mina
Sept 10, 2010 22:27:58 GMT 1
Post by nellie on Sept 10, 2010 22:27:58 GMT 1
Well, I'm feeling so proud of myself - I managed to get home just a little after 7.30pm this evening, woo hoo!
I'm a bit concerned about what I may have forgotten to do - but Mina was all brushed off and out with her rain sheet on, and her stable all looked ok so I'm hoping it is all ok!
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Mina
Sept 13, 2010 20:34:21 GMT 1
Post by sharonspiers on Sept 13, 2010 20:34:21 GMT 1
Hi Helen Well it sounds as though Mina is having a positive effect on you as a whole. It really is amazing how a horse can make you feel isn't it? I;m so pleased for you that things are settling well. As we said it is a roller coaster but oh so enjoyable. Isn't all that mucking out ect great excercise. When i got Sula it took a while for me to realise that she was really the horse that Avril described. I just kept thinking that surely she would play up or behave badly at times but she is such a darling. I feel so much more confidant i can't tell you. I still have wobbles but Sula is such a confidence giver. The thing i love the most is that if something makes her spook she will settle straight back down and not take it on at all. It's a very good feeling. Well do keep us up to date won't you. it's lovely to hear your journey with Mina. all the best Sharon
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Mina
Sept 28, 2010 12:35:28 GMT 1
Post by nellie on Sept 28, 2010 12:35:28 GMT 1
My only excuse for such a long gap in my posts is that life has been frantic! At work, there was only me for 3 weeks (out of a team of 4) then a new team to train with the timer ticking away to the change in our employer and I was on a countdown to an operation on my hip so I haven’t had a lot (if any!) time to post. But it hasn’t stopped my mind filling with things I want to say about Mina so - WARNING - this is a bit of a long post! She was an absolute treasure on our second hack without a horsey companion, stepping out the whole way round with confidence, relaxed and happy. We did a lovely hack with another of the mares and had great fun - including popping over at least 4 small jumps. Avril had said she enjoys her jumping and she’s so right (again, of course!). I love the feeling she gives when she spots a jump and gathers herself together, you can feel the enthusiasm but it’s not at all scary just exhilarating! The first time, I went to grab her mane but of course she doesn’t have one so perhaps being hogged does have its benefits if it breaks this habit! We have also been on our first hack with two other horses. They were both horses that she has been out with singly and they are both field companions. To start with she was at the back, which she was rather disgusted about - not in a speedy-up type of way but just a bit of grump. I think that was because she was establishing herself as number 2 in the field at the time, above both the other mares we were out with, so she felt she shouldn’t be behind them on a hack! But she soon settled and was an absolute treasure (again!). One of the mares was quite on her toes and every time we came to a hill, she trotted off no matter if Mina and I were still a way behind or round a corner but this was no issue for Mina: don’t you just love that? I do! As the ride progressed the order chopped and changed and we went alongside, in the middle and at the front and Mina was very well behaved wherever she went (though clearly likes being in front best: Avril would say she’s getting that from me, I couldn‘t possibly comment!). On the way back we bumped into a battalion of soldiers on exercise in their camouflage gear. We did an abrupt about turn and came home a different way which was just as well as the next thing we heard was gunfire! Mina jumped. Well, that is to say she tensed and her head came-up for all of about 30 seconds! It was so nice to get our first Army encounter out of the way. We are really lucky to have about 1,000 acres of off-road riding right on our doorstep (literally, we have a back gate from the farm straight out) but we do have to share it with the Army which can get a bit exciting! Having got that under our belt, the next day we went out with one of the geldings. He’s a really sweet horse but hadn’t met Mina before and his eyes were out on stalks! I like to think it was admiration for such a curvaceous lady ;D. Mina just mooched along in her totally relaxed mode although she did squeal at him when they sniffed noses! Again we met the Army though this time they were just unloading from their minibuses and loading up with backpacks and guns. Mina looked at them so I straightened her head and we just kept going but in fact I would say she was curious rather than worried, there was no tension, just interest. The gelding kept a rolling eye on them and tucked in beside Mina’s bottom - and also walked straight by so that was really good as he didn’t do anything to make Mina think she should worry. As mentioned above, she had tried to establish herself as number 2 in the field which was a little unexpected as when she was first turned out all she was interested in was eating! However, recently the order has been upset again by the departure of number 1 mare and the arrival of a new pony and a 2½ year old filly. I’m not sure what will happen to the pecking order but I told Mina she had to look after the newbies because, whilst she was more than a match for the pony which charged, I’m not sure these two are. Anyway, the filly is still in her own little paddock among the herd and Mina seems to be following my request. Yesterday when they turned Mina out (I can’t walk down there at the moment having had my op), she trotted off calling to the filly and went straight across to nuzzle her before settling down to graze, what a sweetie . I love the way she walks across the field in the morning to be caught and that she likes a little scratch and pat before we move off. I love that she watches me walk across the yard in the afternoon when I first arrive. I love that she closes her eyes and drops her head when I rub her forelock. I love that she’s taking great care not to walk into me and my crutches and I love the way she sums people up: she’s so kind and gentle with my non-horsey husband and sister and with my sister’s friend, who is helping me out with lifts and TLC for Mina, but who is also a little fragile at the moment (what a pair we are!).
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Mina
Sept 28, 2010 14:51:33 GMT 1
Post by liz on Sept 28, 2010 14:51:33 GMT 1
I love that post, Helen It's so positive and happy. God bless Mina!
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Mina
Sept 28, 2010 17:34:40 GMT 1
Post by nellie on Sept 28, 2010 17:34:40 GMT 1
If this works, you should be able to see a picture of Mina on her first solo hack. I love it, she's so excited to be out in strange surroundings on her own she's falling asleep in the sun! Attachments:
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