NEW RIDER WITH LOW SELF ESTEEM

ladydreamer · Member Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 25

IM BACK AGAIN. I NEED SOME ADVICE. I AM LEARNING TO RIDE. DOING GREAT! HE GOES, STOPS, TURNS, TROTS, WHATEVER I WANT HIM TO DO. THINK IM DOING GREAT. PROBABLY HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE HORSE THOUGH. ANYWAYS.... I HAVE A HECK OF A TIME GETTING ON AND GETTING OFF. SCARED OUT OF MY MIND. HAVE FALLEN A FEW TIMES. I AM 6 FT TALL, BIG BONED AND 300LBS. YES, I KNOW I SHOULDNT EVEN BE ON A HORSE, BUT TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO. IM SURE IM NOT THE ONLY LARGE WOMAN WHO RIDES. I FIT WELL IN A 15 INCH SADDLE, SO I GUESS IM PROPORTIONED AND MY HORSE ISNT DYING BY THE TIME I GET OFF HIM, HARDLY EVEN SWEATS, HA. ANYWAYS, WHAT SHOULD I DO. MOUNTING BLOCKS ARE LIKE 85.00, TRY GETTING UP ON STUFF, AFRAID I'LL GET HURT AND IM SCARED TO GET OFF UNLESS SOMEONE IS BEHIND ME TO CATCH ME CAUSE I FELL, ANYWAYS........... IM ANXIOUS TO GET ANY INPUT ON THIS. THANKS AGAIN.

Shineillusion · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 1:26 am Post subject:

As long as your horse is big enough, and mature, there's no reason you shouldn't be riding him. So don't put yourself down. It's ok to be large. It's not ok to beat yourself up over it. Tell that little voice in your head that keeps putting you down to shut up and go away.

Now, are you attempting to step down from your horse when you dismount, or are you kicking your left foot free of the stirrup and dropping? If you're trying to step down with your foot still in the stirrup, no wonder you fell. That's a bad way to dismount, and a good way to get dragged if the horse spooks. Have someone teach you to drop free.

For a mounting block, you could build one yourself if you're handy, or have someone build it for you if you're not. All you need is a couple of risers a few boards, a drill and some wood screws. A building supply store or home improvement store should have everything you need.

I can't mount from the ground because of a leg and back injury. I've used a variety of things as mounting blocks, from overturned buckets to a large tree stump. I snatched a large log from the wood pile and used that for quite a few years, too. Look around and use your imagination. You'll find something that will do the job.

ladydreamer · Member Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 25

I CANT TURN BACK THE CLOCK AND CHANGE MY BODY NOW, AND I CANT CHANGE THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND BEING BIG AND I CANT CHANGE MY ALREADY INHERITED FAMILY SIZE, AND I DEFINITELY NOW CANT CHANGE MY LOVE LOVE LOVE FOR MY HORSES. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER. YOU GAVE ME THE INSPIRATION I NEEDED TO RIDE, RIDE RIDE. ITS GOOD TO KNOW THAT ITS OK THAT I CANT JUST JUMP ON HIM LIKE JOHN WAYNE OR SHANIA TWAIN. HA HA. YES, IVE BEEN TAUGHT TO LEAVE MY LEFT FOOT IN THE STIRRUP AND I HATE THAT CAUSE THAT IS WHY I FALL. SO IM GOING TO TRY IT WITHOUT IT IN. I BELIEVE I COULD DO IT BETTER BY LOSSEN THAT FOOT , HOLDING ON TO HIS HORN OR HIS NECK OR SOMEWHERE AND GETTING OFF.....

Shineillusion · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:15 pm Post subject:

When you're dismounting, remove your right foot from the stirrup, but leave your left foot in. Swing your right leg over the horses back, with your weight on the left foot. Support yourself with your arms while you kick your left foot free of the stirrup, then drop straight down the horses side to the ground. Simple, much safer than trying to step down, especially if you're large, or if you have a stiff leg, like mine.

someday · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 1:23 pm Post subject:

Instead of building a mounting block, I bought a step ladder from Walmart. It makes it much easier to get on with a little extra height(especially for me because I'm short and my horses are giants!) The one I bought is white and is very sturdy. Doesn't wobble a bit when you're climbing it, and it's been tossed around to horse shows and used daily for years now and it's still not looking worn(dirty, but hey...we ride in dirt).

Laura05 · Member Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 144 Location: USA

When I was younger and we had horses I had a friend that was to short to reach the stirrup from the ground. Her husband (she was lots older then me) cut down a tree right by thier barn and left the stump high enough for her to use as a step so she could ride her giant horse... well the horse looked like a giant to me!! She taught that horse to stand there while she got on and got settled and it would only move after she told it to. As a kid I was amazed!! lol

As for the size of the ridder... I really don't think it matters. It would be an horrible world if we all looked the same! Good for you for getting out and having some fun!!!! Very Happy

Happy trails!!!!! Your the best

ladydreamer · Member Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 25

Got a sturdy stepping stool from Walmart. tried it today and it worked! also, tried dismount and worked too. but he did not want to ride and started acting up, think he is still sore, not outer sore but something from the sore on the end of his mane, but anyways, i got him under control and got off. which i guess i did right cause i would have tried again except for i knew there had to be a ligitiment reason why he didnt want to ride. thanks for the suggestions and encouragment again. sure i'll have more questions later on.