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What are you proud of?

6K views 46 replies 33 participants last post by  Pavlusha 
#1 ·
I tend to write my posts when something has really gone wrong with my riding. I have found this forum a wonderful support network. So today let me say I am very proud of myself. I jumped 80 cm various time and loved it. Unlike last fall when I had very little experience I felt very safe and happy.

Tell me, what horsey achievement are you proud of at the moment?
 
#2 ·
Congratulations! It's so wonderful when it all starts to click.

I am proud that I'm learning to keep my legs in the correct position while posting (they would swing too far forward before). For awhile I couldn't even feel the right position, but now I can feel it and sometimes I can even do it. :lol:

That's what I LOVE about riding--there's always a new challenge, and it feels so good to master something!
 
#5 ·
I'll brag on my OTSTB, he hated being ridden for nearly 2 years. Sure, he tolerated it, but he was not confident, and not comfortable. So, I basically started addressing every little and big issue he had. He hated my Aussie Saddle, I nearly cried when I sold it, but he loves the Wintec AP (old style flocked and medium tree not the interchangable), next was wrapping everything in fleece to keep my sensitive gelding comfortable. While we are going between the Pee Wee and a 3 piece lozenge style full cheek, I'm leaning towards getting a Happy Mouth Mullen, he seems to prefer a solid mouth piece (he was a horrible puller on the track, including having a torn left lip and a damaged left bar from pulling) and while he is OK in the Pee Wee and full cheek, I'm not having that "Ah HAH" moment yet. He has started enjoying trails and loves going new places, and I'm looking very forward to exploring the trails now that we've moved to Davie Florida.

He is happier just gaiting nicely down the trails, and while I've shelved my dreams of showing (he hates arenas) he is just a super incredibly nice horse, tons of personality, very athletic, and did I mention tons of personality? His stink eye is the stuff of legends at the barn.
 
#6 ·
I'm proud of Navigator starting to work from behind and go on the bit more consistently. It's not perfect, and we still have our problems, but compared to a year ago he is a different horse and I am very happy. :)

This is a good thread, I think it's important to think of these proud moments now and again. Helps us see that we are accomplishing things even when we're frustrated.
 
#8 ·
Yeah this is actually a really good thread idea. Reading back on some of my threads, Rush comes across as this ill mannered brat with a lot of patience, meanwhile he's just a huge dork ( I say that with love) that's well meaning but quirky with a 'do/do not' list a mile long (The list has gotten shorter over the years...), though the part of him being very tolerant of me is 100% true ;)

We had a breakthrough on my end and I was actually able to tell when he dropped down and rounded his back versus when he braced and hollowed out (and we're working on me being better at riding him to reduce that to a minimum).
 
#9 ·
I'm proud that for the first time in...4 years?? I've been constantly working with a trainer (for the past two months) and am learning such things about dressage that I didn't even know existed! On top of that, getting rid of my bad habits..sometimes it gets very frustrating. But I'm still proud that I'm giving it my best :) and my mare Aghata is really trying too, bless her sweet self.
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#10 ·
I don't know. I'm proud of "little moments" and "little accomplishments." Like one time I wasn't as focused as I needed to be and I got it wrong but Dante stepped up and got it right. That is the only time he ever did that and I was so proud of him. He's not a horse that will step it up for you, he's a horse that will do his job and enjoys it but he's going to make you work for every moment.

I was also proud the first time in leg yield when my timing was a little off and he didn't balk or threaten to rear. That was pretty special.

Another time it was really-really windy and Dante is a nervous horse (we joke he needs xanax) and as a rider you could feel his whole body was nervous and anxious. He was spooking when I exhaled too loudly on a loose rein lol. So I gathered him up and got him focused, he was already on edge when someone came flying around the corner but instead of trying to fly away from the situation, he let me ride him through the corner. Granted in a steep shoulder in and he still tried to run off but he listened and responded to my half halts, rather then reacted. I was really proud of him because he's genuinely scared but he listens and calms down.

It's probably when he's that scared and that nervous but instead of acting out or reacting, he turns and listens to me. He's a spook because he's very aware, very smart and has a strong sense of self preservation but the fact that he trusts me and will let me ride him through it means a lot to me. Sometimes if I just close my calf on him to half halt he calms down. Just get his focus, get him working and he calms down.
 
#11 ·
So nice to hear about the good things! Riding is such uphill, downhill experience that sometimes we don't even talk about the good times but only about the obstacles we encounter! I had another proud moment today. I rode on the very muddy outdoors arena and P spooked at a reversing tractor, jumped a few times sides ways, reared a tiny bit, and I stayed on. No mud woman today!!!

And I am proud of P almost every day- he has taught me sooo much
 
#13 ·
I'm very proud of how far my horse and I have come in the past 6 months. It's hard to pinpoint specific moments, but the whole experience has been amazing.

Anyone who's ever shown performance horses knows that a lot of physical and mental discipline is required by both rider and horse. As I moved barns to start a more competitive career, my ex-show mare had gone from a pleasure/simple riding horse to being a show horse again... And man, did she feel the pressure. She has always been a cranky sass, but her attitude got much worse for the first few months. She was probably thinking, "Mom, I haven't had to be a show horse in 6 years, why are you making me do this?!" For two months, she fought us every step of the way. She wouldn't bend, she wouldn't come onto the contact, refused to use her hocks or back, and she would spook at nothing. In short, she lost her marbles from the sudden pressure of having to really work again.

Fast forward 6 months, and I've never been happier with my mare. Months of hard work and conditioning, and she has learned that being a show horse isn't so bad - that the only thing preventing her from being happy in her work was her own attitude about it. Now she is a hard working mare who gets straight to her job when you get on (at least, most days anyway!). She comes right onto the contact when asked, moves forward and tracks up when pushed, and bends softly around my leg with the lightest cues.

She is still a tad spooky/looky, but she has always been that way. The difference now is, I correct her immediately and tell her to pay attention, and 90% of the time she does. No horse is perfect, but she's slowly getting close.

I'm also very happy of where I am, too. Before I came out to see this trainer, I had no idea what an outside rein was, let alone the absolute importance it holds in riding well. I actually cannot believe the difference learning to use the outside rein properly has affected my riding for the better.

I am also incredibly proud of my new ability to ride "difficult" horses. My direction has become much more clear and consistent, and my corrections are quicker and concise. I am slowly becoming a solid rider, though my equitation still needs a bit of work.
 
#14 ·
I am proud that over the last year I have managed to purchase my own little piece of heaven and am now able to keep my horses on my property. I'm SO happy that they actually get used and worked with now instead of just sitting in pasture.

And I'm also proud that I found a really great trainer to take lessons from...it is a HUGE learning curve (haven't taken any lessons for at least 8 years). I get overwhelmed sometimes, but I am learning a lot and so is Tiger. It is great to see the old guy getting into better shape.

OH, and I'm super proud that i can now hook up the horse trailer to my truck by myself with minimal amounts of curse words (a back up camera would sure be useful sometimes).
 
#15 ·
I "like" the thread and everyone's posts! :) I am excited that my colt Bones has been doing good on learning to cut! I have also been doing a lot of random things on him because I am trying to make a horse that is very all-around. So this week I decided to man up and start doing tricks with him. I was nervous because he is only coming three, and we didn't do more than walk, but he was so good!
 

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#16 ·
Many proud moments - most for pupils.

However, I do recall competing in the Pony Club Horse Trials doing the dressage and for the first time ever felt my horse strike behind, off into a canter. I was able to half halt and immediately ask again and get the correct canter before the market. (It was a canter strike off between C and H)
 
#17 ·
You know what I am proud of?

Riding my horse outside of a lesson.

Sounds silly, I know.

But it was a milestone for me. Was I scared? A little- but not this sat. I realized part of the issue is me having to learn to deal with a mare in heat when all I ever rode before were geldings.

So, she is not in heat. Was calm the day prior. I am the type of person that conditions have to be right for me to go the next level. I had saddled her before, and it wasn't right, so just did groundwork with a saddle on. Sat- before I left my house, I said I am riding my mare today.

And I rode my mare.

No BO/instructor present. No bring her buddy up to keep her company ( tho, the one field buts up against the ring and the horses were right there- to me that was a plus having them there so she wasn't completly alone). Just me, the horse, and my fiance with a phone incase something went wrong....

and nothing went wrong.

I am proud of the fact that I rode my horse.

Whats that? Pictures or no proof? No way- all I said is I rode my horse, not that I looked good.
 
#18 ·
A lot of proud moments through the years. But recently, I am most proud that both of my horses have gotten to the point that despite not having enough time to ride them regularly, I can tack them up and have a nice, relaxing ride. No re-training, no cold backs, no having to lunge out energy. It took a few years to get here, but I finally feel they are solid no matter how long they sit between rides.
 
#19 ·
I was always proud of any praise given by my trainers over the years. I take criticism well, but some positive reinforcement makes me happy <3<3

One moment that I can think of in particular happened in middle school or early high school. At the time I was riding a Hunter who had a fabulous attitude on the flat but tended to get a little hot over fences.
It was in the morning and we were in the warm up arena at a show--our division was rather large, so it was quite hectic. Horses everywhere--you all know the drill xD I went down a line and my horse threw a few good bucks and I came off... right in front the spectator stands for this ring. My show clothes were brand new and were now covered in dirt and splotched with a little blood (I had hit my teeth on his neck when he came up and they were now bleeding just a little). I was absolutely mortified.
My trainer jogged over and gave me a leg up and we continued... I went on to take Res Champ at the show <3 I was extremely proud of myself for not crumbling under the embarrassment.
#WhatHappensInWarmupStaysInWarmup ;)
 
#20 ·
Before I bought my mare she was having a lot of problems with the right lead canter, would get frustrated and start bucking.
I don't have a good place to do much schooling so our canter work has been on the back burner but today I rode down to a neighbour who has an outdoor ring and we practiced our canter and got every lead, no bucking or rushing. Yea!!!
 
#21 ·
I'm proud that I actually got on my mare today and had a ride. She's basically been out of work for 5 years while I've been away at uni. She didn't try to throw me at all. And although we were just walking around for ten minutes, she tried her hardest and was as close to collected as an unfit horse can be.
 
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#22 ·
I'm proud of my horses in general. Proud of the quality I bought despite being impulse buys. I've had many people tell me both of them have talent to be very competitive. Proud of how far I took them myself. Proud of Blaze in his first over fences show getting 1st in HUS and 5/21 in 2'3". Proud of how well Julius is doing with my trainer(Blaze is a little **** for my trainer, lol)
 
#23 ·
Sunday I was proud of both me and my gelding. We were on a trail ride and he was really acting up; something was making him nervous.

While he never calmed down as much as I would have liked (probably part my fault) I was proud of us both because:

1. I was able to give very light cues (had trouble with that before), and even though he was acting up he listened to them (also a little trouble before).

2. He went to step off to the side of the trail where I didn't want him, and I affectively corrected him before he could get away with anything, so his butt never left the path. It was like instinct took over and he got a strong (not rough, just getting his attention) reminder that I was picking direction. (Again, we'd had trouble with this. Before I would often realize too late what he was doing and have a hard time correcting it, so he sometimes got away with it *not without getting turned back the way I originally wanted as soon as I had the space, which was typically in a couple of seconds* He's one that if you don't catch him early, he knows how to use his bigger size and greater strength to do what he wants, so you have to stay ahead of him.)

3. Adding on to the first one I said, I was using leg cues too, which I often couldn't remember to do when riding. I wasn't taught to ride that way at first and am learning that on my own, so it wasn't part of my normal thinking process while riding.
 
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#25 ·
I am proud and amazed every day of my little mare.

I have four horses. I don't think I care about any of them more than this little girl right here. Sounds terrible to say that out loud but it's the honest truth, she's my favorite four legged kid.

Here she is with a lesson kid yesterday. First time this girl has really ridden by herself.

She rode her in just a side pull. I followed with a lunge whip for some encouragement.
 

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