After any setback (time off, injury, or my case 'major change'), getting the motivation to get back on your horse knowing where you were before, can be a challenge.
I did have a mini Ruby-meltdown last night. Why? Well, let's look at our riding history:
Purchased Ruby and rode with same team for years- gained lots of confidence and jumped little courses no problem. Barn goes out of business= new management and uncertain future. Moved Ruby away from the horses and riders with whom we had grown together. Meltdown. Couldn't do anything, and found owner's son throwing WolfPack fireworks at my horse. Went back to previous barn (which had survived management change). Met Connie. Started over with training, and got to jumping 3' 3'3" courses after about a year- Ruby and I jumped everything from picnic benches, chairs, mounting block, tires, everything! Barn went under, so we moved. Meltdown. Started over (again). I left for VA Beach for work for 3 months and had other riders ride Ruby for me...came home and she refused EVERYTHING- cross rails, trot poles= our confidence was crushed (either Ruby was holding some major grudge or my riders asked her to do something she didn't want to/couldn't do). Moved barns again to get a fresh start. That barn closed shorty after our move (Jesus!) so we moved to be with CJ. Stared over (we're pretty good at this now). After about 6 moths, we were back to jumping 2'-2'3" with minor confidence issues (all on my end), but no more refusals. Moved 700 miles away, and now...
New trainer, new barn, new climate, new everything. I gave Ruby 2 months off to adjust (for both of us) to the move -my second ride on her since was last night. It has been hard, because I know I will have to start over again to build us both back up. After so many hurdles (pun not intended), sometimes I feel like we just can't win. Finding Heldergate (with CJ and Olivia), Connie, and Harry was the best thing that had happened to Ruby and I. CJ and Connie weren't just trainers- they were friends. I could show up to a lesson with CJ in tears about boy problems, work problems, whatever, and we would have a beer and chat at the barn (she always joked that I didn't need to pay for therapy, which I was doing at the time, because she and Ruby were better for me than any 'therapist'- so I did drop the psychologist and took more lessons/rode more- best decision ever). If you ever want to learn about the political situation in Zimbabwe, discuss government types, or just have an ear, CJ is your go-to on that front! Connie was the same way, and I actually stayed at her place for a bit after a really bad breakup (stacking hay beats moping). She didn't just teach me about riding/training, but about economics, politics, and finances. At either barn, I could spend all day with either trainer knowing that they cared not just about training, but about Ruby and I personally. This new barn is all about business so far, and I have only seen the owner/trainer a handful of times. I never realized how much a great group of trainers/friends made a difference in my riding!
Ruby and I are still the new kids at this barn though, I am hoping we can find what we lost in the move.
(left): CJ and I sharing some jokes during the Heldergate "Friends and Family" horse show. I'm pretty sure someone could walk into the middle of one of our conversations and think we were both insane...add Olivia to the mix and witty snarky comments were flying all over the place!
(right): Connie and either I discussing changing riding standards in hunter shows, or me saying something funny about the people watching I did in the city.
Lesson with Harry, where he constantly yelled (if you could call that 'yelling') 'plenty time, plenty time' and 'don't worry so much!' throughout my lesson.
What used to be 'heels down' was then 'chill out' as the most commonly heard phrase in my lessons by all three of them.
Change, although necessary, honestly can suck hardcore. Either way, I can always count on Ruby to be there for me through it all; everything else can change, but our bond won't. No matter what difficulties lie ahead, always remember that if you can't go out and pick yourself back up for YOU, do if for your horse.
What used to be 'heels down' was then 'chill out' as the most commonly heard phrase in my lessons by all three of them.
Change, although necessary, honestly can suck hardcore. Either way, I can always count on Ruby to be there for me through it all; everything else can change, but our bond won't. No matter what difficulties lie ahead, always remember that if you can't go out and pick yourself back up for YOU, do if for your horse.
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