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T O P I C R E V I E W
MirandaToo
Posted - 07 Feb 2012 : 8:46:56 PM Hi
Have decided I am going to actually get organised this year and start my mission to finally do a pleasure ride!! (Believe me, for me this is up there with a moon mission!)
First step in my plan of action is that I am going to watch a ride in St Just, Cornwall..... I want to get an idea of exactly what is involved, before taking the ponio as I am a little worried we may become the rodeo side act . My thinking is that if I go and watch I will have an idea what to expect and therefore not be quite so pants wettingly terrified!!! Also hoping I might be able to meet people to share transport and to hold my hand!!
Anyway, if any of you fine people are going to this ride maybe you could let me know so that I can come and bore you with 101 pointless and stooopid questions!
8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
MirandaToo
Posted - 02 Mar 2012 : 8:29:02 PM Hi
Yes, that's the one Thought I'd take my walking boots and have a hike over the cliffs while I'm there!
Will definitely come and say hello. Do you know what time it is starting?
I'm based near Helston, so not too far x
mazey
Posted - 02 Mar 2012 : 6:10:29 PM Oops that should read live not lice
mazey
Posted - 02 Mar 2012 : 6:06:17 PM Hi, If the ride you are talking about is on Sunday, I am going to be there on a checkpoint. So if you are around come and say hello. It is starting and ending at the rugby club and will take in some very scenic riding along the cliffs.
I lice near St Just, where are you based?
Trudi
freedem
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 08:56:56 AM I find a cider the night before a ride helps MirandaToo! Since our pleasure ride Clara the pony has been a model of good behaviour. She was so relaxed hacking out over the weekend. I have also been giving her some mag ox so that might also be helping.
Hope you can get out to some rides, let me know which you're going to be at and I will come and say hello! I am in the Saltash area.
Etoile
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 08:31:39 AM Good luck with getting to your first pleasure ride, we were worried that Salad may go nuts but he was exceedingly well behaved (at least he used to be anyway!). For his first pleasure ride we included a note with the entry saying it was the first ever ride for both of us, and was there any chance they could pair us up with someone to show us the ropes. The ride organiser paired us up with a very nice lady who had been doing endurance for years, who was on a very sensible horse, and this was really helpful. For our first go we didn't have to worry about directions/timings etc., we just enjoyed ourselves.
MirandaToo
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 7:44:16 PM Thanks guys!!
Freedem, I feel quite inspired (tho' it is Sat eve and I have had a glass of cider!!!). Unfortunately we aren't quite ready to do anything yet as we've had a few back and saddle problems, but I'm hoping when we do eventually make it out into the big wide world it may suit us. I'm hoping that she will be so busy having to concentrate on where she is going and keep moving that she will keep all 4 feet on the ground !
Whereabouts are you based Freedem?x
freedem
Posted - 16 Feb 2012 : 08:17:06 AM Hello! I am also in Cornwall and have done a couple of pleasure rides with Endurance South West and hope to do a few more this year with my friend and her arab.
I would definitely recommend them as they are great fun, extremely well organised and very friendly. I did the 32k Non Competitive Ride at Bocconnoc last year which was amazing, the only unfortunate thing was that I was not able to do it on my lovely loan arab as she had a bruised sole, sadly she has now gone back to her owner, and St Meubred's the year before where I accompanied a Pony club member as the over 18! That was interesting as it enabled my horse to have her heart rate done. Courses are well marked out and they send you an exhaustive list of what to do beforehand too so you arrive feeling quite confident that you know what you're doing. Even the directions to the venue have always been perfect.
My new pony is quite reactive and nervous hacking but I took her to a pleasure ride last weekend with her arab buddy. I was quite concerned as twice in the school she has taken flight and bucked me off, saddle checked, chiro visited and came to the conclusion that no reason for it apart from she really frightened herself (and me!) so I was a little apprehensive as to whether taking her on a fun ride was really a good idea.
Shouldn't have worried as she was an absolute angel, followed along behind my friends horse who she seemed to get a lot of confidence from and was an absolute pleasure to ride, not bothered by others passing us and enjoying steady canters and some faster work without feeling any loss of control.
So in short, although this reply hasn't been, sorry! I don't think that you can go wrong by having a go, I am now hoping that doing more rides like this will build my pony's confidence and restore my faith in her (its nearly back already!) I don't think you will regret it, it really is fantastic fun, oh and good value too! When I think I can spend £8 for a 4 minute dressage test, or £5 for a minute of showjumping, £25 for a brilliant day out well organised, safe pleasure ride, run by pros is an absolute bargain! All you have to hope for is good weather!
Cinnypony
Posted - 07 Feb 2012 : 9:59:31 PM Good luck - we're a bit further east in the Wessex Group.
However if you want to find out what it is all about, the best thing is to see if anyone would be happy to let you tag along with their crew as then you'd really see what was involved.
. My thinking is that if I go and watch I will have an idea what to expect and therefore not be quite so pants wettingly terrified!!!
Also hoping I might be able to meet people to share transport and to hold my hand!!
!
, and St Meubred's the year before where I accompanied a Pony club member as the over 18! That was interesting as it enabled my horse to have her heart rate done. Courses are well marked out and they send you an exhaustive list of what to do beforehand too so you arrive feeling quite confident that you know what you're doing. Even the directions to the venue have always been perfect.