10/6/13

Off Days.

More like off week.

This week, I've been full of blah. Everything's ticking me off for some reason. I know exactly why, but it's bugging me anyways. Females, you understand. :D But today, I finally got to ride. It was beautiful, I was happy, then I got on, the new saddle, of course, and one of my stirrups was determined to kill me. I have issues with finding good stirrups that don't bother my knees and calves, these were just awful. I think the majority of the reason behind it was because it was too high. But that just bugged me the whole ride. We only rode in the front pasture, mom had to keep Spirit, YAY HE'S NOT LAME, at a walk because he was being sassy after no work, so I was kind of stuck with her, walking, when Red and I both wanted to get some work in. I went off by myself for a few minutes to just run....Anyways, got to the barn and everyone was out front, Red had no halter, so I roped a lead around his neck and led him out. He followed like a trooper, perfect ground manners as per usual. Tacked up in the barn.
Not done tacking up, lol.

Hopped on. Messed with the stirrups. Apparently didn't fix them correctly. Left for the pasture before mom. Rode around the driveway. Went in said pasture. Walked slowly, so slowly it was bugging me like everything else. Spirit was a good boy today other than being testy. Red was perfect. I think he knew I was off kilter.



I kind of felt like I let Red down the whole ride. He was amazing, I was not. Everyone has off days, but this has been an off week and I've just been blah'ed out. I kicked out of my stirrups really quickly and that helped brighten my mood, no pain in calves. I may end up letting mom have this saddle. :P Which stinks because I like it better. Going to try adjusting the stirrups again but if that doesn't work, I'll go with the other one.


We have a trailer out in the front pasture with the door open so the colts and filly can get used to it, Red kept wanting to walk in it. :)) Not too hard to load! ;)

We only rode for about an hour or so. Mom had a good ride. Me, not so much. It was nice, but my mood just killed it. At the end I started brightening up but then it was time to leave, sooo....
AWKWARD FACES.

Red was so, so, so good today. I have no words. He was calm, collected, super willing to just walk and didn't seem to mind my lack of stirrups-well, they were there, but not used. Haha!



Spirit did really well, kept at a walk today because he needs to know that he is not a barrel horse anymore! Just a trail pony! :) Red was a good role model. No random spooks or bolts like the other horses at the barn may have when we ride with other people.





I wasn't focused enough in the ride. I just kept thinking about other stuff, which annoys me. Need to focus on my horse but apparently my mind wasn't cool with that. I was still happy to be in the saddle.



But yeah, anxiety/depression issues stink. Like, badly.




But, next ride. I'll be in it to win it.

12 comments:

  1. It may be the stirrups are twisting your feet out and you have to exert pressure to keep them facing the same way as your toes. A good trick is to take a long pole or 2x4 and run it through your stirrups when your saddle is in the rack. This will teach the fenders and leathers that they should twist so your stirrups hang straight. You might need to oil the inside of the fender and the straps for the fender so it is more supple. If you remember to put the wood into the stirrups every time you put the saddle on the rack, it will help the fenders bend correctly. (I used this trick a long time ago with my western saddle.)

    If that doesn't work, I know they sell swivels that hook to the bottom of the fender and the top of the stirrup so the fender hangs straight and the stirrup twists. Endurance riders use them. You might try those.

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    1. Going to try that!! Thank you so much!! My mom is using that saddle now and said it didn't bother her...my knees and calves are sensitive so it may just be me.

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  2. Too bad you weren't feeling 100% this week. Hopefully next week everything will be back to normal and all good.

    I agree with Karen's suggestion about trying to adjust the rotation on your stirrups. When I did it, I put my saddle on the rack, twisted the stirrup half a turn, stuck a broom handle through them and left it overnight, It definitely helped!

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  3. Glad Spirit is feeling better and I hope you feel better soon too. Female problems. Urgh.

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  4. Agree with Megan and Karen, even from the picture it kind of looks like your stirrups are tweaking your leg. I've never tried what they suggest but it sounds good! :) Hope your next ride is better!

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    1. It was much better! Thank you! :) They were killlinngggg meee!!!

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  5. stirrups bugging you? Perfect time for No Stirrup November ;)

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    1. Did some of that this week, too! Loped with no stirrups-also my first time loping Red, yikes!-almost died. LOL

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