Tag: pony

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You Got This Equestrian – Calebs Story

Welcome to You Got This Equestrian Confidence Series by Hayley at Red Bear Equestrian.

This week I am joined by Tamara, sharing Calebs story.

Head to Calebs Instagram page HERE.

Horse rider confidence and equestrian confidence needs to be spoken about more, I am excited to bring you, You Got This Equestrian where we discuss real topics and give real tips that work for real riders.

Join me every week for more inspirational stories, hints and tips to support your equestrian confidence journey.

Confident rider, confident horse.

Horse rider confidence and equestrian confidence needs to be spoken about more, I am excited to bring you, You Got This Equestrian where we discuss real topics and give real tips that work for real riders.

Join me every week for more inspirational stories, hints and tips to support your equestrian confidence journey.

WATCH NOW

Watch the first episode and see where You Got This Equestrian started.

Check out the You Got This Equestrian Clothing Range Here

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You Got This Equestrian – Anxious and Excited Horses

Sometimes as an equestrian we put our emotions onto our horses and how we feel impacts on them, although it can work the other way. We can think our horses feel a certain way and this impacts on us.

In this situation how we react is key.

For example, we were out for a hack this week, my daughter was on my fell pony, who decided a particular tree may spring to life and attack him ( as they do ) had she panicked, it would all have escalated quickly, however this time she noted how he felt, reassured him and allowed him to pass the very scary tree in trot to get past it quicker as walk was just making him worse. We passed it and within a minute he was fine and the ride was amazing.

So how can you calm your horse? I want to share my top 5 tips for you to try next time your four legged friend decided life is either very scary or very exciting.

1 – Allow them to get rid of their energy in a safe controlled way. This may be by a canter down a track or in the school, or it might be a trot down the road. Allowing them to place their energy in another place (movement) can shift their mindset as well as getting rid of that initial energy which is causing the reaction. (only do this in a safe space where you are in control)

2 – Ask your horse to lower its head, this automatically cues them to relax. I have walked alongside riders with a lunge line on to encourage their horses to lower their heads at times. If you can teach your horse a cue to do this it is a great skill to have.

3 – Set boundaries. Horses are not like some other animals who will do what you ask because they love you, yes your bond helps as they trust you, but they will do as you ask because they know you have set boundaries in which they are safe. If you have boundaries they are more likely to respond when they are anxious or excited to what you ask.

4 – Let them look, sniff, touch. We are very good as riders at asking our horse to go past scary things or to think they will react in a certain way. By allowing them to explore they build up a reassurance and a knowledge that all is ok and they can remain in a calmer state next time in the same situation.

5 – Consider a dismount. This very much depends on your horses and its personality. Sometimes getting off and leading until they are no longer so anxious or excited works really well, for others this makes it worse. I know for one of mine this makes him worse, so I long rein him when I know he will be going past something scary as he finds this reassuring ( I will chat more about the benefits of this another time)

All horses at times react in ways which we would prefer them not to, no horse is bombproof, however it is our job as equestrians to understand how to support them and build their trust in themselves and in us.

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Nadia from Tales of an Anxious Amateur talks with Hayley on You Got This Equestrian

Welcome to You Got This Equestrian Confidence Series by Hayley at Red Bear Equestrian.

This week we welcome Nadia from Tales of an Anxious Amateur.

Join us while we talk equestrian and rider confidence and our journeys.

Horse rider confidence and equestrian confidence needs to be spoken about more, I am excited to bring you, You Got This Equestrian where we discuss real topics and give real tips that work for real riders.

Join me every week for more inspirational stories, hints and tips to support your equestrian confidence journey.

Confident rider, confident horse.

Check out the You Got This Equestrian Clothing Range Here

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Website

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Let’s Talk Distraction – You Got This Equestrian

Sometimes taking your mind off the ‘what if’s’ when it comes to riding is what you really need.

We often overthink, and get inside our own head when it comes to our riding or working our horses in general.

This doesn’t just apply to adults, children have the same issues, we just don’t always see them in the same way, as if it was an adult speaking.

So I want to share three easy activities you can set up today for you or your children, to refocus the mind onto something else.

Often when we shift our focus and stop thinking of the ‘what if’s’ we realise how amazing this experience really is.

  1. Grab a bean bag – Can you sit on it in walk, trot, ect and on both reins, maybe even over poles? Can you keep it between your lower leg and your horse? How about over a small jump?
  2. Small obstacle course – grab some poles, cones, post maybe even a flag, bucket and some balls and set up some activities. Can you move them closer together without loosing your accuracy? or can you beat your last time?
  3. Do this, do that – If there is someone on the ground while you are riding get them to shout out some ‘special words’ each word has a meaning. Eg black means trot, tree means canter, bear means over a pole. How quick can you go? This is so much fun and always distracts and causes giggles. If you are alone, choose a song you don’t know and each time you hear a certain word link that back to changing what you are doing in the same way.

Its all about the distraction.

When you refocus your mind your riding changes.

I would love to know what other games and activities you try to switch your focus.

You Got This.

Hayley x

Check out the you got this hoodie and t-shirt.

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We all blow it up

you got this equestrian episode 6

One thing I have learnt over my time recording interviews and chatting with a variety of equestrians for this video/blog series is we are all at the mercy of our own mindset and our own perception is usually different to the reality.

Take my daughter for instance, last weekend my (very naughty) fell pony decided that he was so excited at going in the big fields (where he had been daily all easter holidays!) that the only way to deal with it was to bounce and semi rear down one side of the field.

Being on the ground my reaction was to tell her to ride through it as he was just excited and would soon calm.

Her reaction being on his back was that she would ride him but felt he was doing huge rears and was very bouncy.

Luckily we had his excitable moment on video.

Both our perceptions were different to the video.

Videoing lessons is something I used to do a lot so I could reflect but not something I do often now.

I tried it in my riding this week. I turned my video on and headed out.

In my mind he was on edge but I couldn’t understand why. Once I watched the video back I could see why.

It was the same point on every circle he tensed up, why?

It was excitement as that’s where my daughter usually lets him canter. Its funny how they come to expect a set routine even in their ridden work.

If I didn’t have the video, I would probably have blown it up in my own mind.

We do that with so much stuff, create our own version of reality, thinking our ride was awful, hitting that pole was caused by a huge error, the buck was massive, we rode terribly.

We create our own narrative. Video combats that as it shows us the reality.

So….now I am busy looking at Pivo’s. Does anyone have one? What do you think? Do you have an alternative?

As I find that my video on my phone only captures half my ride and even then I need to zoom in.

We can be our best and worst critics but we can also be our best teachers if we just allow ourselves to change the story we tell ourselves about the rider we are.

So I challenge you this weekend, get your camera out, film your riding and see how much potential you and your horse really have and how far you have both come.

Happy Bank Holiday x

Check out the you got this hoodie and t-shirt.

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Laura from Ginger and Tonic Equestrian talks on You Got This Equestrian Confidence

You Got This Equestrian is back. Our equestrian confidence series.

Join me as I chat with Laura from Ginger and Tonic Equestrian.

Join us while we talk equestrian and rider confidence, what works for us and rider mental health..

We need to learn to train and work on ourselves the same as we do with our horses. Confident rider, confident horse.

Horse rider confidence and equestrian confidence needs to be spoken about more, I am excited to bring you, You Got This Equestrian where we discuss real topics and give real tips that work for real riders.

Join me as every week I share blogs and videos, hint and tips.

Plus chat with some inspirational people about their stories and make my way through an equestrian journey.

#equestrianconfidence #riderconfidence #horseridingconfidence

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You Got This Equestrian – With Eden Markel

You got this equestrian with eden

You Got This Equestrian is back. Our equestrian confidence series.

Join me as I chat with Eden from Heels Down and Kick On

Join us while we talk, horses, riding, rider confidence, rider wear, our equestrian niggles and more.

We need to learn to train and work on ourselves the same as we do with our horses. Confident rider, confident horse.

Join me as every week I share blogs and videos, hint and tips.

Plus chat with some inspirational people about their stories and make my way through an equestrian journey.

#equestrianconfidence #riderconfidence #horseridingconfidence

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Body Protector – Love them or Hate them?

Girl riding a white pony

You have probably seen that our new equestrian confidence series has now arrived. If you want to know more you can check out episode one here.

Each week we are releasing either a blog or interview/video around an aspect of being an equestrian and especially around equestrian confidence.

This week I wanted to share something that is one of those subjects that everyone has an opinion on.

Body protectors.

Currently they are only mandatory in FEI Eventing. They have carried a stigma for years.

I have spoken to so many riders creating this series and they all have opinions, I also found lots of gaps within generations of riders where you can see how body protectors have been perceived.

I don’t think I ever wore one growing up, I had non horsey parents so they didn’t know and one one ever said.

It was only as I became an adult that I started to think about the pros and cons. Up until recently they were never the comfiest item. So yes I had one, no I never really wore it.

Yet as a parent, my kids had body protectors and wore them.

Hypocritical I know.

However in 2012 my opinion changed.

I was trialing a horse we were looking at buying, I shared the story in video one (click here to watch) of this series.

As soon as I got on the horse it was a bad idea but I brushed it off. Before I rode though something made me go back the car and get my body protector, despite that I rarely wore and had only taken to pacify my husband, I felt I should wear it.

Little did I know the impact that decision would make.

My body protector is the reason that I am not in a wheelchair. I would have been paralised without it.

That was when I realised the importantce.

No they don’t stop every injury but they decrease the chance of sever injury.

We have all heard that you are not a real rider until you fall off 7 times, 10 times, 15 times….we all know its nonsense but riding is risky so why wouldn’t you protect yourself. A study carried out by the British Medial Journal showed that using a body protector decreased the risk of injury during cross country by 56% regardless of the riders experience! 56%!

Body Protectors are now at the top of my shopping list, I spend money on getting properly fitted and ensuring they meet safety standards. I champion others wearing them, and am first to say when someone isn’t wearing one. We all love our horses but we shouldn’t be in a culture where we risk our safety for our hobby.

They are the marmite of the equestrian world. Everyone has an opinion.

One of those things that you don’t see the value and benefit from until its too late.

We put our safety into the hooves of half a tonne of flight animal on a regular basis, a body protector might seem irritating and not look great but you cannot predict how your horse will react on each ride as they are flight animals. You wouldn’t go jumping or hack out with no helmet to protect your head, so shouldn’t you be protecting your back, pelvis and vital organs in the same way?

My kids have recently discovered Champion titanium body protectors and love them, and that is the next one I am going for.

I would love to know what you think, do you love them or hate them?

Hayley x

Disclaimer

When purchasing always make sure you take advice on the safety regulations and fit from a qualified professional.

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Groundwork activities for horses & ponies.

Girl in blue eventing hoodie walking her horse

As you may have guessed from our previously blogs, we use a lot of groundwork with our ponies. I find it really valuable to to teach manners, basic skills and to educate with new and scary things.

After our recent poll on instagram, it seems that you would all love a few more ideas for groundwork too.

So here are 5 more great ways to use groundwork with your horse or pony.

  1. Use poles. This can be done in hand or ridden. Scatter poles randomly where you are riding, get their brains working, use them to weave and snake around. Get them going over the poles at different angles, slightly raised and in different gaits, this helps with their co-ordination and balance. Simple activities like this gets them using their bodies in different ways, using their brains and becoming more aware of their own bodies and spacial awareness.
  2. Teach them touch. Teaching your horse or pony the command of touch through positive re-enforcement is a great way to build their confidence and curiosity. This was an amazing tool we used with a pony we had previously who was very shy and spooky. It was a way to building up what she was capable of in a controlled way that she felt safe with.
  3. Long reining and lunging. So useful for teaching movement, fluidity of movement, how to hold themselves, move through gaits, encourage them to burn off steam, move forward without support on the ground and so much more. Make sure as with anything you gain advice from a professional if this is something you or your horse/pony hasn’t done before.
  4. Be less fearful. This can be done in hand or ridden but is best done in hand to start to give a reassurance. Add some ‘scary’ objects around the field or arena and start to show these to your horse or pony, allow them to explore at their own pace giving confidence to them and not forcing them to investigate. Start with less scary objects. You can even place these object at a safe distance from them in their field so they can go up to an explore and investigate in their own time when they feel safe to do so. Allowing exploration in a safe, controlled way at their speed ensures these items scare them less when you are out riding. I was so grateful mine were not scared on flappy England flags during the euros as every other house in our village seemed to have one.
  5. Standing. This is general manners but often over looked. Being able to stand for you to mount, stand while you open gates, have a chat, wait for traffic to pass. This is a vital skill, start with an easy stand, keep it short and lots of praise, starting non ridden or if ridden even having someone on the ground if needed.

Everything with our horses needs to be done slowly with baby steps, allowing them to achieve and build their confidence before moving onto the next step and also focusing on one thing at a time, remember they need time to process and make sense of things, the same as we do when learning something new.

I would love to hear your favourite groundwork activity.

Hayley x

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It is almost our birthday!!

lady and child in red bear equestrian t shirts by the river

It is official.

I only have less than one week left in the office before our first birthday.

Next week I am out of the office to enjoy some family time (but I will still be appearing on our socials and I am leaving you in very capable hands).

Then when I get back we are officially in birthday week.

What an amazing year it has been.

I never thought at the start of 2020, I would be sat here having started this business and having such an amazing community supporting us.

We are a family business, the pandemic and lockdowns have solidified this even more.

The name came about because of my kids, you can read more about that here.

Our clothing has been designed in house and created locally for us.

However our new Fell Collection has now come in house within our own team which I am so excited about.

The new and upcoming Fell Collection has been totally inspired by you.

It is what you have asked for from the pieces, designs, colours, logos and pricing. Every time you vote in one of the polls I put out I listen.

The homeware has enabled me to work with some amazing local crafts people. There is so much to come in this range.

Our jewellery is designed and finished in-house, by me and I adore getting back to where I started in jewellery creation many years ago.

All of our pieces have names which are all linked to our family.

We donate towards a charity so close to my heart via your purchases. You can read more about why Day One means so much to be here.

The models are mainly family.

The photography is myself or my eldest son.

The designs are all passed by my kids who are the most amazing inspiration, as well as being amazing critics, to ensure everything is the best it can be.

Our new puppy seems to have his own fan club, with our followers regularly asking after him (he is definitely using that against the other dogs and fame is going to his head).

We are now starting to bring others into the team and thank you for supporting us so we can do that.

There are so many plans for over the next 12 months I cannot wait to share them with you.

Our birthday week is going to be amazing and our first birthday on 10th June is going to be filled with fun, so keep looking out for more on this.

I know I have said it before but Red Bear Equestrian would not exist of it wasn’t for you, so thank you for all of your comments about our ranges, votes in my polls (I know there are lots), purchase, shares on social media and general support.

You are all amazing and are helping our dreams come true.

Hayley and Team Red Bear Equestrian x