After various turns of events this year, I lost a lot of riding confidence, this was compounded when I decided to take positive action, after years of happy hacking, I booked myself a riding lesson. If top-level riders needed lessons, then so did I, many lessons….. I rang a local West Dorset riding school, explained my situation, and eagerly awaited a critique of my position and sitting trot. I pitched up at the locally well-known establishment, with slight somersaulting stomach but forced myself to persevere. I met my mount a trusty looking cob called Maggie, who apparently diligently undertook all RDA lessons.

We trundled into the school as I visualised myself returned to my previous dizzy riding prowess of walk, trot, and a few strides of canter. I was a little concerned about the fact that they’d insisted a ride in an English saddle, but Maggie looked safe as houses. As fate would have it, we weren’t as safe as houses. Maggie stumbled and I fell forward, tumbling off. With some encouragement I could have been persuaded to get back on there and then, instead, the ‘headmistress’ of the establishment informed me that I was unsafe to ride and may need months of physio before I could contemplate getting on a horse again…… worse still, they helped me down the step, hoiked me under each arm and frog marched me to my car. I didn’t feel like an encourager that day, I was happy to embrace being a quitter. I would miss their smell though……

The next chapter wasn’t to be a smooth start either. Sarah arrived at Woodville Equine and didn’t feel Mickey was right for me… despondent I reverted to quitter mode, maybe this was the resounding sign that I should hang up my hat…. but the kind hearted owners at Woodville had other ideas…. they convinced me to try Rosie, a young cob who had arrived for sale…encouraging… xges but overcoming them and who, having been able-bodied, was now a para-dressage rider Jemima Green. Deep down I was desperate to ride but after my confidence was ground down by ‘the Trunchbull’ i needed an encourager to give me a kick up the derriere. I managed to trace her and told I felt like quitter…. This lady was an inspiration, a stranger but an encourager. She took the time to empathize with how I felt and recommended I contact Sarah Lloyd Harris a local RDA instructor- that was the nudge to the derriere I required… Like Odin’s tale, dreaming of ‘big things’ like a ride and a dressage test. Within the next few weeks I gave her a call, (this really was a pipe dream at this stage, I couldn’t stay on board and I had been asked not to return to the riding stable- from quitter to carpe diem…

The next chapter wasn’t to be a smooth start either. Sarah arrived at Woodville Equine and didn’t feel Mickey was right for me… despondent I reverted to quitter mode, maybe this was the resounding sign that I should hang up my hat…. but the kind-hearted owners at Woodville had other ideas…. they convinced me to try Rosie, a young cob who had arrived for sale…encouraging… Sarah re-taught Jemima Green who had been able-bodied was now a para-dressage rider Jemima Green. Deep down I was desperate to ride but after my confidence was ground down by ‘the Trunchbull’ i needed an encourager to give me a kick up the derriere. I managed to trace her and told I felt like quitter…. This lady was an inspiration, a stranger but an encourager. She took the time to empathize with how I felt and recommended I contact Sarah Lloyd Harris a local RDA instructor- that was the nudge to the derriere I required… Like Odin’s tale, dreaming of ‘big things’ like a ride and a dressage test. Within the next few weeks I gave her a call, (this really was a pipe dream at this stage, I couldn’t stay on board and I had been asked not to return to the riding stable- from quitter to carpe diem…

The next chapter wasn’t to be a smooth start either. Sarah arrived at Woodville Equine and didn’t feel Mickey was right for me… despondent I reverted to quitter mode, maybe this was the resounding sign that I should hang up my hat…. but the kind-hearted owners at Woodville had other ideas…. they convinced me to try Rosie, a young cob who had arrived for sale…encouraging… Sarah re-taught Jemima Green who had been able-bodied, was now a para-dressage rider Jemima Green.

Deep down I was desperate to ride but after my confidence was ground down by ‘the Trunchbull’ i needed an encourager to give me a kick up the derriere. I managed to trace her and told I felt like quitter…. This lady was an inspiration, a stranger but an encourager. She took the time to empathize with how I felt and recommended I contact Sarah Lloyd Harris a local RDA instructor- that was the nudge to the derriere I required… Like Odin’s tale, dreaming of ‘big things’ i was dreaming of a pub ride and a dressage test. Within the next few weeks I gave her a call, (this really was a pipe dream at this stage, I couldn’t stay on board and I had been asked not to return to the riding stable- from quitter to carpe diem…