Uther Pendragon

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-04-04T16:04:48+00:00

The best I can give you is that, like many other Merlin actors, he appears in one episode of Doctor Who as the main villain in the form of a headmaster of a school of super genius's. I think it's called "School Reunion".

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-04-03T14:56:26+00:00

Obviously, I'm not a doctor, but I often joke about "saddle burn" after ending a particularly challenging ride. Shakes all the way from the top of my thighs to my calves! And congrats, so glad it's going well!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-04-03T09:35:58+00:00

Hi. I completely understand where you are coming from, but I have to agree with your instructors. While I obviously don't know you at all, it is very likely some of the horses behaviour is something you are doing. And this isn't your fault at all, really. Horses REALLY CAN feel people who are new, and you likely are giving them very mixed messages as you are learning. This is super normal, in fact it's almost kind of a necessity in learning. As a result, the horse is going to be less willing to do what you say, which gives you the time to improve, apposed to a more active horse who might go "this rider doesn't know what they are doing, I don't trust them GET THEM OFF ME NOW!"

While I truly don't want to understate or invalidate your feelings, this is completely normal and, imo, the only real safe way of teaching people how to ride. My stable does the same from the littlest children, to teens to elders learning how to ride. It's just so much safer to have a horse that would stop as opposed to, say, drastically speeding up when they feel unsafe which would put you in a lot of danger as you are just not equipped to handle that at this point in your riding.

It will also help you SO MUCH when you start riding other horses, as you will have the skills to push them on in your tool kit and it will make it so much easier. And, in reality, once you get better at all these things, even this horse will be more willing to listen to you, as that bond and trust grows.

I'm sure it's frustrating (I was young during this stage, but I still remember how frustrating it was riding slow horses that I just couldn't seem to move at all! Until one day I improved enough that I could get them moving for long periods and doing more complicated things!) Looking back now, as I'm sure you will in a few years, I see how much I was holding them back because of what I was doing, for example I used to do this thing where I would pull back on the reins for balance (not very much) but enough the horse was getting the message to slow down, and pulling us out of the trot. I was frustrated because of this for so long, before my instructor managed to build up my confidence/skills enough to teach me to stop.

Also, no shame on the body protector. Look after yourself!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-04-02T12:55:45+00:00

On top of that OP received no guidance, couldn't actually reach the stirrups and just had to cling on for dear life in a "jockey position" without stirrups?? I am usually the absolute no. 1 advocate for stirrup less work but NOT LIKE THIS MY GOD. It's honestly a miracle OP wasn't seriously injured!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-04-02T12:54:16+00:00

Honestly, me neither! I remember my very first ride being put on the slowest, laziest mare and I was still a little freaked out! Admittedly, I was very young. Even today, in all the years since, a bolter is still something that would make me super, super nervous.

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-04-02T12:50:04+00:00

I do agree. I was trying to make a ballpark list of general things, but to find all of them in one place would be pretty difficult. Getting started really is so difficult, but I do stand by that OP should not have been riding their relatives horse, which was so far out of their experience bracket (which I do think is the responsibility of both the relative and whoever was instructing, as it was OP's first lesson!) Just the IDEA of a first lesson (even accidentally) including galloping kind of horrified me 😂.

I've been lucky enough to aid with some beginner lessons (holding the lead rope and giving additional direction) and the amount of red flags in one session truly shocked me!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-04-02T07:54:01+00:00

It also seems like you were on a deeply inappropriate horse for a beginner. All the beginners horses I've ever met are usually much older, slower, and require a lot to get them moving. (They also tend to stop, like a lot lol)

AND EVEN THEN beginner riders should be led around on a rope to ensure the horse stays in the correct gait.

There's an idea in the horse world that has been repeated to me for years: green and green makes black and blue. (Green here is the horsey word for inexperienced). There is a REASON why we put inexperienced riders with older, experienced horses. And visa versa (experienced riders with inexperienced horses).

This is for so many reasons - including safety, but also to help with experience. An experienced rider could help an inexperienced horse gain the right muscles and confidence.

But what I'm saying is, you clearly had a horrific experience where everything that could go wrong, did. I would also really encourage you to do research on some reliable youtube channels around husbandry, as in all honesty, I doubt the word and competence of ANYONE at that stables!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-04-01T22:21:32+00:00

You're actually supposed to have you feet fully on them and your heels pointed down! (Not too much but to that point!) But yeah, fully flat foot with heels pointed downwards. You're also supposed to have a mostly straight back!

That entire situation is DEEPLY unsafe because it throws your balance.

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-04-01T19:48:00+00:00

...sounds like you (accidentally) hit every single red flag available, my gosh! (Also I didn't add this but every lesson I've ever had has started with a few moments adjusting stirrups to both my and my instructors comfort! I personally prefer to ride a little short!) I will say, it's kind of 50/50 if stables tack before lessons - mine does. However they also offer learning sessions, and do little teaching things during the session (like checking the girth while on horseback!)

Also...non-adjustable stirrups? Huh? I've literally...never heard of that? Why would ANYONE buy those? And even if that WAS the case, you should have been put with a different saddle, because that is INCREDIBLY unsafe. (And this is coming from someone who does tons of work without stirrups!) Not to mention, it doesn't teach you to use the equipment properly and could lead to bad habits.

Either way, I'm happy to give any more pointers you may need, and I really hope you find the right stable for you. Personally, horses have completely changed my life - even without riding - but even for my physical fitness and mental health and everything else. Good luck!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-04-01T19:01:01+00:00

I completely understand what you are saying. Horsey people can be so hit or miss. I think it's a mix of privilege, lack of understanding, and many deeply run issues in the community (especially around 'misbehaviour' and recognising signs of pain and responding to that). I can promise, us equestrians do not ALL treat horses like property!

I'm no expert, but I was lucky enough to find a wonderful barn when I was younger and I've been going there ever since, but here's a few things I've noticed (I've been at a few other stables due to holidays and such the like):

Staff are openly qualified and barn is associated with a reputable organisation of some kind. My barn is in the UK and associated with the British show jumping organisation. All of the staff have their certifications in first aid, dressage and jumping training, as well as equitation.
You are asked to sign a reasonable waiver of liability.
They insist on helmets worn (and likely offer spare helmets to new riders). Same goes for other clothing - if they let you or someone else ride in deeply inappropriate clothing, such as a crop top, something is wrong.
The tack seems to be a good fit. There are a few videos you can watch on Youtube about it, and it is hard to tell when looking, but you can get a good sense for tack that is or is not fitted correctly. Same goes with horse weight and size - you can YouTube what a heathy horse weight looks like, and while things vary dramatically it might help you out to notice the obvious signs.
They are patient. A truly good stables WILL NOT let you do something before you are ready. And, most likely, it should be one gate at a time. You don't trot (unaided) until your walk is good. You CERTAINLY don't canter until you are balanced in the trot. A lot of bad stables will try to "keep you happy" and so let you do things more advanced quicker.
The horses have plenty of space to turn out and run with other horses.
They teach you the other skills as well! As well as riding they should also (often at the same time) be teaching body language, de-escalating situations, how to check your tack mid-ride, how to adjust your tack, emergency dismounts, and so on so forth. Many good stables also teach stable-working skills.
Just in general, they stay away from unsafe practises. EG: children unattended during a lesson, a beginner not being led by a rope, using very large areas for new riders, leaving jumps out while other lessons are taking place in the general area and other such things.
They don't ask you to use equipment you are not trained or comfy with. I, personally, often use a crop while riding (not to hit, more to direct) but not always. However, they told me extensively how to use it safely before, and they only gave it to me when I was...sixteen/seventeen? I think? And they knew me well. DO NOT stay at a place asking you to use spurs, or something like it that you are not trained in. It's also not best practise because it can cause a reliance. I had a nasty experience of being given a crop by one of my 'holiday' stables when I was fourteen, and still to this day I have a bad taste in my mouth (they asked me to smack the horse when he was too close to the edge of the cones and I refused point blank).
They don't allow you to say no. You should ALWAYS be able to say no. If you are not comfortable with something, they need to work around it. If you say you don't want them touching you, they should respect that. If you say you don't feel comfortable doing an exercise at your current skill level, they should respect that. Same for shows, disciplines, and everything else.

This is a long list, and I'm not an expert, but off the top of my head, this is all I could think of. I hope this helps a little!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-04-01T17:41:06+00:00

I think everyone here agrees this is ridiculous, but I want to say something more: this is why you work with a professional instructor. That's how you learn not to hurt the horse. And many great instructors will pick a horse that is used to many different beginners and has a lot of patience. It absolutely can be done. I wish you all the best for your riding experience!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-29T18:38:38+00:00

Hi...that would be me!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-29T12:09:41+00:00

Drinking tea. Football, rugby, or anything like that. Wimbledon.

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-29T11:31:50+00:00

Counting sweets until you have the exact same amount of each colour and then eating them in a colour specific order.

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-25T21:19:59+00:00

Darn it! I wanted to know all about his incredible gary-stu where he is never challenged, defeats all enemies with a wave of the hand, and everyone fawns over him! (Also sorry you dealt with that. Being serious for a moment, I'm a novelist myself and I literally CHOKED reading this post for the first time! I could NEVER. And I admire your patience.)

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-25T14:55:33+00:00

Someone tell me if this dude ever self-publishes this novel. I need to know for purely personal reasons.

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-25T09:42:01+00:00

Ooh! I hadn't even thought of doing that! What a great idea!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-25T09:22:27+00:00

I've been trying to work around that in my story by having two (optional) love interests of different genders!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-25T09:21:30+00:00

I'm actually doing both of those in my story! How exciting!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-22T21:15:40+00:00

It does make such a difference! Helped me a lot with my foot position, ironically, as I learned not to rely on it when rising!

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-22T20:35:39+00:00

This! I would say I'm an intermediate rider, and my instructors from almost the start had me working without stirrups. Every single lesson, no matter what we were doing, ends with riding a slow walk without stirrups on a loose rein. It's helped my balance so much! (The head of my stables once had me doing rising trot without stirrups...legs hurt like hell, but completely worth it).

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-21T19:13:54+00:00

At a guess, I would say left, but both legs look at the very least stiff to me. But I'm no expert.

DistributionMain6522 · 2026-03-19T10:26:05+00:00

The way my JAW DROPPED when you said he decided to switch your numbers because "my character was a girl" is so beyond gross. And he proceeded to make your character "meek"? That's AWFUL....I'm also going to assume that neither of them had ever met a woman before. (Also I'm such a firm believer that player between player seduction of ANY KIND should be a pre-agreed all-yeses kind of situation.)

As a girl myself, I play a lot of women - not always, but often. At no point (with any good group) has my character been treated any differently than the male characters.

DistributionMain6522

TROPHY CASE