An Eye Opener

[ThePinkElephants]

I went riding today and was on a lovely ex competition horse.

Now with about 6 years riding experience and a three year break after that, I'm certainly not your most experienced rider :S!

He has been used to professionals and I just wanted to highlight what an eye opening ride he (experienced horses) is/are, he won't be forgiving if you make a mistake in the sense, for example, if your leg is out of place by a bit or if you sit heavy in the saddle he will not have it, e.g. canter goes from smooth to a please stop?

Whilst obviously not an ideal horse for the novice to own and attempt to ride out alone etc but to learn on he is fab because you know when and where you are going wrong and will know when you have fixed it!

Anyone else find this/ agree?

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

Well, what more incentive do you need to ride correctly than a horse that wont have it any other way. I obviously wouldn't advise everyone do it though

 

[Laurenm01]

I agree with above - I would rather ride correctly than have the horse tell me he's not happy.

I went cross country with an ex three day eventer at my old riding school. Quite bizarre as I was surrounded by 15 yr olds telling me that he would cart off with me because he had done so with them. To their suprise we were the only ones to jump the fences on attempt one. I was chuffed - not sure who had ridden him previous or level etc! Definately an eye opener when comparing him to my gentle plods!

 

[teddyt]

The best ponies for kids are the ones that only go if you push the right buttons, but when you do ask properly are quite happy to oblige. ponies tend to ignore inadequate requests though, whereas a horse is more likely to complain (generalising of course).

 

[ThePinkElephants]

Yeah that's true - better to have a horse/pony that ignores incorrect stuff till you do it right but I just meant sometimes its hard to tell what you are subtly doing wrong, with such a horse its some what clearer. Obviously, not to be done all the time on your own but I just meant when being taught and only riding once a week its sometimes easier to feel you're doing something wrong/right than be described it. If that makes any sense!