Any tips on steering the horse against the wall?

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antlers.

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Hi, I've been learning riding for about 2 months now, but I'm still struggling with steering. It seems very difficult for me to steer the horse during trotting or cantering against the wall. My instructor just told me to apply pressure on the inside calf, which I tried and obviously didn't work. It must be somewhere wrong with my position or aid that the horse every time turns sooner than I intend to. This is really frustrating that I can't get it right. Every week my instructor looks rather disappointed about me, "why you still don't get this most basic thing which I taught you in the first lesson". So, how can I keep the horse against the wall when turning at the corner? Thank you.
 
I honestly think you need a change of instructor. You should feel comfortable asking your instructor absolutely anything and if you don't understand, they should explain it in different ways (and show you) until you do understand. It's a failing on the instructor's part, not yours. Humans learn in many different ways so any instructor has to adapt their methods accordingly. And I would bet next weeks takeaway that you're doing far better than you're giving yourself credit for 😊
 
Notimetoride said:
I honestly think you need a change of instructor. You should feel comfortable asking your instructor absolutely anything and if you don't understand, they should explain it in different ways (and show you) until you do understand. It's a failing on the instructor's part, not yours. Humans learn in many different ways so any instructor has to adapt their methods accordingly. And I would bet next weeks takeaway that you're doing far better than you're giving yourself credit for ��
Click to expand...

^^This
 
Tip from a riding instructor

When you ride down the straight sides, look ahead through the end of the wall, wait until you need to begin the turn before you look around it.

What often happens is that your body balance affects the horse, you are most likely leaning a little into the turn without realising it and your horse does its best to stay under you so moves across.

As far as using your inside leg - this is the hardest aid for any rider to learn and get the horse to listen.
Every aid needs to have a response.
Check and correct your position, apply the inside leg with little nudges, make sure in your head you are telling the horse to stay on the track - the power of positive thinking is remarkable when you are riding. If you are wishy washy in your brain your aids are perceived by the horse as wishy washy.

If the horse does not listen to the aids then use your stick behind your leg, so leg, leg, leg & stick together. The picture below shows the correct way to use a short whip.

Riding%20-%20Using%20the%20whip%20correctly.png


Holding the reins correctly in one hand so you can use the whip correctly
Riding%20-%20reins%20in%20one%20hand.png
 
Also just to say... you say you've only been having lessons for 2 months and sounds like the lessons are weekly??? That really isn't many lessons to have had so don't be too hard on yourself! An instructor should be encouraging and helpful and leave you feeling like you've achieved something after each lesson - perhaps time to look for a new one if yours isn't supportive? We all learn differently and sometimes a different approach works better!
 
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Notimetoride said:
I honestly think you need a change of instructor. You should feel comfortable asking your instructor absolutely anything and if you don't understand, they should explain it in different ways (and show you) until you do understand. It's a failing on the instructor's part, not yours. Humans learn in many different ways so any instructor has to adapt their methods accordingly. And I would bet next weeks takeaway that you're doing far better than you're giving yourself credit for ��
Click to expand...

Thank you for you advice. Currently, this stable is the nearest to where I live now. This instructor is friendly overall except from disappointed about my steering. She showed me by pushing my inside leg, but when I ride, the horse doesn't change even I kick with my inside leg.
 
"When you ride down the straight sides, look ahead through the end of the wall, wait until you need to begin the turn before you look around it.
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?741558-Any-tips-on-steering-the-horse-against-the-wall#7etGoRyQtdse0ofI.99"

Thank you for your valuable advice! I would definitely try this next time. However, I don't been taught to use a whip yet. Thanks anyway!

May I ask, when turning, what should I do with my seat bone? For example, when turning right, should I put my body weight on the right(inside) side of the horse?
 
Yes, my lessons are only once a week. Haha, the other instructor in the stable I know is much harsher than this one. I know these instructors are not good enough, even some of their knowledge might be wrong, that is why I'd rather ask for answers here.
 
antlers. said:
"When you ride down the straight sides, look ahead through the end of the wall, wait until you need to begin the turn before you look around it.
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?741558-Any-tips-on-steering-the-horse-against-the-wall#7etGoRyQtdse0ofI.99"

Thank you for your valuable advice! I would definitely try this next time. However, I don't been taught to use a whip yet. Thanks anyway!

May I ask, when turning, what should I do with my seat bone? For example, when turning right, should I put my body weight on the right(inside) side of the horse?
Click to expand...

Always sit straight, weight evenly on both seat bones. For the turn, turn from your hips rather than your waist or neck. If you put your weight onto your inside seat bone the horse will then move itself over to keep you balanced over its back.


Suggestion - buy a Pony Club Manual - all is explained clearly and is a great back up for your lessons.
As a novice rider, learn to sit still and quiet, check and correct your position before you apply any aids, then you will find your riding progresses much faster.

Reins are always the same length - your arms take up the slack on the turn. One day when you have mastered the 'Inside Leg to Outside Hand' you will be able to perform turns and circles with just the outside rein, when the horse is correctly between hand and leg the inside rein can be dropped without affecting the direction the horse is moving in - that will all come in time.

Buy yourself a short whip and learn how to carry and use it. It was something I did with all my riders, they learnt from day one to carry a stick. Our horses and ponies were really responsive and obedient as they never learnt to be naughty.
 
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Thank you so so much for you advice! They are really helpful. I'm still working on "inside leg to outside rein". It might need to take more practice to master steering with just the outside rein. I find the horse I ride has a rather stiff left rein, his right rein is alright. He just tries to trot with a smaller circle and being lazy. A whip would be a great help, I will have a chat with my instructor about this. Thank you again!
 
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