Bad behaviour caused by the rider

Silvermiyazawa

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Common enough in an unwitting way I assume, but on purpose? Is this to appear to be a fab rider for "handling" the situation and not falling off? I witnessed riding tonight (and to be honest have in the past) that has left me bemused. Surely it is better to appear "effortless", even if it has taken months/years of work to achieve this.
 
Know exactly what you mean, and I hate to see it. Seems particularly popular with teenagers, who appear to be trying to show us all how well they can handle their hot horses.
 
It's part of attention seeking syndrome. People want to feel they're so special. And apparently acting like you have a nutcase seemingly makes you a very good rider. People will watch me and know I'm good.

Apparently having a horse going very nicely under you is lost. Very sad if you ask me. These people sometimes fall under the category of no one can ride my horse but me. Unless your name is Carl Hester, Nick Skelton, or William Fox Pitt, you're probably kidding yourself.

The best feeling in the world is having a horse that no matter what level he/she is at, any capable rider can jump on and ride on the flat.

We had a girl last year who talked a big game. Talked about her eventing career and so on. Had a lovely horse only she could ride. She asked if she could ride my jumper mare. I said sure. Before she gets on she's like do I need my back protector in case she bucks me off? Um if you're happy in your back protector where it, but she will not buck you off. After 10 mins I asked her to get off. She had a death grip on the reins and proceeded to tell me my mare was stiff and hollow. Mare took two strides in trot and she started screaming at her to settle down now. So yeah I asked her to get off. Funny the girl who rides in a riding school has no issues with Abba. Goes around with a big smile on her face. People are weird.

Terri
 
Not a new thing. I see to remember there were girls at pony club who pulled their ponies up at fences they were too scared to jump and then blamed the pony.

Paula
 
I think they are, generally speaking, the same people whose horses wear every gadget known to man and change bits each full moon.

Yep, attention seeking at the expense of the horse.
 
I agree. And EI summed it up very well with the 'only I can ride my horse' types, that's my experience too. I'm incredibly proud that pretty much anyone can ride my 14.2, but I remember a girl who once thought this proves I must be not as good as her. Despite the fact I'd owned her from 2, & brought her on myself, having a pony that nannied kids round courses, & once did a fun dressage test with a beginner, with me shouting voice commands & which aids & when to use them, apparently made me not as good. One day after listening to her witter on yet again about how easy mine was, compared to her 'nutter' I offered to swop for 10mins. Said nutter was working long & low within 10 strides, & never put a foot wrong, if anything on the ploddy side. Meantime she nearly wet herself, having never experienced a horse that actually moves forwards of its own accord. She shortened her reins to stop mine 'bolting'. Same pony that my 7yr old canters bareback in a headcollar. Pony objected to death grip on her mouth, & did a mega snatch, she kicked her, pony did a small warning buck. I told her she had approx 5seconds to get off before pony did it herself. Funnily enough I never heard any more about my easy pony, & her 'nutter'!
 
My kids arent in the Pony Club...not going to go into the reasons why here but what I would say is this is very typical behaviour with certain types and it drives me insane! I pride myself in having safe steady horses (TB, haffie and baby welshie cross) who anyone could have a nice little hack on...not to say they could go round a course of jumps clear or do a fantastic dressage test but they would be safe! I could make my TB hot quite easily and the haffie could be a live wire...but neither they nor I can really be bothered!!
 
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