Bad habits when riding - what's yours?

ha... where do i start...?

i grip too much with my knees (nervous)
i don't shut my hands over the reins
i don't put my feet into the stirrup properly (i'm scared i'll come off and my feet will be stuck)
i lift my heel up to give leg aids, instead of wrapping lower leg round horse
i lean forward too much in canter
i cross my inside rein over the horse's neck instead using leg
i stand up in stirrups during canter - trot transition
nag with legs
jump off/take feet out of stirrups at the first sign of any trouble


basically, i'm useless!
not only am i useless, i''m also very un-riding-fit. i had a big break. and my muscles just don't work anymore.

i wish i could buy experience/talent from eBay. i get everything else from there... :)
 
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I do most of the above!

I have to work really really hard to keep both hands on the reins and them the correct length! (Doesn't help that my share pony gets v. excited when I do ride "properly" because with her owner that means only one thing, fast work!)

And also my left hand is always further forward than my right hand... apparently I vary, sometimes my contact is consistent on both reins and other times I have one washingline and one normal!
 
My thumbs turn in and I bring my hands closer to my body instead of keeping them out infront of me.. the whole 'elbow in front of ribcage' thing makes me feel like I cannot use my hands properly!

Coming straight from the hunting field to being trained daily by a dressage obsessed AI has definately thrown me in at the deep end!
 
If you want to know how not to ride do what i do!!!
I have "teacup fingers" (i like how you named this twisteddiamond), I sit on my bum (like how i do on the sofa!!) I ride one handed or with bridged reins that look klike washing line! I ride with my stirrups too short. I cant stop fidgeting(sp) I mainly blame racing but really its me being lazy i know what i do wrong so could correct myself!!
 
Tipping forward ( my friend often shouts sit on your arse not your fanny lol) Keeping my heals down. Being nervous when there really is no need i really p**s myself off with that one.
 
In a weird way, I'm glad to hear I'm not alone!

With my reins today, I tried to keep a contact but felt like I was pulling the horse in the mouth, so I loosened my reins and he dropped his head so I shortened them again, but once he started trotting, he pulled his head right up and I had zero contact on the reins - I had them too long again! *Confused*

I got quite flabbergasted and annoyed with myself, really need to get him off my hands because I feel that's where I go wrong. I think I'm not giving him enough rein so I lengthen them and then realise he's been leaning on my hands. Gah!
 
clipcloppop said:
i don't put my feet into the stirrup properly (i'm scared i'll come off and my feet will be stuck)
QUOTE]

Yeah, I am like that out hacking, it's a big fear of mine (well, one of many!!) that I will get my foot caught in the stirrup and be dragged and then kicked!!

However I have fallen off my mare soooo many times and it's never even come close to happening, always a good clean fall... lol (touching wood as I type!)

As with faults, well. It would be easier to say what I do right.. Which is nothing! And unfortuantely that's true. Never mind onwards and upwards (and practice makes perfect)


xxx
Click to expand...
 
ooo I have many many I am sure! The two main ones off the top of my head;
My thumbs migrate inwards and I am always getting told to get them back on top
Years of riding my very strong fizzy mare on fittening exercise on the roads mean that I have this awful habit of my left hand creeping down all the time (I used to have to block her with my left rein when hacking to keep her in an outline so she couldnt explode!) This is a tricky one to crack because it was the only way of controlling her when she was about to go off on one, I now instantly drop this hand when other horses act up (and use it strongly, although I only block with it not haul on it!) I have just about stopped it being instinct but it still creeps in if I don't concentrate!
 
I'm actually quite surprised how many others also have trouble with keeping their thumbs on top - I'm terrible for it.

I also tend to push my hips up quite high in rising trot - something which I find quite embarrassing in company!
 
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