Balance and sitting up

[toppedoff]

You are currently riding in an indoor school? Next step is an outdoor school?

It goes.. indoor, outdoor, round canter then straights (aka the actual track)

 

[toppedoff]

Racing is a whole different mindset from other kinds of riding. You ride hyped up thoroughbreds every day, everybody falls off, I am afraid it is just part of the job. They are teaching the pupils to ride and also, perhaps, they want to see who is cut out for it? Once you are an employee you are not asked what you want to to ride, and even if you are given a notorious rogue, you just have to get on with it. The school is not going to change the way it runs the course for TO, she needs to weather it and adapt. It is tough but they turn out people for the racing industry every year so I would assume they know what they are doing. Sorry, TO, I wish you all the best and hope you stick at it.

Edited: I quit in favour of eventers and dressage horses!

I hope I am seen cut out for it, I enjoy it but I just want to get good enough. I don't have natural talent and there are people here who I know ill see in the headlines in a few years time but I am starting to feel like I'm struggling especially with confidence with my ability and I want a week of me not falling

 

[toppedoff]

Okay back. I remembered to go with the horse it's just my hands that is the issue. I can't relax them I held onto me neckstrap but that hindered me holding the horse back who was creeping up on the one in front so I let go of the neckstrap and immediately my hands went floppy

 

[poiuytrewq]

toppedoff, what sort of horses are being provided for the students to ride? Are they mostly former racers?

You’ve posted elsewhere on the forum that two more students came off today, and then the loose horses couldn’t be caught. It all sounds really rather chaotic, there simply shouldn’t be so many falls with the new intake of students.

ETA I see that 4 people came off today . That’s really not great at all. I hope that these falls are being correctly recorded and logged.

Not been to racing school myself, it was pre-my starting time that it became mandatory- although the BHA guy did try!
There was a series on TV about it. It’s really worth looking up. Someone might know what I’m talking about as unfortunately I can’t think what or when but it was eye opening for sure.

A few horses from a yard I was at ent to the racing school after retiring, ones that maybe wouldn’t make a competition horse or be happy just hacking, but we’re no longer competitive racing.
It’s not easy. I remember a girl who came to one of my yards and we tried to get her up to scratch a little before she went. She lasted two days and came away traumatised.

You’re doing a great job OP, i think it’s really impressive you’re sticking it out after knock backs, you’ll come out the other side better for it.
I think it’s is tension, you need to try and relax completely into it which is way easier said than done and why I no longer ride them ever!

 

[ihatework]

I'll have a deep dive into your PT's account! I follow x compete too who does jockey and rider strong, I was considering maybe purchasing one of his programmes

Funny enough I've been able to stay on board more spooks or more dramatic spins from horses in pose position being out of the saddle is way more easier and my leg is stable (the one thing I'm only praised for!)

I don't think I've commented on any of your threads before, but I'm getting rather angst-ridden about much of the advice you're getting on here.

Learning to ride on racehorses is a whole different game to learning on riding school horses, or having private lessons anywhere, or sitting on a saddle that doesn't allow you to move much, or at all.

I spent a few years working in racing, a couple of years point to pointing, and another few years working in a college with a racing school, so I have a bit of experience here. If you have a reasonably stable lower leg, then yes getting out of the saddle is how you stay aboard in any pace, over fences, on the flat, during a spook or buck or plunge - but you have to know what to do with your hands, how to place them, how to sit against the horse when necessary and when to allow it to move forwards/sideways/up and down. your stirrups need to be short enough that you can get your backside out of the saddle, but long enough that you still have a leg either side. You have to be flexible and supple and you have to have feel for the horse you are on.

I suspect that tension is your biggest problem (and I can understand why you might be tense). Ground based work will help you with strength and suppleness, but ridden work will be necessary for you to overcome any insecurities and tension. I'd be putting you on the quietest horse for a while and letting you find your confidence with it, before moving you onto something else a bit more challenging.

Finally, I understand why you are posting for advice on here, but please please understand that the majority of people on here have never sat on a racehorse, and that the racing school staff have far more knowledge and experience to give you (seriously, they have seen it all before) than you will get on here
[/QUOTE]

Hallelujah

 

[SEL]

TO I learnt to ride in the days when you were thrown up on something small (usually Shetland or Welsh) & basically had to hang on. I fell off a lot but we all did. No one to fill in health & safety forms Balance comes with time.

I don't think racing saddles ever help with balance but it's what you'll be riding in so you have to get used to them.

The instructor will have seen it all before so just hang on in there (literally if needed!)