whiteclover
Well-Known Member
and your a novice by an instructor when you've been riding for years and owned bucker. Would that annoy you? because its annoying me. Okay I may not be the most stylish but whose perfect eh.
Being told your ridings not good.......
- Thread starter whiteclover
- Start date
Ibblebibble
Well-Known Member
change instructor! they're supposed to be there to encourage and help not make you feel bad about yourself, 
one of my worst instructors was in college! bit difficult to change in that situation but she nearly managed to put me off riding, our other instructor would tell you if you were doing something wrong but always try to point out a good thing too
one of my worst instructors was in college! bit difficult to change in that situation but she nearly managed to put me off riding, our other instructor would tell you if you were doing something wrong but always try to point out a good thing too
twisteddiamond
Well-Known Member
It would annoy me, I had an instructor who repeatedly told me I was fat and I couldn't ride 
so I feel your pain
so I feel your painBlueCakes
Well-Known Member
Saying you're not good is the wrong thing to say.
But tbh I have taught, and there may be many people who can 'sit' or 'stay on' a horse, but it doesn't necessarilly mean they can ride it very well.
Maybe your instructor is trying to get you to see you bad habits and to ride correctly, but just isn't going about it the right way.
Or maybe they have tried being subtle, but felt the need to use harsh words because you seemed unwilling to change?
But tbh I have taught, and there may be many people who can 'sit' or 'stay on' a horse, but it doesn't necessarilly mean they can ride it very well.
Maybe your instructor is trying to get you to see you bad habits and to ride correctly, but just isn't going about it the right way.
Or maybe they have tried being subtle, but felt the need to use harsh words because you seemed unwilling to change?
joeanne
Well-Known Member
To be totally honest, I would rather an instructor told me where I was going wrong, than to praise me because I am paying her/him.
After all I pay to improve my riding, not have my ego rubbed.
Perhaps you should take the criticism onboard and try and work with your instructor to improve your riding.
After all I pay to improve my riding, not have my ego rubbed.
Perhaps you should take the criticism onboard and try and work with your instructor to improve your riding.
ThePinkPony
Well-Known Member
Change RI's. i have dropped one of my lessons because the one RI didnt really give me any confidence and seemed to always comment on my weight (im not THAT heavy, and a 16.2hh can definitely hold my weight) and i was dreading lessons, when i left i would return home feeling pretty crappy and honestly a couple of times i felt like giving up.
My other RI is great, she sets up more challenges and actually makes it enjoyable, and last lesson she metioned how 'nicely and quietly' i was dealing with a naughty horse and even made a point of telling the others that we had managed a decent canter on both reins (which apparently is pretty unheard of), so its much nicer to be in the lesson and i ALWAYS feel like ive improved and learned something.
I also noticed that the horse was much spookier with RI1.
Dont put up with it, noone should tell you that.
My other RI is great, she sets up more challenges and actually makes it enjoyable, and last lesson she metioned how 'nicely and quietly' i was dealing with a naughty horse and even made a point of telling the others that we had managed a decent canter on both reins (which apparently is pretty unheard of), so its much nicer to be in the lesson and i ALWAYS feel like ive improved and learned something.
I also noticed that the horse was much spookier with RI1.
Dont put up with it, noone should tell you that.
FMM
Well-Known Member
Maybe the horse is bucking because of the way you are riding him? Not saying you are doing anything wrong, but there is usually a reason.
Notwithstanding that, if you are riding a horse that bucks, I assume (in order to be safe!) you are riding quite defensively? Again, this will not make your riding look as good as it could.
Did the instructor actually SAY you were a novice and bad rider or is this what you took away from the session?
Did you feel you improved during the lesson? If you did, then stick with it, as if she is going to call a spade a spade, when you improve at least you know that she really means it when she says well done!
Notwithstanding that, if you are riding a horse that bucks, I assume (in order to be safe!) you are riding quite defensively? Again, this will not make your riding look as good as it could.
Did the instructor actually SAY you were a novice and bad rider or is this what you took away from the session?
Did you feel you improved during the lesson? If you did, then stick with it, as if she is going to call a spade a spade, when you improve at least you know that she really means it when she says well done!
crazyhorse4727
Well-Known Member
Is this what they actualy said?
Not that there's things that could be improved and what they are?
They are obvisously not the best instructor for you!
Not that there's things that could be improved and what they are?
They are obvisously not the best instructor for you!
Hexx
Well-Known Member
I went on a riding holiday once at a well-known establishment. Having been assessed, I was put into a competent group of 5 ladies, we could all ride fairly well.
However, one instructor we had was quite young and seemed to have a chip on her shoulder about teaching "older" pupils. Her comment to me was - you are a better rider than you think you are, but you are still not that good
All of us did a double-take at that statement, and after the lesson, we all questioned whether I had been insulted or not!!!
We requested that we didn't have any more lessons with her!!
However, one instructor we had was quite young and seemed to have a chip on her shoulder about teaching "older" pupils. Her comment to me was - you are a better rider than you think you are, but you are still not that good
All of us did a double-take at that statement, and after the lesson, we all questioned whether I had been insulted or not!!!
We requested that we didn't have any more lessons with her!!
Suziq77
Well-Known Member
Was it simply that you really didn't click with this person at all and it was the way they said things rather than what they actually said? I started working with a new trainer earlier this year who pointed out that after years of being put up on youngsters with big bucks / nappy habits as cannon fodder I tend to stick my lower legs forward and ride defensively (as FMM says above) if all is not going well. If the horse starts to pull I tend to stiffen my shoulders and elbows and the resultant picture is not pretty. However, the way he told me made me laugh so much that I actually relaxed pretty much instantly, now if I start doing it he just yells "you're not riding a hunter at the Royal International" at me (because he says I look like I'm trying to emulate Guy Landau but I'm a long way from being able to do it like Guy does it) and I crack up, relax and the horse immediately starts to go forward better.
BUT if he'd taken my riding apart in a manner which offended me I doubt I'd have kept working with him. He did have a real point though and I've been riding for nearly 30 years (god that makes me sound old - i started very young!).
Maybe it's just the way this instructor said it but if it was a more general feeling that you aren't suited to working together then perhaps best to look for someone else but do remain open to discussion regarding your natural style of riding?
BUT if he'd taken my riding apart in a manner which offended me I doubt I'd have kept working with him. He did have a real point though and I've been riding for nearly 30 years (god that makes me sound old - i started very young!).
Maybe it's just the way this instructor said it but if it was a more general feeling that you aren't suited to working together then perhaps best to look for someone else but do remain open to discussion regarding your natural style of riding?
Suziq77
Well-Known Member
How rude of her! How does she know how good you think you are?! That sort of attitude (on her part) smacks of jealousy/having a chip on her shoulder. Sometimes you wonder why people go in to teaching if they don't enjoy teaching people.....