Being Watched.....

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.....I really hate this when I am riding :(
I know today as I go down to the indoor school that a little group of scrutinisers will appear, as this is the first time I have ridden at new yard. I am never bothered at shows or people that I know well or my instructor, friend said you should take it as a compliment as you're a good rider, I just like to ride alone some times and work on my horse.
Question is do you hate being watched when you ride?
 
I really hate it!! and I know that as soon as people are watching my horse will play up!

I was also really selective about finding an instructor when my horse was first backed!! i wanted someone older than me, who was more experienced!! but turns out that actually finding someone who was 21 actually worked a lot better for us!! but I was so scared when I had my first lesson with her!! but because she was young, she was willing to ride my horse and find out what worked for him! the other people were not willing to do that!
 
Doesn't bother me in the slightest these days. I used to feel self conscious and then I moved to a yard where the school was directly in front of the stables. Had to get over it pretty quick ;)
 
Yes - can't abide it.

I don't mind if I've asked someone to watch - for example if someone is going to be riding one of mine I'll ask them to watch me first to take note of position and rein contact before they then ride but general hangers on the paddock fence just makes me feel uncomfortable.

Thankfully I haven't been in that situation for years now.
 
I really really hate it
If I think that someone is watching me everything goes to pot and we look like a rider that's never sat on a horse before and a horse that has no clue where to put his legs or how to balance lol.
As soon as that person goes away and I relax we go back to how we were.
 
It depends who's doing the watching! Mostly I'm not bothered but sometimes I do feel uncomfortable - especially when jumping as this makes me nervous anyway (and it feels like people are watching in case of - or hoping for?? - a fall or something...).
 
RubysGold said:
I really really hate it
If I think that someone is watching me everything goes to pot and we look like a rider that's never sat on a horse before and a horse that has no clue where to put his legs or how to balance lol.
As soon as that person goes away and I relax we go back to how we were.
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Exactly....you are right on the nail! :) Right must go, and tack up and prepare for the observations!
 
Nobody ever watches us. Probably because it's not terribly interesting. Same with loading, when she was a wazzock we had a big audience but now she's a pro loader nobody cares to watch a horse walk straight into the trailer.
 
Don't really mind it when its infront of the stables, but the last yard I was on with a non horsey owner built a cafe right infront of the school complete with picnic tables and umbrellas on the grass surrounding it.
Used it as a training aid for the established horses althoughwhen customers put the huge umbrellas up as you were riding towards them it lead to interesting times! but for babies and backing youngsters it was a nightmare.
Owener used to ask us to ride when cafe was open as the customers liked watching and they spent more, we didn't even get offered a free coffee:)
Fortunately we have moved our six horses to our own place now, really couldn't cope with the rotting school fence with kids standing on it, toddlers running into the school towards the horses and son getting a split lip when his pony decided enough was enough when one of the staff decided to take an umbrella down and lift it out out position aiming at the pony just as son rode past. Fortunately pony only spooked violently but it could have been so much worse.
 
i hate being watched! so much to the point the crumble when i am being watched!
my instructor notices it, the moment some one is at the window of our window i just cant do it, i cant do shows either i can do in hand but not ridden
a lot of it steams from i am a larger rider and feel like every one is judging (lets be fair a lot of people probably are!)

i have my lessons at 8 pm now after work, we shut both doors to the indoor and by that point the one person who might see me if the cleaner in the cafe where the window is and she is to busy hoovering to watch

i wish i could could ride in front of people as a few friends want to see how Levi is doing but i just watched :(
 
Tbh I think it's normal to feel self conscious .
You just have to focus on riding your horse and it's a good discipline to push yourself ' into the bubble ' and squash the feeling .
 
Shavings said:
i hate being watched! so much to the point the crumble when i am being watched!
my instructor notices it, the moment some one is at the window of our window i just cant do it, i cant do shows either i can do in hand but not ridden
a lot of it steams from i am a larger rider and feel like every one is judging (lets be fair a lot of people probably are!)

i have my lessons at 8 pm now after work, we shut both doors to the indoor and by that point the one person who might see me if the cleaner in the cafe where the window is and she is to busy hoovering to watch

i wish i could could ride in front of people as a few friends want to see how Levi is doing but i just watched :(
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I used to worry but not so much now. like you shavings I am a bigger rider and used to think everyone was laughing at me. However I have since come to the conclusion that as neither of my horse have buckled under my weight I can't be doing much wrong and that a lot of the whispering is due to jealousy. I am at a yard now thought where I am usually the only one riding or at the yard when I ride. My biggest problem now is trying not to be overly critical about myself as the school has an entire short side of mirrors :)
 
I don't particularly like being watched as I feel very self concious.
I do get watched though here and there, probably because I'm on a large mixed yard and the only person to be doing dressage to a reasonable level. Although I dont 'like' it I certainly don't discourage it, and to some extent welcome it. If I want to compete better I need to learn to be confident riding in front of others.
 
I show a fair bit and there are always spectators around, so you get used to it. For some reason I don't mind this as much as when schooling at home - at home it is more personal I suppose! I find I am much more likely to go to pot and over think at home when there are spectators.
 
Yes I hate it! Obviously it's different when competing and to be expected then, but when I'm minding my own business and schooling my horse I feel very self-conscious when I have an audience, even if it's just one person!
 
People only watched me on my old yard for the potential fireworks. They drifted away when it got boring. I can;t say I liked being watched.

On a private yard now so no spectators. If YO has a lesson and I'd like to watch I always ask.
 
I actually miss it now I have my horses at home - I don't have anyone to egg me on (or to prove wrong) and my enthusiasm isn't what it once was. I also don't have many pictures of me riding recently either :(
 
Like Shavings above I have a real problem with it. To the point where I gave up riding (only minis at home).It's a serious problem for me that I have trouble managing. I have no problem public speaking though which some people find strange. I won't even try out a horse in public so have put off buying. I can manage hacking and hunting, don't feel so much panic.
 
A friend of mine went to try a horse out and an audience appeared and sat on the seating at 1 side of the school. She let the seller demonstrate the horse, but before getting on herself she asked the seller to go and tell the spectators to go as she did not want an audience. The seller looked surprised, but complied. The audience looked very put out and gave her dirty looks.
 
People have too much time on their hands. My yard is too busy for people to stop and watch unless I asked them to. I might get the odd cursory glance but honestly.... why do you care? Have you paid for their opinion? are they are superb top rider with something to offer? I always ignored people before and do so now. People are naturally curious and nosey so may well have a look at the newbie but... so what.. they will make up their minds about you at some point!

Just remember (and this is really really relevant to our equine world), that those who can do and know horses NEVER pass judgement on another. Those who are useless and think they know everything often do and their judgement is poor and useless. I will lay odds that when any reader of this post thinks about it, they will have to agree!. You don't see Pippa Funnell standing at the side of a ring criticising complete strangers do you... but you might find the odd failed ex rider or individual who once rode a 3 foot course and can now train you for Badminton..

Oh and final point for those who are bigger and worry about what people may say. Can I just point out that you are on board and actually having a go which is a world away from messing around on the ground..
 
Depends who!

If I am friendly with them, then yes, I like it! Especially if they have a camera, because I love getting photos of Nedly!

However, if I know they are they JUST to be nasty, or have things to talk about behind my back, then no. I will usually just walk large until they get bored!

Thankfully everyone is nice at my yard, so I don't mind people watching :)
 
Luci07 said:
People have too much time on their hands. My yard is too busy for people to stop and watch unless I asked them to. I might get the odd cursory glance but honestly.... why do you care? Have you paid for their opinion? are they are superb top rider with something to offer? I always ignored people before and do so now. People are naturally curious and nosey so may well have a look at the newbie but... so what.. they will make up their minds about you at some point!

Just remember (and this is really really relevant to our equine world), that those who can do and know horses NEVER pass judgement on another. Those who are useless and think they know everything often do and their judgement is poor and useless. I will lay odds that when any reader of this post thinks about it, they will have to agree!. You don't see Pippa Funnell standing at the side of a ring criticising complete strangers do you... but you might find the odd failed ex rider or individual who once rode a 3 foot course and can now train you for Badminton..

Oh and final point for those who are bigger and worry about what people may say. Can I just point out that you are on board and actually having a go which is a world away from messing around on the ground..
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What you say makes sense but I've said it to myself a million times and it makes no difference. It's like a phobia. Can't be cured with logic and believe me I've tried. It really bothers me.
 
Knockadoon said:
What you say makes sense but I've said it to myself a million times and it makes no difference. It's like a phobia. Can't be cured with logic and believe me I've tried. It really bothers me.
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OK.. so visualise this. You are riding your horse in front of an audience at a show. You believe they are watching and judging them. Now imagine that all of them have just lost their trousers and how idiotic they look. Keep playing that image. Then practise it when out on foot and you see a group of people - imagine them suddenly having to grab trousers or pull down skirts. It does help!
 
I don't have a problem at all with being watched while I ride, but people watching me teach makes me jitter. I can just about cope with parents of any children I'm teaching, although some of them can be horrible rude. But if it's hideous weather and another instructor and I share the indoor school I go to pieces. I know I'm good at my job but God I hate being watched!!
 
Ha, ha. I'll have to try that. I really just need to get over myself. I'm an adult, not a teenager. I'm getting married soon for god's sake and I'm totally stressed by strangers, who couldn't care less, watching me on a horse.
 
When I got my first horse I didn't notice the pack at the yard watching me ride, my instructor did and pointed it out - they weren't well wishers. It's such a nasty thing to do, they used to 'do the water's' when I was in the school, I now wonder how awful my riding was for them to feel the need to watch me. Now I have the horses at home so the only watchers are invited and there to wish me well, when I ride on friends yard the watchers are also well wishers so it's much nicer and does your confidence the world of good. Funnily enough I can cope doing dressage with people watching as not sure I care what they think.
 
Knockadoon said:
Ha, ha. I'll have to try that. I really just need to get over myself. I'm an adult, not a teenager. I'm getting married soon for god's sake and I'm totally stressed by strangers, who couldn't care less, watching me on a horse.
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Or try this. Do you respect their opinion? do they have something of value to offer? if not then... you have plenty to do with organising a wedding as well as riding etc etc. Your life sounds far more exciting that someone who has nothing better to do with their time than hang around to watch someone else ride!
 
It depends. The school is right out the front of the stables and I don't really mind (or have a choice) if other liveries watch. It's also a RS, but as its evenings the lessons have usually finished. What bothers me is when people decide to walk and run right up to the fence, or jump and sit on the mountain block/chairs/play with the jump blocks beside the school as my horse will decide they're monsters and can do impressive turns and miraculous 'airs above ground' with me attempting to cling on!
I hate it at shows as he can play up if we are with others and nap and sometimes the only way to get him moving forwards instead of standing still and rearing is to give him a sharp smack with the whip and to growl at him, but I often get tuts as they just think I'm a massive horse abuser...
 
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