Being Watched.....

Can't stand up and talk to an audience without having a panic attack, but give me a horse and I barely even notice them being there!! My mare used to rear up in the middle of the yard just to avoid going out hacking (in company or alone). And as a child going out hacking with your friends was one of the best things to do on a weekend - so I was determined I was going! Needless to say I got used to people gawking pretty quickly so it no longer bothers me, not that I minded too much beforehand (and my determination paid off after I don't know how many years (considering we're both now in our 20s) as she now hacks out in company absolutely fine - not so much on her own though, but I can live with that as I can take my boys out if I want to go it alone!).
 
Bav said:
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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Ooh this!

I have spent YEARS getting Ned to an acceptable level, where he will hack out alone. Sometimes though, he will nap and refuse to go out. The only way to get him to move is to shout and growl and if he's REALLY pushing his luck, then a sharp smack. People at my current yard are very understanding, but at other places, I have got tuts, shaking of heads, gasps and even people wanting to smack him too!! These incidents are very very few and far between now, so I don't worry so much, but it's horrible when it does happen!
 
Yes, when they are all gathered around the mounting block in the summer and you can hear them whispering when you go past. However I have always found that the most critical people are those that can't do it themselves, and if you asked them to sit on your horse and show you how its done they would come up with every excuse in the book! Hilarious.
 
I used to be on a yard where your riding would draw an audience, especially if you were riding a difficult horse...of course, it was always those who didn't get on their own horses to ride from one end of the month to the next! And then these jokers would offer their pearls of wisdom on what you were doing wrong, how you should correct it blah blah blah... I sometimes used to invite them to hop on and show me what they meant; at least the excuses will give you a laugh ;)

My current yard is a world away - everyone rides their horses pretty much every day and rides to a good standard. Advice is only offered if wanted and in good spirit. I know it's hard when people are watching you and waiting for something to kick off, but ignore them; they're trying to compensate for their own deficiencies both as riders and human beings.
 
_OC_ said:
.....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?
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doesn't bother me at all since when taking exams you get used to it.
 
applecart14 said:
However I have always found that the most critical people are those that can't do it themselves, and if you asked them to sit on your horse and show you how its done they would come up with every excuse in the book! Hilarious.
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^^^^^ THIS! Honestly, try it. Nice as pie and with your most sincere face on - ask them to get on and show you how it's done. It will give you a right laugh either way.
 
Just to let you know I have returned....as I went in side ways(Cob just getting used to indoor school) with a lot of snorting I asked 'Would any one like to hop on and I'll get off'.....strangely they disappeared:):):)
 
I used to get this all the time when I rode. Thankfully I jsut stuck in headphones and ignored them. One day I was having a lesson and someone had one after with this really good instructor. Turned out they had taught ther person teaching me, and they were all huddled together watching whilst my instructor stuck up a 3ft by 4ft ladder spread and we cleared it 3 times. AL the little nosey parkers were stood there with faces like "wtf did I jsut witness" and their instructor came over and complimented me and my horse. I was like "up yours suckers!"
 
I think it makes me ride better. I'm more aware of myself. My best rides are always with an audience. Alone I sometimes forget how to even halt without falling off haha
 
Just ask them not to watch you, .......... simples.
If you know them and have lots of laffs wih them, fine, but if you are not happy, tell them to beggar off [politely]
Something like, I only like my instructor to watch me, or similar. To be honest it is rude.
 
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I hate being watched when I ride - which is why I dont/cant compete, : I get tense, horsey senses it and either does his best "Im a lazy giraffe" impression or alternatively, if theres a really big audience, throws some 'other' shapes! The flip side to this is when Im schooling alone and I get the 10 minutes of nice, forward, supple, obedient work that he allows me to get once a week if I'm lucky, why arent they watching then??!!
 
I don't mind it at home, mainly because I'm the only one at the yard who does anything. Apart from one girl who has lots of lessons but doesn't compete, all the others just hack. I don't for one second think I'm better than them but I don't mind them watching me as I know they're not judging.

I do get a bit self conscious at riding club though. I know I'm far from being the best rider there but because I'm chair of the club I'm sure people expect me to be better than I am!
 
I think too many people think others are more interested in them than they actually are. If someone watches me I'm sure it's because they're killing time, are over for a chat or like my horse! I know that's the only reason I would watch someone 😀
 
equi said:
I think it makes me ride better. I'm more aware of myself. My best rides are always with an audience. Alone I sometimes forget how to even halt without falling off haha
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This. I love being watched, it spurs me on to do better. I have a very lazy mare and often can't really be bothered to put in the effort. When I'm being watched, especially by the less-than-complimentary spectator, I try much harder and subsequently ride better
 
equi said:
I think it makes me ride better. I'm more aware of myself. My best rides are always with an audience. Alone I sometimes forget how to even halt without falling off haha
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Illusion100 said:
No, it honestly doesn't bother me, purely because I'm a perfectionist so no one could be more critical of my riding than myself!
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Polar Bear9 said:
This. I love being watched, it spurs me on to do better. I have a very lazy mare and often can't really be bothered to put in the effort. When I'm being watched, especially by the less-than-complimentary spectator, I try much harder and subsequently ride better
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All of this. I love being watched. I am critical enough of myself that no one could think anything worse :p I guess I have been lucky that I have only ever heard* positive things people say. My gelding is a bit a show off, and goes much better for a crowd!

The only downside though, and is why I am glad it doesn't happen often - is that I inadvertently just do all the things we are good at. Instead of concentraing on the aspects that need work ( and look a mess) that I do when alone!



*not that there aren't any bad things people say, just I haven't heard them :p
 
It doesn't bother me at all. When I'm having a lesson I'm generally concentrating so much that there could be a nuclear holocaust going on outside the school and I wouldn't notice!! Same when we are competing - it's just me, Pie and a ring full of jumps - the outside world ceases to exist!
I also don't mind people faffing around outside the school as these things happen at shows and I would rather Pie was used to it - one memorable occasion I had a lesson when they were dehorning cows in the barn next to the school!
 
We bought a horse years ago from a lovely lady who was a glamour model. She said she couldn't ride in the school at certain times of the day, as all the teenage brothers of the girls who kept their horses at the yard, would hang around, watching her trot........
 
It depends on the people doing the watching. My lad and I aren't exactly world-beaters, either of us, but I'm quite happy to tootle round in front of other competitors at local dressage. I have him at home so I don't have many spectators. I do have a problem with some people though. Something about my horse seems to attract people who want to put him down (figuratively speaking!) I don't know why they do it, but there are quite a few of them, totally unconnected to one another, who just can't wait to come up and dissect his mistakes with me. All of them have horses which are far better schooled and more expensive than mine, who is a PROJECT, and I've never pretended he was anything else, yet they can't wait to pick at his faults. Did he do a whole hack with them in a gale, but gave a hard stare to a new signpost? "He really spooked at that sign! What was that for? Mine didn't even look!" (no, because yours had refused to walk over a fallen stick 10ft back and we had taken the lead to get you past it!). Did he get the canter wrong the first time and have to stop and start again? "He doesn't change does he? How long have you been working on that now?" (Sorry, he's not used to working indoors, and I was really pleased with how he picked it up the second time). My horse is stupid, slow, rude, common, he'll never get any better, he can't school, he shouldn't be allowed to jump, he's spooky, he's ugly....
Even though I try to focus on what I was pleased with, I now get very self-conscious about riding in front of these particular people, knowing they're just waiting for me to trip up... and make even more mistakes! Argh!

(Funnily enough, the people who have been kind and complimentary about him, and constructive in their criticism, have been the ones who go out doing BE and doing well, on horses that are real quality, probably worth more than all my possessions put together!)
 
I don't care who's watching. Ever! When I was competing, it never crossed my mind. During schooling, etc, it's the same. When I'm riding, I'm focused on my horse and that's it. Commentary doesn't bother me. I just switch off unless it's useful or relevant.
 
I feel terrible now! I love watching people, especially lessons. I dont go out of my way to do it but if I'm walking past I'll stop and watch. I find I learn loads from watching other people ride, no matter what level. Plus as someone who used to teach, I used to watch other people teaching as it improved my teaching. The only time I would judge or think anything negative is the horse wasnt sound or wasnt being ridden roughly
 
Someone came up with a cracking idea a while back - if they are watching you lesson, get your instructor to say to them 'You do know I charge £xx for u ridden clinic lessons?'.
 
I also hate people watching me ride, I don't mind my sharer, OH or instructor but feel like I'm being scrutinised if others watch me!!
 
PaddyMonty said:
Doesn't bother me in the slightest. Most of the time I wouldn't even notice if someone was watching.
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This.....in my mind I'm.focused on me and my horse and what I want to get out of a session. I have no problem anyone watching me as I really don't care what they think.of me riding as everyone has opinions, I'm.sure you do op, when.watching.others ride. As long as my horses are happy others can either go stuff themselves if they want to.be critical or just enjoy the magnificently way my horses move :D lol
 
godfreyy said:
Can't stand up and talk to an audience without having a panic attack, but give me a horse and I barely even notice them being there!! My mare used to rear up in the middle of the yard just to avoid going out hacking (in company or alone). And as a child going out hacking with your friends was one of the best things to do on a weekend - so I was determined I was going! Needless to say I got used to people gawking pretty quickly so it no longer bothers me, not that I minded too much beforehand (and my determination paid off after I don't know how many years (considering we're both now in our 20s) as she now hacks out in company absolutely fine - not so much on her own though, but I can live with that as I can take my boys out if I want to go it alone!).
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And Smurf is just super to watch :)

P.s I'm.not stalking you I recognised your picture, I knew him at his old yard and we are friends on fb :)
 
Part of (a few!) reasons I left my last yard was due to a group of people who hung around the arena when I was riding and just stared in at me - not only that but they would offer 'advice' without my asking. It began to make me feel self conscious about riding when they were there as they constantly picked on my riding, and I used to choose unsociable hours to ride just so I could get some peace.

It wasn't sustainable for me or my poor horse who was being dragged out to ride as stupid hours, so I moved and we've never been happier. Now I actively ask for feedback as people are so helpful and there's only a few of us :)
 
alainax said:
I am critical enough of myself that no one could think anything worse :p
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This is so true. Someone once said to me "we wouldn't say to our worst enemies the things we say to ourselves". It's easy to imagine that watchers are sitting there sneering and making nasty comments, when a lot of the time they are probably just killing time or watching because....well, there are worse ways to pass half an hour. I know if I was the one watching I wouldn't dream of thinking anything snidey - I like to think most others are the same.

That said, there is a solid wall and a window between me and anyone watching, so who knows what they might be saying!
 
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Gosh, I'm clearly very lucky with where I ride - it has never worried me if people watch. I usually go into a bubble and don't even notice. It helps that I really don't think people at the yard are anything other than interested and we all like to see each other going well.
I fall into the category of lots of lessons, but don't compete. Yet. Hoping that I'll cope with being watched then, but I think I'll put the pressure on myself regardless!
 
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