Canter/position/jumping CC? (pics) *long!*

Hehehe, you, D and mini D are def Team Ginger :D

Heres some pics of the epicness!

One,
Two,
Three,
HUP!

(Please note - This is the ONLY time I have EVER ridden without a hat, and never intend to again. He may well have been a big ploddy Percheron, but horse by nature are unpredictable (as we all know!). Helmets are for EVERY ride, EVERY time!)
 
*nods* We are going to have our team ginger outfits custom made for xmas I think ;) Mini D can be Ginger Team mascot!

haha, I used to ride Mini D (he has another new nickname...) without a hat all of the time :o I once took him for a 'walk' in just my cowboy hat and decided I was too lazy to walk... hopped on him on the bridle path and got off just before turning into our drive way. My mum still guessed I'd ridden! (guess the ginger hairs stuck to my jeans gave it away, damn)
Not that I'd recommend it, of course o.o
 
:eek: Naughty Solly! I feel so bad I rode without a helmet then, and it was only a tootle around on a big fat (verry handsome ;)) horseh on the lunge! Oh, and there was a girl holding onto me! :o

Woop! Team Ginger Ninjer!! Hehehe :D
 
So does that make galloping down a beach on a horse I'd never met before in my entire life without any hat at all VERY naughty?? :o Oh, and it bounced BACK up the beach, very eager to go again.... and was only my 2nd time riding in a western saddle (1st time was when I was 5!) :o
Probably the worst thing I've done :p Bad Sol?!
 
Sol said:
So does that make galloping down a beach on a horse I'd never met before in my entire life without any hat at all VERY naughty?? :o Oh, and it bounced BACK up the beach, very eager to go again.... and was only my 2nd time riding in a western saddle (1st time was when I was 5!) :o
Probably the worst thing I've done :p Bad Sol?!
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:eek:!!! VERY naughty Sol!

*whispers* Must've been fun tho...:o
 
I dunno...

Life without horses is possible but pointless, after all!

(Hehe, shell never know I nicked that quote off the web.. Wait--Aww Fish Giblets!!)
 
Usually perople struggle with this because they are tense which makes you bounce about rather than flow with the horse so maybe lunge lessons would be good. Also I notice that your on RS ponies which in my past experiance don't always have good transitions anyway i.e., they will spend ages running into the canter rather than tucking under behind and then bouncing into it as it should be. In this respect I wouldn't be too hard on yourself as even the best riders find this uncomfortable!!! Ask your instructor for lessons on transitions concentrating more on the quality of the transition i.e.' halft halts and seting up the horse before asking for canter and you may find this easier.
 
Alimac19 said:
Usually perople struggle with this because they are tense which makes you bounce about rather than flow with the horse so maybe lunge lessons would be good. Also I notice that your on RS ponies which in my past experiance don't always have good transitions anyway i.e., they will spend ages running into the canter rather than tucking under behind and then bouncing into it as it should be. In this respect I wouldn't be too hard on yourself as even the best riders find this uncomfortable!!! Ask your instructor for lessons on transitions concentrating more on the quality of the transition i.e.' halft halts and seting up the horse before asking for canter and you may find this easier.
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I'll be buying myself a couple of lunge lessons in the next few weeks, and I'm working on my transitions with the horses, as they can be pretty lazy! x

Thanks for the tips everyone, please keep them coming!
 
I think its because your basics arent good enough. Riding schools in particular push people in to jumping too quickly.

You're struggling with the canter transition because you're not confident and secure in your seat. If you're not solid, you're going to struggle with jumping because you have to be rock solid secure for a good jump.

I would suggest that you stop jumping, and go back to lots of trot work and lots of canter work, lots of transitions, lots of pole work on the ground (which will help you with the canter rhythm and particularly the rhythm over jumps which will help you with your balance when jumping).

If you can't do this in your multiples lesson, then I suggest you get private lessons.

As another point, I'd be pretty pissed off if I owned the riding school and you turned up with a neckstrap. They might not have one on for a reason. You don't know, and its not your horse to make that decision with.
 
Hi flamehead -

flamehead said:
I think its because your basics arent good enough. Riding schools in particular push people in to jumping too quickly.
I was never pushed to jump, it was introduced to me as a fun activity during pony weeks last summer (where I basically just went over teeny poles) and occasionally our group has a jumping lesson, to keep things interesting for us and the horses.

You're struggling with the canter transition because you're not confident and secure in your seat. If you're not solid, you're going to struggle with jumping because you have to be rock solid secure for a good jump.
I'm booking some lunge lessons to help me become more secure in my seat, as I know it affects me when I do jump!

I would suggest that you stop jumping, and go back to lots of trot work and lots of canter work, lots of transitions, lots of pole work on the ground (which will help you with the canter rhythm and particularly the rhythm over jumps which will help you with your balance when jumping).
We do lots of transitions, poles etc in our lesson each week, and rareley jump even once a month! Maybe once every 5/6 weeks.

If you can't do this in your multiples lesson, then I suggest you get private lessons.

As another point, I'd be pretty pissed off if I owned the riding school and you turned up with a neckstrap. They might not have one on for a reason. You don't know, and its not your horse to make that decision with.

Why would you be pissed off? I'm not suggesting the horses are dangerous or unsafe, the staff know I get quite nervous when I ride and are always there to help me feel more secure, so I don't think using a neck strap would annoy them! Obviously I would ask my instructor first, as she knows the horses better than I do.
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Because people yank on the neckstraps, they're not something everyone wants to use on their horses. I'd be pretty arsed off if you turned up with a neckstrap intending to use it on my horse!!! If they wanted people to use one I think they'd have one.

Also a bit worrying people get nervous when you ride.....!
 
flamehead said:
Because people yank on the neckstraps, they're not something everyone wants to use on their horses. I'd be pretty arsed off if you turned up with a neckstrap intending to use it on my horse!!! If they wanted people to use one I think they'd have one.

Also a bit worrying people get nervous when you ride.....!
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As I've said in my reply, I wouldn't use one unless my instructor OK'd it.

And really, I think my sides have split! ;)
I didn't say people get nervous when I ride, did I? I said my instructor knows I do sometimes feel quite nervous when I ride, so she takes things a bit slower with me. :rolleyes:
 
flamehead said:
I think its because your basics arent good enough.
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Im afraid I agree here :) You look like you have done well and improved at lot but can you have a private lesson because I think that will be very useful. Do you ride the same horse everytime because a more responsive horse may help you learn on for a lesson
 
FFF said:
Im afraid I agree here :) You look like you have done well and improved at lot but can you have a private lesson because I think that will be very useful. Do you ride the same horse everytime because a more responsive horse may help you learn on for a lesson
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I used to ride the same horse, but now every week I try to ride a different, or more forward going, one.

I'm booking myself some lunge lessons (so obv private!) so they'll help me too. xx
~
Thanks for all the help, guys, please keep it coming!
 
I have to say that i agree private lessons are soooo useful for improving yourself (pardon me i haven't read the whole thread :-) and so I wont comment on your riding :-D )

I started in a group lesson for a couple of months, just a beginner class, and this wasn't that long ago as I was older when I began riding, then I changed to private lessons. So much better, because of the one to one with the instructer. My story is a little different as I went from beginner to horsey college in the space of a year (long story) but after a year I was wayyyyyyyy ahead of the people who were in my group lesson, and it was a lot to do with being able to get more out of the private ones. They are more expensive, but I think it'll help your riding not to mention your confidence because all the attention will be on you.

Also the best advise for nerves I was given, smile :-)
 
I havent read all the posts sorry but how long have you been learning to ride and how often do you go for lessons?
 
Horsehead said:
I have to say that i agree private lessons are soooo useful for improving yourself (pardon me i haven't read the whole thread :-) and so I wont comment on your riding :-D )

Oh go on... Page 1 of the thread! :)

I started in a group lesson for a couple of months, just a beginner class, and this wasn't that long ago as I was older when I began riding, then I changed to private lessons. So much better, because of the one to one with the instructer. My story is a little different as I went from beginner to horsey college in the space of a year (long story) but after a year I was wayyyyyyyy ahead of the people who were in my group lesson, and it was a lot to do with being able to get more out of the private ones. They are more expensive, but I think it'll help your riding not to mention your confidence because all the attention will be on you.

They are def more expensive!! I'm lucky that my parents pay for my weekly group, I think some serious negotiating would be needed to change that to a weekly private! I also love the time of lesson (10am on a Sunday!), the group and the instructor I have now, and I don't want to lose them :o I'll be booking myself a lunge or a private lesson every so often though, with any money I can scrape together!

Also the best advise for nerves I was given, smile :-)
Hehe :D
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jaypeebee said:
I havent read all the posts sorry but how long have you been learning to ride and how often do you go for lessons?
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I have ridden on and off since I was 8, starting on donkeys and shetties when I was 3 or so! I have been having weekly group lessons at my RS since February and absolutely love it :D
 
Its lovely to hear how passionate you are about horses and how much you are trying to get there. I second the private lessons. Although they are more expensive you will gain far more from them than group lessons. I realise the riding school are trying to give you variation with a little bit of jumping and cantering but I think they should be focusing on basics and not moving you up levels before you have mastered the levels below. Well done on following your dream :).
 
jaypeebee said:
Its lovely to hear how passionate you are about horses and how much you are trying to get there. I second the private lessons. Although they are more expensive you will gain far more from them than group lessons. I realise the riding school are trying to give you variation with a little bit of jumping and cantering but I think they should be focusing on basics and not moving you up levels before you have mastered the levels below. Well done on following your dream :).
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The best part is my groups is relatively low down (in the scale of things)!

I definitely won't be moving up for a while, I wouldn't want to and my instructor wouldn't let me!

I'm saving up all the money I get so I can buy myself extra lessons :D (and a schooling whip... New helmet... Racesafe BP...;))
 
T_G, in some respects in terms of improving your riding it is a false economy to 'save' money by having a group lesson - my OH learned to ride a few years ago and had a private lesson with a really good instructor once a week and he is now a very competent (and brave!) rider who can gallop round a XC course. He still takes group lessons from time to time when he can't get to his usual slot, but he only does it so he can get some riding in and doesn't think he gets much benefit from them compared to an hour's intensive private tuition. I agree with the comments posted about improving your basics - and you shouldn't really need a neckstrap! - and you will almost certainly find that your confidence improves with mastery of these basics. Can you not talk to your parents about the possibility of taking a private lesson, even alternate weeks?
 
fadedv said:
T_G, in some respects in terms of improving your riding it is a false economy to 'save' money by having a group lesson - my OH learned to ride a few years ago and had a private lesson with a really good instructor once a week and he is now a very competent (and brave!) rider who can gallop round a XC course. He still takes group lessons from time to time when he can't get to his usual slot, but he only does it so he can get some riding in and doesn't think he gets much benefit from them compared to an hour's intensive private tuition. I agree with the comments posted about improving your basics - and you shouldn't really need a neckstrap! - and you will almost certainly find that your confidence improves with mastery of these basics. Can you not talk to your parents about the possibility of taking a private lesson, even alternate weeks?
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I have talked to them, and they've said I can have one every so often instead of the group I currently have - just got to save up so I can have them 'in addition to'!
 
Why not, instead of saving up, 'top up' your parents' contribution and have them more regularly in place of your usual group? Honestly, private lessons are the best investment you can make in your riding if you are serious about improving - if there are 4 people in a lesson, then surely you are getting (very roughly!) 15 mins of teaching directed at your riding at best, and not necessarily focusing on areas which you need to; with a private lesson, the whole hour is about you! Doesn't matter if you're nervous, want to improve you cantering or whatever - the whole hour is directed to helping you improve.
 
fadedv said:
Why not, instead of saving up, 'top up' your parents' contribution and have them more regularly in place of your usual group? Honestly, private lessons are the best investment you can make in your riding if you are serious about improving - if there are 4 people in a lesson, then surely you are getting (very roughly!) 15 mins of teaching directed at your riding at best, and not necessarily focusing on areas which you need to; with a private lesson, the whole hour is about you! Doesn't matter if you're nervous, want to improve you cantering or whatever - the whole hour is directed to helping you improve.
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I do agree with you about the private lessons, and I'll talk to my parents about 'topping up'. I LOVE the group lessons though, and have so much fun! While I don't get the whole hour to myself, I watch the others too and learn from them.
 
Ask them if you can work for rides-the helpers always used to have an hours group at the end of the day,then ask your parents if they can pay for a private lesson every other week instead of a group each week.
You would end up with more riding and some intensive tuition to boot.
 
I help out on Pony Weeks etc (and got to have a free semi-private with the other helper in Easter hols :D) and we do get a ride when we can. Its a bit more difficult for me though, as all the other helpers are such good riders, I'm not up to there level!

I do love my group though,if carrying on in it every week means I progress slower, I'm kinda happy with that! :o I will get private lessons when I can, though.:)
 
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