Confidence crisis- New Instructer his he too good for me ?

S

SAL66

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 June 2007
Messages
814
Visit site
In all my years of riding never has my confidence been so low.

I have been having lessons with my trainer for about 2 years , she's great and I feel that I have improved so much, so much so that I decided to change my horse .
I bought a nice 5 year old who we thought had "potential". I have had to buy a new saddle, then holidays came , then he kept throwing shoes so all in all I have had only about 5 lessons on my new horse, but things were good.

Through personal reasons my instructer has for the foreseeable future stopped training, and I have been on the look out for someone else, with little success.

My trainer has suggested that I use her trainer, I went to see him yesterday and he seemed very good, quiet but shouted his instructions rather technically. I am now coming up with all the excuses under the sun not to use him.

When I mentioned this to my instructer that was , she laughed at me and told me that I have a very nice horse in the making, to stop putting myself down and go for it.

Does anyone else feel like this or is it just me?.

I just feel that I've lost all direction, she was a fantastic trainer who I could ask her to explain things again and again if needs be, this chap doesn't come over like this.

I am scared of making myself look a complete prat TBH, any advice?
 
Yes sometimes it is a bit daunting, but have a go just ask anything you dont understand a good trainer wont think any less of you for asking to explain something. If you have one lesson you can make your mind up to see how you get on, am looking for a new trainer for when I get my new horse and TBH hateing the the thought of having someone new but I have no choice, so no its not just you, Good luck
 
why not just go for it but make sure the new instructor is aware that you dont necessarily understand all the technical terms so need things in plain english?

if the instructor is as good as your old one says then they should adapt very easily.
 
I know exactly how you feel. I have a 'new' welsh cob (he sixteen) and lazy. I had a fantastic trainer, who I too could ask to explain stuff, over and over until I got it. I'm not the most technical of people.... However he's now gone awol and I'm feeling a bit scared of using a different instructor.. That said, I've decided that I'm really going to work on the tools by my instructor has given me thus far and just build on it - with the occasional lessons with a new instructor. I'm going take it one step at a time, some times the light bulb goes off immediately, sometimes it takes longer. I've come to the conclusion that if you don't ask you don't get, and if you don't try you'll never learn. Please be brave - I am....
 
Thanks everyone, I know what you have said makes complete sense and I should have spoken to him by now to arrange a lesson.

I am going to ask if he could possibly come to me rather than where he teaches , he comes I think from Chesterfield and uses another livery yards school near to me as a base, certainly for a few weeks so I don't have the added stress of travelling my new boy as well as the stress of being taught my someone else.
If he can't then I'm not sure what I'll do because I am in between vehicles at the mo and my car won't tow the trailer - see another excuse!.

The longer I leave it the worse it gets I know, god why am I like this, I've even thought about selling up!.
 
I often feel like this too.

If I have a new instructor I just expain how I feel when I book a lesson and tell the instructor again at the beginning of the lesson, and most instructors listen and try to adapt their teaching style. After all, you are paying and you know how you like to be tought. If an instructor wont listen to me, I would find another one. Keep going.
 
Don't be put off - you just need to get used to him!

If it helps - I've had lessons off of Ian Stark on April (my old loan horse) and she could only jump courses of up to about 1m unaffiliated
grin.gif

he was far too good an instructor for our level lol.

Infact the first time I had a lesson with him years ago she refused almost everything with a filler in it and on one of the other lessons since she jumped up to about 3'6 but catleaped a lot and I fell off twice
blush.gif
(landed on my feet one of the times, how I'll never know!!)
grin.gif


I'd still go back for more as he was a brilliant instructor (would love to have one on Tara seeing as she is actually a good jumper LOL)
If they are willing to teach I am willing to learn
laugh.gif
 
Medley- I love your last sentence, one I will try to remember.

Redmerl, yes your right if I don't get on with him, then I'm not duty bound to keep on with him.

Thanks again for your encouragement, fingers crossed this next coming week I will have the dreaded lesson.
 
From what you are saying, I'm not sure that he is the right instructor for you. I once had a RC group jumping lesson with a new male instructor. He was more concerned with his ego and getting results than trying to teach me in a way that improved us. He also shouted a lot!! I decided that I'd had enough and left. Since then, it may sound odd but I much prefer female instructors, particularly ones who have taken on board what you want to achieve and how much confidence you have. You should feel elated and itching for more if it's the right person for you, surely?
 


I would not give up straight away but would go back a few times as it takes a while for someone to assess you and your horse so the first lesson is always a bit daunting. If you dont understand then say so. It will help the instructor to understand you better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top