Conflicting advice...

LMuirEDT

LMuirEDT

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10 September 2009
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574
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www.horsedentistry.org.uk
Ok so my mum has been riding for nearly a year now at a local riding school. Initially she took to it v well and is still loving going but the way she learnt seemed a bit backwards to me. They seem to work on confidence initially and then move onto the finer points (like stablilty). Well all along they've taught her to ride with palms facing down and to grip with her knees and upper thigh.

This all seems completely backwards to me but I've let her get on with it so far as she enjoys it. Now however she doesn't seem to be getting any further/better altho she is cantering and jumping.

Should I say/do something or let her carry on?
 
I'd say something. Yes, of course it is very important to build confidence but this isn't going to happen unless they teach her how to develop a strong, independent seat - and what they are telling her goes against this completely. There is no reason to teach someone to grip in this way - it will destroy any chance of developing a seat that will enable her to feel secure.
 
hmmm perhaps its the riding school, some places just go with the flow, learn something and suddenly move onto the next stage rather than learning something correctly and making sure they don't attempt other things until they have the first bit right.

But if she is enjoying her self then there is no harm but if she's wanting to learn to ride safely and at a good level then perhaps treat her to a private lesson somewhere else where she can sample a different RI and see what they have to say about her current riding skills and if there in line with what she's now doing ie now jumping.
 
The problem is it is driving me insane now!!! I personally wouldn't let my mum get out of trot yet. She gets really frustrated with herself and I'm sure it's because the basics aren't there. She doesn't argue with me when I teach her on my horse but she does say 'but 'X' says to do it this way' and I always seem to be telling her the opposite.

I asked her how she 'asks' for canter the other day and she said 'well he just goes when I kick or say canter'. If I say anything about trotting diagonals, canter leads, aids for canter, etc she looks at me blankly. Am I expecting too much of her? To me these are some of the basic things you should learn.
 
Can you get her a lunge lesson somewhere as a christmas present?

I think it is hard finding a good instructor when you yourself don't know what is 'right'. It has taken me ages but I think I have finally found a good instructor, who I feel is teaching me the way it should be taught. I'm not going to do grand prix dressage any day soon, but I don't see why I shouldbe taught as if I'm not, if that makes sense?

I don't think you are expecting too much of her no. I would expect a 6 year old kid to know what diagonals are within the few few months of learning to ride, whether they can rise properly to them yet or not
smile.gif
 
I'd change the riding school.

Even the little kids at ours are taught to hold the reins and sit properly from the start although they aren't nagged about it until they are a bit more established.

They aren't taught diagonals until they are rising to the trot fairly confidently though it would be before they started cantering.

I think with an adult it is even more important to teach properly form the begining as an adult has a better understanding of what you are telling them and has more awareness of what their body is doing.

Find her somewhere else to learn.
 
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