Ever Feel Like You Can't Ride?!

[criso]

For my tb spring means yummy grass, lovely tender leaves and delicious blossom in the hedgerows. I can see me looking like one of those small kids on a Shetland trying to pull the head up.

 

[Boulty]

The orange Welsh used to fluctuate between making me look waaay better than I am (that line of flying changes in the bending poles? Yeah I totally asked for every one & could absolutely repeat that in a straight line… or not! ) or making me look like I’d never sat on a horse before (it’s normal to fall off if your horse has steering failure & nearly runs into the fence riiiight?!)

The fuzzball tends to stick with making me look & feel as incompetent as possible. His current life’s mission is trying to use tree branches as a method to remove me… particularly embarrassing when he stops under low hanging ones to eat them or tries to climb inside hedges A few days ago I had a runout in trot from a flipping pole corridor… Some days walking in a straight line is a challenge!

 

[estela]

Yes most if not all days. I have the most incredibly patient instructor, don't know how she hasn't left me to it years ago

 

[Cherryblossom]

I had this last week, and said to my instructor that I felt my lower leg wasn’t secure. Had an amazing lesson where we worked on it, but along the way discovered I don’t actually know how to ride and walk trot or canter!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I shall come back to this thread tomorrow lunchtime, am booked into my 1st clinic in 6 months, tomorrow morning ...

I think I can, at least today!
As just posted on the weekend thread:- We went and did sj clinic, v rusty after not being out for 6 months but came away with a grin.
Lovely coach, we popped various fences and strung some together including spooky wavy planks, double with filler boards and a treble which B coped with brilliantly. I got a lovely compliment about position through the treble, so I 'can' still do it!
Def need to get us both more fit tho!

 

[4Hoofed]

my friend videoed my first time schooling the giant ginger boat in a few months… we’ve been hacking, improving fitness, turns out as I’ve not sat on his back in canter in 3 months I’ve lost the ability to transition from trot to canter and vice versa without looking like I’m doing a Mexican wave with my belly, or looking like I’m about to fall off yeah needless to say I’ll not be videoing myself again for a few weeks!!

 

[Meredith]

Been doing it for 50 years, still haven't quite grasped it...

Me neither

I never could ride but my goodness I had a sticky arse in a crisis . Hunting teaches some skills.

Totally agree. F spooked at nothing on the Fun Ride this morning. Although I think I may have acquired a ‘mane graze ‘ on my cheek. It was our first FR of the year.

 

[Clodagh]

Me neither



Totally agree. F spooked at nothing on the Fun Ride this morning. Although I think I may have acquired a ‘mane graze ‘ on my cheek. It was our first FR of the year.

Which cheek? .
Not in Devon are you? OH is volunteering at a FR today.

 

[Meredith]

Which cheek? .
Not in Devon are you? OH is volunteering at a FR today.

Just below my right eye.
Not Devon, North Herefordshire.

 

[hock]

I try to remind myself every day that 99% of the time it’s rider error that’s the cause of lack of performance etc. But then I give my horse 100% of the credit when it goes well. And there’s been times when I’ve been frustrated and I’ve felt terrible when that’s shown in my riding. I’m a perfectionist which is ridiculous because I’m never going to reach that standard so it causes me to be miserable which potentially leads to frustration. 2 tests at the weekend, first one dire second one I was much happier with as I had a word with myself about about putting myself under silly high pressure. I got a “working correctly” comment on my scores this weekend and that meant more to me than the frillies etc, my husband thought I was mad lol. I just want to do my absolute best for my lovely horses 100% of the time but I’m slowly realising the pressure that causes probably makes things harder. I think ultimately if we’re worried about how we ride we’re trying our bestest and to give ourselves a break!

 

[irishdraft]

Since I've had a new mare I definitely cannot ride x

 

[Titchy Pony]

My mum says ‘any fool can gallop a horse’. Me, I’m not so sure

I think that one's like flying, really easy... Its the landing unscathed part that is complicated!

 

[Titchy Pony]

My last instructor told me that I actually ride very well. I understand the correct use of the aids and the outcomes of using them. I always make the right decision but....

I overthink everything, assume the question is more complicated than it is so don't do what I should.

So if I could switch my brain off, I'd be a much better rider

My very diplomatic and never contradictory instructor regularly says that horse riding isn't a sport for intellectuals... He then bemoans the fact that most of the kids he teaches can't remember a five jump course (the "jumps" are sometimes even just poles on the ground between the jumping wings, so even the stress excuse doesn't even work).

 

[Titchy Pony]

Today's not that day. Little Madam went brilliantly today for our return to the arena after three weeks off.
Give me time, there will come a day again when I will feel like I can't ride.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

My mum says ‘any fool can gallop a horse’. Me, I’m not so sure

Nope. She is spot on! It's working them properly that is the hard part. Going fast is easy

 

[oldie48]

I always think I've improved until someone videos me, then I think, "who on earth is that fat old lump bumbling around like a complete idiot?"

 

[SEL]

I always think I've improved until someone videos me, then I think, "who on earth is that fat old lump bumbling around like a complete idiot?"

Oh that's me - along with a right lower leg doing something quirky

 

[Jules111]

I've been riding for 40 years, I often wish I actually knew 10% of what I thought I knew when I started out. The more I learn the more I realise how much I have to learn.

I'd love to have half the skill Elf has on the worst days.