Feeling pants :(

[kat2290]

Having a bit of a 'feel sorry for myself' moment tonight after a crap ride this afternoon

I just cannot get a horse to stay in trot! It doesn't matter if it is a riding school horse, or a privately owned horse...I just can't maintain a good trot. I am obviously doing something wrong but no matter what I try I just don't seem to be able to crack it. I haven't had a lesson for two weeks now, I was meant to have on Saturday just gone but the instructor couldn't make it. I can't wait until this weekend so she can help me, I'm getting so frustrated with myself and I can't help but feel a bit sad!

I know I've only been riding for two months and these things take time, I need to be patient yada yada but it's so annoying! Made even more so by the fact that after I've been riding the privately owned horse and not getting anywhere, my friend, who is a much much better rider, hops on and gets him working beautifully

Just having one of those days

 

[sandi_84]

We all have days like this so try not to let it get you down.
It just takes practice to get the rise trot and keeping the forward impulsion going remember to kick when you sit rather than when you rise because otherwise you'll unbalance yourself and try to make sure you aren't balancing on your hands or the horse will likely stop.
Keep on going with it and soon the frustration you're feeling now will be a distant memory

 

[kat2290]

Thanks yep I am hoping for some kind of break through with the instructor this weekend...no pressure!

I think I need to give myself a break and remember all the things I can do now that I couldn't do before! Like I can now tack up on my own which I couldn't do a week ago

I am really very lucky that I am able to ride the horse who I help muck out etc so I think when I have a crap ride I just need to breathe and think to myself 'never mind just try again tomorrow!' Instead of winding myself up

 

[sandi_84]

I think I need to give myself a break and remember all the things I can do now that I couldn't do before! Like I can now tack up on my own which I couldn't do a week ago

I am really very lucky that I am able to ride the horse who I help muck out etc so I think when I have a crap ride I just need to breathe and think to myself 'never mind just try again tomorrow!' Instead of winding myself up

Exactly! Don't pressure yourself, everyone gets that eurika moment at different times and trust me it will happen! Just chill out and enjoy your riding it'll most likely happen when you are feeling relaxed
Good luck for your next lesson! X

 

[Ce'Nedra]

Is it worth having a lunge lesson so that you can experience a maintained trot without worrying about it? This way your balance etc are what you focus on and then perhaps the trot off the lunge will make more sense?

 

[kat2290]

Yes I think I will suggest doing a bit on the lunge this weekend. I don't feel like I struggle with the action of the trot really, it's just trying to squeeze or kick on when trotting that I can't do...and then I start balancing with my hands because I'm getting flustered with my legs and then we grind to a halt

 

[Archiepoo]

its like learning anything thats really worthwhile -it takes practice

 

[sandi_84]

Yes I think I will suggest doing a bit on the lunge this weekend. I don't feel like I struggle with the action of the trot really, it's just trying to squeeze or kick on when trotting that I can't do...and then I start balancing with my hands because I'm getting flustered with my legs and then we grind to a halt

Lunging could be quite helpful to you then - you can even progress to doing it "no hands mum!"
Try it on the lunge with loose reins so you can't use them to balance and like I say remember to kick on your sit part of rising trot. Eg: up - down - up - down - up - down kick make sure your bum is touching the saddle before you try the kick but don't worry it's just practice

 

[kat2290]

Oh I'm one step ahead of you, I can already do no hands! see on the lunge I'm pretty good, just as soon as I'm on my own it all goes to pot! Having said that I've never tried focusing on squeezing/kicking while on the lunge so if I try that it should help me get the hang of it...

If find what happens is that it throws me all out of kilter with the up-down-up-down rhythm. I end up doing up-down-kick-up-down-kick, which then adds a third best in to it if you see what I mean? Where as it should be up-down&kick-up-down&kick-up-down&kick....does that make sense?!

 

[sandi_84]

Oh I'm one step ahead of you, I can already do no hands! see on the lunge I'm pretty good, just as soon as I'm on my own it all goes to pot! Having said that I've never tried focusing on squeezing/kicking while on the lunge so if I try that it should help me get the hang of it...

If find what happens is that it throws me all out of kilter with the up-down-up-down rhythm. I end up doing up-down-kick-up-down-kick, which then adds a third best in to it if you see what I mean? Where as it should be up-down&kick-up-down&kick-up-down&kick....does that make sense?!

Ha ha! Yes sorry the up - down& kick was what I was trying in my ham fisted way to explain

Give it a go on the lunge anyway, there's nothing to loose after all

 

[RainbowDash]

Hi OP,

Don't beat yourself up - everyone learns at their own rate. Same with any new skill.

I learnt to ride some 25ish years ago - had three lessons on lunge before even touching the reins - to get my balance etc in walk, trot, get my seat and leg sorted (even had my first jump on lunge). Once I'd mastered those I was handed the reins and did everything again in control - up to canter . Learning on lunge is a lost art learning wise but very beneficial for a new rider.

I got back into riding after twenty years away (had three refreshers at a riding school) and brought my own - I'm still learning after some 500 odd hours in the saddle (don't look at it as months or years but hours - I could say I've been riding for 25 years but that would be an out and out lie) - but I still have a good seat thanks to my original training.

kat2290 keep your chin up - get a reliable instructor who you gel with and the sky's the limit (even if like me it's a happy hack with a big smile )

 

[Hallage74]

Kind of pleased to have read this! (in a good way) I have been riding again for about 8 months (after about 15 years off!) and had to ride a 13 hh pony which a 14 year old can ride brilliantly and I can hardly stay on / control / am a bit scared of - which is obviously making things worse. Came home from the stables last night feeling utterly deflated and like I have stepped back 8 months ... so feeling your pain..

... my only advise / thoughts, I feel better about the situation this morning and just need to get over myself and back on that pony - at least its not such a long way to fall!!

 

[kat2290]

Thanks rainbow dash I am really looking forward to my lesson on Saturday, the instructor is brilliant and really easy to be around which makes the whole thing enjoyable. I'm definitely going to suggest some work on the lunge

 

[kat2290]

Hallage74 - maybe we should open a club?! feel sorry for yourself riders anonymous!

It's such a crappy feeling isn't it when you see somebody riding a horse beautifully which 10 minutes ago you couldn't even get walking in a straight line! But good for you for giving yourself a bit of a shake and remaining positive! I have woken up in a much better frame of mind after a good nights sleep

 

[Tammytoo]

A little tip - don't kick, squeeze. Kicking will just deaden the horse to your aid, like someone nagging away, and it will also unbalance you. Get a neck strap and hold this in one hand with your reins so if you do get unbalanced you aren't holding onto the horse's mouth for balancing and slowing him down.

Two months isn't long and you will get better as your core strength improves. If you are only having 1 or 2 lessons a week it might be worth enrolling in a Pilates class to help build your core strength.

Don't despair!

 

[Penumbra]

I agree, it's unhelpful to think of the action as kicking. You want to hold your legs by the girth all the time and just push in when you want to use them (in trot only).

Some common mistakes you might want to check for are:

1) Are you actually making contact with the horse's sides when you use your leg? Some novices, especially children, struggle with this, so get someone to watch you, ideally from behind the horse, to make sure your legs are definately making contact. If you're not sure, and the horse is slowing down, you can always push harder!

2) Are you asking the horse to go forwards, but stopping it with the reins? If you trot the horse on a loose rein, what happens? Do you still have the same problems? Ideally, you should be able to keep the horse straight with just your legs, so steering shouldn't be too much of an issue- if this is a problem, you legs probably aren't strong enough.

3) Are you stopping the horse going forwards with your body? When you sit, if you grip with your thighs, for example, this restricts the horse's movement in the back and you are asking the horse to slow down- it's hard to tell if you're doing this if you're inexperienced, but it's something to think about. Try and keep your upper-body as still as possible and come down into the saddle gently.

Have you tried working without stirrups in trot? The sitting trot and the lack of stirrup may help you to use your leg more effectively. You may need someone to lead the horse, or be on the lunge first, so you feel safe to do this, and hold on tight to the saddle or a neckstrap the first few times!

It is, however, a bit of a difficult situation- a more forward going horse might enable you to keep the trot going without using your legs, but it would not be as safe, and if you became unbalanced you might get run off with. It's much better to be struggling to get into trot than struggling to get out of canter!

Also, watch the more experienced rider, and see what they do differently to you! I find this a very helpful way of improving my riding.

 

[kat2290]

Hi everybody and thanks for all the replied especially penumbra and hrh&fenix they are really useful with some great tips

Just thought I would do an update to say that the horse I was struggling on yesterday (this is the privately owned horse that I help out with, not a RS horse) is today lame. Whilst I'm really gutted he's lame I'm secretly happy as it means I'm not as terrible as I thought as he was obviously in pain yesterday hence the stubbornness. We think he is just a bit footsore so got the farrier coming out tomorrow.

I did think yesterday it was unusual how stubborn he was being as usually he is pretty responsive. There were a couple of times when his stride went off a bit but I put it down to him not concentrating and me being useless. He is such a genuine boy he kept on trying even when he was in pain

Hopefully it's nothing serious and it won't be too long til I can get back on board and try out all your tips

 

[Boulty]

Heya. Not read full post but a few suggestions from me would be to look into if there's anyone offering riding simulator lessons in your area, that way you don't have to worry about keeping the horse going and can focus entirely on your balance and position and confidence in this pace. If you feel more balanced and more confident you will be able to ask with more conviction and without blocking the horse unintentionally. Alternatively ask about lunge lessons as again you will have someone else controlling the pace and can focus soley on getting a feel for how trotting should feel on a horse going forwards properly which will in turn help you figure out what you need to be creating. You shouldn't be needing to kick every couple on strides, even on a rs horse