Feeling useless

L

Lauren_abigail

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 February 2014
Messages
174
Location
Rugby
Visit site
Does anyone else have those days where they have a bad schooling session and just feel completely useless?

I am having one of those days.

My boy has had various schooling issues, it seems like we fix one thing and another goes wrong. Most recently it has been that he has decided to hang on the right rein horrendously.

My more experienced friend jumped on him and got him going better, so I hopped back on and it all fell apart again.

Sometimes I just feel like giving up and taking up something easier. Like skydiving.
 
All the time! Days like that (of which there are many) just make the days when it all goes right even better.
Hang in there!
 
All the time! I also find it's easy to not realise what progress you're actually making as well. Sometimes you have to think back and see how far you've come. I know what I class as a rubbish schooling session now would have made me cry with joy 2 years ago! Doesn't stop me getting annoyed with myself though!
 
Yes I suppose you're right. If I put it into perspective, this time last year I could barely get my horse working properly, and now I'm working towards my first novice test.

It's just so frustrating. I constantly question myself and wonder if I'm doing right by my boy or if he would be better off in a more knowledgable home. It's like the blind leading the blind!
 
Oh I feel your pain - I had a lesson today, from the start horse had the hand break on, doing his best lazy giraffe impression, then the heavens opened and suddenly he was super round and collected, and doing the most impressive lateral work! Not the best feeling when the weather can do in 5 minutes what I've been trying to do for 4 yrs!
 
My boy is opposite to Mrs G's - started well and heavens opened and he curled into a wriggly crab - over bent and reluctant to move forwards straight into rain. I think we all feel 'useless' at times but so long as we can look 6 months back an know significant progress has been made we should keep going. At least that what I tell myself!
 
How do you all deal with sessions like this? It put me in such a bad mood for the rest of the night, good job hubby was out as I was really grumpy!

I feel like I should school again tonight to try and crack this problem but I will probably just go sj instead as at least I'll enjoy myself!!
 
Forget schooling tonight, you'll be expecting problems so you'll get them! Go sj and put a smile back on your face, and when you work again in the school it will have improved
 
Yup, I often feel just like this, totally useless with absolutely no feel, whatsoever! Perhaps I should buy a bike but I'd miss the cuddles in the stable and that lovely feeling when it does go right. Although I always go out to buy a really straightforward horse I always end up with something that has "issues" but perhaps that's just horses! When I have a bad session and feel like throwing in the towel I list all the really lovely things about my horse and after a glass of wine (or two) it doesn't seem quite as bad. I also wish I had a video diary of the last fifteen months as i think I'd be pleased with our progress but when you have experienced good work from a horse it's natural to want it all the time and frankly that just doesn't seem to happen.
 
We all have days like these, im feeling particularly uselsess as well, i wanted to hack my girl up through our fields last night and start doing some steady up hill canter work with her, however, after she pulled some impressive shapes mini rears, spins, hops etc., I decided it wasn't worth it, so im feeling incredibly useless, ive always been a speed demon!

Tonight is her night off :( so i can't do anything about it tonight, and i have a lesson on Thursday, and i always have a good lesson and learn something different.

I suppose the only way i stop myself from being really grumpy, is by realising how lucky i am to own such a wonderful horse, and how far we have come, yes other better people may have progressed much further in less time, but im proud of the fact i have done all of this myself. :)

Stay positive
 
I was once told "if something is not working, change the rules". I find that helps as I have a tendency to get in my head - so if it's not working I try to have a list of things that I know does work, e.g. turn on the forehand to a 10m circle, lengthening shortening. Sometimes if she's really not getting it and I'm getting frustrated I'll take her down the road for a little hack to clear our heads or even give her a pop over a couple of small fences. We both tend to come back to it better then, or otherwise we just leave it. :)

I've had so many bad days but even more good days to eventually start realising that the bad days are only fleeting and the good ones always outweigh them. There's always a good day around the corner :)
 
I think I may start making a note of 'good' and 'bad' schooling sessions so I can actually look bad and realise that it's not all bad.

I have regular lessons, and I'm beginning to learn a more classical way of going which is great. However I seem to be in that inbetween stage where I don't know enough about it to further his education in this way, but don't want to continue going the way we were as it wasn't working for us.

Huff!!
 
I have been feeling like this as well. I have anew horse and I don't really feel like we are clicking yet. I know these things take time and I have had my old boy for 8 years which makes it harder as I compare the new boy to him. I also feel like I have bought a super talented horse which I am not good enough for. Suppose you just have to take each day as it comes and focus on the positives. It can be hard to see small improvements but they will be there. :)
 
Lauren_abigail said:
I think I may start making a note of 'good' and 'bad' schooling sessions so I can actually look bad and realise that it's not all bad.

I have regular lessons, and I'm beginning to learn a more classical way of going which is great. However I seem to be in that inbetween stage where I don't know enough about it to further his education in this way, but don't want to continue going the way we were as it wasn't working for us.

Huff!!
Click to expand...

This is a completely normal feeling in the learning cycle. First you have unconscious-incompetence where you don't know what you don't know. Next comes conscious-incompetence, where you know you don't know (but don't know much more than that!), this is a really frustrating stage but one you have to go through! Next comes conscious-competence where you know what you have to do and are very aware of how you do it. Finally unconscious-competence, where you do the right thing without thinking (that's where Carl Hester is!).

:)
 
Lauren_abigail said:
I think I may start making a note of 'good' and 'bad' schooling sessions so I can actually look bad and realise that it's not all bad.

I have regular lessons, and I'm beginning to learn a more classical way of going which is great. However I seem to be in that inbetween stage where I don't know enough about it to further his education in this way, but don't want to continue going the way we were as it wasn't working for us.

Huff!!
Click to expand...

This is a completely normal feeling in the learning cycle. First you have unconscious-incompetence where you don't know what you don't know. Next comes conscious-incompetence, where you know you don't know (but don't know much more than that!), this is a really frustrating stage but one you have to go through! Next comes conscious-competence where you know what you have to do and are very aware of how you do it. Finally unconscious-competence, where you do the right thing without thinking (that's where Carl Hester is!).

:)
 
Thank you for all of your lovely comments - I took wonderboy out showjumping last night and we had a blast.

I also had a couple of schooling tips from a friend which got him to stop hanging on my right hand so much which I felt was a small victory.

Generally feeling much more upbeat about my riding and I'm not feeling completely useless anymore :D

Walrus - Oh to be at unconscious-competence!!!
 
samsbilly said:
I have been feeling like this as well. I have anew horse and I don't really feel like we are clicking yet. I know these things take time and I have had my old boy for 8 years which makes it harder as I compare the new boy to him. I also feel like I have bought a super talented horse which I am not good enough for. Suppose you just have to take each day as it comes and focus on the positives. It can be hard to see small improvements but they will be there. :)
Click to expand...

How long have you had your new horse?

I've had my boy for just gone a year, and it's only really just starting to click! I do feel for you though, it must be hard comparing new to old. Luckily my old mare was a complete bag (god love her) so I'm not really having the same problems. I do understand the talented horse but feeling like untalented rider though - hang in there, it does get better!
 
We have these days, but every night I go home and think "I OWN A HORSE!" The next day I see her pretty face and all is well with the World.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top