Going to take additional lessons

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Arizahn

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I have decided to take additional lessons on a confidence giving type horse over the summer, as I need to improve my seat at canter before attempting it again with Hippo. (This will be in addition to riding Hippo.)

Has anyone else ever done this? What for and how did it work out?
 
Arizahn said:
I have decided to take additional lessons on a confidence giving type horse over the summer, as I need to improve my seat at canter before attempting it again with Hippo. (This will be in addition to riding Hippo.)

Has anyone else ever done this? What for and how did it work out?
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I don't know what your horse is like to ride?

Mine is also an arab who had not done much work for years. he was very green and unbalanced. And although I wouldn't have said I was totally inexperienced as a rider, I have improved incredibly over my year of ownership.

But I got lessons on my horse from a really lovely and very experienced instructor and it really helped us both. He had an awful canter, had to get his head right down and almost buck his way into it, he was so unbalanced, and then he had to race round. And I couldn't work with his canter so I made him worse and vice versa.

But because I was prepared to listen and work hard in between lessons - as well as get to know him and hack and have fun - gradually we cooperated and balanced and softened etc.

I am not advising that you take this route - I have no idea what your mare is like to ride. Just that it worked for us and was very rewarding to see the changes in both of us and in our partnership.
 
Me and my pony have recently got stuck in a rut over winter and I felt we were making no progress. I had got to the point where I was considering sending him away to boot camp or even selling him. I've broken him in and I felt I was just wrecking him.

I decided to give myself a kick up the behind the other week and as a bit of a last ditch attempt I changed my instructor and also took myself off to a yard miles away for a lesson on a schoolmaster with a lovely instructor. I had the most fantastic weekend - first lesson with new instructor on my pony where I felt we made about 6 months worth of progress in 1 lesson and also a lovely 45 minutes on a schoolmaster who went beautifully and reminded me that I was perfectly capable of riding well.

One thing I really struggle with is contact, which isn't ideal on a young horse who doesn't have much of a clue either. By having the lesson on the schoolmaster I could feel what I need to feel on my own horse and had the first frame of reference in 2 years.

I'm going to try and get back over to have more lessons on the schoolmaster over the next few months. I'd say go for it! :)
 
Hi. Yes. i did exactly this and it has worked out really really well. I had lessons on a good schoolmaster which sorted my riding out and then took my youngster along. i love my lessons and get so much out of them, especially the confidence part. now whenever we are ready to move on and learn something new i do it first on the schoolmaster before transferring it to my youngster. best thing i ever did for both of us.
 
Did exactly this with jumping.
Started to have lessons on my YO's IDs who are both amazing jumpers and increased my confidence so much, whilst still riding the girls.
Unfortunately due to another break whilst being at uni, it's sadly gone again so I think I will be asking for more lessons!!
K x
 
My mare has a lovely canter, but is still quite inexperienced herself. As I have trouble staying in the saddle - especially round corners - at canter, I have decided to learn how to do it properly before I try it again with her.

The last time we cantered I came off and hit the fence of the arena, and my mare has been very unwilling to enter canter since then, even when lunging without a rider. I am concerned that she has been rattled by the incident too.

I really want to be able to ride her as well as she deserves, as she is a very sensitive and responsive little mare:) I will be taking lessons on her too, but staying at walk/trot until I know how to balance properly at canter. I am aiming to be ready by October of this year.
 
I'm going to do this too, have a loan horse who'sknicked my confidence a bit when cantering. Going to have a couple lessons with instructor on a scholar master type then see about them coming out to me :-)
 
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