Hello some advice needed Re: training the rider!

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DottyAboutPonies

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Hello All

I am hoping for some advice or maybe some reassurance that things will get better?

I saw myself as a competent rider: competed in hunter trials and showing with my last horse, retrained ex racers, rode and trained on fab eventers and SJs yard before I had my daughter 2 years ago. Since then I have been helping friends to keep theirs ticking over. Then in May this year I was asked by a very experience horse woman to help back her horse and compete her inhand and ridden next year....I thought wow this is an amazing opportunity. So the backing process started. She was tricky and very sensitive (especially after some moron attempted to get on her and show us how it was done...that ended up in some flying lessons on his part) but we worked together and got her over these hurdles. We had her walking around the school and doing large circles and then trotting in straight lines. Then we decided she deserved some time off as she had a big growth spurt and was very bum high.

She came back into work and also done some county shows inhand where she was a super star. Under saddle she has been fab, she does have her moments but she hasn't had a bucking session for a while and is happy for me to put my leg and ask her forwards. We wanted to take her for a hack, so the last two weeks we have been working on direction, bending, halting, half halts just to get her really listening before we went out. She has been a super star the problem is ME!

For some reason I have no sense of direction and I am having a problem with basic things. I'm so slow in preparing her for a bend. I know exactly what I am meant to be doing but actually doing it is another thing. I have found it particular hard on the right rein asking for a bend and not allowing her to fall in. I ask with my inside leg and slightly with the inside hand to encourage her to bend and soften and my damn outside hand has a mind of its own and seems to be asking her for flexion the wrong bloody way and not giving slightly thus I'm not leading with my correct shoulder and it's all gone pear shaped. I can feel exactly where I have gone wrong and the effect it has had on the poor pony. I do believe her owner, my trainer is going to kill me!

My trainer is awesome a hard ask master which I love and pics up every tiny thing. However she really laid into me last week I was really trying but I sucked it up and carried on. I am a bit worried I am not going to be good enough:(. We done really well in our last show inhand we won our classes and the championship but I was still being told off for not doing something's.

I did overhear her speaking to someone and this other person said "I thought you said she can ride" and my trainers reply was "yes but I want her to be a professional and at Grand Prix by now as she's riding my horse"...I am sure she knows this wont happen over night. does anyone have any advice on how to put what I know into practice.

Thanks for reading :D
 
Hello Ffionwinnie

Yes she is a professional she can't ride due a physical problem, she may never be able to again. She did apologise for last week...I just think she gets caught up in the moment...And I'm frustrated with myself so let it get to me more.
 
Firstly don't beat yourself up about it! I know exactly how you feel - I took a 10 year break & the first 6mths of being back in the saddle were a challenge - I could sing off a hymn sheet when it came to saying what I needed to do but for ages if felt what was in my head just wasnt connecting with what I was doing in the Saddle! It will come back to you, it will just take time - actually the more you ride the easier it gets , spend 20 mins just focusing on what you are struggling with & set yourself a goal for every session!:):)
 
I think you need to stop beating yourself up! If you weren't a good enough rider, your trainer would have someone else riding their horse. You sound competent to me, and you obviously know where your weaknesses lie, so just slowly work on improving them. Is the trainer helping/instructing you on a regular basis? Riding a young horse you are constantly working on both the horse's way of going and your own riding, is there another older horse around that you could ride to be able to concentrate on just yourself and not have to worry so much about the horse, so you can work on improving your weaker areas without worrying about the horse so much? if you see what I mean?
 
Agree with trottingon. And any chance that some of it is just simple fitness too? In which case increasing exercise out of the saddle too will help. Having a baby does zilch for core muscles, so ones previously taken for granted need active effort to return. Not saying you need to have a six pack, but post birth a woman's stomach can often look the same as before but strength wise isn't.
 
Thank you everyone for your replys. I agree strengthen my muscles will help and Im definetly not as fit as I used to be. Im quite hard on myself and think I just need to relaxe and take things slowly too. I dont seem to have a problem riding a more experience I guess my riding ability is really being tested and all my weaknesses are showing up :)
 
It's supposed to be fun.

It sounds like you have gotten sucked into her agenda/issues. She sounds like the worst passenger driver ever! She must be very frustrated about not riding, and putting pressure on you.

What do you want to get from horseriding?

If you want to get better/as perfect as possible, and you trust that she's a good trainer. well then if you stay as you are you have to be comfortable with the fact that you will always be learning and pushing beyond your abilities and doubting youself. but you will probably improve loads, but not enjoy it as its only by finding your weaknesses that you get better.

option b is If you just want to enjoy riding. Then Ditch this situation and take it down a notch. You are obviously a good rider and you wouldn't have been given this opportunity. You have children and probably a busy life. So do you want all the stress of this?

You say you worry about not being good enough? Good enough for what? It's this trainers opinion if you are good enough to ride the horse. She probably thinks you are, but why don't you ask her and get some reassurance?
 
Hello paddi22

I know and I love it and most of the time it is fun but I'm quite hard on myself and want todo well.

She is very frustrated and I do think she realises she has put a lot of pressure on me however, she is awesome and so amazing training wise. I do love the fact she is hard on me and doesn't give me an easy time but I am a worrier and do worry I won't be good enough...For her I guess.

I feel like I should stick with it, we have come so far and I would love to improve my riding and knowledge. Should her owner (my trainer) decide I'm not the right rider then least I tried and gave it my all. I spoke to her and said not worry I'm doing a good job so feel a bit better. She isn't one to hold back so if I'm completely rubbish I am sure she will tell me.

Now I just need to relaxe, focus on what I'm doing and put what I know into practice ...oh and get fit :D

Thanks for all your replys.
 
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