Help please

[kikilamour]

I have done a bit of riding. My New Years promise to myself is to take up polo, hacking and even hunting

I had a few knock backs as a youth and in my early 20s as my cousin who is amazing at everything horsey put me on a horse way beyond my capabilities (my mum reckons she did it on purpose and I suspect she may be right) and this scared the life out of me as I was pretty tiny and it was a very strong, large and fast horse. I clung on for dear life and was saved by one of the grooms

I tried again with riding lessons in London last year but the lady who taught me pretty much just yelled at me. It was embarrassing and mortifying. However I made a friend at a music festival who lives in Wales who is into horses and simply said I just haven't had good instructors and need to be around horses a lot more etc

So to cut a long story short I really want to become a good competent, safe rider. Are there any courses or ideas people have such as volunteering with horses, helping with mucking out, equestrian courses I can take that would help me

I live in Central London and it obviously isn't equestrian city plus all I could do here was a weekly ride in cramped city conditions which wouldn't help me at all

 

[riding_high]

could you ask at local riding schools if they need a groom a couple of times a week? at least then you would be around them and get to know how they 'move'!

another thing you could do is find another riding school and have a couple of lessons with an instructor who doesn't shout at you but explains. i agree with your friend that you haven't had the right instruction/
another thing is to look in tack shops/internet for people wanting a hand with stable duties in return for rides, sometimes people need help with their horses but none can be ridden. i know i'd be happy to help someone learn the basics in return for help with my lot although none can be ridden (yet!).

once you've got the basics taught to you then maybe you could go for a riding holiday in wales, alot of places over there offer holidays for novices and nervous riders as well as the experienced.

good luck and hope you find something suitable.

 

[missparis]

Hey there! Which riding school in Central London did you go to? I also live in Central, so I could perhaps recommend some better schools for you

 

[kikilamour]

could you ask at local riding schools if they need a groom a couple of times a week? at least then you would be around them and get to know how they 'move'!

another thing you could do is find another riding school and have a couple of lessons with an instructor who doesn't shout at you but explains. i agree with your friend that you haven't had the right instruction/
another thing is to look in tack shops/internet for people wanting a hand with stable duties in return for rides, sometimes people need help with their horses but none can be ridden. i know i'd be happy to help someone learn the basics in return for help with my lot although none can be ridden (yet!).

once you've got the basics taught to you then maybe you could go for a riding holiday in wales, alot of places over there offer holidays for novices and nervous riders as well as the experienced.

good luck and hope you find something suitable.

Thanks for the amazing advice. I will follow it.

I actually ended up on a horse yesterday as I had put my name down for my university polo club as a beginner but didnt think they would have and spaces. I got a call in the morning and went on a whim.

There were issues at first with my confidence even though I had the laziest horse but I gradually got over it. The polo instructor was brilliant as well . He has pretty much said what I thought - exposure, exposure and more experience with horses with good patient instruction. So yeah I am pretty ecstatic. Just need to find a stables that need help now

 

[kikilamour]

Hey there! Which riding school in Central London did you go to? I also live in Central, so I could perhaps recommend some better schools for you

Hey. I went to Lee Valley

I went to Hyde Park once and they were cool but it seems great for nice casual rides where they hold the reins but probably not the best place to learn