How critical are you???

[ibot]

Afternoon all this is a question for you.

If you are talking about your riding do you up yourself or down play your skills????

i have become very negative since i was told that my horse was bucking due to my position in the saddle

Which he no longer does and my new yard thought that was a ridiculous theory behind it
Anyhow how would you discribe your riding???


i would say i am nervous with a good position just working on the confidence thing....
see even now i am being to mean to myself
What about you???? its harder than it sounds.

 

[spike123]

I class myself as an average rider with an average position,confident on horses I know but not so confident on ones I don't.
For instance I will hack my own horse out despite the fact he can be spooky and silly at times but I am more nervous about hacking out strange horses. I will also happily jump my horse even though he is still learning and previously was confident jumping courses of 3'6 on my last horse but give me a horse I don't know to jump and I will be more wary. I don't know if that is what most riders feel or not though

 

[Tamba]

I am quite critical..
But I try and ride different horses as much as possible.
Im good on the flat, but have very limited ability in jumping..
just because of the horses I own, most of them green and not capable of doing much
jumping at the minute..

 

[vallin]

I'd say I'm a pretty rubbish rider in terms of position etc. however I am confident with difficult/spooky and have a backside made of superglue

 

[benson21]

I would say I am a nervous novice rider. I had Benson for over 9 years and learnt to ride on him, and because I trusted him and he me, we happily jumped 2ft6 xc, and showjumping,but put me on a horse I dont know I turn to a quivering wreck. So although I know what I am doing, as I am looking for another horse, I dont look at anything that says not suitable for novices.

 

[Sol]

I'm very critical, always trying to improve. So much so it actually gets on peoples nerves I think..... It's funny, I'm actually more confident on horses I don't know, haven't an issue with things that rear/buck/spook (bolting...hmm...) but seeing as I've never ridden and 'decent' horses, definitely think I need to work on refining my aids & such, and definitely need some lessons on a decent jumper as I was never 'taught' to jump and just sort of muddle along with pony...

 

[Mavis Cluttergusset]

I am critical to the point of irritating; I know I am always down on myself, I always am very quick to blame myself for any mistakes and am never really happy with my competition results. I over analyse everything to do with my riding in my head and often replay certain scenarios (like my last dressage test) over and over until I feel completely useless about my abilities (or lack of - see, Im even doing it now!)

I have a lesson a fortnight and work quite hard in between lessons, I can see an improvement in myself and my horse but Im not happy yet. If I post pics on facebook or here I worry a great deal about how my pictures are percieved and what other people must think of my riding. In fact Im still worrying about some FB pics I posted a fortnight ago, I took one of them down because it was a silly snapshot which was really unattractive of my horse towing me into a fence with her head in the air - one person commented on it and I panicked that other people might see it and think that was the sort of riding I deemed acceptable, which it wasn't, so it got deleted.

It's hard work being so damned critical of myself, I wish I could be the person at my yard who is so utterly convinced she is the next Anky yet lacks even the most basic skills.

 

[Charlie007]

Hi ibot, my horse bucked due to my position also. I was told by my instuctor I rode him defensively all the time! Now we are getting our act together and I have gained confidence on him, the bucks are few and far between. If he does buck I can pretty much guarantee that it was my fault!! I keep myself to myself when talking to others about my riding but I do try hard to get everything right!! Keep my nose in my own trough so to speak!!

 

[indiat]

I would say I am a nervous novice rider. I had Benson for over 9 years and learnt to ride on him, and because I trusted him and he me, we happily jumped 2ft6 xc, and showjumping,but put me on a horse I dont know I turn to a quivering wreck. So although I know what I am doing, as I am looking for another horse, I dont look at anything that says not suitable for novices.

As above. I despair of myself sometimes, I really do.

 

[reindeerlover]

Great thread! I describe my riding as "pretty awful" but I suppose I'm not too bad, my position is not "BHS style" but I am balanced and don't freak the horses out. I am confident on other people's horses but not so confident on my own..... Is that odd? Anyone can say to me "get on this and jump that" and I will but I would be far less likely to do it with one of mine. I ride a lot of youngsters and so my stickability is quite good and I don't nag them with my legs or hands, I prefer self carriage so no holding them up either.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Pretty rusty rider, have owned horses all my life but only really getting back into riding now since I was a child. I am quite confident when on a horse, mine or other, and I seem to be much braver than I thought! I just lack the skills to match the bravery and I'm not sure that I've got a sticky bottom as I would so love to have.

I always think that I would rather downplay my abilities than over sell myself and that others would feel the same... however now that I work selling riding holidays I can tell you that some people are happy to exaggerate!

 

[Spudlet]

The longer I have not riding, the less confident in my own abilities I become, to the point that on low days I think I'll never get back on because I'm 'not good enough'.

So yes, definitely my own worst critic!

 

[LeneHorse]

I would say I was a pretty useless rider, although my instructor says I've got a good position and my horse can go quite nicely in her lessons. For me the crucial thing is that I lost my confidence a couple of years ago and although I'm much better now i still don't really enjoy the things I used to love, like hacking out on my own and having a blast over the fields. I often come back from a ride feeling totally frustrated with myself cos I've been too much of a wuss to go into the field for a canter.

 

[Benji1]

Now thats a question and a half I'd probably say I was sh*t but thats not very good when your asking if you can go hacking, so I normally list what I can do confidently instead! Honest without being down on myself

 

[milliepops]

I'm very self critical. I blame myself for all of the things that go wrong (realistically though, as the pilot, it CAN only be my fault ) and give all credit to the horse when things go right.

e.g. come back from a show, someone asks how i got on, I will always say 'she was 2nd' instead of I was

But I think the issue is I'm always looking up the ladder - I always compare myself against people competing at a higher level than I am, rather than thinking that I am doing more advanced stuff than those at lower levels. I find it very hard to look back at where I started from and think about my achievements. Although I do deep down know that I'm doing reasonably well with my mare, and I can ride most horses I sit on I always think of the things that are not going so well, or dumb mistakes I've made

 

[Enfys]

Not terribly, I know my faults and my limitations.

I am, I would say, effective but it isn't always pretty

I ride too short (English) with my reins too long, and I have this really bizarre belief that my horse, can, actually, stay upright and manouevre around obstacles without my help all the time.

I can hunt up and down mountains on a manic, self-harming arabian. I can control a fit tb on the gallops, on the flat and over sticks, in a work saddle. I have my ticket to race ride, and I also managed, at some dim and distant stage in my life, to qualify as an AI.

I am quite sure any instructor would wince at my riding, but as I have no intention of ever going near an English instructor again they are spared that pain.

 

[ibot]

do you know whats nice about this post if you read everyones comments you realise you are not alone.
all the things in your head that you repeat to yourself it seems everyone else has that same voice

I too blame myself if my horse can be naughty and when he is good its all him

what are we like lol!!!

 

[Tamba]

do you know whats nice about this post if you read everyones comments you realise you are not alone.
all the things in your head that you repeat to yourself it seems everyone else has that same voice

I too blame myself if my horse can be naughty and when he is good its all him

what are we like lol!!!

totally agree with this...as I thought I was the only one who felt they had limitations !!!!

 

[ibot]

ah tamba you are not alone

 

[JustMe22]

I'm pretty critical..I watch videos and look at photos of myself and I always get very critical with myself and my horse. Normally I can brush it off but sometimes I end up going 'This is ridiculous, he's 6 now, stopped racing a while ago and you STILL lose your dressage frame sometimes'. Part of it is that I was taught not incorrectly as such, but with some elements that weren't working for my horse. I stoppped having dressage lessons (have had one with a different trainer and it was fantastic), and yeah..its getting better.

My jumping instructor absolutely hammers me on my position though, or used to, so its got way better now and I can watch videos etc without being ashamed But there's still quite a way to go. My jumping position sometimes goes a bit odd (often goes a bit odd) when I'm focusing on the course or the line rather than how I look over the jump.

I also apparently ride much better in saddles that aren't mine. Everybody says my saddle puts them into a weird position. Hahah, but thats no excuse. If I can ride well in that, it'll just be easier in a saddle that suits me.


HAving said that, I'm not a nervous rider at all. I'm only used to riding ex-racers or green/extremely naughty horses, so sitting on well schooled ones I'd kind of be worried I wouldn't know what to do. But, I'll ride anything really. I don't care what you sit me on and what its issues are, they don't really phase me. In fact, I'm more comfortable with green/naughty etc than anything else because thats what I know. Hehehe not that I plan on staying there, mine is Novice Dressage now and jumping 90cm shows, but I want him elementary and in the 1.10m at the end of the year......
If I can fix my riding

 

[_MizElz_]

I'm pretty critical of myself, I think. What makes it hard is that I look back to how we were when we were doing well, and I never really gave myself credit for how well I rode when I was younger. I spent so long as a kid falling off at every PC rally, that my opinion of myself then was that I was useless. Then I spent the most amazing summer with my SJ instructor, and he totally transformed me as a rider. My toes suddenly worked out how to point upwards, not down, and my bum suddenly worked out how to stay in the saddle! With Ellie, I actually became a rider not just a passenger, but I never realised how much I had changed. This really hit home last Saturday, when I realised that all the fears I was having (jumping downhill, going down steps, ditches) were all because deep down, I felt like the kid I was when I always fell off, all those years ago. I havent given myself credit for the fact that my lower leg is so much more stable than it used to be, and that actually, I'm not going to fire out of the saddle if my horse jumps downhill...I even felt like crying with joy when we jumped over a downhill fan and the instructor shouted out, 'Great lower leg!' Silly, I know, but I just dont rate myself

Being honest with myself and not just trying to run myself down, I think I can ride Ellie pretty well. But then, I know her inside out - way better riders than me have tried to ride her in the past and not got on with her (or in one memorable case, been badly hurt!!) but that isnt because she's a horror to ride, it's simply because I know her so well that I can predict things that others may not. Put me on a different horse, and I have no doubt I would be useless. I did my work experience at Talland, having only ridden Ellie for the past four years, and I was very, VERY bad - one horse I remember I couldnt even get into a canter I am very much a one-person horse these days, and cannot imagine ever really being able to get used to another horse

I'm most critical, however, about my appearance. As a rider I feel comfortable, but I know I dont look good. All I see is a huge lump on poor Ellie's back - I'm not a vain person, but whenever I hack out I find myself looking in windows as we pass and cursing the way I look. I just spoil the picture somehow

 

[ibot]

I'm pretty critical of myself, I think. What makes it hard is that I look back to how we were when we were doing well, and I never really gave myself credit for how well I rode when I was younger. I spent so long as a kid falling off at every PC rally, that my opinion of myself then was that I was useless. Then I spent the most amazing summer with my SJ instructor, and he totally transformed me as a rider. My toes suddenly worked out how to point upwards, not down, and my bum suddenly worked out how to stay in the saddle! With Ellie, I actually became a rider not just a passenger, but I never realised how much I had changed. This really hit home last Saturday, when I realised that all the fears I was having (jumping downhill, going down steps, ditches) were all because deep down, I felt like the kid I was when I always fell off, all those years ago. I havent given myself credit for the fact that my lower leg is so much more stable than it used to be, and that actually, I'm not going to fire out of the saddle if my horse jumps downhill...I even felt like crying with joy when we jumped over a downhill fan and the instructor shouted out, 'Great lower leg!' Silly, I know, but I just dont rate myself

Being honest with myself and not just trying to run myself down, I think I can ride Ellie pretty well. But then, I know her inside out - way better riders than me have tried to ride her in the past and not got on with her (or in one memorable case, been badly hurt!!) but that isnt because she's a horror to ride, it's simply because I know her so well that I can predict things that others may not. Put me on a different horse, and I have no doubt I would be useless. I did my work experience at Talland, having only ridden Ellie for the past four years, and I was very, VERY bad - one horse I remember I couldnt even get into a canter I am very much a one-person horse these days, and cannot imagine ever really being able to get used to another horse

I'm most critical, however, about my appearance. As a rider I feel comfortable, but I know I dont look good. All I see is a huge lump on poor Ellie's back - I'm not a vain person, but whenever I hack out I find myself looking in windows as we pass and cursing the way I look. I just spoil the picture somehow

wow i can totally relate to that i look at cars i pass and everything

i would love to have mirrors in our school but then paddy would go to pot as i would be looking at myself and my position.

 

[Kenzo]

Well I tend to have the stickerbility factor and I'm confident but I think my riding varies depending on what I'm riding and what I can feel in tune with where my seat/position can be better on one horse than another.

I know my faults and there's more than a few! I'm a bit cack handed with my left hand/arm and I think I use my left leg more and my jumping position is totally pants however it seems to work and has not let me down as yet.

I do need more lessons to keep me on the straight and narrow, probably more flat work as I don't do enough jumping for me to benefit from jumping lessons.

Since my previous RI (not the one I have now) he made me paranoid about my arms (although he was right) so now I'm more tense/conscious about them because I'm trying too hard to do keep them right, which them effects my wrists and hands.

Yeah, bit rubbish really

 

[Sparkles]

I am critical to the point of irritating; I know I am always down on myself, I always am very quick to blame myself for any mistakes and am never really happy with my competition results. I over analyse everything to do with my riding in my head and often replay certain scenarios (like my last dressage test) over and over until I feel completely useless about my abilities (or lack of - see, Im even doing it now!)

I have a lesson a fortnight and work quite hard in between lessons, I can see an improvement in myself and my horse but Im not happy yet. If I post pics on facebook or here I worry a great deal about how my pictures are percieved and what other people must think of my riding. In fact Im still worrying about some FB pics I posted a fortnight ago, I took one of them down because it was a silly snapshot which was really unattractive of my horse towing me into a fence with her head in the air - one person commented on it and I panicked that other people might see it and think that was the sort of riding I deemed acceptable, which it wasn't, so it got deleted.

It's hard work being so damned critical of myself, I wish I could be the person at my yard who is so utterly convinced she is the next Anky yet lacks even the most basic skills.

Ditto this!!

 

[JenHunt]

Not terribly, I know my faults and my limitations.

I am, I would say, effective but it isn't always pretty

Sounds familiar!!

I am generally happy to get on and ride anything. I will happily get on anything at a hunt meet and ride.jump all day.

I'm a bit more of a wuss with my own horse, but thats mostly because I'm a bit worried about him hurting himself. But at the same time I know full well that he'll look after us both so I shouldn't worry too much.