How long to become a half way competant rider?

[A1fie]

It's probably a silly question but I just want to get an idea of when I'll stop being a beginner! I know that I'll never stop learning and improving but I just wanted to find out how long it took you all.

I've been riding for 9 months (I'm 36) and my seat is not yet very secure, sitting trot still hurts and my legs are floppy and on't keep still

I can only afford one lesson a week but I'm hoping to start sharing with someone soon.

Thanks

 

[Starbucks]

Sitting trot - whats that then??

Seriously I think riding schools do too much in the school, get out and about on some hacks and stuff and you'll probably learn more. Just my opinion, but you don't really need to do sitting trot to enjoy riding.

 

[A1fie]

thanks. My instructor says it's the best way to develop my seat and I'm just a numpty who know's nothing except that it makes me walk bow legged!!

 

[_OC_]

[ QUOTE ]
thanks. My instructor says it's the best way to develop my seat and I'm just a numpty who know's nothing except that it makes me walk bow legged!!

[/ QUOTE ]

PMSL.....!

 

[madmav]

Think a lot of it - life everything else in life - is in the mind. I rode competently as a youngster, stopped and then started agsin. But cannot begin to convince myself that I am anywhere near as good as I used to be.
But then I've skied with guys who've done far less than me and have far less technique - yet who skis better?
But have faith - we'll get there one day!

 

[Starbucks]

Well, I disagree with your instructor!

It's all supposed to be fun and I imagine working on your seat in a school isn't that much fun!

I was very young when I learned to ride but even then refused to have lessons at a riding school - they are so boring!!

Tell her you want to go on some hacks.

 

[teapot]

[ QUOTE ]
Well, I disagree with your instructor!

It's all supposed to be fun and I imagine working on your seat in a school isn't that much fun!

I was very young when I learned to ride but even then refused to have lessons at a riding school - they are so boring!!

Tell her you want to go on some hacks.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm with you on this one after being in a RS for 8 years. It's all very well learning sitting trot and what your inside leg is doing but we all do the sport for the enjoyment of it.

I've learnt more in the last 6 months from hacking out, going for a pipe opener, spashing through rivers and mucking around in the school not caring what it looks like & having FUN with a mate than what I've learnt in the previous 8 years!

Don't get me wrong, lessons are useful but due to today's H&S conscious world, RS lessons are getting duller and duller -some schools wont let people do sitting trot without stirrups in case they fall off; what happened to jumping down grids with no reins? I've had some fab lessons but in the more recent years, the boring ones have outweighed the fun ones.

Hacking is a fab idea

 

[A1fie]

Thanks for all your comments. Someone I know has a horse for share and I'm going to ask her tomorrow whether she'd consider me. Her yard is in the middle of a huge estate so I would get to go hacking. It's funny but although it's what I most want to do, it really scares me because I think my horse will just bolt off with me.

 

[NeilM]

I am a recent returnee to riding, having learnt the (very) basics 20 years ago. I ride with friends and with my wife and I only hack out.

We are going to do some schooling work in the summer, but this will be to fine tune what I have learnt out and about.

Hacking will make the riding more fun and more relaxing and you will gain in confidence as you come to realise that you don't need a fence all around you in order to stay in control of your horse.

 

[Hemirjtm]

agree with what has been said!!!

We started to 'teach' our nextdoor neighbour, but one day she didn't seem happy/comfortable, so we said we would take her on a very quiet hack, walk and trot only.....we got to a lovely track (uphill!) that i knew the pony she was riding would canter along if i put Hemir into a slow canter...we got to the bottom of the track i said "reins into one hand, other hand on the front of the saddle" she didn't question me and i also knew that pony would stop at the top and walk down very calmly, and she had the biggest smile on her face! after that she was able to canter in the field.....she was 'worried' in the field but because she didn't have time to worry about it on the hack it cured all of her worries about cantering....maybe not the best solution but it worked - and i knew what the pony would do!!

You will learn far more when you start having fun

good luck
xx