Huntley lesson report, reassurance plea and rider fitness...

Kat_Bath

Kat_Bath

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 December 2008
Messages
1,578
Visit site
Agessss ago, I posted about having lessons in Glos and a couple of people recommended Huntley School of Equitation. So off I toddled yesterday, after driving back from a weekend in Dorset and being woken up by my friends kids at 5.50am!

Also, thought it would be much cooler at 4pm. Was wrong. When I got off, I felt crap and had to sit with head in hands and stayed to watch the lesson after mine in the indoor school (I was in the outdoor) so I was ok to drive 10 mins home!

Anyway, I had a lesson with Hayley and I rode a grey gelding called Ace. My main aims are to improve my riding so that I have a good foundation for owning my own horse later in life. When that happens, I'd like to be able to do a dressage test, jump a clear round and have a paddle in the cross country pool. But this is years down the line.

Ace was a little idle and I felt like I had to use a schooling whip more than I ever have before but think this is due to the nature of my previous riding (casual). The short story is that we did walk, trot and canter, very basic, but useful. I spent more time looking up than I ever have before (one of many bad habits) and I spent a good amount of time remembering to breathe and then consequently sounding like a steam train up a steep incline!

Hayley said I need to give myself more credit and that I'm not as bad a rider as I make out. Trouble is, I've never really seen myself ride so I don't have much faith in myself.

I watched a couple of private lessons in the indoor to cool off and calm down before I drove home and they were both good and so I felt rubbish! But it was interesting.

In the car on the way home, I almost cried! I'm a bit if a pansy and a bit of a dreamer. It was all because I just wanted to get back on a keep riding and keep trying and keep practicing. I'm also very impatient! Will I improve my riding when I have a private lesson every two weeks on my day off? I think private lessons will be the way forward at the mo as the group lessons on Tues and Thurs are about stage 2/3 which I'm not ready for I don't think.

Also, I'm terribly unfit. I was huffing and puffing and I felt so faint when I was finished. I'm not a runner though so thats out the question. I do cycle and I do walk. My fitness when I was younger was through riding! I was pop picking, mucking out, riding, walking out etc and that kept me fit. It appears to be hard to get fit for riding without riding! Any suggestions are welcome!

I hope next time to get the lesson on video, or at least little bits of it but it's hard when you're on your own! We'll see.

I enjoyed myself though and I will enjoy lessons there and I want to do it properly and my work contract just got extended so I will be in the area for a while too which is great but I'm impatient. I'm on my phone so I can't scroll up but the idea behind yesterday's lesson was to assess and to go back to basics as I've never really learnt to ride, I've just gotten on and gotten on with it! I just wish I could get back on today and continue on my quest to be a good rider!

Anyway, there actually isn't much point to this post so I'll shut up now! I can offer beef monster munch to those who got this far!
 
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I travel down to Huntley for BHSI training when I can and they are all lovely people.

Throw yourself into the lessons as much as you can, if once a fortnight is all you can manage lesson wise then just make the most of it!! Don't be disheartened by watching others, look for what you can learn from it. Remember to take a lucozade or similar with you next time!

With regards fitness, can you fit in some swimming? Go walking with more of a purpose (find some hills etc) and push yourself when cycling (can I do this route in a minute less than I did yesterday? I will cycle as fast as I can for x time/distance - NOT downhill!!)
 
I wouldn't be too hard on yourself, after a year break I could barely school for 20 minutes let alone survive a lesson. The weather doesn't help at the moment either, I had a lesson on Saturday and I sweated as much as the horse did. I would stick with the private lessons especially if you are only riding once every 2 weeks. I had some lunge lessons which were really good for getting my position and balance right, which are really the key to unlocking everything else. I would also not compare yourself to other people, there will always be people better than you (unless you are Charlotte Dujardin) you are on your own path, so why fret about it. I think being fitter does help with the stamina and cardio side of riding, I like running- so I run but some walking, cycling would help. Apparently Pilates is good for core strength and balance which might also help. The issue you have (which is same as me) is that we have limited saddle time (I ride once a week) and so progress will be slow, I'm kind of resigned to it untill my circumstances change. Good luck :)
 
Thank you for your kind words-they are very much appreciated.
I'm not a very confident swimmer but I do try and do it as often as I can. I which I could run but I wouldn't know how to go about doing it properly. I enjoy cycling and I've just got a new bike so I will do more of that too.

Lucozade is a definite for next time, yes. I'm so ashamed of myself for not taking any liquid of any kind! Bad!

I'm glad that I'm not alone in the limited saddle time. I wish it was easier to get more saddle time though.

I just got a Pilates DVD actually so I will start soon that.

In regards to lunge lessons, I had a nasty accident on the lunge when I was 13 and ended up in a neck brace and on a back board so I'm not sure I'm up for that... Willing to give it a go after a couple of months if I can trust one of their horses enough.

Thank you again for lovely words :)
 
I have just got back in to riding and been hacking for a couple of hours 5 times a week. I don't think I am near fit enough to survive a private lesson yet (and I have a very active job too!) so don't be so hard on yourself.

First few hacks I did my legs were shaking with the effort (not fear but muscle fatigue!!)
 
I've ridden Ace a number of times - he's one of their 'new person' horses as rock steady but as you found, a hit of an idle swine ;)

Glad it went well, be honest with the staff there, talk to them, and ask then if/when they think you're ready to join the group. It's not a moneygrabbing type place and if groups will suit you they'll be honest!

If I had some extra pennies I'd pop myself along to one or two of the groups, they're very good, not your typical 'group' lesson, mostly in open order with bursts of one on one tuition :)
 
You think you found it hard on ace! I has him for the show jumping section of my stage four! There was a lot of kicking going on I can assure you! I'm. Sure I only passed as when we swapped for the xc he decided not to play and in the warm up for the second rider did a dirty stop at a cross pole and she came off.
I actually quite enjoyed him but he was hard work so don't be too hard on yourself. I ride two to five a dat and still sweat and puff !
 
Glad it went well, be honest with the staff there, talk to them, and ask then if/when they think you're ready to join the group. It's not a moneygrabbing type place and if groups will suit you they'll be honest!

OMG how wrong you are, its all and only all about the money there, my sister worked there for a year, awful awful awful, two faced.
 
Have you also bit any friends who own horses that you can red in return for poo picking etc, riding none riding school horses will be a big lesson too you, more than money can buy I reckon plus interspersed with private lessons and you should have a good foundation there
 
Nicely worded Englund...love a good verbal kicking.

What I obviously meant was, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION - I rode there for 3/4 years on and off with the uni and Carole and Judith did all they could to offer us good value for money...I only have good things to say about that place!
 
Huntley is owned by a great friend of my grandmother's, so birthday presents were always lessons there.
It's a lovely place - and Ace is a honey but a bit of a lazy sod, so don't worry about being knackered. I ride up to eight a day and I was still almost hyperventilating when I rode him.
They really helped me build my confidence with my new horse when he was being a git, and are so kind if you're nervous about something.
Stick with it, it will only get better!
 
Definitely agree with don't worry about being out of breath riding ace, he's very hard work!
Also don't be disappointed watching other people and comparing yourself, I always try and watch what they do and copy it myself.
Hayley is a great teacher and you will learn loads.
Enjoy your next lesson!
 
For running maybe try the couch to 5 k program? My sister did it and says its excellent. I run every day for fitness and don't think can beat it for quick cardio workout. I also cycle and don't find that anything like as hard. I think you can get nhs app or something similar..
 
Thanks for all your replies. I think I will look into running (jogging, walking quicker than normal) as it would be useful. At the moment, I'm not even sure I could run to escape fire and even then I'd probably have an asthma attack!

I will stick with the lessons. Waiting for OH to get back from Scotland and then we'll discuss lifts as I don't have my own car :(

D'sMum, I'll let you know about that! Not a massive fan of cider though! I know, I know, unbelievable but true!

Thank you again for all your replies, they really mean a lot to me :)
 
Glad you enjoyed it!

I am hard on myself as well so it's tough to find your sence of achievement. Maybe set yourself a mini target.

Also be honest with the instructors and you will get to know the horses more, lazy can be so tiring so don't worry! They will tell you if your not suitable for the group or not or maybe recommend another one?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top