impatience

[Carolina24]

OK so I've been riding since April and have my first Horse - I love him to bits but I'm not the best of riders and have been taking lessons on him. I can walk,trot competently but when it comes to Cantering I'm rubbish I seem to keep giving mixed signals to my boy and he sets of in a gallop which is hard to stop when in a schooling area!

I have stopped having lessons as I have only had my horse 7 weeks and wanted to spend some time hacking and getting to know him plus I go on holiday in November and need to save some money! The thing is I'm so impatient to be good at riding - I want to be able to canter and want to be good but I'm struggling and putting myself under pressure to do it, should I just bite the bullet and keeping having lessons at canter once a week or should I just enjoy riding for now and getting to know my horse and concentrate on getting better at riding in summer?

please help! I have enlisted someone to ride once a week when I'm at work but I'm slightly jealous that my horse will enjoy his experience with her more than me as she;s a good rider!

 

[Johnny999]

Hi,
Just relax!
It takes a long time to learn to ride well. After doing a lot of jumping as a teenager then having twenty years off, it has taken me 2 years of instruction twice a week to be able to hack just about anything. I still need instruction for basic schooling even after my level 2 and national diploma.

Lessons - never ever stop having lessons. I groom up to three star and don't know anyone that doesn't have regular lessons. They will improve you and the pony.

As for owning your own - thats great. But theres so much more than riding. Try some ground work, lunging or even just teach tricks. Mine has learn't - go to school, in ya box and all sorts. Horses are incredibly bright and mine now goes easily from voice if my aids are shabby.

Also remember. This is an animal. Has bad days, good days and is sensitive to your action, reactions and even how happy or stressed you are. Based on this you have to make the best of every time you interact. It's a bit like the Top Gear Celebrity Lap. If it's a wet lap you will never get a dry lap time. You just have to do your best and go with it.

Most of all. Enjoy it.

 

[Carolina24]

Hi,
Just relax!
It takes a long time to learn to ride well. After doing a lot of jumping as a teenager then having twenty years off, it has taken me 2 years of instruction twice a week to be able to hack just about anything. I still need instruction for basic schooling even after my level 2 and national diploma.

Lessons - never ever stop having lessons. I groom up to three star and don't know anyone that doesn't have regular lessons. They will improve you and the pony.

As for owning your own - thats great. But theres so much more than riding. Try some ground work, lunging or even just teach tricks. Mine has learn't - go to school, in ya box and all sorts. Horses are incredibly bright and mine now goes easily from voice if my aids are shabby.

Also remember. This is an animal. Has bad days, good days and is sensitive to your action, reactions and even how happy or stressed you are. Based on this you have to make the best of every time you interact. It's a bit like the Top Gear Celebrity Lap. If it's a wet lap you will never get a dry lap time. You just have to do your best and go with it.

Most of all. Enjoy it.

Thanks - I don't think I'm a born natural but I'm improving with lunging and my horse and I are forming a great bond. I feel my confidence growing with every good ride I just dread the Cantering but don't know if I should just enjoy walking and trotting for now and worry about the canter another time???

 

[Chellebean]

Thanks - I don't think I'm a born natural but I'm improving with lunging and my horse and I are forming a great bond. I feel my confidence growing with every good ride I just dread the Cantering but don't know if I should just enjoy walking and trotting for now and worry about the canter another time???

Hey,
Not everything is about going fast and blasting round the arena at canter. Spend a few more weeks building that confidence in walk and trot, the more you spend doing that the better you will feel. You will also get a grasp on what aids he knows, all horses are slightly different and very different from a riding school horse. You will get there, just pace yourself.