Is it horse or is it me?

[Amun]

Hi everyone, I have a problem that brought me to this forum. I take private lessons in a riding school every week, I'm advanced rider and I have ridden elsewhere before but this is the first time I really take regular lessons. I really like this school and I can tell the horses are well taken care of. However, after I upgraded from the typical "old school tired and lazy pony" I got a horse that gave me hell. He misbehaved, he often tried to run when I was mounting, refused to cooperate. But is somehow worked, I learned a lot from this and when this horse was in a good mood, it was perfection. Instructor said I was doing exceptionally well despite his behaviour. but mostly every session was a struggle and it resulted in an incident when the horse went mad and almost kicked my head. After this I was given another horse which seemed fantastic, great walk, manners... But he was badly treated in the past and he gets spooked by everything. Others horses, dogs, people who just walk by. He gallops to safety unexpectedly whenever he feels threatened which is like 10 times per hour. I never felt so insecure with any other horse, you basically just wait for the moment he jumps and runs without warning. Instructors said I was doing amazing job with him and that the horse was really comfortable with me but I just don't feel that way. And to my question, I'm really not sure if it's the horses that are not suitable for riding school or if I'm just a bad rider who should give up as I obviously don't get along with any horse. Thanks to everyone who read through my long story

 

[eggs]

What do you mean by ‘advanced’ rider?

is the school BHS approved?

 

[AmyMay]

These horses don’t sound suitable really.

Are you in the UK?

 

[Amun]

Hi eggs, omg just googled it and in UK advanced seems like master level, my mistake. In my homeland advanced means level up from beginner. So I can walk, trot, also did canter before but not in this school. Not sure about BHS

 

[Amun]

These horses don’t sound suitable really.

Are you in the UK?

Hi, thanks for reply. Yes I'm riding in London. To give that school some credit, instructors are fantastic, you can tell they really place horses first.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Hi eggs, omg just googled it and in UK advanced seems like master level, my mistake. In my homeland advanced means level up from beginner. So I can walk, trot, also did canter before but not in this school.

I think it sounds like you are a novice. I have to agree that the horses at the riding school don't sound suitable. Is there a better riding school in your area?

 

[Amun]

I think it sounds like you are a novice. I have to agree that the horses at the riding school don't sound suitable. Is there a better riding school in your area?

Yes there is one. Tbh I was thinking to try one lesson there just to see the difference. Thanks for reply, I was really feeling down after my last lesson

 

[AmyMay]

Hi, thanks for reply. Yes I'm riding in London. To give that school some credit, instructors are fantastic, you can tell they really place horses first.

Ah, ok. Well you need to be riding horses that (as far as is possible) keep you safe, as well as teaching you to ride.

If everything you say is true, then I would be looking for another school pretty quickly.

Good luck.

 

[JackFrost]

Don't give up! Contrary to what some people think, riding school horses aren't all easy and straightforward. As you have found out, many have less than ideal pasts (which is often why they have ended up at a riding school!), also they are ridden by all sorts of people, and the riding schools don't always have the choice of a selection of great horses to offer their clients. But from all of them you will learn things. The important thing is to be safe, and not to ride horses that may make you lose your confidence. It's never easy riding horses you don't know, and as you now encounter more challenging behaviours, you should feel proud of the progress you are making.

 

[Amun]

Ah, ok. Well you need to be riding horses that (as far as is possible) keep you safe, as well as teaching you to ride.

If everything you say is true, then I would be looking for another school pretty quickly.

Good luck.

Don't give up! Contrary to what some people think, riding school horses aren't all easy and straightforward. As you have found out, many have less than ideal pasts (which is often why they have ended up at a riding school!), also they are ridden by all sorts of people, and the riding schools don't always have the choice of a selection of great horses to offer their clients. But from all of them you will learn things. The important thing is to be safe, and not to ride horses that may make you lose your confidence. It's never easy riding horses you don't know, and as you now encounter more challenging behaviours, you should feel proud of the progress you are making.

Thank you both, it really helped me feel better! Also very interesting to hear that riding schools often get horses with not so great past instead of the "great" ones. It's true I learned a lot, especially from the horse that misbehaved. But whenever it was going well next time it went down the hill again and it was really hitting my confidence. Well I will try one lesson in that other place and will see how it goes

 

[AmyMay]

Thank you both, it really helped me feel better! Also very interesting to hear that riding schools often get horses with not so great past instead of the "great" ones. It's true I learned a lot, especially from the horse that misbehaved. But whenever it was going well next time it went down the hill again and it was really hitting my confidence. Well I will try one lesson in that other place and will see how it goes

In my experience good schools try and source the best animals they can ... ?

 

[Wishfilly]

You will learn things from horses like this definitely, but if you are not yet cantering at this riding school, this doesn't seem like the right stage to be riding spooky or difficult horses. At this stage, it's more important to be given well schooled horses that will allow you to progress your riding.

I would look for a riding school which is BHS or ABRS approved- they will hopefully have a range of suitable horses to help you progress, but you can also be sure they are kept to proper welfare standards.

 

[Merry neddy man]

www.bhs.org.uk has a section showing all bhs approved riding centres.

 

[Amun]

I wanted to write an update for this post in case anyone ever has a similar problem. I took a lesson in a different BHS-approved school and words can't express the difference. I am a little bit sorry because I liked my former school and especially the people there but I made so much progress during just a few lessons in the new place... so I think I should have tried a different place a long time ago instead of thinking that I'm simply a bad rider. Thanks to everyone here who encouraged me!

 

[Wishfilly]

I wanted to write an update for this post in case anyone ever has a similar problem. I took a lesson in a different BHS-approved school and words can't express the difference. I am a little bit sorry because I liked my former school and especially the people there but I made so much progress during just a few lessons in the new place... so I think I should have tried a different place a long time ago instead of thinking that I'm simply a bad rider. Thanks to everyone here who encouraged me!

I'm glad you've had some good lessons!

Some people are more naturally talented than others (and some get access to horses very young) but no-one is born a "good rider" in the sense I think you mean. Everyone has to have lessons on appropriate horses to get there!

It sounds like you're enjoying your riding a lot more, which is great. Just like horses, we can't learn well when we're scared, so feeling safe on the horse is an important part of learning!

 

[Widgeon]

I wanted to write an update for this post in case anyone ever has a similar problem.

That's great to hear, I'm so pleased you've found somewhere you can make progress and be encouraged. This is far too expensive a hobby to spend your time feeling worried and doubting yourself!

 

[numptynovice]

Really glad to see you tried another school and had a much better experience. If you are only just cantering you really shouldn’t be riding very spooky horses. The last thing you want is to lose confidence at your stage. Where I ride the worst the horses they put the riders just starting to canter will do is decide to stop, ignore the rider and nap to their friends or very, very occasionally buck/spook.

 

[Amun]

Really glad to see you tried another school and had a much better experience. If you are only just cantering you really shouldn’t be riding very spooky horses. The last thing you want is to lose confidence at your stage. Where I ride the worst the horses they put the riders just starting to canter will do is decide to stop, ignore the rider and nap to their friends or very, very occasionally buck/spook.

You are so right about losing confidence! Being honest before going to the new school I was seriously considering to quit horse riding. Now I'm back on track and can't wait for the next lesson already! ?

 

[Rumtytum]

You are so right about losing confidence! Being honest before going to the new school I was seriously considering to quit horse riding. Now I'm back on track and can't wait for the next lesson already! ?

I’m so pleased for you Amun! Shortly after starting to ride I was persuaded to leave the school and have private lessons on a privately owned horse. The horse was inexperienced and nervous, it was recipe for disaster! I stuck it for three months, used to dread going, and of course it ended badly with a bruised kidney and broken rib. I was one millimetre away from losing my nerve and quitting horses...
Three weeks later I returned to the proper riding school and my favourite horse. It felt right, I was comfortable and trusted him and since then everything has been good ?. Wishing you many happy lessons!

 

[Amun]

I’m so pleased for you Amun! Shortly after starting to ride I was persuaded to leave the school and have private lessons on a privately owned horse. The horse was inexperienced and nervous, it was recipe for disaster! I stuck it for three months, used to dread going, and of course it ended badly with a bruised kidney and broken rib. I was one millimetre away from losing my nerve and quitting horses...
Three weeks later I returned to the proper riding school and my favourite horse. It felt right, I was comfortable and trusted him and since then everything has been good ?. Wishing you many happy lessons!

Thank you! And I'm really sorry to hear about your accident, I'm glad you recovered from that! I have to say that during my first lesson in the new school, I almost couldn't believe how great the horse was and I kept asking the instructor if the horse will buck if I ask for trot etc... ? She looked very surprised. In the end we even did some canter, it was so refreshing how smooth it went.