Jeez I need some help...and quick!

Q

quarryman

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Hi there people, please help! My lovely wife to be has been horse riding for bleeding ages and I'm feeling quite under pressure to join her. In fact, I'd love to be able to ride horses it's just the horror stories I have heard that scare the crap out of me to be honest
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'Oh it's ok dear, it's quite normal for the horse to sprint off at the sign of tractors, plastic, deer etc' are just a few things putting me off!
I got the health and safety part sorted, as in I know I need a good quality helmet but what else??? But appart from the apparel, what else do I need to know. Like I said, I'm absolutely terrified as to what might happen if I don't know how to handle the situation.
I did mention going to a riding school, but to the disgust of SWMBO I'm put off slightly from doing this, "Oh, they will only put you on a nose to tail horse so you might aswell go on a 'proper' horse to begin with".
I'm not looking to start an argument, I'm just looking for the correct way into horse riding. I love my wife to be and I wish to share the excitement of horse riding with her.
Cheers people
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I would say that to begin with having lessons is a very good idea, the horses are used to beginners, as are the instructors, the environment will be controlled and it is the best place to get the basics. Enjoy
 
I think a riding school is a good place to start - they aren't all half asleep dobbins, and you will at least start in an evironment where the horses are suitable, the instructors should be used to novice riders and there is a safer environment than can be found on most livery yards. If you tell us roughly where you are maybe we can recommend a good school where you won't be bouncing around in a class of 9 year old children
 
Ahh i think its lovely you want to share it with her, cant you sneak off and get some lessons on the qt?? just imagine her suprise....
 
I would suggest and recommend a riding school, it's what they're designed for after all....as YorksG said, the horses and instructors are suited to you and for you to get the hang of it, all in an anclosed arena, so no worries about getting tanked off with!

Your wife having ridden for years possibly forgets the initial scariness especially if she started as a child, whereas a child has no fear so, easy to say just "get on with it" but in reality....

You don't want to scare yourself at the first hurdle and be put off for life, so a few lessons or so to get to grips is probably the best way, unless you or your wife have a suitable horse/pony and a school to get yourself acquainted?

Good Luck, and prepare to be hooked!:)
 
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Ahh i think its lovely you want to share it with her, cant you sneak off and get some lessons on the qt?? just imagine her suprise....

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I agree
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At least with a riding school you will be equipped with the basics. Also I think it would be a lot safer
 
Hee hee, my hubby has been converted to horses so it can be done!!!!

I agree with riding lessons. Must admit I taught my hubby BUT i do have a fantastic little mare that you could trust with a child.

Good luck with it all. When you get going you really will wonder what all the worry was about! My hubby was petrified of 1st trotting and cantering but as soon as he did it he couldn't believe what a fuss he had kicked up over it!
 
Wish my OH would show some interest - I have to drag him to horsey events! Got him on my horse once and all he did was wige about 'squashing himself'
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lol Get a body protector and some supportive pants!

No, IMHO it is not normal for a horse to sprint off at the slightest thing, especially one that has been deemed suitable for a beginner to ride. Any horse has the capacity to spook but most do not do it all the time, it's just something you have to be aware of.

I would say that begin on an experienced, quiet horse, either at a riding school or privately owned, with an understanding person leading you, explaining what to do and don't be afraid to ask silly questions.
Nothing wrong with a good riding school so don't disregard them because of one person's opinion (what's SWMBO?). I learnt to ride at one and went there from the age of 12-18 before I went to Uni, then have on and off for the last six years. What I learnt there stood me in good stead to teach others, handle horses, ride different mounts out hacking, x-country, jumping and in the school. I went on to groom at HOYS and produce my own horse to hunt and show using the knowledge I gained there so it couldn't have that bad!

I won't lie, it's a hard and sometimes painful journey and you never stop learning (or hurting!) but it's so worth it! It takes a while to get to the point where it's fun but you have to learn to relax and accept the falls as part of the learning prcess - they're really not that bad. You'll never do anything so frustrating or rewarding in your life and once the addiction gets hold of you, you'll never be able to let it go.
 
Oh how lovely! where can I meet a man like you!
Seriously ditto the others comments, get a riding hat properly fitted at a tack shop/saddlers, some proper boots with small heels so your feet don't slip through the stirrups and ideally some jods or breeches much more comfortable than riding in jeans, there's also lots of mail order companies on the web you can order the equipment from.

You could go to a riding school really is the best place to start and it's possible to have private 1 2 1 lessons if you want to progress quickly then when you feel confident and when your instructor agrees, surprise your WTB by one day getting on a horse at her yard or her horse if suitable and looking like you know what you are doing, believe me she will be suitably impressed!! Not all horses are completely doolally there really are some safe sane ones out there!! Good luck and let us know how you get on!!
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Right, here's the low down.... I'm 30 years old, 16 stone, short tempered with humans, very understanding with animals though. My lovely wife has a 17.2 cleveland bay cross thourghbread girl (think that's right). From my understanding of the stories my wife has told me, Daphne is single minded, especially when near her stable mate (Poppy). I live in the heart of Devon quite near the Rose and Crown riding school (both my sisters went there :-)).
Just don't want to get hurt, so the idea of a few lessons is sounding good to me. Don't get me wrong, I trust my wife 100%, I just don't trust 600kg+ of horse. Well, not at the moment anyway.
 
Well I had been trying to get my OH to ride from when we first met. He bought me a horse for my 40th birthday (I had already owned 3 before we were married. He had a go but didn't want to persue. When we moved to a house with land we built 2 new stables and moved my horse in. After about 2 weeks OH kept saying he would muck out ect. He then admitted to booking himself into private lessons at the local riding school as he didn't want to ride with a lot of children. He had these lessons 2 to 3 a week when he could canter they asked if he would like to join the adult group which he did and loved. Then he wanted a horse but I said he should go to one of the agricultural colleges to do his basic BHS 1 to learn how to ride different horses and how to look after one. He took his 1 and 2 then after a a bad experience with a horse we bought and sold on to a dealer we found JB. who was an ex riding school horse (was used for riding for the disabled) he went on to have dressage lessons jumping and had a go at le trec (came 2nd) sport endurance he loved. All this within a 3 year span. Oh and by the way he also appeared in a local horse magazine. He's done more in now 5 years than I've done in competitions and trying different things in40 years. So I'm glad you are starting while you are younger he wished he had he's very single track minded on sports things and would I'm sure have done very well. So go get private lessons to start at a riding school a good one and go from there.
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Sorry that was so long A glass of wine perhaps?
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SWMBO - Must get that printed on a T-Shirt, LMAO!

Very sensible not to trust a horse you haven't ridden, especially when you cannot ride. Lessons on a quiet schoolmaster would be your best option, as it will be more forgiving and you're less likely to have an accident. But be aware that at some point you will come a cropper, but it's not as bad as you think it will be. Usually, it happens so quickly that you're on the floor before you know it and it's your pride that's hurt the most!
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Defo go to a riding school - dobbins are great for beginners esp nervous ones. They just plod along while you get your balance etc without worrying about what the horse is going to do. Good luck
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Actually I am going to go against what other people have said. I ride, and I love it. My husband helps me with the horses when I need help, but he does not have a real interest in riding.

Horses are very expensive and very time consuming, if it is not really a passion for you, it would be better for your relationship if you stayed a supportive horse-husband and had some hobbies of your own. It is always good to have some time together and some time for yourself.
 
My husband started riding only a few years back after admitting to having a burning desire to go on a ranching holiday in the US.
He bought a hat, refused to wear breeches, rode in jeans and cowboy boots bought in spain, booked some private lessons at a riding school and has never looked back.

He had private lessons for a while then we bought Sidney. 17.2HH of attitude and so completely unsuited for a novice it was untrue. But hubby and him have gone great together and he has learnt so so much. I find that you men have less fear, analyse things less, have very good reactions and are very strong - on the whole horses therefore seem to not to mess men around as much (only my opinion). Hubby may lack technique but he's got all the guts in the world so he progresses faster than wimpy me.

Hubby is an absolute convert and a far better rider than me.
Go for it!
 
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