Lessons ...

[maxapple]

Is it just me, or is anyone else rubbish in lessons? I have been riding years & probably have a million bad habits - but on the whole have good balance & a knack of staying on in hairy situations (touch wood) ...

I've just got back into jumping (just 2'3 - 2'6 courses at the mo) so thought a lesson would be good today and I was shocking!!

My transitions into canter were awful, I couldn't get over trotting poles nicely & although we finished with a small grid ending in a 3ft jump none of it felt good! When ever I have to actually concentrate on what I'm doing it all seems to fall to bits

Normally he pops straight into a nice canter in the school & we pop over jumps with ease.

I can't be that bad as I took my pony to our 1st show last week & came 4th in the 2'3 class - we sailed around it (maybe I looked awful but no points for that in SJ!!)

I was exactly the same in a ski lesson this winter. I'd been skiing for the 1st time the winter before and after a few days on the slopes had done my 1st black run (again - probably not a tidy attempt but I got down confidently) ... so I decided to try a lesson & as soon as I had to start focusing on what my hips / knees were supposed to be doing I couldn't even negotiate a tiny slope without falling over!

I'm wondering whether lessons are just not for me! I'd love to know if anyone else feels the same? I've never tried dressage just because the minute I have to think about what my legs, hands etc etc should be doing it all stops working!!

 

[Natalie_H]

I have a similar thing. Had a super pony from the age of 13 to the age of 26. Grew up with her. Had a handful of lessons with her (and I mean a handful!) in all those years, but had loads of fun with her - jumping up to 3ft 6 with no problem. Canter & Gallop - no problem - never even gave it any thought. Never had any transport then, so only the odd local show at which we always did well. I'm sure it never looked pretty, and I know my position was pretty awful - but again - never gave it a thought. Got my current horse 6 years ago off the track & jumped him over 3ft straight away, but decided as he was a youngster, I should invest in his education & have lessons. Now all I do is worry about my position, seat, hands, legs, impulsion, transitions, and outline. Struggle to get nice canter, can barely jump, and feel awfully unco-ordinated at times

. On the odd occasion that I forget the above & just have some fun with him, it comes together again. This isn't to say that we are bad in lessons - we actually get some really lovely work, but I do feel at times that I worry so much about correctness these days, my natural confidence goes out the window

Don't know if that makes sense, or if you can relate to it, but that's how I see it!!

 

[Morty]

don't worry, its purely psychological. as soon as you feel anxious you revert back to being a cognitive learner (a novice) so you start thinking about all the small things that make up an action. to put it more simply - if whilst walking down the stairs you actually think about lifting you knees and placing your feet it is much more likely that your going to fall down them! i just recommend more lessons so that you feel more at ease

 

[maxapple]

Natalie - that is EXACTLY how I feel!! Its so nice to read that and know its not just me! I'm only planning on doing local shows anyway and I probably do look like a cowgirl jumping but I can get round courses fine! Like you - I was jumping 3ft easily the day before my lesson.

Monty - you are spot on too. I don't think I'm anxious, just can't seem to concentrate on everything I'm supposed to be doing and do it at the same time. If I don't think about it I manage fine

I'm actually a teacher myself (school teacher) & they always say teachers make the worse students!!