New here and returning to riding advice

[L2907]

Hi everyone

I am new to this form and would like to get some advice please.

I have just returned to riding recently , after being away from horses for about 10 years, due to having a lot of knee operations which has since resulted in having both knee caps removed

I was previously riding at another stables, after 6 months of 2 weekly lessons I just felt I wasnt getting anywhere and was advised by a friend to try another instructor.
My last riding school, told me that my balance and seat were perfect, I just had to work more on my control!!!!
After attending the other school I have discovered that I have terrible balance and no seat established either!!!! was very pissed off, as now I feel I was just ripped off for the 6 months I was there!!!

I have been with my new instructor for a month, taking two lessons a week and I am 100% sure my riding is getting worse every lesson!!!
My rising trot, I am struggling to control my legs, the bottom half including my feet tend to swing about!!!! which results in my ankles being in agony after every lesson, I am finding it difficult to ride through my legs (maybe I am not understanding what He is meaning with this) when I am cantering my hands tend to go all ways, my instructor says that I am working against the horse rather than with him How do I learn to work with his movements??

My instructor is a lovely guy, great teacher, explains everything. I just dont seem to be getting it!!!!!
What I want to know is it possible to get worse before you get better and how do I strengthen my legs and learn to use them better?/
I dont want to change stables again, I love where I am but I am getting more and more deflated after every lesson!

Not my instructors fault, he is very positive after every lesson. He explains that because we are working on one problem the rest will start to show too!

All advice welcomed

Thank you

Sorry for long story

 

[milliepops]

Oh, poor you, but well done for recognising that something isn't working. It must be difficult getting back into things especially after all your knee trouble - hope that is properly resolved now?

TBH, the first thing that popped into my head on reading your post was lunge lessons. I think that would really help you in many ways - you can work without reins which is fab to allow you to concentrate on other things without also thinking about steering, stopping, etc - and then without stirrups to concentrate on your seat and balance... does your new instructor have access to a horse that you could do this on? If not, I think I'd be inclined to try a different place again

Best of luck.

Oh, and welcome to the forum ... and yes, it is possible for things to get worse before they get better - don't get too despondent, but it doesn't sound like the current approach is necessarily the best one.

 

[Kat]

I think it sounds a bit of a worry that you are getting worse not better with two lessons a week.

While I can see what he is saying that working on one problem shows up another and your progress can slow at times you shouldn't really feel consistently like you are going backwards. What are this guy's qualifications? What does he think of your progress? Does he understand about your knee problem and does he take this into account in his teaching?

Personally I'd try a lesson with someone else and see how you feel, no harm in having a couple of lessons elsewhere to compare, you don't have to burn your bridges.

Perhaps if you post where you live people could recommend an instructor that they know is good in your area and you could try them and see how you feel.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Is there a riding school with a mechanical horse you could ride? its a great way to work close up with an instructor on your position without worrying about unbalancing the horse.

 

[L2907]

Hi there,
Thank you for all your replies.

I am in Leven Fife.

I am more than willing to travel to find a good school.

Ps, I had a lunge lesson on Monday, which went well, but I just felt like I was sitting there doing nothing, I am starting to wonder if it's due to my legs not being strong enough, that I am having so many problems??

I cycle every day for 3 to 5 miles, we have a young springer who require's a lot of walking, I am trying to build my legs up as much as I can without causing any damage to my knees

My goal is to get my riding upto a high enough level to get my own horse, which my instructor understand's and that is why I am determined to get it sorted, even if it mean's increasing my lessons.

Thanks again everyone

 

[Divasmum]

I'm recently back in the saddle after a long break and it does seem to take time. The mechanical horse idea is brilliant if there is one near enough to you.

 

[L2907]

I think I am just asking for to much to soon??
I will have a look on the net and see if I can find one about, even Edinburgh is not to far to go.

Thank you all again

 

[milliepops]

Ps, I had a lunge lesson on Monday, which went well, but I just felt like I was sitting there doing nothing, I am starting to wonder if it's due to my legs not being strong enough, that I am having so many problems??

What did you do in your lunge lesson? I really do find them useful but some instructors don't seem to have the knack for giving them. They need to be quite perceptive to be able to spot what you are/aren't doing, while controlling the horse. I have never felt that way after a lunge lesson - I usually feel worn out as they can be very intense!

 

[Maesfen]

Please don't take this the wrong way but could you be trying too hard so that you are too stiff to ride comfortably?
Years ago when I used to teach children, the best teacher of all was fun. If you made the lesson fun, they got so much more out of it and improved quicker because they were relaxed so acted naturally rather than if they were drilled around the manege all the time. One school I was at would, after the basics had been taught, have them on the leadrein riding beside the mounted instructor and go out for a hack while all the time still being taught on a one to one, both by words and example; we found they learnt things much better this way; we also used this system for adults which worked very well. Would it be possible for you to hack out with the instructor occasionally? You would find it far more relaxing and natural and as a result your body should react easier and it could well improve things for you if you are not consciously thinking 'oh my leg/body/arms are in the wrong place' all of the time; it shouldn't be a battle for you where you feel like a parcel coming undone but until you can relax and enjoy, that stiffness will creep in.
Good luck, I hope you can work something out, please let us know how you get on (and what worked for you) and welcome to the forum by the way; it's very addictive!

 

[L2907]

My lunge lesson on Monday was a bit of rising trot, sitting trot, sitting trot without stirrup's (this was only a couple of times, as every time we went into the corner, I lost my balance and slipped to the side) and we done a bit of canter work, the instructor kept the horse moving forward while I concentrated on keeping my hands down and keeping the correct position.

The one thing he did say is that I do sit very stiff, I do try to relax, but when I do that when I feel I make more mistakes

The first every lesson I had with him, the first thing he noticed is that my seat position his words were, I was sitting in a hunting position!!!!

I think I will speak to him this afternoon, as I have my second weekly lesson at 3pm, and ask if we can work on one thing at a time instead of throwing so many different things in to the lesson at once!!

I will also ask about hacking out with him, I can see it being a major problem as I spend one day per week doing a full shift at the stables, which is to gain some hands on experience, which I love and he takes the time to explain every thing and allows to handle all sorts of horses.

 

[milliepops]

I think I will speak to him this afternoon, as I have my second weekly lesson at 3pm, and ask if we can work on one thing at a time instead of throwing so many different things in to the lesson at once!!

That sounds like a very good idea

 

[FionaMc]

A lot of it will just be about getting the right muscles back and working, and learning where they should be.

Personally I find being forced to/forcing myself to work without stirrups, sitting deep into the saddle and making my legs as long and wrapped round as possible is quite a useful exercise and improves my seat immeasurably. I've always been told I ride much better without stirrups. It's really good for getting you relaxed and sitting deep with a good leg position though and over time definitely improves your balance and seat and ability to use legs/hands/seats independently.

There's always jumping without stirrups and reins too - that was my childhood fav.

 

[L2907]

Hi all

Had my lesson this afternoon, it went really good.
Spoke to the instructor about how I am feeling and he had an idea on Monday that I wasn't to happy Today's lesson was some rising trot work, with last 20 mins of the lesson being canter work, but I came away with a huge smile on my face

I manage to canter around the school know problem, it seems to be when I am working slow I have so many problems He has also suggested that I stop expecting myself to be further on than I am, as there is nothing wrong with where I am

Anyway I am back next Monday again and I am really looking forward to it, my only last question would be, does anyone no of any exercise's that I can do to strengthen my ankle's???? it just seem's to be my Right one, it tends to swing in circles when I am doing my rising trot, the left is fine.

Thank you everyone for all the advice today

 

[Kat]

Yes, I have problems with weak ankles!

Try standing on the bottom step of the stairs with just the balls of your feet on the step and your heel hanging off the back (like your foot is in the stirrup) then lower yourself down so your heel is down, then raise yourself up so your heel is above your toes and keep repeating this.

Do ankle circles, (both ways, unless you have issues with toes turning in or out, in which case work more on ) when your are sitting down, and also flex and stretch your ankles (point your toes and then pull them up into a heels down position).

If you do a bit every day it will help, but just keeping up the riding is the best thing really.

Rising trot and jumping position will be uncomfortable for a while though until you get stronger. Some people find flexi irons help and you could see if you can borrow a pair or get a cheap second hand pair to try but I found they made my ankle feel more unstable.