New rider — was this my fault?

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Maggiegarcia

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Hi everyone. I’m a newer rider and I’m trying to figure out if I handled something wrong or if this was more of a lesson management issue.

I was in a group lesson with two riders who are more advanced than me. I was already feeling a bit overwhelmed but really trying to focus and not give up.

The instructor was holding his horse by the reins (not on his horse) and our horses were only a few feet apart. He told me to “impulse” my horse forward. I did — and I may have used more leg than intended (I’m still learning how subtle to be). When my horse moved forward, his horse suddenly took off running. The classes are in a residential area so this was an immediate safety issue.

I did not touch his horse, but they were close together.

After he came back to the arena, he told me to get off and said I don’t pay attention. There wasn’t much explanation of what actually happened. It all escalated really fast and I felt overwhelmed. I apologized and got off.


My question:

If I impulsed my horse while only a few feet away from another horse, could that realistically cause the other horse to bolt even without contact? And in a group lesson with a beginner rider, should there have been more spacing or management?

I’m genuinely trying to learn and take responsibility where appropriate — I just want to understand whether this was a normal beginner timing mistake or something that shouldn’t have escalated like that.

Thanks for any insight.
 
When you say it's a residential area, as in there's houses and it's not in a specific riding area?

Did you kick your horse so it went forwards into the one the instructor was holding?

Not quite clear what you mean by impulse forwards. To me impulsion is push from the hind, energy. Not necessarily speed or abrupt forwards movement
 
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nutjob said:
Which country are you in? It's unlikely in the UK that you would be learning to ride in a residential area where you are not in a fenced arena. It's also not common for the trainer to be holding or riding another horse in a lesson.
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I live in Mexico. I was wondering if the trainer holding his horse was a red flag. It seems his horse was being used in an earlier class and they didn’t return him to the barn.
 
FieldOrnaments said:
When you say it's a residential area, as in there's houses and it's not in a specific riding area?

Did you kick your horse so it went forwards into the one the instructor was holding?

Not quite clear what you mean by impulse forwards. To me impulsion is push from the hind, energy. Not necessarily speed or abrupt forwards movement
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The instructor’s horse was being held to the left of me. I basically pushed both my heels into the horse I was riding twice to get her to move forward.
 
Not your fault.
I understood from your post that you were riding in a non fenced arena. Why does the instructor have a horse with him in a lessson?
Which country are you in? 🤔
 
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Nicnac said:
Not your fault.
I understood from your post that you were riding in a non fenced arena. Why does the instructor have a horse with him in a lessson?
Which country are you in? 🤔
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I think his horse was being used in a previous lesson and instead of taking him back to the barn, the instructor left him in the class. I’m in Mexico.
 
nutjob said:
It's also not common for the trainer to be holding or riding another horse in a lesson.
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I learned to ride as an adult in the UK and hacked out in my second year, as soon as I could canter. If one has a lesson out hacking, the teacher will act as escort and therefore be mounted. I have also had a teacher mounted in the school to show me what is needed for something like shoulder in. Or to warm up an elderly lesson horse that I found hard to get moving.
 
Skib said:
I learned to ride as an adult in the UK and hacked out in my second year, as soon as I could canter. If one has a lesson out hacking, the teacher will act as escort and therefore be mounted. I have also had a teacher mounted in the school to show me what is needed for something like shoulder in. Or to warm up an elderly lesson horse that I found hard to get moving.
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I’ve seen this to be true.

In this case, his horse was used in an earlier class and then not taken back to the barn. He was occasionally riding and then getting off to help students.
 
nutjob said:
It's also not common for the trainer to be holding or riding another horse in a lesson.
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It used to very common that the instructor was mounted so that they could demonstrate any movements or exercises.
But I am old so it's not common these days.

If you were following the instructors instructions then the outcome was their own fault!
 
SEL said:
Whatever happened the instructor is responsible. If he asked you to push or move your horse forward then it is his responsibility to make sure the one he was holding stays with him. I think he was probably cross with himself and taking it out on you.
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ihatework said:
You are the student, a novice one at that.

It is the instructors responsibility to create and manage a safe environment and if they failed to to that it’s on them.
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This and this.

As a novice rider, you were following instructions to the best of your ability. The trainer had not adequately controlled the variables.

I would seek a new trainer. One who will take responsibility in their lessons!

Welcome to the forum, I hope you find somewhere good to continue to learn and have a lot of fun!
 
Red-1 said:
This and this.

As a novice rider, you were following instructions to the best of your ability. The trainer had not adequately controlled the variables.

I would seek a new trainer. One who will take responsibility in their lessons!

Welcome to the forum, I hope you find somewhere good to continue to learn and have a lot of fun!
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Thanks for your comment! I am going to try to find a new trainer — this is the 2nd problem I’ve had in one of his classes. I believe he’s a good teacher but unfortunately, not so beginner friendly and often assumes I know much more than what I do. I’ve only been riding 3 months so I need someone who’s willing to be patient with me.
 
As others have said you cannot be expected to be responsible for the horse you are riding as well as the horse he is holding. That is his error of judgement and not something you, as a beginner rider, can be blamed for.

I hope you can find a more sympathetic and knowledgeable trainer and continue to enjoy your riding.
 
Gloi said:
It's not your fault as a novice. The instructor should have taken more care with the horse he was holding. He might have got cross with you because he was embarrassed at himself for letting the horse get away.
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Yes, I’m thinking the same! I totally understand his frustration, anger, embarrassment, etc. I was an easy target to lash out at — though it wasn’t entirely my fault.

I just wish I knew what happened from his perspective.
 
Mrs Jingle said:
As others have said you cannot be expected to be responsible for the horse you are riding as well as the horse he is holding. That is his error of judgement and not something you, as a beginner rider, can be blamed for.

I hope you can find a more sympathetic and knowledgeable trainer and continue to enjoy your riding.
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Thanks for your response! I’m really enjoying riding so I’m not going to let this experience get me down.
 
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