Plucking up the courage to have lessons!? Encouragement/stern words needed!

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FionaM12

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Okay, here's the thing. I'm so embarrassed about the standard of my riding and my general level of fitness I've not plucked up the courage to have lessons on Mollie. :o:o

When I returned to riding, two years ago, I had a series of private lessons on a very lazy riding school horse called Bluebell. It was incredibly hard work, I struggled to keep him going forward at all and ached from head to toe. The instructor was very encouraging, telling me he was going great for me and I should see him with other people! :eek:

Then I found somewhere I could hack out, alone or in company, on a hired horse and rode out that way for some time. Then I bought Mollie...

Where I now keep Moll everyone seems to be superb riders and as I plod Mollie round the arena, girls about a quarter of my age are doing flying changes all over the place :o so I try to ride while no-one's about .:rolleyes: There's young woman who gives lessons (she teaching my daughter) and she's asked if I want some and I just keep putting it off.

I know it would be the best thing for Mollie and me. I know it makes sense.

I'm just soooo embarrassed though. I was able to ride okay, honestly.... in about 1976. Now, erm... not so much. :o:o
 
Do you think Mary King, or Laura Bechtolscheimer are embarrassed about having lessons?

It is really easy to slip into not having lessons when you own horses, but you know it is a good idea! The girl has obviously seen you ride so will know what needs work, which is better than trying to explain to someone new IMO.

Have the lessons, I bet you'll really enjoy them :D
 
Everyone ocassionally has a gap and feels like they're not as good when they get back into it BUT you know you'll be making progress becasue you know you could do it!
You knwo it's the best thing for Mollie and for you and I don't suppose anyone ont he yard will think anythign of it! It's better that you're doing something to improve your riding when you know it isn't as good as it could be instead of being one of those riders who realises there's a problem and does nothing to solve it!
Don't be embarrassed, everyone has to start somewhere so get those lessons booked and get going!! ;)
xx
 
Go for it. I am the same as you first horse returned to riding after a large gap. I have regular lessons and I love them. Gives me loads of ideas what to do when schooling on my own And coz I am concentrating on what I am doing I don't really notice what anyone else is doing. I hate being watched especially by teenagers :)
 
Thanks everyone. :) It's so hard being an oldie trying to get going again. :o

Off to see the farrier now. Back later. xx
 
Go for it & have some lessons. I do a group lesson one evening each week which is loads of fun and also have a private lesson each week.

I also only came back to riding about 2 years ago after a long gap (about 35years :) ), so totally understand where you are coming from. As well as helping to improve my riding it does wonders for my confidence and it also gives you some great ideas of exercises to do when you're alone.

Don't worry, your instructor will be very understanding :D
 
Stop worrying about what others are thinking, you want to get some lessons so deep breath and just go for it, i didnt ride for over 20 yrs, jumped back on and knew how to sit there start and stop. Got my horse and wanted to get the best out of her, couldnt wait to get lessons, if youve ridden to a reasonable level before, you'll pick it up in no time again, your lessons will help your fitness level as well,
Im pretty sure that nobody is going to expect you to perform like mary king, but after you start your lessons ...... Well mabe MK better watch out :D:D
 
Go for it :) They're there to help you improve both your riding and your confidence. I bet after a couple of lessons you'll be much happier and you'll have things to focus on too which will help with your schooling with Mollie etc. If I were you I'd go ahead and book a lesson and see how you feel after that :)
 
Come & watch me having a lesson - you will feel so much better about your own riding afterwards (but don't look at the other end of the arena as there will probably be someone practising piaffes or similar).
 
hairycob said:
Come & watch me having a lesson - you will feel so much better about your own riding afterwards (but don't look at the other end of the arena as there will probably be someone practising piaffes or similar).
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Or some 12 year old bounding over enormous jumps:) (where do they get the confidence !)
 
You can work on your fitness at home, away from the horses. You'll be amazed at the effect it has.

Do you have a Wii - Can you get EA Sports Active for it - Bought it for my Mum and shes got fitter and lost about 7lbs so far with it. I use it, and I know that the game, combined with the time in the gym (I travel with work, so go to the gym those days instead of riding) plus riding keeps me fit.

Rather than hiding away from the others, ask their advice - I often ride horses on our yard for people, and sometimes put them on mine for a 'feel'.

Take the bull by the horns so to speak!
 
Feeling great at the moment following a really good lesson this morning, finally getting the hang of this outline busines (it's only taken me 40 + years!). Instructor keeps telling me to get a bike & improve my fitness - wtf! Somedays I'm so stiff I can hardly walk! seriously, go for it, with the right instructor it should be fun and you'll love it!
 
Go for it it will be the best thing you ever did

You only have to have one but i'm sure after your first you will be begging for more!!!

Instructors are there to help you and progress your understanding they are not there to judge and take the mick :)
 
Just started some lessons myself after just riding my horse without for years. The first one was terrifying before hand but we weren't half as bad as I thought and I have really felt an improvement after just two! Go for it you'll be fine!
 
Just an update. I finally had my first lesson on Mollie today!

The instructor had a session on Mollie herself first, I wanted her to give me her opinion and possibly do a bit of re-schooling as I wasn't sure how much of the problems I have are down to Mollie and how much is me! :(

Mollie was a bit awkward for the instructor at first, but settled and went quite well after a while. We think that before her years of trekking in summer/turned away in winter, she probably had been reasonably schooled, but has developed bad habits and objects to being asked to work harder!

After that little session, I had my lesson. (Talking of bad habits:rolleyes:). Like Mollie, I rather objected to the hard work, or at least my joints did.... but it went pretty well really. :)

We're repeating the whole thing next week, including the schooling session for Moll first. Then at some point the instructor's going to take Mollie out on the road for a hack and see how she behaves. Then it will be my turn to try that again.

Progress, I think. Pleased with Moll and me tonight. :D

Thanks for the encouragement. :D:o
 
Yay well done :D. I get funny about having lessons with a new instructor after a bad one in the past so I know exactly where you are coming from with being nervous and worrying about not riding well. Enjoy your next one and you and molly will be off doing all sorts before you know it.
 
im in the same boat its been years since I had regular lessons and I know I need them. My issue is i am struggling to justify the expense at the moment and so have decided to increase mine and my mares general level of fitness (im aiming on loosing a significant amount of weight this year too) and when im in a better financial situation then i will look at getting some lessons too.
 
Arrange to have a few lessons when the yard is quiet if you feel self conscious about riding. You'll be amazed how soon your riding will improve when you've got someone helping you. You will learn so much & your confidence & self esteem will improve. You'll also find that as your riding improves you'll actually get more enjoyment from it as well.

As for others on your yard apparantly being better riders, so what, they've all been in your position at some point & you'll find that they'll all gave had lessons & probably still do. There's nothing wrong about having lessone at all. Even pro riders have lessons...honestly!

Goos Luck & enjoy your riding.
 
I am an 'older' returning rider :o

Although I love my hacks out, I really enjoys lessons. I try to do a weekly lesson with the youngsters on a Saturday morning (mostly teenage girls on fast ponies!) and a private lesson once a week. In the holidays I try to have another group lesson if I can. I am lucky in that liveries are charged a pittance to join a group lesson (and not a bad rate for a private lesson, or one with one other friend). But the lessons have been invaluable! We have two very different instructors at our yard and I have really gained in confidence, as well as riding ability, through these lessons. I can't see me stopping having them, as long as I am riding.

Just pluck up the courage and bite the bullet! It pays such dividends, I promise!
 
Another one here...trying to ride a new horse with a massive movement and trot has made me feel like a complete novice and numpty again...I hate being watched and go into meltdown, even the instructor watching has taken time to be ok with. I have lessons in the evening when no one much is about, my instructor rides first for part of the lesson as my fitness was just not up to my boys level, I have been on a fitness regime and now much fitter and more supple so everything is improving. You will soon progress now you have bitten the bullet and I bet you really start to love it so much. Look forward to hearing your progress.
 
FionaM12 said:
I'm just soooo embarrassed though. I was able to ride okay, honestly.... in about 1976. Now, erm... not so much. :o:o
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I could have written your post... :D

I don't ride my TB because I'd just ping out of the saddle he's so bouncy and it's flaming hard work trying to remember what legs, seat and hands are supposed to be doing in tandem these days... But a 19yr old Cleveland Bay X ex eventer that's just had 5yrs as a totally unriden brood mare has arrived on the yard - so as you do in a moment of "common sense has left the building", I decided to take up the offer of borrowing her and have a lesson from a fellow livery who turns out to be a qualified instructor - 'old school' at that... :)

On paper it should have been a disaster but it was fabulous... The damn woman even had me stirrup-less, standing in the stirrups and windmilling away like a demented idiot (guess who could hardly move the next day without squeaking in discomfort?!) and I'll not say too much about the abysmal trotting but I had a great time and felt like a 10' tall motivated monster... :D

Crashed and burned last weekend with the mother of all doses of flu so had to watch son steal my lesson slot instead... My very novice son with a rather nice seat and hands - I was so miffed... :rolleyes: :(

FionaM12 said:
Progress, I think. Pleased with Moll and me tonight. :D

Thanks for the encouragement. :D:o
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Keep it going! :) I'm hoping to be well enough to continue this weekend - small bit in the school and then throwing caution to the wind and venturing out on a little hack... Well, that's the plan... :D
 
Well done for having the lesson, and enjoying it! I was in the same situation as you - returned to riding after 20+ and the only lessons I had as a child involved my dad plonking me on a mad welsh pony and giving it a whack up the bum! I learned by falling off regularly :(

I started having lessons when I bought my cob Merlin 2 years ago and I was very nervous. I had (and still have so many bad habits) but the lessons are slowly sorting me out. I even did a dressage test last month! My RI is now a really good friend and we spend most of the lesson gossiping and laughing.

If you want to try a group lesson (which is good as you get to have a rest and watch the others!) try your local RC. I go to "Poles for the Petrified" once a month and have a good laugh - mostly women of my age trying to pluck up the courage to jump a cross pole :)
 
Go for it! You will love it! Having lessons on your own horse is a million times better than an old, tired riding school plod!

You learn si much together and the sense of achievement is fantastic :-)
 
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