Progression from a novice to knowing the basics.

~Howrse~Mad~

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I know everyone is far from the same, they maybe a natural to the saddle full of elegance and poise and have natural balance, and others may need slightly more help, but this doesn't make neither a worse rider than the other. But from the moment you sit on a horse how many lessons should it take or how long the duration to learn the basics. I know some equestrian centres take the lessons more in depth learning one thing through and through and others once that particular move is established to a particular standard move on? Just wondering how fast the progress should be? Thank you, not expecting a particular set time or set amount of lessons just in terms of years 1, 2, 15..? I know everything is always being perfected :). Thank you! Should riders (me) still be rusty after 3 years? I only set out with the intention of only ever being a "happy hack", even though this is no excuse and most often other happy hackers still school and very well :D.
 
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the 'basics' for me would be stop, go forward, turn, go in a straight line and rising trot.

everyone's different tbh hard to put a time scale on it, depends if you learn on your own pony, or go to a riding school.

I went to a riding school twice a month when I was learning- probs got to trotting on my own confidently (on the right diagonal, circles, serpentines, shapes etc etc) and with a relatively okay position in three years- but that was a group lesson twice a month!! didn't start cantering till 4 years, didnt jump till 6 years, then left the riding school and have learnt to ride 'properly'!!! (as in not just sit and kick on- half halts, using your seat etc- all the things a RS dont teach)
 
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I think it was when i was about nine when i had like a year and a halfs worth of riding lessons then stopped, and then started again for like another 3 month a few years later in the mean time i had been a stable hand, turned up for a trial loan but it didn't happen, so more a less 2 years of riding lessons, i learnt walk, trot, canter, with circles, serpentines, on each rein following the diagonals, to a good standard , faffed around with 2 horses that weren't for me for a year, and then found my boy i have now, my confidence has exceed what i thought it could as i use to be a nervous wreck, so a lone that is an achievement i should be proud of, but still feel left behind as to what i should be doing. Just had our first year anniversary :D, my riding has come on leaps and bounds, but because of the break inbetween my riding too abit of a beating and i am still looking to re-do those basics from riding school, which i am hoping to over the next couple of months.
 
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I took riding so that I could go on treks and be able to ride nicely and not look like a sack of spuds .. I wanted to get the basics of walk trot canter and ...my holy grail. Jump! Two years on and I'm pretty much an addict. I passed all my original targets ages ago but the the goal posts kept moving. I love learning and the more I learn the more I realise I have still to learn. It's not the destination, tis the journey.

As to your original question. It probably depends on lots of factors..balance, fitness coordination and a lot of practice and sweat and days when nothing quite work and then getting back on and doing it all again.
 
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