Riding Advice

LoanyPony

LoanyPony

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29 March 2011
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Luton
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I'm looking for a bit of advice to help make me a better rider, I was a very late starter (20!) so I've only been riding less than a year!
Most people my age that I know who ride have been riding for years so are far more experienced than me, and I know I won't be able to compete because of this (as I don't want to enter into classes with like....5 year olds!!) so I guess it doesn't matter that I'm not perfect at position or transitions or anything as I just hack out with my friend, and ride for pleasure, but I want to make our hacks as comfortable as possible for the horse I ride and to not be put off by my bad habits if that makes sense??

When I first started riding last year I was in a riding school that wasn't very good and was being taught by a 15 year old who wasn't qualified in anything...and had only been riding 2 years! I learnt how to trot and the beginnings of canter but other than that I didn't really learn much about correct position, trotting on the right diagonal etc. When I realised I wasn't getting anywhere I moved to a much better riding school which was more expensive, and they told me to forget everything I had learnt previously and taught me from scratch...I felt much more confident, my canter was greatly improved and I learnt how to jump (tiny crosspoles) but I then lost my job and couldn't afford the fees each week- I now have a new job but I'm on much less than I was previously and I haven't got the spare money to do my lessons every week :-(
I've been hacking out with my friend and riding a smidgin in the yard, but I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to improve in order to make Star more comfortable.
I feel like I have 'noisy hands', I constantly find myself readjusting my reins so I'm aware this must be uncomfortable for Star, do you think this is because when I was at my riding school I was riding in double reins and when I ride Star it's only one set? Or is there something I need to do to improve this?
Also I'm useless at establishing which is the correct diagonal for trot, I understand what it means etc and I know what I should be looking for, but I just can't fathom when I am on the horse, which leg is coming back and which is going forward! Sounds silly I know but I just can't!
I'm also not that great when doing 20 meter circles either trotting or cantering, I must be giving conflicting signals as whatever horse I am riding always stops and it's never fluid...and they always end up more like squares! Is there any tips that I can use to improve this as I've found I have the same problem when hacking and trying to steer Star round a bend.
Also any jumping tips, as I've previously jumped some small crosspoles, when I did my first ever jump at the riding school everyone was impressed and said it was really good for someone's first ever jump, so hopefully I might be a bit of a natural at jumping, I absolutely love it... have only done a couple of jumps (and a log in the woods!) but want to start jumping properly. My friend who's horse I ride has a pair of wings at the yard but no poles so I'm going to buy some poles and polecups so I can start practicing jumping higher than I have previously done.... any tips?
I know the obvious way to improve would be to get back to my riding school but I just don't have the money at the moment, I'm trying to pay off my credit card and I don't have the time for another job as I leave the house at 6.30 in the morning and I get home at 6.30 in the evening as it is!
Any advice much appreciated, and carrot cake to everyone who got this far!!!
 
Just to pick a quick couple of points up - it doesn't matter what diagonal you are on for hacking, what matters there is to change frequently. That gives you a chance to learn which diagonal you are on. If you start off by changing every 20 strides - count them! - you're evening up yourself and the pony. Then start to put in some sittimg trot, don't count the strides and when you start to rise again guess which diagonal you are on from the feel - soon you'll know automatically without looking down.

Secondly, if you can't afford lessons every week then cut something out and go once a month instead, or look for a freelance instructor who will come and teach you on Star. Then you have homework to work on on the weeks when you can't afford a lesson but at least you know you are making progress and not learning too many bad habits.
 
I love carrot cake!

First thing - stop stressing! Noisy hands, legs, etc, generally come from not having an independent, balanced seat. If Star is a nice, kind horse, take away your stirrups, concentrate on finding and then sitting on your seat bones, allowing your legs to hang down (try to open your hip-flexors as this will allow your thigh to drop straight down - it's never vertical, but less than a 45° angle would be good). Imagine you have little cushions of air between each vertebrae which will allow you to sit tall without arching your back and just follow the movement of your horse. Keep your shoulders relaxed (tension here is often where 'noisy' hands come from). Stay in walk until you're really sure of your position and then do a little work in trot, coming straight back to walk when you feel yourself tense and grip. Little by little it will all come together.
 
Hi you just sound like a novice rider from your post, nothing wrong with that and as long as you have a forgiving and easy going horse to ride you should be fine!
I would suggest from the problems you listed that you need someone on the ground giving you tips and helping you out. Although an instructor would be best if you can't afford it how about asking the owner of the horse to give you a bit of tuition now and again? At the end of the day this will be good for both you and her horse. Or instructors (on the whole) tend to be cheaper if they come over to your yard instead of going to a riding school.

Most of the things like 20m circles, reins, trot diagonals will come as you get more experience. If I was you i'd work on all that first before trying to jump.
 
Don't be embarassed about entering small jumping classes against kids. I was over 40 when I learned to ride and had great fun in small jumping classes against some very young children on small ponies. It was the best way to gain experience and you feel really good when anyone congratulates you on a clear round. Even then the kids always beat me in the jump off because their ponies were so quick and agile.
 
Thanks everyone for your responses! Did mean to say that the horses owners do help me out loads, helping on position, teaching me to lunge to get more confident on the ground and build up a better relationship with Star etc, they have been total diamonds!! But I just wanted a few more opinions etc with a bit of food for thought that I can keep in mind when I'm riding etc.
I will look into having an instructor coming to the yard to help- hadn't thought of that to be honest.
Jemima- I know it doesn't matter with diagonals on hacking but just want to be more competent :)
Thanks all!
 
Yup, get an instructor to come to you. It is usually cheaper than going to a RS because obviously they aren't providing use of pony/school etc. And you can just book them as and when you can afford it. You could also have a search on here for threads about some good riding books.

I think it is a lovely start that you want to make Star comfortable. You can get a long way based on that!

I started later than you (discounting a very, very few lessons as a child) and have a lovely time with horses. Don't compete because my job and other hobbies are competitive enough but do go to various classes (jumping, even vaulting (google it!) etc) with kids. No harm in being young at heart :-)
 
LoanyPony said:
Thanks everyone for your responses! Did mean to say that the horses owners do help me out loads, helping on position, teaching me to lunge to get more confident on the ground and build up a better relationship with Star etc, they have been total diamonds!! But I just wanted a few more opinions etc with a bit of food for thought that I can keep in mind when I'm riding etc.
I will look into having an instructor coming to the yard to help- hadn't thought of that to be honest.
Jemima- I know it doesn't matter with diagonals on hacking but just want to be more competent :)
Thanks all!
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Lou was saying that she wants to start having lessons again, she has got a post trying to find instructors 'coz we dont think our old one does it anymore, so if we all chip in it will be cheapier and more fun :)
 
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