Riding Lessons

[SmokieJoe]

I was in a car accident in April and seriously injured my back, i started horse riding 5 weeks ago and felt that it really did help my back, but i couldnt mount from the ground.

Well my instructor has been very good with me, i have been trotting a little (rising trot is a lot to be desired lol), however i am a nervous rider and i do let my instructor know when im uneasy.

Well on friday i was especially bad with my nerves and my instructor didnt help, she insisted that i mount from the ground, but 5-10 minutes later I still couldnt get up and my back was getting more and more sore. So she finally let me go to the mounting block and i got up but i was so fizzed up I couldnt let go of the saddle!!!!!! (Never ever did that before!)

Well got into arena and i started walking about (shaking) and she shouted for me to trot. Now the horse I rode was wrecked, the sweat on his neck and shoulders was amazing, he had done a 3 hour trek before i rode him! Well couldnt get him to trot, and she started to crack.

So she took my stirrups away and asked me to trot, and i just couldnt do it, cause i was nervous, my balance was off and i nearly came off.

Still shaking she made me to the around the world with her help, and my back is now aching.

I left the yard shaking and crying.

She called me yesterday and said that if i cant mount from the ground then im not fit enough to ride and to come back when im more fit!

Thing is, its the only place around here that will teach adults!!

My friend put me on her horse yesterday and i went to pieces, she has totally take my confidence away. I was walking and trot fine before had, now i need someone to walk beside me when im walking!!! And i just cant stop shaking when im in the saddle.

 

[not_with_it]

TBH that is out of order. Riding instructors are supposed to help build confidence not shatter it. As for mounting, it is kinder to the horse if you mount from a block.

If I were you I would look for another school to go to.
Was the instructor the owner of the riding school? If not I would have a word with the owner and see if there is anyone else who could teach you.

 

[SirenaXVI]

I am so sorry tihs has happened to you, this instructor is out of order, perhaps she was in a bad mood but whatever - she should not have taken it out on you. Does she own the riding school? If not, ring to complain about your treatment. Perhaps they have a different instructor who would teach you with more sympathy and care. If not try to find other riding schools, you perhaps would have to travel more but it would be worth it not to be made to feel like sh*te!

Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that they weren't allowed to do round the world at riding schools anymore?

 

[SmokieJoe]

I am going to call the owner during the week but the instructor is the only one.

2 weeks ago i was trotting without stirrups, and i had rode my friends horse ok, now im just a wreck! And feel like giving up cause im so nervous

 

[not_with_it]

[ QUOTE ]
Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that they weren't allowed to do round the world at riding schools anymore?

[/ QUOTE ]

They arent! There are so many restrictions as to what they can do.

 

[SirenaXVI]

Good - ring the owner, she/he needs to know that this instructor is putting people off.

Please don't give up, everyone suffers from nerves at some time or another, with another riding school, explain to them how nervious you are and they will take this into account - check the BHS website for schools near you
www.bhs.org.uk/Content/Edu-where-to-ride.asp?page=Approvals&area=6

 

[K9Wendy]

Why? I was taught it as a kid, my children were and everyone I know was, it was great at the end of every ride we did round the world as fast as possible to see who won! Can't believe it is banned!! Why?

 

[SirenaXVI]

Thanks Nat - thought so, which means that this place is either not BHS registered and/or the instructor is a prat! Their insurance would by null and void if the worst happened! That is if they have insurance!

Smokeyjoe - you need to tell the owner that the instructor made you do round the world, if the owner is reputable they will be horrified!

 

[SirenaXVI]

Banned cos of health and safety, I know it is rediculous as it does help teach a seat/balance, but honestly even if it were not banned, the OP was obviously not ready to do it and in this instance would not have been the thing to do.

 

[K9Wendy]

Playing Devils advocate here. The instructor shouldn't have behaved as she did, however unless this was a private lesson she had a whole class to see to, and if you were unfit to mount from the ground then perhaps give riding a few weeks break and get fit! Lots of walking, especially up hills to loosen your hips. Practice squatting exercises, basically work the muscles you need for riding. People forget that riding is strenuous, the horses don't do all the work and some level of fitness is necessary unless you intend on doing treks where the basics of sit there and steer are all that is needed.

I wouldn't let this instructor intimidate me, I would give myself a realistic timescale to fitten up and start again. Maybe in the New Year, there is no massive hurry to do it all now. Get fit, allow your back to improve and go back with a renewed enthusiasm and confidence.

I would not let somebody try for 5-10 mins mount my horse from the ground, 2 attempts and they'd be offered a mounting block or told to fitten up!! Sorry!!

 

[jo1]

I think that this is disgraceful and you really do need to complain. At the stables where I go, there is a woman in my class who has a frozen shoulder and therefore cant mount or discount without the ramp. However evveryone else uses the mounting block. Do you mean she was trying to make you get on from the ground???

 

[KatB]

I wont mount my horse from the ground anyway, its bad for their backs, and TBH i probably couldnt now anyway, and i'm certainly not unfit, I have been working on an eventing yard for most of this year, have evented and am fit enough to go hunting /xc riding, so i really dont think mounting fromn the ground is a good indication of how fit you are, unless the restriction is down to being massively overweight, and obviously hugely unfit overall.

You do need to have some fitness for riding, as otherwise it is unfair on the horse. But by the sounds of things, your probs are more down to nerves. Find a new instructor, or as S suggests, talk to the owner. You shouldnt be made to feel like you want to give up by omeone having a bad day.

 

[LEC]

All my horses are trained to mount from a gate/fence/bucket. I have shot the cartilidge in my knees and so getting on from the ground is not nice. I also cannot get a leg up as it hurts if twisted slightly. I am fit and so also think its no indication. As a child I was spectacularly rubbish at getting on but I do not think this is any indication of fitness as I used to play tonnes of sport and probably just had a weak upper body.

As for the confidence issue it sounds like she has put you back a couple of places at the end of it you are paying so she is there to help you learn. Maybe clear the air with her and say your back was giving you gip and you want to build up slowly.

 

[anniedoherty]

I agree - not being able to mount from the ground is not, in itself, a reliable indication of fitness levels. I also find it very painful to mount from the ground but this is solely due to the fact that I have a sacro-iliac joint (where the spine joins on to the pelvis) injury. If I didn't have this problem I would easily be able to mount from the ground like I used to. Mounting from the ground is not good for anyone with a back problem and, like others have said, is not good for the horse either.

You must try to look for a more sympathetic instructor. This person will never be able to teach you anything if they destroy your confidence from the outset. Good teachers will tell you when you are doing things wrong (or they wouldn't be teaching you anything!) but they will do so in a way that inspires you to try and do it better, not make you feel lousy that you can't do it straight away. It would be such a shame if you got put off riding by this person when you have only just started.

 

[Tierra]

Like Kat, I refuse to mount my horse from the ground and I wouldnt let anyone else do so either. Also like Kat, I'm not even sure whether I could get on from the ground or not and would argue the fact that this is an indication of being unfit.

Im probably going to echo what everyone else said. Firstly, I'd contact the school and complain about the teacher. There is a fine line between trying to push pupils into progressing and terrifying them into no longer wanting to ride. Secondly, Id point out that they have broken H&S rules and therefore their insurance, should something have happened, would be void. Thirdly, Id look for somewhere else to ride. Surely, even if you have to travel further, there must be somewhere in the vicinity that will teach adults? Finding a good teacher can be hard as you have to "click" with them and they need to appreciate your own goals. Either way, you shouldnt give up because of one person. Confidence is delicate, but it can be rebuilt

 

[Clodagh]

The kids still do it at Pony Club!!

 

[sorona]

If at all possible, i always use a height advantage to get on, whether it is a mounting block, the traielr, a ditch to pout my horse down. i have short legs so that combined with short stirups mean I have to get my leg up pretty high. i can mount from the ground as i am flexible and pretty strong but think it is unfair to expect my boy to stand while i climb up him and pull on the saddle, I feel really guilty and I am pretty fit.
I think it was unreasonable of your instructor to make such a big issue out of it and dont see what the big problem is. I have always mounted from a block at my lessons. I can only see a problem if you are planning on doing pony games which i assume you are not, lol!

 

[GTs]

TBH I am appauled in the way that people are taught to ride - I really believe the majority of it is the blind leading the blind, and the teaching methods are nothing short of bullying.

I guess if you want women with thighs the size of tree trunks to dominate you - riding lessons are cheaper then $3.95 per minute for someone on the other end of the phone!!

 

[SmokieJoe]

I was just about managing the rising trot, and i had done a few minutes of trotting without stirrups. I was all chuffed with myself about this, and felt i was progressing well.

My only thing is mounting, my back wont let me raise my leg high enough to get in the stirrup from the ground, and when i do I injure myself trying to heave myself up!!

I have mounted from a crate, which I was all chuffed about. I was on the phone to the BHS who said this yard was BHS approved, and that the around the world is banned as there has been cases of horses taking off and the rider not in the right position to stop the horse, also that insurance will not cover it. They also stated that they do not approve of riding stables allowing their riders to mount from the ground, unless experienced!

This woman said that i had a trouble with dismounting, but that is bull, as i do it myself and land properly on my feet. There was one time i fell and that was because of me hurting my knee during that week and it gave way.

Im really hurt about this and its dented my confidence so much. Ive been enjoying it and she more or less said I was wasting my time.

My friend has a horse and she put me up on her, and i was in bits! She seen me ride last week (same horse) and couldnt believe the difference now. I couldnt walk unless someone was beside me, im crying for no reason and i feel worthless.

My friends want me to go confront this instructor, but i dont like confrontation, and they are threatening to go and do it. They called her nothing more than a bully, and i was talking to an ex instructor from the yard who said he left cause of this woman, she would give confidence and take it back again, so people knew she had the power.

Now everyone wants me to report the yard to the BHS, and the instructor apparently is claiming DLA, so they want me to report her for that. But thats not me, i couldnt do that.

 

[ArleyMoss]

I have to say if that happened at my riding school, my instructor would be leaving with a P45!

We have 2 mouting blocks, a small one that can be carried around to the horse or a large one off to the side.

We still do around the world, however it's only for kids and someone is ALWAYS holding the pony on lead rein. I disagree with banning it, it helps kids feel secure while sat on a pony!

Thanks
Kevin

 

[emma69]

Where in the country are you? I am sure with everyone on here they could recommend another school for you

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that they weren't allowed to do round the world at riding schools anymore?

[/ QUOTE ]

They arent! There are so many restrictions as to what they can do.

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't think you were allowed to ride without stirrups either

Sounds like this 'instructor' needs to gen up on the rules a bit if you ask me

 

[teapot]

Hmm not so sure about the no stirrups thing - my RS is one of the best BHS yards in the south.

Only a couple of weeks ago did my instructor having me riding without stirrups and crossed reins for entire hour

 

[Rambo]

I think it's more about insurance than an actual dictate from the BHS

It's all namby pamby if you ask me

 

[ArleyMoss]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that they weren't allowed to do round the world at riding schools anymore?

[/ QUOTE ]

They arent! There are so many restrictions as to what they can do.

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't think you were allowed to ride without stirrups either <img src="http://horseandhound.co.uk/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Sounds like this 'instructor' needs to gen up on the rules a bit if you ask me <img src="http://horseandhound.co.uk/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

[/ QUOTE ]

Jesus!!

We wont be allowed to teach anything if we carry on like this! Riders today wont be as good as riders of yesterday because there are too many rules to stop us teaching what has to be taught!

and that means more accidents due to people not knowing how to ride correctly!

 

[teapot]

[ QUOTE ]
I think it's more about insurance than an actual dictate from the BHS <img src="http://horseandhound.co.uk/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> It's all namby pamby if you ask me <img src="http://horseandhound.co.uk/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

[/ QUOTE ]

I know it's insurance, more than the approved societies but Jeezzz, seriously not allowed to do no stirrups? Are they allowed to jump?

 

[emma69]

What? you are not allowed to ride without stirrups? That is appaling!!!!!! So what exactly happens to the person when they lose their stirrups mid-canter? presumably the lack of preparation causes them to hit the deck? Admittedly it was 3 years ago that I last taught, but I still did round the world (tho I had the ponies held) and half scissors, work without stirrups was pretty much mandatory, and on the lunge if you kept your reins for more than 5 mins you were lucky. People find it odd that I prefer working with no stirrups when doing flat work - I like being able to use all of my leg, and having been made to ride without for huge portions of my younger years, find it second nature.

 

[jo1]

At my riding school, we do a lot of work with no stirrups and even only one hand steering using reins. However they ahve now banned jumping as one of the instructors fell off and broke her collar bone. Its getting stupid now.

jo1

 

[Rambo]

Jeez...they'll ban riding next...what happens if someone falls off on the flat and breaks something

 

[ArleyMoss]

You have no idea what it's like always worring about people falling off and more importantly why!!

The best I can do it make sure we have decent horses and all rules are followed.

My new rule is no jumping without a back protector!