LHIS
Well-Known Member
Last summer I bought an absolute gem of a horse, a safe turbo cob to have fun with and rebuild my confidence. Hes fulfilled that wish a hundred times over and is a wonderful hack.
He had been well schooled too, and I started having lessons on him to improve my riding with a view to doing some Dressage.
I am a proud happy hacker, I have never competed, but with this horse I thought hed be the one to take me there, just to try it.
Long story short, he hates schooling. He turns into an absolute twit, like hes had a personality transplant once he steps into the arena. Coupled with my lack of enthusiasm for schooling too, I feel like were wasting our time and my money having lessons.
I can ride, but I did want to improve my riding and I thought having formal lessons is the way to go. But now after every lesson, a total battle, I feel deflated and wondering why I am bothering.
Out hacking this horse is a dream, but schooling is just not his thing. I could keep persisting, but Im not sure its worth it. At best Id only go and do a prelim Dressage test, as I said I dont have the competitive urge but I suppose part of me thinks that I should go and do something other than be a pleasure rider to prove myself as a rider.
A quick note about what he does in the arena - messes about, snatches reins, wiggles, ignores leg, takes too much notice of leg and explodes, wants to go everywhere in canter, is generally a pig. Out hacking he is a delight, does none of the above and is the horse I know and love.
I suppose what Im asking is, is it ok to give up on my minor Dressage aspirations and be the happy hacker I really am? By resigning myself to this I feel like I am giving up a bit in trying to be a better rider, which is ultimate goal of this - to be a better rider for my horses.
He had been well schooled too, and I started having lessons on him to improve my riding with a view to doing some Dressage.
I am a proud happy hacker, I have never competed, but with this horse I thought hed be the one to take me there, just to try it.
Long story short, he hates schooling. He turns into an absolute twit, like hes had a personality transplant once he steps into the arena. Coupled with my lack of enthusiasm for schooling too, I feel like were wasting our time and my money having lessons.
I can ride, but I did want to improve my riding and I thought having formal lessons is the way to go. But now after every lesson, a total battle, I feel deflated and wondering why I am bothering.
Out hacking this horse is a dream, but schooling is just not his thing. I could keep persisting, but Im not sure its worth it. At best Id only go and do a prelim Dressage test, as I said I dont have the competitive urge but I suppose part of me thinks that I should go and do something other than be a pleasure rider to prove myself as a rider.
A quick note about what he does in the arena - messes about, snatches reins, wiggles, ignores leg, takes too much notice of leg and explodes, wants to go everywhere in canter, is generally a pig. Out hacking he is a delight, does none of the above and is the horse I know and love.
I suppose what Im asking is, is it ok to give up on my minor Dressage aspirations and be the happy hacker I really am? By resigning myself to this I feel like I am giving up a bit in trying to be a better rider, which is ultimate goal of this - to be a better rider for my horses.