So confused - please help! sorry - long

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sweet_decline

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I've recently started (trying) to ride properly again after being a happy hacker for the past few years. I've been having lessons with two different instructors at different riding schools to see which I liked best and worked best for transport etc.

However, I am getting completely different messages about my riding.

Instructor A picked up the bad habits that I knew I had slipped into and gave me tips and exercises to try to get me out of them, said I was a nice quiet rider and position was basically ok.

Instructor B told me the way I have been taught to ride was completely wrong, wanted me to ride with long reins (when instructor A tells me to shorten!) and shorten my stirrups so there was a 90 degree angle between back of thigh and back of calf (for flatwork), which is something I've not come across before. Also says I ride far too strongly - when I've always been told I'm a quiet rider and need to be more effective...

I do realise that I am a pretty useless rider and I am prepared to go back to basics and spend six months on the lunge if need be, but the different messages are really confusing me. I desperately want to improve, but I can't seem to understand what I'm doing wrong!
 
Why are you having two instructors? This would always happen as no two instructors (people) are the same.
I would go with the one you feel more comfortable with or people recommend.
 
I think the advice the instructors are giving would also depend on the individual horses.

Obviously without seeing you ride it's hard to say which instructor is right so to speak, but I agree with EmmaandJoeys advice that you should go with which ever instructor makes you feel most comfortable and the one who you feel is helping you progress the best.
 
I would say the first one sounds better for your confidence.,. the second sounds more like she is jumping orientated (but maybe I am wrong)

I had two instructors... one flat and one jumps.... it was very confusing, but they were both good for their fields.
 
They are both for flatwork...I think it's more that they are so different in their opinions of my riding. Although the first one is better for my confidence, I don't want to shy away from being told I'm useless by the second one just to save my feelings if that makes any sense?
 
You don't need to go for lessons and be made to feel useless!! Even if you are (and I'm not saying that you are!) if you are an amateur who is doing it for enjoyment - even if you do want to improve - then you want an instructor who makes you feel confident - plus you are paying them!!!

The more confident you feel, the more you will sit up straight which in turn (imho) leads to riding better. I don't care how experienced someone is, they are not professional if they are making you feel bad - if you thought you were better than sliced bread - you wouldn't be having lessons in the first place!!! I sometimes think, the better, more experienced the instructor - the nicer they are.
smile.gif
 
Like you, I've jsut started having lessons regularly again.

I'm learning to ride all over again - opening my legs from the hip, not squeezing with my knees, bringing my hands up etc etc

I think the 'new' way that people are taught is great!

Maybe you're being told to ride with a loose rein as your horse won't take a contact just yet and you're encouraing him to move forward first?

I shorten my stirrups as I was riding so long and didn't have any balance....
 
I actually think it is very bad practice to tell or imply that someone is useless when they are trying to learn. You always learn better when you are praised and helped rather than put down, whether it be riding or reading (for example!)

I think it is very good that you want to learn to ride again 'properly' so good luck and hope you figure out what to do soon.

By the way where in SE london are you I'm in Essex. PM me if you like, I maybe able to recommend someone x
 
I think that's what I need - just to start from scratch and learn all over again!

The way you describe with opening from the hip etc is pretty much what first instructor does, but second one has me closing my knees...

Perhaps I'm obsessing too much with doing it the 'right' way as everyone will have different opinions. My confidence is at rock bottom right now!
 
Go with what works for you, remembering that your aim is to enjoy yourself, not to win medals.
I had a couple of lessons with an instructor who put a lot of emphasis on what was "correct". I have short arms and physically couldn't do what she was telling me, plus my horse wasn't happy. When I queried it she told me I had to do it and he had to accept it because it was correct! I'm not saying she was wrong, but it was never going to work.
Needless to say I stopped having lessons with her.
Decide which instructor works in a way that is comfortable for you and stick with it.
 
There are a number of schools of thought and a number of ways of riding which will suit different people. I have come accross the two positions people describe: either open at the hip, relaxed leg, knee off the saddle and inside lower calf gently 'present' on the horse's belly OR knee turned a bit in, knee and thigh tighter on the saddle, lower leg further off. Personally I prefer the first approach and would seek an instructor who taught this way. Also, I find that different people ride in different ways so they teach in different ways. I am very slim and not very strong so I can't make the horses do what I want through sheer force. I need instructors who understand what my strengths and weaknesses are and help ME ride, not just give general advice which is not really suited to me.
So, what I am trying to say is go with the one you found most useful for you!
 
Intrustor B is a rubbish, she may be right but there are ways of appraching this situation. I have had clients I have felt need to completely start again, and instead of saying this just work on the worst problem first, then the next and so on until over the weeks/months I transform their riding without ever resorting to telling them they can't ride.

Riding is 70% confidence, so I avoid destroying this at all costs!

Go with instructorA
 
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