Teaching OH to ride...

[alison_oliver]

Ok so he's opionated and stubborn and he knows best (bit like the mare he'll be riding)

but i have agreed today to start teaching OH to ride!!
We want to get him to a level where he can come for a plod round countryside with me....
So far he has never sat on a horse! I'll be doing basics in school, stop/start/steer as we have called it, then my BHSAI matey has agreed if he's still keen he can have a few lessons with her (FOC in return for a new phone line installing at her cottage!!)

Any input from anyone? any tips on relationship lasting past the first time he knows best?

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

OMG!!

don't do it!!

Let him have lessons from anyone but you as you will always be wrong and he won't listen!!

 

[samstar]

I'm so glad my hubby doesn't want to learn to ride, that is my space and time out

 

[alison_oliver]

I think u may be right SU...
But me knowing best thinks i can do it haha!!

There are 3 liveries on my yard so i'm sure one of them could do basics with him if it comes to it.
My biggest prob is mare is docile as anything lead rein and with novices set loose but bucks like mad on lunge (no nothing physically wrong with her, just a 20yo mare with attitude

!) so he'll be lead rein to start..............

 

[Cliqmo]

IME the first few rides he will be fine, it will be a few weeks down the road when he is getting frustrated because he wants to go faster and you wont let him canter until he has perfected posting in trot

 

[alison_oliver]

I agree ali i think he'll be a tough one to keep in trot, however mare will help out with this as is reluctant to canter for a novice and has a nice buck if she feels she can take the p!!

 

[Cliqmo]

[ QUOTE ]
I agree ali i think he'll be a tough one to keep in trot, however mare will help out with this as is reluctant to canter for a novice and has a nice buck if she feels she can take the p!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Please be sure to video

 

[alison_oliver]

I hadn't thought about doing that... however we shall now tell him its all part of learnin so he can watch it back hehe!! while all of us on here get a good giggle!!

 

[NeilM]

There will be rows. Little snide remark ones and big full blown shouty ones.

You will know exactly what you are saying and will communicate clearly, things like "change rein on the diagonal" and "don't forget to sit one stride" he will hear a language that makes about as much sense as Swahili and will get frustrated. You will demonstrate things that are basic and easy. He will see an operation more complex that brain surgery. You will refer to the many items of tack and the associated equipment that go with riding by their correct names, he will call a rug a blanket and not know a body brush from a curry comb. I know this as I am / was that student.

I have been learning with my OH now for about a year and a half. I did have previous riding experience, but many years before, so I was not quite where your OH is, but not too far ahead.

Did I want to give up...YES! I have been married 27 years and NEVER have we had such altercations. Did I give up...NO, she would not let me. Is it worth it...OHHHH YES.

Good luck, and remind yourself from time to time; you ride horses for pleasure!

 

[Ellies_mum2]

And be sure to have plenty of Radox Muscle Soak in

 

[Lippyx]

Just have fun!! I can't wait to get a new horse and start giving my OH lessons!! Although he has ridden before (a few trekking trips whilst on holiday) I do tell him its not like a kick and go, and it is all about steering etc. He is a pretty quick learner, and so far has taken in everything I have taught him stable management wise!

 

[f_s_]

The one and ONLY time my OH sat on a horse (my mare) I laughed so much I couldn't teach him!!!

I asked him to squeeze with his legs and she shot off to the far end of the school in trot!!! He was swearing and shouting and didn't know how to stop!! Thank God, she responds to me, as he was not pleased and I was laughing so much I could just squeak out a "whoa"!!

That was the end of that, then!! On the other hand I've taught my two kids and boy oh boy, it's tough! They argue and fight and don't listen, yet with anyone else they are angels!!!

My advise....let him have a little walk around, let him trot, when it's too sore/uncomfortable, let him stop, and get him to do the yard work instead while you ride!!!!

 

[tasel]

Took OH riding quite a few times. He doesn't have the technique right, looks very odd on a horse, and the horse usually just takes a mickey out of him, but so far... he hasn't actually fallen down yet (ok, he hardly ever went faster than a trot other than when a horse bolted for 3 seconds).

First time was with my old German instructor who didn't speak English and who was very strict. He was more scared of her than the horse!! He dismounted with his legs going over the horses head rather than the back, lol. He had to be pushed to go for another lesson the day after... he didn't really learn anything though.

Next time round was again in Germany, this time a long weekend. He liked that, because it snowed and we were up in the mountains (Alps, I think). Because it was a Western-style place, and many people dressed accordingly and one even had a Husky dogs to match the scene, it felt like we were in the US or Canada from 200 years ago. One of the rides took half a day, we rode with a few other people who had their own horses, the husky also came with us, and a couple where the OH also normally didn't ride. Have to say he was more naturally talented than my OH though!!! The horses were mainly Lusitano-type horses. My OH really enjoyed that trip, he wants to go again!! Because it was more casual than a school lesson setting, it was more enjoyable for him. He bonded a lot with the first horse he rode, a 27-year-old smallish veteran who I have to say took really good care of him (i.e. always taking the slower, safer route). He had to say goodbye to that horse the following day as a 4-year-old girl was going to ride him and OH was about to cry!

He also had a lunging lesson here in the UK (B-day present from me) last year, and plans to start learing to ride properly within the next year.

 

[DTMDAN]

One other point from a male perspective is pants. Nice snug supportive ones. Especially when learning to rise in the trot.

I'll just leave it at that.......

 

[Rollin]

I have been planning his murder since he learned to ride!!!

He had professional instruction and I took him hacking on an old well behaved horse. He a complete novice, me forty years of riding. It wen't like this 'Don't tell me what to do. You are not my instructor'.

Result he managed to fall off and break his arm as a direct result of 'refusing' to take instruction.

My friends all said 'Did you push him off?

He now has a CB mare. I really wish she lived up to the undeserved reputation of the breed but she is lovely. I would love to find him a horse as stubborn and self-opinionated as he is.

 

[f_s_]

Oh the joys of OH's!!!! I sympathise with your plight...I really do!!!

 

[YorksG]

QR
Don't do it! Send him to a riding school, my ex would have been the ex much sooner if I had tried to teach him to ride.

Think teaching OH to drive, or being taught to drive by OH, it is very similar.

 

[Chico Mio]

My OH started riding a couple of years ago on a RS pony belonging to my mad friend. Said pony has the shortest stride on the planet and is the most difficult thing to do rising trot on even if you can ride. After a couple of lessons being shouted at by my friend OH said, 'I'm not going to be humiliated in front of four year olds anymore, thanks, I'll take my chances out hacking!'. So since then I have just plunked him on our mare and let them get on with it out in the countryside. He has excellent balance and a pretty good seat and leg position. Hands need work, he's not too good at adjusting his rein length but responds quite well to being told what to do. His usual comment is, 'You've been riding a lot longer than me, dear'. He is quite happy as he has no real ambitions, although he aspires to riding something taller than 14.3hh some day!

 

[Cliqmo]

He sounds like a dream ChicoMio!! Swap ya?!