TrasaM
Well-Known Member
This is my first post on here. Here goes..
I started learning to ride ten months ago aged 53. I'd always loved horses but never got the opportunity to learn as a child so this has been a long held dream. It has been an interesting journey both on a physical and emotional level. I have struggled with various things, most especially getting the horses into canter. The various posts on here helped both with advice and reassuring me that I was not alone in my struggle. Thank you.
Mostly I have been taught well. But I have a questioning mind and from the outset I read as much as I could to make up for lost time and my total ignorance about horses. I was, I suppose, looking for The Right Way but just ended up confused as there were so many Right Ways depending on who you read. So I decided to just get on and do as instructed by my RI.
In January I was moved onto a more challenging horse. For sake of anonymity let's call him HT. On our first meeting I was told to keep my leg contact light and not to scream if he ran off with me as that would just make it worse! Most of the first lesson I spent keeping HT calm as he just wanted to rush off. He settled down nicely and seemed to accept me riding him more week by week. I like to believe that I gained his trust at least a little. He has taught me so much and made me more aware of seat and hands. HT was the main reason why I started to really question what I was being taught to and how the aids are applied.
Last month I found a wonderful instructor who teaches French classical riding ..Philippe Karl taught. The first lesson was quite emotional as he showed me just how little pressure was required from the leg and hand . After only ten months I already have a lot to unlearn.
I'm trying to maintain my existing RI due to cost and travel time but I don't know if this will work. She's already caught me doing a sneaky half halt with raised reins and informed me that no one no where rides like that! even though it had worked beautifully. I've not told her yet that I'm getting tuition elsewhere.
*Are there other adult beginners who have felt like this? *What was your first lesson like? I'd love to hear from anyone else who like me questions some of the perceived 'truths' of how to ride a horse.
I started learning to ride ten months ago aged 53. I'd always loved horses but never got the opportunity to learn as a child so this has been a long held dream. It has been an interesting journey both on a physical and emotional level. I have struggled with various things, most especially getting the horses into canter. The various posts on here helped both with advice and reassuring me that I was not alone in my struggle. Thank you.
Mostly I have been taught well. But I have a questioning mind and from the outset I read as much as I could to make up for lost time and my total ignorance about horses. I was, I suppose, looking for The Right Way but just ended up confused as there were so many Right Ways depending on who you read. So I decided to just get on and do as instructed by my RI.
In January I was moved onto a more challenging horse. For sake of anonymity let's call him HT. On our first meeting I was told to keep my leg contact light and not to scream if he ran off with me as that would just make it worse! Most of the first lesson I spent keeping HT calm as he just wanted to rush off. He settled down nicely and seemed to accept me riding him more week by week. I like to believe that I gained his trust at least a little. He has taught me so much and made me more aware of seat and hands. HT was the main reason why I started to really question what I was being taught to and how the aids are applied.
Last month I found a wonderful instructor who teaches French classical riding ..Philippe Karl taught. The first lesson was quite emotional as he showed me just how little pressure was required from the leg and hand . After only ten months I already have a lot to unlearn.
I'm trying to maintain my existing RI due to cost and travel time but I don't know if this will work. She's already caught me doing a sneaky half halt with raised reins and informed me that no one no where rides like that! even though it had worked beautifully. I've not told her yet that I'm getting tuition elsewhere.
*Are there other adult beginners who have felt like this? *What was your first lesson like? I'd love to hear from anyone else who like me questions some of the perceived 'truths' of how to ride a horse.
How fortunate your mum is! Yes, it's been made very clear to me about lowering the hands once the correction is made and also that my leg aids are not visible. We are going to get my sitting trot right before we move on to anything else as well. I've been having Alexander technique lessons as well to correct my posture and one sidedness. Honestly, I thought I was a well put together human until I got on a horse. Then the cracks appeared.