what do you think of your riding?

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harrihjc

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I'm really full of ponderings today...can you tell I'm not feeling well and struggling with real work!?
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Its quite clear that some people can have rather different estimations of their own abilities as riders. Do you think it is a confidence thing?

Personally, I'd much rather underestimate myself than overestimate and over horse myself, I am a bit of a perfectionist and am very critical of my own riding, far more so than I used to be before i lost my confidence.

I would consider myself experienced, and am enjoying bringing on my youngster, but wouldn't consider myself able to sort out a problem horse and wouldn't think I could successfully start a young horse from scratch! I'd probably run away from a difficult horse now whereas before I'd be delighted by a new challenge!

How do you estimate your own riding?
 
I am also very critical of my riding, sometimes too much so as it can become demoralising. I think Im quite pragmatic about my abilities - for example I will start and back my 3yr old, but send her to my friend to ride away and get her used to traffic, as she is absolutely fearless hacking out youngsters and I think its important to give the horse confidence.
 
i feel i am a capable rider in that i would get on any horse at anytime, however i am not experienced in jumping crosscountry or anythin, but if i was on a horse i felt safe on i certainly would have a good bash at it
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i love taking younger flighty fidgty horses out hacking
 
P_G if your riding is average, there's no hope for the rest of us!!
I think I'm ok, I think I'm a quiet rider but my main problem is my nerves, sharp horses worry the hell out of me! Once I've got to know a horse I can produce some fairly good work, I'm not a novice but my nerves mean that I can only really ride schoolmasters or horses that are described as "novice rides". Once I know a horse is safe, my confidence grows and I can ride fairly well. Jumping is another matter, I'm still a novice there! I certainly wouldn't have the experience to bring on a young horse (tried that before, we ruined eachother!). It's difficult really though as if I didn't suffer from nerves I'd be a hell of a lot better!
On a scale of one to ten, if one is someone who has sat on a horse a few times and ten is someone competing at the top of their game (not including John Whitaker standard, he would be off my scale!) I'd say I was around the four mark on a good, confident day.
 
I'm the same PG, I can always spot so many improvements I need to make and get so frustrated when I know what I'm trying to do but my lower legs/hands etc have other ideas!
 
My riding is ok hacking, and jumping... at the level i do have not ever jumped any bigger so wouldn't know! My dressage riding is poo however i suck will freely admit that!
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I think I'm ok, my riding has definately improved over the past 3-4 years, my trainer was amazed when I rode one of our friends ponies the other week, she said I'm tuning into the horse allot quicker being bolder with what I ask for in a shorter space of tme, I was really chuffed. I'm definately not the most confident or ambitious but I'm improving and thats good enough for me
 
Am quite happy with my riding, I have the ability to do all I want to do and am happy to take lessons to improve the areas that let me down. If I was unconfident it would transfer over to the horse, so if I am questioning anything I take it slowly, analyse every element of what I and the horse is doing and confer with my eyes on the ground. Don't get me wrong, I am no great shake, but am happy with what I can do.
 
My riding is terrible really, I have a huge amount to learn. I can't maintain canter and my legs fling about in rising trot, I fall off quite often and I'm very nervous of jumping and hacking on the roads. But I still enjoy myself, I'm having lessons when I can and my pony is happy. We'll improve together with time I'm sure.
 
I think there is always room for improvement no matter what level you are at. It also depends on what context and who you are comparing yourself to! I would say that I was competant rider but not brilliant. There are lots of areas that need improving but I think I'll always feel that way!
 
Well I have just ridden in the school , i went in there thinking I'm an average rider , came out thinking I'm totally pants !!!.

I'm now on the look out for a really kind, patient but good instructer!
 
I found that really funny - not in a nasty way at all !! - I just had a picture of you trotting with your legs waving about
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I am nervous about jumping as well, I think quite a lot of people are
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As long as you and your pony are happy thats all that matters.
 
If I am sat on a pony, I am a bit like vicjip - I will sit on anything, can make it work properly and generally consider myself to be a good pony rider.

If I could ride horses like I can ride ponies I would be alot better and could probably make a living from riding!

However I get on very well with the odd horse (Bruce) so thats OK and I would say I am compitent.
 
Technically am prob crap, but seem to be able to get a tune out of most things, and am confident to ride a majority of horses! Constantly working on the "technicalities"!!
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when im riding my bf's horse i feel really good about my riding- i can do allsorts on him and he is a really obliging little horse.
however, when i get on my horse, just recently, its all going tits up.
hes an ex racer and whilst he doesnt scare me, theres a woman at the yard that keeps saying to me 'hes the wrong horse for you' and 'you cant ride that horse'. (this was yesterday, in front of everybody at the yard, after sol had had a major spooking incident.)
i have had solo for 5 years now and he is hard work- he's spooky, doesnt concentrate, bucks for` no reason and is actually a bit lazy.
there are days when he goes beautifully and it makes me feel amazing, but there are days when im crap.
interestingly, we were doing really well before i moved to the yard where we are at the mo.
i know it is this woman that is effecting my confidence in my riding.

sorry about the long post!
 
I've been riding for 30 years, I would say I am average for what I do which is hacking, flatwork and tiny jumps. I can get quite nervous sometimes, but then again I will hack out on my own without too many worries and I know many people who won't. I enjoy myself, and have regular lessons so my many bad habits don't get worse!
 
Hmmm, average I think.

Im much much better on the flat than over jumps... ride to PSG on the flat but couldn't get round a course of 3ft fences without being a nervous wreck and just cant stand hacking out anymore. I'd rather have teeth pulled out with no anaesthetic than tackle a cross country course
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Im not generally spooked by slightly whacky horses although I'll admit that Im not as fond of "getting on anything" as I used to be although I do have pretty good stickability, i just dont enjoy being thrown around these days :P

Im highly critical of myself and do have the advantage of being able to identify just about any fault in my own riding and work it back to it's source.. but then get extremely frustrated with myself for a) not being able to solve it instantly and b) letting it happen in the first place.

Im good at sticking to my own philosophy regarding the training of horses and never fall into the temptation of short cuts. Im pretty damn disciplined when it comes to classical traditions. I have a complete passion for schooling though and where others find it mind numbingly boring, i find it completly enthralling.

Im really poor at ground work (lunging and long reining) aaaaaaaaand I have an overall tendancy to be too soft.
 
If today was anything to go by I have zero riding ability!!

I wont sit on any horse, most definately will have nothing to do with one that has reared or bolted, too dangerous for an old lady like me. other wise I will have a bash on most things.
My instructor informs me my brains get in the way of my natural capabilities!!! There are times I am thinking so much about how I should ride that I forget to just crack on and do it.
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I would say I am a pretty average rider, my flatwork position particulary needs improvement but I am improving gradually. Would equally say I am quite a brave and determined rider.

The best way to describe my riding is GETS THE JOB DONE!
 
I put my riding ability down all the time.
I moan about my lower leg position constantly and am trying to improve it.
I can get my boy going nicely in the school, but have no fear that we are ever gonna compete at any great level.
I would love to have lessons with a really good instructor and become a superb rider, but as i am i am happy to pop on and enjoy whatever i do on my boy.
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So i guess i'm saying i'm pretty average really
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