What's the point?

[Pippity]

I've been back riding for about 18 months after a 10-year break, and I'm starting to wonder why.

The first year, I was improving with every lesson and really felt I was getting somewhere. Now, inevitably, I'm starting to stagnate. Hell, I'm going backwards. At the end of summer, I was having a little poing around a cross-country course - now it takes me most of a lesson to get into canter.

I can't afford a share and lessons, and I'm not good enough to leave lessons behind.

Plus, I don't have a car. Even if I could find the money, the odds of finding a share that's up to weight, suitable for a novice, on a non-bitchy yard and accessible by public transport are minimal.

I enjoy my weekly half-hour - even if it is frustrating - but I'm starting to wonder if I'd do better to just quit for a few years and come back when I can actually afford to do more.

 

[shadeofshyness]

I had a similar problem - I used to share at places I could get to by walking, but when I moved there was nowhere and I made do with just having lessons for years (getting a lift off my OH). I got lucky in finding a riding school that had a lot of young green horses and a lot of dressage horses, with a quick turnover of new horses coming in and being sold on, so I got to ride 'real' non-riding school types so didn't stagnate. Perhaps try a different riding school? I also found a half hour wasn't enough. It would take me longer to get to the riding school than I'd spend in the saddle. An hour was much more productive - even if you did a lesson a fortnight for an hour it might be more useful than half an hour weekly.

The only solution I found eventually was to give in and learn to drive. I still hate it but finally passed after learning on and off for 10 years. Now I have a share horse and monthy lessons on him and I've already progressed a huge amount.

Good luck!

 

[AmieeT]

I've been back riding for about 18 months after a 10-year break, and I'm starting to wonder why.

The first year, I was improving with every lesson and really felt I was getting somewhere. Now, inevitably, I'm starting to stagnate. Hell, I'm going backwards. At the end of summer, I was having a little poing around a cross-country course - now it takes me most of a lesson to get into canter.

I can't afford a share and lessons, and I'm not good enough to leave lessons behind.

Plus, I don't have a car. Even if I could find the money, the odds of finding a share that's up to weight, suitable for a novice, on a non-bitchy yard and accessible by public transport are minimal.

I enjoy my weekly half-hour - even if it is frustrating - but I'm starting to wonder if I'd do better to just quit for a few years and come back when I can actually afford to do more.

This sounds like me last year. First horse, first riding lessons. No car, full loan, busses everyday and I was lucky enough to have a friend teach me- that petered out so I'm left with a supser star XC pony that I can't even put over a small course because I've literally jumped him once in a school (not even a lesson, had his owner watching but that was it)

Don't give up. You will get there it'll just take time. I've been without lessons for nearly a year (and only had my first riding lesson Nov 2012), so I'm going nowhere fast, but we are hacking and bonding greatly. Plan is when money situation is better (ie debt paid off, no longer paying for bus pass, car I can't drive alone yet AND driving lessons) I will find an instructor.

Read lots online on how to improve balance/seat/transitions/whatever you feel you need to improve on and be critical of yourself (not horribly so, but know what you need to improve- eg my thing was looking at the floor and keeping my heels down- making a conscious effort to do correct it persistently will eventually made it natural), but don't expect miracles. Keep schooling yourself and get confidence trotting and slowly get yourself cantering regularly.

The only way to be confident at something is by doing it. My friend told me that everything with horses is two steps forward and one step back, sucks- but it's true.

By no means am I experienced, or infact anything above novice, but I found this helped a lot. I hope you feel better soon- you obviously missed it if you've come back after a long break, you might regret it if you give up again xxx

 

[Pippity]

The only solution I found eventually was to give in and learn to drive. I still hate it but finally passed after learning on and off for 10 years.

I've got the driving licence - just can't afford a car to go with it!

 

[Kaylum]

Where abouts are you why don't you post on the regional boards for a riding friend to see if they want to try or even go to a different school that you could go with.

 

[Tobiano]

Hm if thats the case OP I would try and find a different riding school / instructor. some are good for very beginners but dont go much beyond that. You might find you move forward again with different instruction. Hope so - you should be enjoying your riding!