What's your #1 bad riding habit?

SaffronWelshDragon said:
At the moment, the one I'm still battling with - my naughty elbows that won't stay back and down. They just float off into space and I creep up my reins. I'm working with my instructor on this, and imagining weight in my elbows which works for me but takes a lot on concentration!
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The upper arms are like pillars. They stretch down in to the ground and are fixed at the vertical. #CharlesdeKunffyMetaphors
 
Looking down!

I also tend to lock my elbows if I'm having a slightly nervous moment which is not good with a cob who will take any opportunity to give you his head to carry. I spent my life repeating "soft hands" to myself at the moment so that we never get into that horrid leaning cycle.
 
not riding enough is my main problem
As a teacher my most commonly observed fault it not keeping shoulders in line with the horses and riding a horse with a twisted waist so although the person on the horse thinks they are straight and in line with the direction they are going they are not. inside shoulders too far forward outside shoulder too far back. Leaning the weight on the outside of a curve like they are trying to balance the horse instead of on the inside asking the horse to lift up and not motorbike round corners. Another one is rough or inconsistent aids, constant nagging
 
JFTD said:
The upper arms are like pillars. They stretch down in to the ground and are fixed at the vertical. #CharlesdeKunffyMetaphors
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Good quote, will commit that to memory. I also have the other one I remember you saying: Look at the size of Saf's brain, and the size of yours. Now who would you prefer to be in charge? I often think of that one when Saf tries to take over :)
 
I was thinking about this the other day.

If I was to go in front of a trainer nowadays they would say "EVERYTHING!"

My # 1 fault - everything. Mainly though that I am a passive rider, I am a passenger - and that suits me, and my horses just fine!
 
For all you who have elbow issues, keep faith- it used to be my BIGGEST problem and now it's become habit. Imagine your elbows are tied around your ribs [loosely]/

Now I need to stop nudging my very sweet and forward horse with my feet all the time as it's making him less responsive and confusing him.
 
windand rain said:
As a teacher my most commonly observed fault it not keeping shoulders in line with the horses and riding a horse with a twisted waist so although the person on the horse thinks they are straight and in line with the direction they are going they are not. inside shoulders too far forward outside shoulder too far back. Leaning the weight on the outside of a curve like they are trying to balance the horse instead of on the inside asking the horse to lift up and not motorbike round corners.
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This, although I am improving slowly, but its so hard to correct when schooling on your own without mirrors, as I don't always notice when I'm doing it, especially when concentrating on more than one thing at a time.
Almost feel as though I go backwards every time I ride without someone there to correct me.
 
I'm another who has a bad habit of tipping/leaning slightly forwards. I also catch my self "hovering" during particularly big bouncy canters :p

I guess recognising your faults and trying to fix them is not a bad thing though :)
 
I lean forwards even when I think I am straight, particularly in canter. I have pram hands, and carry them too low - I also have a tendency to throw my reins away in canter. I lean to far forward when jumping - and too early.

Oh, I cheat and hover in canter when I can get away with it too!
 
Ooh, where to begin......

Inconsistent rein contact.
Losing my balance and snatching the reins. (I know, I know - unforgiveable) :(
Lower leg too far forward.
Lower leg not still.
Gripping with knees.
Heels up, toes out.

Aaaaargh! Maybe I should just give up now.
 
My lower legs are awful - always too far forward and do their own version of the hokey-kokey when in trot, and my elbows are normally too stright, unless jumping when it looks like I'm doing the birdy dance.
 
Legs, legs, legs! For some bizarre reason I have to actively think about using my legs and seat or else I revert to sitting like a sack of spuds!
 
Uuuuummmmm .....


I tip forwards, I ride with my stirrups too short,my legs don't stay still, my habds don't stay still, my reins are too long ... in fact far too many things to mention! One of these days I will get round to havibg a few lessons but at the moment I figure I can't be doing too badly because I still win in the show ring with beasts I have started from scratch!
 
I think its great as riders we can appreciate we arent perfect! And sure its no fun if you have nothing to work on & learn - right?! :D

'unconscious incompetence' - 'lallalala I'm on a horse... weeeeee!!!'

'conscious incompetence' - 'oh this isnt right, horse not doing something it should, I know I'm not doing it right - poor pony!'

'conscious competence' - 'wow, floating on clouds, this trot feels great - keep it up, keep it up hands please stay still, legs please keep working, breathe & relax at the same time, oh left shoulder dont go astray on me yet'!

'unconscious competence' - 'zen guru grand prix master stage reached - me & pony are ONE!' ;)

*only kidding of course* :D
 
maintaining outside rein is my biggest work in progress - realising it was like a washing line when i started lessons on my current mare was a revelation but keeping elbows bent and back is soemthing i have to tell myself to do all the time. i also have this annyoing ability to not keep hold of my right stirrup - never lost completely but its not still so im clear lifting the leg when i ask for more energy and my heel isnt down! then there's the sideways thumbs i sometimes have. i am also a little lopsided apparently! given we are still walk and trot in lessons i suspect i'll have a few more when we canter and jump!
 
Toes out, leaning forward into canter, leaning more on the left. As soon as I concentrate on one thing, others seem to go south! Meh...
 
Not riding!

I could do, but I don't, it always seems cheeky asking for rides although my friend is more than generous in allowing me to ride her gorgeous cob not that my two are retired.

When we do get together though, my faults depend on my mood, if I'm tense then I nag with my lower leg and lean forwards in canter (if I can get canter!) He hates both of those things, so we get into a vicious circle. When not tense or stressed, my most annoying one is that my right hand keeps trying to turn in rather than staying vertical.
 
Toes out! I didn't have formal lessons as a kid and as an adult have tried to emulate those with a lovely position, toes in, heels slightly down. I can do the heels, but the toes leave me feeling numb and as if I've inflicted a serious injury on myself. I'm trying - how do you all do it??
 
if you asked my horses they would probably say me incessant waffling about what i can see over the hedges (if on the big bird) shapes in clouds and other such nonsense lol, as for my actual riding, ohh eck, all of it from the second my arse touches the saddle it is not a pretty picture!
 
biggest thing at the minute is that I let my horse drag me 'down' before a fence, instead of sitting up I lean forward as he takes a look.

I've still got to learn my diagonals, for some reason my right feels wrong no matter if I'm on the correct or incorrect diagonal.

Another problem I will always have is I drop my left shoulder when circling/turning, but I have an existing injury that makes me a bit stiffer on my left side. The left is also horses worst side, so at least we're fairly evenly matched lol
 
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