Who's had a simulator lesson?

dibbin

dibbin

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I'm thinking of booking a lesson this weekend, but the place I'm planning on going requires new clients to have an assessment lesson on the simulator first, who's been on one, and what's it like?
 
you can learn a lot with a good instructor. I had 3 now and learn't a lot although as BB says it doesn't feel exactly like a real horse, but enough to get the idea. The trot is far easier to sit to than any real horse I have ridden.

It is worth a go and I will be going back for another lesson at some point
 
Thanks :) is it as knackering as riding a real horse?

I'd planned on booking a "normal" lesson, but as a new client I have to have my 1st one on the simulator, and I'm not sure what to expect!
 
no not such hard work either, but also depends on what instructor gets you to do. At least you don't have to worry if it is going to bog off or buck lol

I think its a great idea to put new clients on one, then you know you get matched to the right horse
 
I too went to a new riding school, who puts all their new clients on their riding simulator before letting them on a horse. I asked if I could have a simulator lesson (30mins) followed by a 30min private lesson on a horse (as long as they thought my riding was good enough!) but they said I'd be too tired after my simulator lesson.

I was by no means riding-fit at the time but I didn't get out of puff at all, and it was much less strenuous than they'd warned me it would be. I would have easily been able to do a 30min private lesson on a horse afterwards, I was as fresh as a daisy!

As soulfull has said, the trot is really smooth - I had difficultly finding the right rhythm to rise to the trot which I found frustrating, as I wanted to gain something from this lesson, rather than just re-learn something I have no problems with on a horse.

I think riding simulators probably have their place for getting a beginner used to the sort of movement a horse makes and possibly for tackling specific issues in a more established rider's position, but I didn't get much from the lesson which I was disappointed about, since I like to think I have quite an open mind about the training of the rider.
 
I found it quite un realistic :( you cant steer with your legs or weight its all in the hands and so are downwards transitions. I also found it hard to press the buttons without my hip hurting but I think it depends on how it has been set up to how sensative it is. But as others have said the trot and canter are so much easier than a real horse to sit to.
 
I had a session on one yesterday and so did my husband.

He has never ridden a horse before and it was interesting to watch him learn to do the rising trot and it was very useful for him.

My experience was that it was really good for the instructor to work on small adjustments to my position without having to worry about where the horse was going. Surprisingly, my hands were always in the wrong place so we could work on trot and canter when my arms were in the air, out to the side, out in front etc etc.

The paces of the 'horse' were interesting. Walk was much bouncier than I'm used to on my Spanish horse and so was medium trot. Medium trot was also very fast. I found it a little difficult to get the trot rythmn. I decided that this was because the horse wasn't moving forward so I was rising on the spot. Difficult to explain the sensation any other way, I never thought that forward movement would make a difference.

Canter was easy and luverly. So much nicer when you don't have to spend time keeping the horse moving. I just satup straight and enjoyed it. Next step is to get the 'horse' to canter using the correct aids instead of the go-faster button. Heh heh.
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Lesson booked for this sunday! I'm quite nervous, haven't had a lesson in 4/5 years and I shudder to think how many bad habits I've picked up in that time!

This might be a daft question, but do I wear jods/boots/hat etc.?
 
I had a side saddle one and found the walk very side to side and I keep wanting to fall off the side of the saddle (even though I had ridden and competed side saddle before!!). The trot very joltey but the canter was lovely. It was fun but does not feel like a real horse. They put a helmet on me too.
 
I've had a go on one, and it was a really surreal experience.... In a good way i think!

I found that unlike someone elses comment, you still had to steer with your legs as well as your hands. It was interesting when it showed me how much pressure there was on my seat bones. i've always been a little lopsided, and the image reflected that. I found the graphics a little poor, but it was a good experience to be shown the correct aids for half pass and leg yield, and then being able to put them to practise on a live horse. I think it can be very beneficial in teaching correct, precise aids, which can then be applied to the horse in training.

I had to wear a hat, jods and boots, even tho i did feel a bit silly.....

I'd definitely have another simulator lesson, i got so lost in it that i actually patted the horse before i dismounted!
 
Mine's £25.50 for half an hour.
1/2 hour private lesson on an actual horse at the same place is £32.

Once I've been assessed on the simulator I'll be booking a "normal" lesson.
 
Ive got one booked for tonight actually. £23 for 30mins or £50 for 3 which is a good saving but Im going to see how much use it is before I book 3 sessions. I have a canter issue that I want to iron out so thought it would be worth trying on a sim.

Cant believe you have to wear a hat !!! :)
 
cobden99 said:
Cant believe you have to wear a hat !!! :)
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See, that's why I asked about the hat thing, I thought it'd take a particular brand of numpty to fall off a simulator and brain themselves, but I suppose if you're going to have novices/kids going on it you can't really let some people not wear them ... if that makes sense?

You'll have to let me know how yours goes :) I'm worried it'll end up as 30 solid minutes of "lift your hands, stop looking down, relax your elbows, stop looking down, open your shoulders, STOP LOOKING DOWN!"
 
I had a go of one a few years ago at one of the big shows. Couldn't understand why everyone was laughing at me - until it was pointed out that I was clicking at the 'horse' during upwards transitions!!

I would love to have some proper lessons on one but don't think there are any around here.

:)
 
Well I had the SIM lesson - and it was good, I enjoyed it

The mirrors meant that I could spot the problem straight away, and the instructor was good at putting me in the right place when required. I could feel the muscles I had used when I rode today so hopefully it has done some good. Interestingly the issue wasnt in my hips as I had assumed, but in my errant lower leg ! Ive booked the set of 3 anyway as Im hoping it will reinforce the correct position.

And yes I patted its suede neck when I got off , lol
 
dibbin said:
See, that's why I asked about the hat thing, I thought it'd take a particular brand of numpty to fall off a simulator and brain themselves, but I suppose if you're going to have novices/kids going on it you can't really let some people not wear them ... if that makes sense?

You'll have to let me know how yours goes :) I'm worried it'll end up as 30 solid minutes of "lift your hands, stop looking down, relax your elbows, stop looking down, open your shoulders, STOP LOOKING DOWN!"
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I've had several lessons on a simulator, first as rehab after a broken ankle, then again as rehab from a fall which caused a trapped nerve and loads of other probs. I wore a hat as I felt that my balance/posture whould be different without one.
I found it very good for position adjustment and confidence re-building but as others have siad, not really like riding a horse - you don't get any feedback from the horse!
 
rhino said:
I had a go of one a few years ago at one of the big shows. Couldn't understand why everyone was laughing at me - until it was pointed out that I was clicking at the 'horse' during upwards transitions!!
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I've got a horrible feeling I'll do that, I tend to use a lot of voice/noise commands when I ride any horse ... I'm sure OH will be chuckling away. Although he's yet to see me ride an actual horse!
 
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