Why cant i just do it?? Ahhhh!!!!

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Arniebear

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Im having issues with the basics atm!!! Please tell me im not the only one who cant do the basic things!!

And when i say basics i mean heels down, head straight and not dropping the inside shoulder!!!! (Funnily enough 3 yrs of polo ruined my dressage style!!!) Its sooo fustrating, i know im doing it but i just cant stop myself and my stupid bad habits!!! Ohhh and i also always look down when i jump.... Where the hell did i even pick that up from????

So does anyone have any amazing techniques of how to rid myself of my bad habits??

And does anyone fancy making me feel better and share some of their own bad habits :D (all meant in a light hearted way!!) im just generally fustrated of feeling like i cant ride atm!! And my poor horsey has to put up with me! SACK THE JOCKEY!!!!!!
 
I have/had terrible bad habits, heels up, leaning forward tho this one not bad now.

The only way I could do it was first off in walk set my self up right, go into trot but as soon as my position went crappy I came back into walk again set my self right. Took a while but I have improved loads:D
 
I get told off for sticking my toes out...I swear my instructor makes me ride closer to the fence so when I hit it, it reminds me to keep them in ;)
 
I drop my left hand - always my left never my right ... If the horse is going crap all I have to think is 'left hand!' And things improve in seconds! It's a pain but I advise working on one thing at a time...
 
not so much a bad habit but it annoys me! I have a really nervous mini shettie, who I've managed to build up quite a bit of trust with over the last few months! he's always been really scared if you try to catch him and now he comes running and neighing, coz I've been giving him treats each morning! I really want to catch him and bring him in for a groom but im too scared if I go to get his head collar he will freak out and then we will go back to square one! but I have to do it on Thursday as he has the farrier! arrgghhhh scares me just thinking about it haha
 
blitznbobs said:
I drop my left hand - always my left never my right ... If the horse is going crap all I have to think is 'left hand!' And things improve in seconds! It's a pain but I advise working on one thing at a time...
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Firstly be kind to yourself and remember you're trying to fit one independent body onto another and it will be difficult to get all that under control!

There's often one key thing that will help the rest slot into place ;) It's a matter of finding what the biggest issue is and chipping away at it each time you ride. A really skilled instructor with a good eye will help you work it out :)

My own biggest issue is a bit like blitznbobs, my right hand wants to turn over handlebar-style instead of thumbs on top. It ruins the contact. I had a lesson with a very good trainer who spotted that it also tipped my elbow out like I was carrying a handbag hooked over it :o, and then the rest of me was also wonky as a result.

It also helps to think outside the box a little in terms of finding cues to help you notice when you go back to your 'bad' habit. For me, having the loop of excess rein on the right of my horse's neck helps me to keep that hand the right way up because of the way gravity pulls the leather. Odd, simple thing, makes a huge difference to me.
 
Thanks for the replies (on iphone cant quote!!) i know im being a bit harsh on myself but arent we all? All i can say is my instructor has got some patience!!!!! Lol Im sure we will crack it eventually!!! And thanks for posting some of your own bad habits!! :)
 
I accidentally jabbed my horse in the mouth about a month ago and I felt utterly terrible for it!

I've always had it drilled into me that you are always sensitive and gentle with a horses mouth and to slip your reins if you need to but in a split second it just went out of the window.

We turened to go up a hill behind my friend on her horse and we'd got left behind a bit on the turn so he started trotting and I unbalanced because I'd been daydreaming (really bad habit of mine in itself!) :rolleyes: so he got socked in the mouth :( Bad owner! :eek:

I apologised profusely to him whilst patting him and telling him how good he was for putting up with me - because he can understand my embarrassed and ashamed rambling :o:rolleyes:
 
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I feel your pain. I gave up yesterday, I had to get off because my hands, which bob up and down like an out of control sewing machine were driving me absolutely potty. The little horse I was riding is usually quite forgiving and we do some lovely work. Or so I like to think. Yesterday the gelling just didn't happen. She wouldn't ride up to any sort of contact at all and my hands were on their own little adventure.

And to add insult to injury, I was trying a horse last week and find I look like this:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151755139908767&set=vb.576183766&type=2&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151754650778767&set=vb.576183766&type=2&theater

Arrrggghhhh. :mad: How very blooming embarrassing.:o I used to be an OK rider. Won a few things in my yoof. Perhaps I need to give up altogether.

But I do have a little tip for helping with dropping your inside shoulder. Don't think about the shoulder, instead, for the next few sessions, think very hard about pointing your inside hip towards the outside of the circle in the direction of your horse's outside ear. Really concentrate on it - make sure you aren't twisting too much - but trying to make your hip point to the other side of your horse will make you lift the shoulder. HTH
 
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