What's next in my lessons?

[louise1]

Hi, I have had 5 lessons so far and have covered walking, sitting and rising trot (still not 100% confident in keeping the horse keep his pace) We have done serpentines. My last lesson we did riding without stirups whilst sitting trot - very scarey but i did it! and then started on how to canter! obviously i have still at lot to learn on the cantering stage (i havent cantered all around the school yet:D ). what else should i expect in learning to ride a horse?

[Hero]

...Poles? have you done trotting poles?

x

[gypsygold]

I would think you will be looking into how to use the rein and leg aids in more depth e.g. what each rein and leg does when riding a circle. I am assuming you have only been taught very basic aids at the moment but this would vary greatly on the instructors teaching style

Transitions - working on getting them to be more accurate - now, not half the school later kind of thing :D

Keeping the pace going, sometimes easier said than done:rolleyes:

I would think you will have quite a lot of repetition just to improve balance and control - when I say repetition that doesnt neccesarily mean boring, there are lots of interesting ways you can improve on balance and control whilst doing fun things.

[louise1]

thanks for the responses. I havent done trotting with poles as yet, but i have to master cantering.

[PonyGirlAsh]

Cantering can take a great deal more than a few lessons...it can take years to master (I'm still workin on it!)!! I'd guess you'll be doing lots of rising and sitting trot, walk to trot and trot to walk transitions (as stated above), and poles (also stated above), and then start getting your seat and balance in canter, maybe some canter work on the lunge line. Are you taking group or private lessons?

I would also hope that you are being taught basic horsemanship, which I believe is just as important as the ridden lesson...you should be learning grooming, tacking up, names of tack and parts of the horse, proper stabling, etc etc. That's one thing I missed out on when I started lessons as a kid, and I wish they would have taught me more. :)

Yay for learning how to ride!! :D

[louise1]

thanks for your reponses - there seems to be quite a lot in horse riding :) I am hoping to start a stable management course in jan.

[equine-lover]

When I started riding a year ago, I started to learn canter in my 3rd or 4th lesson after doing lots of trotting without stirrups (to get good balance & a deep seat.) However it felt like it took months & months to feel comfortable riding in canter, going for hacks helped a bit. Good luck with your course:)

[funkyfilly_sos]

I can't believe how quickly riders are progressing in their lessons now-a-days. I had my first canter after a year of riding which never used to seem too bad but now I've heard loads of people cantering in their 4th and 5th lessons. I'm quite amazed :eek:

Anyway, I think you'll acspect to start going over transitions and praticising on controlling the horse more. After that you'll probably go onto more complicated canter exericises to improve you'r control and maybe you might do some work without stirrups. But every riding school is different and some let you progress quicker than others (mine riding school must be one of the slow-to-progress ones! :p ). I would also expect you to be repeating a lot of stuff and making sure you learn every basic aid like the back of your hand.

Have fun in your next riding lesson and Good Luck!
xx

[Crazyhorse]

I cantered after about 5 lessons. I too didn't really have any idea of what to expect after this point, but then slowly realised that it is fairly easy to walk, trot and canter, but it's the refinement of the aids and paces that take years! It's all about looking as though you are doing nothing on a horse, but really you are learning to use weight aids, half halts etc. I think next you may cover trotting poles, turn down the centre line and when you are happy with canter perhaps canter circles. Sounds like you are enjoying it :)