Everyone who had been learning to ride less than a 2 years [Archive]

LMayhewtx

16th Feb 2007, 08:36 PM

I returned to riding after 20 yrs in March. I went from once weekly lessons, to twice weekly, and now ride three times a week - one lesson and the other two days on my lease horse.
I walk, trot, canter, leg yield almost a half-pass, and bend and counter-bend (haven't quite mastered this at the canter). I am working on having a stable two-point, folding and releasing, and other pre-jump exercises.
The hardest thing for me has been canter, which surprised me! After I first cantered on some of the "golden schoolmasters", I fell in love with an uncooperative, and also unfit little mare (she had recently had a baby and was still getting back into shape). I spent four months before I could consistently canter with her, and it was another four, before I could keep her cantering pretty consistently. So we got in shape together! And I am sure I will curse myself saying this, but lately I have been pleased with how much better I sit to her canter.

Nazdaq

16th Feb 2007, 08:38 PM

Hi Kiwigirl,
I have been learning to ride since September 2006, I had no previous experience at all (clean slate!) I am 21 years old. I fell off doing rising trot in lesson 3 and bruised my tailbone, so now have quite alot of nerves to get over. I started riding with a group because I thought this would help but it made it worse and I was going backwards every lesson. I have since gotten a new RI (last Wednesday!) and she is teaching me basically from scratch. We went over position (yaaay I finally know what it feels like to be right) and walking and did a bit of rising trot (the swinging hips kind, none of this up, down, up down nonsense I was taught before!) Its going great, I have just started Pilates (just finished my evening workout) and its great, I feel so much more in control (only been doing it for 48 hours!) I highly recommend it. I can't wait to get on a horse again next week and see how my first week of pilates has helped. The hardest things I found are having confidence in yourself and trust in the horse you ride (especially if its RS ponies and a different one each week!) and also getting fit enough to ride a horse (its no easy ride I tell you!) I just hope I can finally start to ride the horse and not hinder it! :D

P.S: I ride once a week normally for an hour, but it does vary occasionally with a break, or a hack and things like that! :)

horses4eva888

16th Feb 2007, 08:48 PM

Hey Kiwigirl,
I've been riding since Sunday 5th June 2005 (yes I pleaded for so long for lessons I memorised the date:p) My learning process hasn't been anything special at all so I'll try and make this quick.
-I've fallen twice (both not due to lack of balance)
-I've helped out at the yard since September 2005
-I started jumping June 2006
-I lost my confidence
-I got it back
-I've sat spooks, bolts, bucks
-I've been hacking a fair bit
I'd say the hardest bit so far has been actually sitting the canter and not gripping with my legs which I still haven't conquered. Tell me if you want to know anything else.
Kat xx

ETA- Oh yeah I'm 14, I started off with 1/2hr lessons then progressed to 3/4hr lessons and recentely moved up to 1hr lessons:)

Maclynky

16th Feb 2007, 09:20 PM

I started riding in March 2005 after a 25 year break altho only learnt to walk and trot as a child. Husband got sick of me telling him how I love horses and used to have lessons so he booked me a private riding lesson in march 2005. At the time I could have killed him as was quite unfit and scared I wouldn't even be able to get on the horse.

Anyway not being one to do things by half I started helping out a friend with her horse in April 2005 and bought my very own in une 2005 - can't believe it now I'ld only been riding 2 months.

I've fallen 5 times in total mainly in the first few months as he used to spook a lot he's 3/4 TB so not really a beginners horse. After the first few mths we really started to get it right and I haven't looked back since. It does help that's he's on full livery so I did get lots of help and advice and continue to do so if I need it.

Going to start competing this year ut a bit of showing and maybe dressage a well as some local shows jumping etc. Just got a trailer also so I can get out and about.

I can't believe how much this has changed my life and wish I'ld done it sooner mind you if I had I may not have found Mackie who is perfect, a real gentleman. I would recommend it to anyone altho possibly not as quickly as I jumped in altho it all worked out - how lucky was that!

Mistertron

17th Feb 2007, 10:17 AM

Hi,

First of all thanks Kiwigirl for starting this post - it has been really interesting to read people's replies :)

Ok i had been pony trekking about 4 times in my life - the most recent time was on my honeymoon in Las Vegas where we trekked 'cowboy style' into the desert which was fantastic!

Husband knew i'd always wanted to learn to ride so as my xmas present agreed to pay for me to go once a week! yay! I'm 27 so a slighty late starter i guess.

Ok i have had 4 lessons so far and am just about getting rising trot now but need to practice rising and steering at the same time!

I sort of fell\slid off when dismounting on my 1st lesson which didn't hurt but made me nervous of dismounting. I'm think i have the hang of it now however - phew. As i am quite tall, the horses i ride unfortunately have to be quite big!

I have a 1/2 hour private lesson each week but intend to change over to an hour group lesson when i have mastered the basics.

I am pleased with my progress as i'm not the fittist person in the world but feel i am doing quite well and the instructor said she was pleased with my rising trot last lesson.

Most difficult thing you ask? everything!! lol. Seriously though i think the most difficult thing is having so many things to remember all at the same time. I have also had trouble getting the RS horses to trot and keep in trot because i think i am too gentle at the moment with my legs!

I am also looking at doing some Pilates and excercises with a ball to help with my balance AND i would also like to start a stable management type course just to get to know more about horses in general. Not sure i will ever be able to own my own horse but i can dream! :p

Tuscan Dream

17th Feb 2007, 10:50 AM

started lessons at 4 - they madde me canter so i cried and quit! lol!!!

then i went on differnt trecks on holidays and always helped out at the stables on holidays!!!!! (like 12+)

then i started lessons again when i was 13 - didn work experience at stables.

at 15 i got my first horse

sold first horse after 12 months of pure hell - coudl have kelled me he was that bad

had 2 horses on loan

then bought my now horse tuscan - who injured his tendon in 05 (march) and has been off work ever since

i havent ridden properly since march 05!!!

i dont want to until tuscans ok - im planning on a dressage test when he's ok - only walk and trot - that wil be an a dream come true

im planning to buy a filly to show in-hand either next year or year after (i have long-term plans lol!!) and then back it and sell it on. (finances - saving up already)

woudl never give horses up now - its a way of life - and one would miss dreadfully - so id rather have 4 legged children!!!!!!

Mackinlay

18th Feb 2007, 04:10 AM

This is an awesome thread, I love hearing about other people's experiences when starting! I am 26 and began having lessons in September 2006. I used to muck around on my cousin's horses when we were kids but I am very much a beginner!! I have private lessons which go for 3/4 of an hour once a week, I like the time all to myself ha ha.

Can do the basics w,t,c transitions etc, and went over my very first jump (albeit a small log!!) two weeks ago!! I was sooo excited, best feeling ever.

I have fallen off once, totally my fault I am an idiot, didn't hurt, I just laughed a lot so that was good!

Mistertron, totally agree with you, I found it very hard to keep some of the RS horses in trot etc. because I didn't 'squeeze' enough!

I would say it has really helped my riding to try different horses, especially if you can ride some non riding school horses. I love the horses I ride when having lessons but sometimes I think they kind of know what to do already without me actually telling them. Does anyone else know what I mean?

I am looking to buy my own horse soon, have been looking for a while, but am obviously not going to rush into it. I am so excited it's all I talk about and everyone is sick to death of me!!

virtuallyhorses

18th Feb 2007, 04:42 AM

I'm going to be sneaky and butt-in here - even though I've been riding more than two years now ;) Kiwigirl - good onya for starting! Every year you ride you will learn so much it is almost hard to imagine. If\When you go from riding school to owning, it starts all over again... same when you hack out or compete or ... well pretty much everything tends to start the learning cycle all over again. It's one of the things that makes riding so addictive (like golf for guys I guess except whoever heard of a stupid golf cart nickering to greet a golfer?!)

horse_converted

18th Feb 2007, 07:10 AM

hi.
I have been riding for 8 months now and my first rs was very dodgie lol. but now i am at a really good one and go twice a week for lessons. long way to go but well werth it lol.

I found the rising trott hard for ages since my knees are not too good. but since doing two lessons a week they have got so much stronger now and they are taking it so well i have got it now lol

horse_crazy

18th Feb 2007, 07:37 AM

I have been riding since last feb, so a year now, just started at a new rs with a great ri about four months ago after being with rs's that didn't know how to teatch but thought they could, didn't even have any sertifickits or anything. and now I can do rising trot and sitting trot all conferdently, and now I'm lerning to canter. the hardist thing for me was and still is, is terning a areena corner proply I keep nocking the dam bending polls down! it's so frustraighting! being a blind rider has it's dissavantiges some times! lol

Kecka~Rocka

18th Feb 2007, 09:35 AM

I have had a horse for nearly 3 years, but i can honestly say ive only started to learn to ride since August 06. Looking back its no wonder i dreaded riding any horse especially mine. Best thing for anyone wanting to learn is get a good RI. I would still be the way i was if it wasnt for mine. I have lesson once a week at my yard and then everyother at a indoor arena up the road with mixed abilities, which im the bottom of buts its all good experience for me and my horse, i would have lessons everyday if my instructor was free lol. I could only trot on a straight and when my horse spooked one day and started to canter i bailed out (and it hurt). Since my RI ive grown with confidence cant believe how much. I can now WT and canter in a fashion lol!! Ive even had a jump and fell off but landed on my feet and ive even hacked out on my own im that confident in my riding and my cob. ATM im getting back on my 1st horse (bump) and its going great slow but great. I still get nervous getting on him but once aboard i feel ok with things. I cant wait for the day when i can take my boy to a show and do a little clear round!!

.Natasha.

18th Feb 2007, 01:31 PM

I've been riding for about 6 months, and love it. I have to say I have never fallen off, but there have been a few very close calls. One of which I was when I was doing my first jump, and spectacularly lost both styrups and almost managed to go flying over my ponies head. Fun fun fun!
I go on a few hacks here and there, the most recent one I ended up on the tallest horse and had to duck every ten seconds because of low hanging branches. I got my mum to book somewhere where I can have a horsey holiday this year, and I can't wait!

Fancy_mover23

19th Feb 2007, 05:27 PM

Okay, so I'm not a beginner rider or anything, but I though I would share the things that were, and still are, difficult for me.

I have been riding for 6-7 years now, and here's what it's been like.

During the first year, the posting trot was what really got me. It was really hard, and I kept messing up my diagonals.

After I started cantering (and fell off a number of times might I add), my lower leg position got really messed up.

Now, I'm a jumper, and still am having alot of problems.

Lately I've been riding some horses that enjoy bucking after jumps, and, giving me a little early dismount......
But that's okay.

Right now I'm working on alot of balance stuff while jumping. No stirrup jumping, no reins while jumping, ect. Stuff to make my balance alot better.

I have a lesson tonight, had a show yesterday. My coach told me that my hands were too close to my horses neck, and that we'll be doing something to fix that......no clue what it is.

And for you new riders......just to let you know, you will always have something that's difficult for you while riding (even I get the wrong diagonal while posting, and pick up the wrong lead....two examples from my show yesterday...) Good luck riding everybody!!!

Calder

20th Feb 2007, 12:10 AM

I'm 34 and came back to riding last Jan, having had a couple of group lessons at uni, and a brief stint of private lessons some years after. I decided that I was going to commit to riding once a week, having put off doing something that I really, really wanted to for too long!

I started back in a group in school in London, but found I wasn't at the standard of everyone else, so switched to private lessons. I took them for six months, and made a lot of progress on my walk and trot, and cantered for the first time. It was sore going at first, particularly because I'm not particularly fit. I'd really recommend private or semi-private lessons.

So that was great, but now work has taken me to Santa Barbara, Southern California for a while. I'll probably take up riding again here - it's certainly horsey enough once I've settled in. Not sure how many men ride "English" here, but I'm not shy about that!

Trio

20th Feb 2007, 11:04 AM

great to read everyones intros into horses!

i started when i was teeny and used to get thrown on a friends polo ponies (the older more sane ones) and go hooning off through the forest- never had a lesson but had millions of falls.

Didn't ride for around 15 years and came back to it 3 years ago at a riding school . Helped out there and got some confidence and basic schooling then took on a share where i had the horse 3 days a week- had lessons and started jumping, gallaoping and loving it.

Then an opportunity arose whereby i found myself the VERY proud owner of an arab x quarterhorse 6 months ago- he was 14 when i got him and very fat and unfit- but fell in love immediately.

Just been getting him fit and started jumping a couple of weeks ago - doing basic schooling- leg yields etc and we're getting there slowly. Love him to bits and every time i see him i can't believe how lucky i am to have this beastie.:D :D :D i see him twice every day and ride most days now.

RustyMary

20th Feb 2007, 05:15 PM

Great idea for a thread! I'm really happy to tell my story as I think I've been really fortunate in how I've been taught.

I started out in a small family RS in our village - OH bought my first lesson for my 44th birthday in Sept 05, what a wonderful surprise - it's something I've wanted to do all my life. Had about 6 lessons on a lunge line learning rising trot but then we had 2m of snow (I live in the Alps) and that was it until May :( Carried on then on a lunge and gradually off it, with weekly lessons until the end of June. I was riding the original riding school plod - great to start on as he felt so safe, and I'd never even been that close to such a big anilmal before (17hh with hooves like dinner plates), but they were great with me and built my confidence up slowly to the point where I was starting to get a bit frustrated with him - couldn't keep him in trot, he would just stop, so I couldn't really learn to trot and steer - and I hated having to kick him all the time.

I was away for a month in the summer and when I got back I had to find somewhere new as they were wanting to stop giving lessons. And by pure chance I ended up in my dream RS, about 25 min away in Austria. Wonderful responsive horses (no kicking to keep them in trot!), and the chance to really build a relationship as I usually ride the same horse (my beloved Ginger!). We went right back to basics, learning to steer properly with seat and outside rein, in walk until it was automatic and then in trot - but because of all the lunge lessons I had no big issues with my seat or position. By the time we started to canter just after Christmas (so after the equivalent of about 8 months of weekly lessons) I was really ready for it and so wasn't nervous about it. At the moment I'm struggling with getting into canter, but have no problems once I'm there! Had my first hack recently which was fabulous.

I feel so lucky that I've been taught so well, right from the start. My confidence has gradually grown with no real setbacks, and that seems so important - once you've lost your confidence it seems so difficult to get it back.

JamesJackson

20th Feb 2007, 11:22 PM

I've been having consistant lessons for about a year and a half now, before that I had been having the odd lesson here and there for about 6 months. Previously I had sat on a few kindly ponies on family farms etc a few times a year, but nothing amounting to riding really!

Currently in my flatwork I'm working on getting things like half-pass completely sorted, I ride a friend's lovely dressage horse for her twice a week, currently we're working on teaching him flying changes, and that's going well. I've ridden in a few unaffiliated comps, and came 2nd in the last Prelim class I rode - lots to improve on but at least it's not a complete write off.

Jumping wise, 'informally' I've taken horses over most of the PN XC course at the yard, and am jumping 3'6" - 4' grids / courses in my jumping lessons.

I've just started breaking in my youngster - a Hanoverian (or British warmblood - both parents are Hanoverian but he's born in the UK etc etc, I get confused by what I get told by different people).

So it's not going too badly really, despite the nay-saying of certain people who clearly didn't like people putting time and effort into improving having not ridden before being able to walk!

horseygirl123

21st Feb 2007, 07:42 AM

What a great thread, it sure is nice to hear everyones esperience, so well done kiwigirl for starting such an interested thread.
And here's my story !!!! ...
I started riding as a child, A lady had horses in the field behind our house and i used to help muck out, groom etc in return for riding, I cant believe it now but i used to jump on the 14hh pony bareback, no bridle, holding on to the mane and ride around the field fearless, w, t and canterring, i never fell off tho !!
I stopped then when I was 14 (Boys took priority! ) and altho I have been on a few hacks over the years with friends I hadnt had any proper 'lessons'
I started having lessons last summer on my friends 15.2 coloured cob called bertha ( I was in love with that horse, she really did look after me) then I decided to join a riding school, I started with 1/2 hour individual lessons, had about 3 a week (Is that keen or what !! ) After about 5 months I joined in with a group class ( I had carried on with hacking once a week while having private lessons ) I loved being in a group, and started jumping, altho I always made sure i was in lead file (cant be doing with following the horse's bum in front !! )
What did I struggle with ??
Canter transition !! My first RI at the school, wasnt hmmm the best (I didnt know any different at the time) and she would just say 'sit and kick' and I just could not do it. There was something about being in the school and having to canter where they said to, approaching the corner, (when I was out hacking I didnt even think twice about it, just thought 'will get past this bit, then we'll have a canter, and off we went ! )
It wasnt until I was left alone in the school to 'pootle' around I realised I dont sit and kick in the first place, I sit and squeeze, outside leg back, gently squeeze, or tap and off we go. I changed instructor I might add, and got on a lot better with the new one.
I have now moved up from being a 'novice' rider to intermediate, altho i do still feel 'novicy' !
I find reading really helps, and also being here, as you can read threads and learn so so much, alot of the 'between the lines' stuff RI dont tell you
One thing I find now that really really helps when riding, is to go to the RS early, tack up yourself, and spend some time with the horse, talking gently, telling it what you want to practise on etc today, I sit there for ages chatting away (until my RI comes along and says.. for goodness sake nikki, are you riding today or not !!! )
I've also found that talking to your horse while riding has a huge impact ( it does for me anyway) I can say ...whoaaa, now lets waallllkkkk and most of the time I get a response, it also helps them keep there attention focussed more on you on not on what the horse in front is doing.
I had a bad fall on sunday ( read my thread on general board 'came off, airlifted to hospital') which has totally changed my viewpoint on the RS i go to, I wont be going back there so I am looking elsewhere now for somewhere to ride.
I think I should stop rambling now, once I start there is no stopping me hehe !!!!
Hope everyone is enjoying their lessons

Talesofthehorse

23rd Feb 2007, 08:14 PM

Hi everyone,

This is my very first post on the forum! I have been riding since November 2006 and have loved it! (I had lessons when I was little and always went hacking when we went on holiday but I wanted to learn to do it properly)

I have a half hour private lesson a week and sometimes an hour at the weekend!

I'm doing lots of walking, trotting, circles, straight lines, poles etc!

I'm yet to fall off but its bound to happen
I don't think I always get my diagonals right
I'm going to take a week off work to spend at the stables to learn all the other stuff like mucking out and tacking up etc

I'm well and truly hooked!

Loved reading peoples experiences as they sound very similar to my own!

:)

horse_converted

23rd Feb 2007, 11:27 PM

Hi talesofthehorse

welcome to NR! I thnk you will find that tis is very adictive lol. :D

Method_Acting

24th Feb 2007, 12:53 PM

Ive been riding just over two years. maybe two and a half...

I know I've learnt VERY slowly. But my riding teacher is a perfectionist and I like it that way. I've had a few lessons at another riding school and learnt a lot more, but not so dressage-y perfect.

I can:

Walk:rolleyes:
Trot rising/sitting with and without stirrups on the correct diagnal.
jump a small grid. I mean little crosspoles here..:o
Canter, um not very well. I haven't cantered much. I'm getting there.
I can untack and groom, etc.
dressage stuff on plods is HARD, but I've done quite a bit of lateral work. um I hope its called that.

I've done some hacking too, on a safe horse! yeah I feel I am behind for the length of time I've been riding.

luvinit

27th Feb 2007, 04:06 AM

hi there,
Im new to the riding scene having only started Oct 06, im glad i stumbled across this site as you guys have alot of great tips, im looking forward to learning more.

i have an hour private lesson once a week and slowly i seem to be progressing although i wouldnt think so judging from the video i just seen of myself :eek: One thing i have learnt is that riding is not a matter of getting on and going...far from it. Still even though alot of the time im frustrated there is a deep satisfaction in it once you get the hang of something and i wish i had of picked up riding sooner.

so far i can walk, trot - sitting & rising (although noway near gracefully) and am just starting to canter. i have already had my first fall which sucked because it didnt need to of happened...if only i hada been paying attention :o

alpha1

27th Feb 2007, 10:43 PM

I've been riding for a year now (started when I was 54), with 2-3 lessons a week and a really good RI. Started on an RS horse, then shared something a little bit better with another learner, then got my own horse. Now I have 2 (but trying to sell the first one) mostly I showjump - not very big, 3 foot courses and a bit more in lessons - and it's great

I find that the most difficult bit changes as you progress, I never found trot or canter difficult in the sense that I might fall off. I have been thrown off by my first horse (and I fell off my other one at a competition last weekend when she jumped a spread like a kangaroo right at the last minute because I had got the strides wrong, and we lost a stirrup leather). However I still don't look like my daughters do at canter (sort of moulded in the seat) and I suspect I never will, but then I won't have swing like Tiger Woods or ski like Jean Caude Killy (for anyone who remembers him).

Things that I found it hard to understand were that your legs should give more guidance then your hands (my RI's mantra is to use 1 Kilo with your legs for every 100 grammes with your hands) and I now find getting the turns smooth when you are jumping a course, and trying to feel the striding and get a really consistent rythm difficult.

All in all though, learning to ride is the best new thing that I have done in the last few years, and I am fantastically grateful to have had the opportunity in a country with good weather, instructors and horses.

cinammontoast

19th Mar 2007, 06:43 PM

Fab thread, thanks for starting it! I started learning in March of 2006 at 35: lifetime ambition but always too heavy til then. I started slowly at one RS, felt I could be making more progress than still walking after about 10 lessons so switched to a more expensive school. I thought I was ready for a share as I had a mini-one last year and loved being 'solo'. I went to a different school this week to try out a share and was told I've been taught loads of wrong stuff eg elbow out to turn horse, kick to speed up etc. (Don't know if this is all wrong but my horsey friend who came with me to see the share tells me that what the new instructor is saying is how she learnt to ride) My new instructor is horrified and I told him I wouldn't be going for a share before he could tell me. I'm appalled at the effort, time and money wasted and can't believe I've got to re-learn all the basics (the potential share would not canter for me and the lesson horse wouldn't even trot!!!!) Feel like crying but at least the YO says I can come up to 'play' with the horses anytime.
Gutted.

RustyMary

19th Mar 2007, 06:55 PM

Poor you marieclaire! At least you've discovered at now before the problems were really intractable, and hopefully you'll progress quickly with your nice new RI - good luck and keep us posted!

Welcome to NR by the way!

sockonmyhead

19th Mar 2007, 08:10 PM

started riding about 2 months ago at the age of 21!!!!!
had a few lessons at my first RS, but was becoming less and less impressed with the lessons, so i had a sort of trial lesson at a different (and closer to home RS) and was really impressed, so i started to go there instead (plus they're cheaper as well!)
so far at my new RS i've learned walk, trot, canter, steering in the former two gaits, done some stretches while in the saddle (that was fun!) 20m circles, 3 loop serpentines, had half a lesson completely dedicated to rising trot, and today i started to learn the 2 point position, cause my RI wants to start to jump me soon, which is veeery exciting! i also booked my first hack for two weeks today (march 30th) so there will be loads of feedback on that!

i have 1-2 lessons a week (because i'm a poor student) but they're considerably cheaper because i have them during weekdays instead of weekends or evenings!

good call on starting this topic...it's refreshing to see so many other people starting to learn to ride when they're older than 5!

Meovcorz

20th Mar 2007, 08:03 AM

Hi Kiwigirl,
I started riding around the end of January start of Febuary, (this year). I had ridden maybe a handful of times before. Then I started working with a horse we just had walking around our paddocks (He was getting really fat & lazy). The first time I jumped on him, we just got up into a bit of a trot (second time I had ever trotted on a horse before), and then he pig-bucked me OFF!!! I kinda lost my confidence with riding, though on the ground I was not scared of him. (I probably would have pig-bucked someone who jumped on me and tried to get me into a trot when they couldn't ride at all.):D So for the next week I just walked him around and around with the saddle on, then I decided to get on him and have a little ride, I got on him and I was shaking! So I let him take a few steps then got off him. Did this for a week by that time I could have a whole ride with out feeling scared, though I never let him go into a trot :) and then one day he decided to show me that he can trot, and I didn't mind it the least :) !!! Then the next day I had a friend come over and he is a really experienced Horse rider, and he taught me the rising trot. Then, he got me into the canter. And that was so exciting! (The day I started cantering was Thurs.). That whole weekend I was just riding & riding and I was soo... sore!!!

Ever since then I've learnt alot about riding. I can do the two-point position, the rising Trot, sit the canter, but I just can't sit the trot! I suppose I'll just have to practise a whole heap untill I get it :) !

blondie fan

20th Mar 2007, 03:30 PM

Hi all,

Started riding again after a 7ish year gap 2 weeks ago! Have only done the basic stuff so far, but am looking forward to going again Friday even if I'm a little nervous!!!

How long roughly is it roughly until people start jumping. Im having 1/2 hr private lesson once a week.

Teehee

20th Mar 2007, 06:26 PM

Hello!!!

I’m going to cheat a bit here too... since I did riding lessons for 3 ½ years... but I still remember the first two!!! :D

I started riding lessons when I was 20, I went 3 times a week and I was the only adult in a class of 6 kids!!! I think at the time the oldest kid was 12!!! Anyways, besides I was the odd ball, I was there to learn to ride... so that’s all that matters!!

I did lots of walking, posting to trot, sometimes sitting to trot... which I found extremely hard ... even more depending on the horse... There was Neron... which I think it took me a good 6 months to be able to sit trot on him properly.
Some days we’d ride without stirrups a couple minutes, did a lot of figures, circles and things like that at trot...
I really enjoy even now-a-days watching them do figures with horses that are different colours... how they split at certain parts of the arena and go the other way mixing the colours... really nice to watch... :D
Anyways, I think I started to canter after 5 months... and could maintain it properly by the 7th month... but took me years to do it properly... since I had a bad problem remembering to breathe!!! :rolleyes: hehehe

The first 6 months I started going horse back riding, I also went to the gym to tone up my legs muscles, before I felt like I was bouncing around like a noodle and that I’d fall off at any moment... so I do think that helped me hold on, there was no way I was going to fall off!!! I was hanging on with all my might!!! :D
It probably help more psychologically than anything... since I haven’t seen a gym in almost ten years and I can stay on just a good as before...

tattercoats

21st Mar 2007, 09:32 AM

I started at the beginning of this year, properly - though I'd ridden on occasion throughout my life (every three years or so? Not regularly!) and I'm almost 40. Now for the first time I'm having lessons and actually getting better week by week. I started in group lessons, on a lead rein, but really started progressing when I began individual lessons. I have one main RI, but if someone else takes me then she's given them an idea what we're working on, and different styles of teaching sometimes make it easier to learn something I was finding hard.

I could do rising trot from years back, but I can do it better now - my legs are more in the right place so my balance is better. I'm learning about the horse and the tack as I go, and getting confident around the beasts, and even things like checking girth and adjusting stirrups I count as recent triumphs - as I simply hadn't done them before.

First time Itried sitting trot I was bouncing all over the place, but the next week I felt more glued to the saddle, doesn't worry me now. We're starting diagonals, which I find very confusing, but I've progressed from the kick-all-the-time-or-he-stops plod to something a bit more responsive - who actually will keep trotting so I can concentrate on something else as well.

I write up my lessons in my LiveJournal, partly so I can go back and see how I'm progressing. I'm loving the exercise, the challenge, and the escape; I don't want my daughter to have to wait till she's 40 to have this much fun!

cinammontoast

21st Mar 2007, 04:38 PM

Dear sockonmyhead,
Poor student!!!!! I couldn't afford food as a student, never mind riding lessons! I'm dead jealous you're talking about jumping after 2 months-you must be a natural-born rider! go for it and keep us posted.:)

soltydog

22nd Mar 2007, 06:10 PM

hi

I started riding again after a 15 year gap, I can't believe how crap I was, could not rise to the trot nearly fell of in canter, I was awful. I had ridden a lot aswell in my younger days. After 4 months I decided to buy my my own horse I was getting frustrated at one lesson a week.

I bought Dave my 16.2 Irish Draft cross, he has a fantastic temprament, he has had me off twice in the last two years, the first time I knocked my self out and ended up in hospital, that really shattered my confidence, the second time he tripped up and fell over on his side, unfortunately I did not come off but managed to scramble out from underneath him relatively unscathed, he ended up with more cuts than me.

He's scared me a few times over the last two years spinning round when he sees something he doesen't like, but he has not had me off lately, so I must be improving!!:D I still go for lessons when I can afford one, usually after a scare to get my confidence back, he has totally changed my life, and I would not part with him for the world, I should have bought one years ago.

Kim