kiwigirl, nazdaq, mistertron, and others....how are you getting on?!

[sockonmyhead]

i remember someone (i can't remember who...sorry :o) starting a thread similar to this a while ago, and thought i'd join in on the fun!
to all of the riders who have only been riding for a few months (ie, the same amount of time as me), how are you getting on?
i haven't heard from the people who seemed to have started at the same time as me in a while, and thought it'd be nice to have a catch up!
here is my current status;
i'm happy in walk, trot and canter (admittedly i still struggle wih diagonals a bit, but i'm getting there!) both in the school and in the field, and although i haven't been on any more hacks since my first one i want to go on one!
i'm also progressing from the bomb-proof horses towards some of the naughtier (harry) and younger (marmite) horses at the riding school, which is exciting!
i did my first jump over a xc jump at canter.
i had my first fall at trot (doy haha!) the week after my first jump :p
i'm also learning more and more about the horses themselves (seeing as i am a COMPLETE novice which has never really stood next to a horse before, let alone ride one) for example how to approach them, how to lead them, basic control etc!

so that's it! i'd be interested to hear from the rest of you!

somh
xx

[tiger28]

hi sockonmyhead!
i started a few months back as well (5 to be exact)- i have been on one hack, walking only. i am quite comfortable in walk, trot (posting and sitting) and getting more comfortable in canter (still have some trouble maintaining it and steering-although i have cantered some circles) i have no trouble with trotting diagonals but having loads of trouble getting the correct lead in canter, i have been told that may be more the fault of the horse than me (he is quite old). i was also told that if not for the horse, i would be starting jumping. the horse i ride is totally bomb-proof so i am a bit nervous about riding anybody else but i hope that will change since they say i am outgrowing him! i continue to be amazed by how much there is to learn!

[Nazdaq]

Hi sockonmyhead, I started learning about 10 months ago now and I have just been learning all about the 'chores' that go with horses, curtesy of the lovely Pibstar and Molly. I have learned how to muck out, groom, plait (although that was trial-and-error!) and catch her (although she is a doddle to catch :p) We also went on two lovely hacks, and I have finally beaten my hacking nerves even cantering on a hack (in little spurts) for the first time. My sitting trot has miraculously improved mainly from me not thinking about it and just doing it and life is great. I even got a sit on the lovely Molly (more detailed thread to follow tomorrow) and did a teeny tiny bit of trotting poles which I have never done before. Fantastic. I am walking around with a big grin on my face. :D :D

[kiwigirl]

Hi sockonmyhead, well been riding 7 months now, although think I am slower to progress than you.

Am happy sitting and rising trot although my leg isn't that stable in rising trot at times so am working on that at the moment with some no stirrup work. Do seem to have my diagonals sussed though. Have done trotting poles and small jump at trot. Done heaps of circle work.

Canter is getting better. Not holding on now and feel more relaxed. Haven't really done many canters that involve steering so not entirely shore I can steer at canter:eek:

Biggest thing I am doing at the moment is stuff on contact and half halting and trying to get the horse "on the bit". I feel this learning is helping me to really get my horse listening along with help to get my seat independant from my hands.

Like you am starting to ride different horses also do learn their differences which has been really good for confidence.

Some am hoping to be able to canter a circle soon (have done this a couple of times on a lovely schoolmaster holding on!), some more jumping maybe at canter and have heard that I might be learning leg yielding soon.

Also will try and do more hacks.

[Mistertron]

Ok riding for about 5 months now. Happy at walk,trot - rising and i was fine at sitting until recently (see previous post) but i havent had a lesson since to try it again. Diagonals...hmmm i understand them but do find it difficult to check if i'm on the right\wrong one so am relying on RI to tell me. Canter is coming along, no holding on but just working on a deeper seat. Horse tripped last lesson and i fell off and i havent had a lesson since - not because i'm scared just circumstances. I think i will be fine next lesson. Already ride a variety of horses ranging from nice 'learner' ones to ones with dressage training who need stronger riding. All good for experience.

Been on a small hack at walk and hope to do a 'proper' hack soon with my sister-in-law.

As for other stuff - i have learnt LOTS from Est and her ponios Merrick and Ria (see mentoring thread) :D. I do feel more confident around horses on the ground now.

[RustyMary]

Isn't it interesting how we are all being taught in different ways? I've been riding for a year now and in some ways I'm not so far on as some of you - canter is OK but still haven't done enough of it to say I'm completely confident at it (didn't start cantering until 8 months); just starting trotting poles; no jumping yet. But I've been taught to steer just with seat bones and weight transfer, and with outside rein, and putting these together is automatic now in walk and trot (unsure about canter!). Haven't fallen off yet but have sat one or two quite spectacular spooks. RI is not worried about diagonals (but from reading on here I do understand them and think I get it right most of the time) but I've had a bareback lesson and some basics of groundwork. I guess the important thing is the journey not the ending - because one of the biggest things I've learned is that there is no ending in learning to ride a horse!!

[horse_crazy]

well I have been riding for 14 months now, am fine with my trot, rising sitting trot is good but still needs some work. my canter has been put on hold due to the horse I was on hurting her eye, and then being pts , then brakeing my coller bone. so haven't done it for a fue months witch sucks I am craving for a canter! but once ri works out what horse I can canter on I will be all good.I can get a horse on the bit , get it to bend, and have extended and cleckted the trot , but have only done it a fue times. have only worked on sercals once after my coller bone was broken, but was told they had improved. my rising diaggenal... well I seem to come up on the right one every time with out me thinking about it, I don't know if it's a good thing or not....

resently have been working with no ranes and stearips in trot. to get my porsition finlly tuned .

[sockonmyhead]

wow it's so interesting to see how different people are being taught!
i may ask my ri if we can do a little bit about steering with the seat and weight aids, along with leg yields and other stuff like that....
however i think we both like to go fast! weeeeeeee!
keep the posts coming! it's so interesting!

[elaine@dow-evan]

I've been riding for 4 weeks now...starting as an adult beginner:) I've just had my 3rd lesson, and really only know just how much I don't know! (A bit like the early stages in learning to drive a car, only horses are more unpredictable in 3 dimensions, if you know what I mean!)

I can walk, am working on rising trot, can change rein, rode 20 metre "circles" (ahem) on Friday, and my RI also told me that I was getting the horse to "leg yield" on Friday. Since I dont know what I was doing (except that I wanted the horse to walk diagonally the way I wanted her to go and not the way she wanted to go...) I'm not sure I could do it again.
My RS horse is very steady and well-mannered (ideal for middle-aged nervous beginners like me). You do have to be very positive with the aids...

Does anyone else talk too much when having a lesson (at least I am breathing!!) - and has anyone else been told not to over analyse what I am doing, just do it!!

I'm also quite a "soothing" person to talk to, and both my RS horse and my friend's horse have been known to doze off whle I have been talking to them...I guess I need to learn how to be more positive with my voice aids!

Isn't riding fun??:D and aren't horses wonderful?

[Nazdaq]

has anyone else been told not to over analyse what I am doing, just do it!!

Me! :D I am getting better at it now though, especially on hacks....I am officially a happy hacker. :)

[rhsw]

Hi sockonmyhead and all

Been riding 5 months now, happy at walk, rising trot, diagionals, done ground trotting poles, low jumps at trot and a few at canter. Canter I can keep going now thanks to lessons with no stirrups, this is sitting trot. I am now learning when cantering to keep it going by doing a kind of 8 figure round the menage, by going back to trot to get the right leg lead before change of direction and back to canter, that I am finding a bit hard at moment but getting there. Had 2 nd hack out last week, and the horse spooked, but I stayed calm, and got the horse back, teacher well pleased with me. And loving every bit of it. Had one fall so far a few weeks ago doing the canter.

:D

[vonandiz]

This is a great thread, I love reading about what everyone else is doing. I've been riding for 4 months and am currently working on my canter 20m circles, half halts and balance work. Am now riding twice a week (still not enough!:rolleyes:) one lesson and one hack (I still can't get over how amazing cantering up hills feels:)) I've also met Rarah and the very patient Logic who are giving me How To lessons:D:D

I'm also riding different horses when I hack out which is interesting... i've ridden the slow lazy horse, the strangely bouncy horse, the too short saddle for me horse(:eek: it was almost painful) and my personal favourite the fast forward going let me be at the front horse (this was not my shoulders favourite the next day!). Am really enjoying myself and its great to know I'm not the only horse mad loon out there!.:)

[Meovcorz]

Hi Sockonmyhead, Thanks for starting this thread it is very interesting.
Me well, I was getting my jumping down quite well, then guess what! I bought a YOUNG horse, silly me, I've only been riding for 6 months was only riding one horse, a 14 year old bomp-proof horse who didn't mind to pig-root now and again. I only fell off him, 4 times. But my new horse (his name is blue, he's a blue roan) is only 8 and needs a little bit of training, can be quite stubborn at times. Spooks at noises not sights like Jack (the horse I useto ride) and Rider "apparently" losing balance (he likes you to be in his center of Gravity), well actually it's more then a spook, he BOLTS and I've been told (by an experienced horseman) that when a horse bolts you turn it to slow it down. BUT Blue is a Quarter Horse and then can turn REALLY fast (called cutting). So I'v fallen off twice in the last 4 days :eek:. I've almost lost my confidence. I've gotten two point down pat now. I can do a half halt (not every time), leg yield, I'm still learning with that. I STILL can't sit the trot, but I'll get there one day. It's almost like I'm relearning rising trot, because Jack was 14 HH, and Blue is 15 to 15.2 HH so my leg position isn't great, but getting better with practise.

So for all that, I do feel a bit discouraged.

[horse_converted]

i have been riding just on 15 months now. I have got my rising trott good now. my sitting trott went back wards a little for a bit after i had some physio done on my back. but it is all going forward now. my canter is inprooving everytime i get to do it. :D i am getting very good at my 20m circles now they are really good.

[Kittycat]

This is a good thread, I've no-one to compare myself against so it is nice to see how others are getting on.

I have been riding 10 months and can walk, trot (sitting and rising) and canter in the school and on a hack (although I need a neckstrap for the forward seat). I can get a reasonable leg yield at walk and trot and depending on the horse a passable turn on the forehand. I've tried to get traverse but am cr*p! We do a lot of circles, spiralling them in and leg yielding out which I can do at trot.

I had my first jumping lesson last week, and my first fall! V proud of my bruises!

Love riding different horses, I find this really helps you learn lots of different aspects, such as holding them back, pushing them on etc.

[sockonmyhead]

I have been riding 10 months and can walk, trot (sitting and rising) and canter in the school and on a hack (although I need a neckstrap for the forward seat).

my word what is a neckstrap?! :eek: it sounds scary!!!

lol!

[Nazdaq]

sockonmyhead, its just a strap that goes around the horses neck for you to hook your fingers under for leverage when doing forward seat, or to help you deepen your seat etc. in canter. :D

[sockonmyhead]

nazdaq...
oh haha! i imagined it to be something that you tied around the rider's neck to keep them low! upon reflection, it seems stupid seeing as h&s is so ridiculous these days...that and what i described could be considered a form of torture! lol!
keep your posts coming! it's so interesting!

[Wotsit]

Hey, I'm new to this forum (been lurking for a while but don't have much advice to offer)! But this thread has got me out of the woodwork!

Have to say I'm a bit envious of how quickly a lot of you seem to be progressing. I've been riding two months having popped on & off horses while I was a kid and have just got to the point where I can feel comfortable in canter (not sure about steering in it though!).

I keep trying (off my own bat) to concentrate on getting a good seat in sitting trot but the last two horses I've been on I swear have been trying to launch me out of the saddle with the bounciest trot ever!

[rhsw]

Hey wotsit, take your time, I have got my friend who did horse riding when little, and not done any since age 12, long long time ago:D get back into horse riding lessons, she has had 3 so far now, and did sitting trot last lesson, oh ouch, did she bounce, but towards the end of lesson, after being told to relax, breath in and out, and sit on your pockets, did she not bounce and did so well, she did saddle less lessons when little, so think of this, she should have found it easy but did not, so you will get there too. You only been doing it 2 months, I know you said you been on and off horses, but it all depends on what lessons you had and how long since you done them and how you feel, I am a late starter:D, just relax and enjoy it, we are a very friendly lot and give brillant advice, good luck.

[Nazdaq]

OMG wotsit, 2 months and you are already cantering! I have only had 2-3 attempts (bad attempts :p) at canter and I have been riding 10 months now! Admittedly I never rode before as a child (was not 'sporty' at all) but still you are going at a phenomenal rate....! And you want to progress faster... :eek: :D
Just relax and enjoy it, after all its the journey that matters not the goal. :)

[cinammontoast]

Oh my God, feel like a moaner! Stupidly, keep having a month here and there off-non-horse related injuries/busy etc blah but dunno why I'm not making the progress that you lot seem to be making. My instructor has taught me leg slide for canter but when I watch the good riders, they never use that, they just nudge on-how hard do you have to nudge and should it be a 'squeeze' on as opposed to a little kick? How long do you squeeze for? Is it quick little ones, then release? I don't want to look like a novice forever! Doesn't help that a non-rider friend came to watch then critiqued my 'performance' behind my back and told my husband he could see where I was going wrong! Help!

[Mistertron]

Oh my God, feel like a moaner! Stupidly, keep having a month here and there off-non-horse related injuries/busy etc blah but dunno why I'm not making the progress that you lot seem to be making. My instructor has taught me leg slide for canter but when I watch the good riders, they never use that, they just nudge on-how hard do you have to nudge and should it be a 'squeeze' on as opposed to a little kick? How long do you squeeze for? Is it quick little ones, then release? I don't want to look like a novice forever! Doesn't help that a non-rider friend came to watch then critiqued my 'performance' behind my back and told my husband he could see where I was going wrong! Help!

I am just learning so canter so thought id let you know what my RI has taught me - although i can't help a great deal as i am a novice myself. I was told that to get canter you kick with both legs but the leg nearest the wall needs to kick slightly behind where you normally kick. Not sure if thats right or if i have said it right?????

p.s i have no idea what a leg slide is?

[Nazdaq]

marieclaire, by leg slide do you mean when you brush the horse with your outside leg he goes....as sometimes more sensitive horses just go with this and you don't need to 'kick' as well. The less sensitive ones you need to do what Mistertron said, so outside leg back slightly behind the girth and kick kick with both legs. You just need to experiment as to how hard you need to do it, try squeeze, then if nothing happens small nudge, then if nothing happens kick, if still nothing kick and tap with the whip (by kick I mean small tap with your heel on the horse's side, not a massive painful pony club kick that I see some little kids use!) :eek:
Hope that helps. :D

P.S: I am also just learning to canter, I can get canter but cannot keep it going down the straight side of the school. :)

[cinammontoast]

Thank you both! Leg slide is putting the outside leg behind the girth and holding it there until the little charmer decides he'll do you a favour and canter until he gets bored! See what you mean about the little kicks: I never thump the horse as I feel really bad! the only time I ever really dug my heels in was when I had an incredibly naughty horse who kept throwing his head down when he trotted. To keep the canter down the straight side of the school (and not lose your balance) you could try voice commands, depending on how responsive to it your horse is. Lucky me, the majority I ride are well schooled. I had a lush ride on a beach on a beach up north last year with my complete novice cousin who told the horse 'haway son' (Geordie!) and trotted merrily off! Love this forum; SO useful!

[Nazdaq]

Cool, I thought that's what you meant Marieclaire. Thanks for the tip about the voice aids, I will have to get over my shyness at talking to RS ponies and try it....I just feel silly with someone watching me! :D

[cinammontoast]

My instructor does it all the time! He's trained all the RS horses to respond to voice but that can make me a bit lazy 'cos I talk to them and encourage them then sit back and relax! Naughty! Don't be shy: it's another useful aid.

[Nazdaq]

Thank you for the advice, its strange becuase I talk to my cats all the time but can't seem to bring myself to talk to a horse?!? :D

[Mistertron]

Thank you for the advice, its strange becuase I talk to my cats all the time but can't seem to bring myself to talk to a horse?!? :D

I say 'walk on' when leading a horse but not sure i'd be confident saying anything else like 'teeeerrrrot on' like my RI's do sometimes! i know how you feel!.

Anyway on another note i learnt something else new last lesson (just going back to SOMH's original question) - i learnt the difference between the working and medium trot and then my Ri made me do endless laps around the school changing between the two speeds of trot.

[Wotsit]

Oooh, that sounds interesting - maybe I should ask to learn that (as well as concentrating on keeping my feet straight & my elbows in!). It might help me keep my horses nose out of the horse in fronts bum!!!!

[x.fat-pony.x]

I always talk to Brad as it calms him down A LOT! Without talking (or singing! :D) he would be a wreck. It also helps me as it encourages you to breathe, which I forget when doing scary things! x

[OldandNew]

Just had to join in this post as I'm fascinated by the different progress you're all making. I've been riding only a few months but can only do fortnightly lessons (due to cost and the fact that I have to take time off work - they only do 1:1 lessons on weekdays). I'm also offically an OAP and had never ridden before though dreamed of it since I was a little girl!

I can manage a passable rising or sitting trot now but haven't yet got to canter stage - which seems a bit scary right now:eek: Also, my stables don't have an indoor school so from my first lesson I was hacking out on the nearby common. I've also survived a couple of spooks (one in traffic in the High Street last week!) although the horse I've been riding is usually pretty bombproof.

Picking up on a similar thread on these boards - have you all been riding different horses? My usual horse is going on holiday and I'm booked to ride a different horse next week. I'm excited but also quite nervous. What has been other's experiences of riding a "new" horse?

[Nazdaq]

Hey OldandNew, I do ride different horses, up to a point. I learn what I need to on a certain horse and once I am fine with that I move onto a different horse. For example a cantancerous old pony called Merlin taught me how to be firm but kind at the same time (while also refining my trot) and then when that had been learned (I was on him for about 5 months!) then I moved onto a lovely armchair called Dylan to learn the canter. It is a bit scary when you move to a 'new' horse, but I think it helps in the learning process. It only takes a couple of lessons to feel relaxed on the new mount I find (and I am a scardey cat!) Hope that helped. :D

[Abserd]

Hi, i've been riding a year and a half - mainly once a week, group lessons, occasional private lessons and hacks every fortnight. Different horses/ponies each time. But i still don't feel as advanced as some of you lot! I think it's my confidence that's holding me back, and my inability to relax in the saddle too! Got my first riding lesson tonight for about 3 weeks as i've been on hol. (went pony trekking) but feel like i'm starting all over again! I'd been riding fortnightly to save money for my hols. but think i'll go back to weekly as i feel like i just get the hang of something then have to begin again. Also as much as i love hacking, i get really nervous setting off as we have so many roads near us. Maybe it's cos i'm older and the what ifs keep surfacing. The last lesson i had was me desperately trying to canter but my legs never do what i want them to. Like Nazdaq i can't keep canters going either, just hold on and hope LOL

[Bubbles1989]

I've only been riding for about 8 weeks now? Maybe less, not too sure so i obvioulsy wouldn't be anywhere near as advanced as most of you but i definately feel confident in the saddle. When i first started, on my first lesson falling off and second lesson being scared i would again because of the horses ever so bumpy trot i thought hmm maybe this isn't for me but now i'm aware of what i'm doing and my legs know what to do i feel happiest when i'm riding!
For what people have been saying about talking, i ALWAYS talk to the horse i'm on! I speak to him a lot before hand and give him maybe a sneaky kiss on the nose :) and then when i'm riding if having trouble keeping him trotting i'm always 'Come on Blackjack' 'Good Boy!' and he seems to respond, i have quite a high pitched voice so i kind of guess he knows that means good because if you shout in a angry way generally your voice would get lower. Also if he wont trot i've always got the handy clicky noise you do with your mouth that just makes him go straight away not sure why that works? :confused:
I'm confident walking and steering through different directions and circles, and getting quite confident when i'm doing rising trot but i'm dreading trying to sit the trot i fear i'll fall off through the bounciness! And canter! ahh you're all so brave! :eek:

[Meovcorz]

Oh Bubbles1989, Welcome to Horse riding, it is very addictive.
Canter is not all that bad, as for sitting the trot, I am barely just getting that. As for clicking to horses, That is used alot, by alot of different people, so horses get used to it. Actually, when I first get on a new horse, I like to try that out, because, some people say "Go boy" and all sorts of things. Personally I like to stick with clicking, it is more simple, and doesn't take long at all.