Same or Different?

[kusha]

Just started back riding few months ago after having 20 year break. Have had some private lessons on a couple of the RS trusty horses. Have now started group lessons (2 so far) where there are 8 riders in the lesson. Everybody justs picks what horse they want. For both lessons I have chosen a horse that I had my eye on for weeks. He was really forward going and I have had a great time.:D:D:eek:

However not sure if I should always choose the same horse so I get to know it or pick a different one each time to gain wider experience. Any opinions

[vikkig]

in my lessons i try and get the riders to change there horses now and again not all the time however sometimes i let them choose and then half way through the lesson pull everyone in the middle and get them to swap about and then at the end of the lesson ask them which one they rode better, it is surprising to hear that its not normally they favourite they ride the best.

i ride as many different horses as i can as well as my own, if there is ever a rs pony or horse being naughty my hat is on and i am on it straight away, i just like the challenge different horses can give you.

[jenmac_85]

Thats the one problem with having your own horse. I now realize that I have settled into Tylers movements and habits.

I definately think it is a good idea to gain a wide experience of different horses. Keeps you on your toes and lets you find out how different horses require different strengths and application of aids.

[fairlady]

I would say if you are happy and this horse is giving you a bit of confidence in your first few weeks back in the saddle stay with him a little longer.

However, it is good then to swap around to get the 'feel' of other horses and once your confidence level is back up abit, maybe to ride something that will be a little more challenging, just to gain the experience.

[Parsnip]

I'd like the option to ride as many horses as poss to be honest!

I love my pony and I find him very easy to ride but if variety is the spice of life!

[molly34]

At my old RS I was lucky enough to end up in a group of adults who were all pretty well matched in ability and size so we 'shared' a pool of horses and swapped around quite a lot. It was a nice balance of getting used to one horse enough to help us progress in a particular thing, and changing enough to stop us falling into a comfort zone with one beastie. We all had a different favourite and would have ridden the same horse every time if it was up to us...... I'm glad our RI didn't let us!

[Belle Rider]

I would agree with everyone else that it's good to swap around the horse/pony you ride. For quite a while now I've been on the same pony but now her back is injured and I'm on a different boy and he is so different to ride and to handle - much more of a challenge for me. Then one day I couldn't ride him because he was being totally hyper so I got put on a very lazy mare and that was real hard work just to keep her going in walk or trot but I find riding different ones helps you realize you need to vary what you do to get them to do what you want. All good experience, I say!! ;)

[BNaturally]

Just started back riding few months ago after having 20 year break. Have had some private lessons on a couple of the RS trusty horses. Have now started group lessons (2 so far) where there are 8 riders in the lesson. Everybody justs picks what horse they want. For both lessons I have chosen a horse that I had my eye on for weeks. He was really forward going and I have had a great time.:D:D:eek:

However not sure if I should always choose the same horse so I get to know it or pick a different one each time to gain wider experience. Any opinions


Each horse will be able to show you about how unique they are.
One horse may need more leg cues, the other may need less and more rein, saddle cues.
Some horses are more forward & others are less.
There are push buttoms horses and there are somes you may need to be directed, you being more certain of what to do.
I want & need these experiences to be able to handle, ride any horse.
I hope this helps.

[Grace O'Malley]

It's good to get to know an individual horse. It's also good to ride as many different horses as possible. So, I'd suggest sticking with the one for a while, then changing. :cool:

[kusha]

Thanks for the advice. Thinking about changing this week to one of the horses that needs a lot of leg to try and build up my strength and give me more of a challenge. Will maybe try and stick to these two horses for while, get to know them. The horse I have been riding is so willing and it will be nice to go back to him every couple of lessons. :D

[LindaAd]

J

However not sure if I should always choose the same horse so I get to know it or pick a different one each time to gain wider experience. Any opinions

That's an interesting system .... What happens if two people want the same horse?

At the RS where I go, you're told which horse to ride - I'm not sure what the system is, except you don't often get the same horse twice in a row .... I've learned an awful lot from those horses - about four that I ride regularly, plus a couple of others - they're all very strong characters.

That's one of the things that makes me wonder if I really want my own horse now.

[Shire Monster]

I came back after a break and was put on a forward going fella who did everything I asked unfortunately fell off him lesson 3 because he saw an invisible scary monster hiding in the school and spooked. He was lovely and I felt like a real smartie pants riding him after such a long time off and getting near perfect transistions, leg yield even my position was ok, with him doing everythin I asked with a twitch of calf muscle I could concentrate on me and my position. Anyways after I came off I tried a less forward going horse who would not move and made me feel like a beginner again HOWEVER when I got some good work out of her it really felt like an achievement, I actually felt better riding a horse that made me work harder but rewarded me occasionally for my hard work.

[mistysmum]

The RS I went to years ago had a policy of changing horses where possible every three weeks. Sometimes it was great others not so good. I think it did teach you how to get along with most types. I tried to encourage my children not to stick to the same one and now, as adults, the say it meant when on holiday etc. they never worried about going on a new horse
;)MM

[kusha]

Is it unusual for this to happen in a group lesson? (sorting the horses out between yourselves).

Shiremonster - that's what I hope to achieve next time if I can ride the less forward horse - if I can get him to canter then I know it will be my achievement! From what i have seen of him he usually runs round the school if he gets away with it.

[cwb]

I book the horse I want in advance.

I started with an easy forward going mare who showed me the ropes and was eager to please. Once she had taught me as much as she could I moved onto a more "difficult" horse that needed more "riding" and once I had mastered that one I moved onto another more "difficult" horse that needed more riding and more balance to get him working well - once I was able to get the most out of these three I started mixing and matching to suit the skill I wanted to develop - so I choose the dressage trained horse when I want to learn dressage! Now and again I go for a brand new horse and see how quickly I can tune in to it and get it working - sometimes we click instantly, sometimes we don't!

I think once you are able to switch horses and tune in immediately there is something to be said for saying with one horse and learning to make it do different things - which is why I now want to get my own horse!!!