Just started dressage

[Midnight Rose]

I've had one dressage lesson so far. I've ridden for 15 years and did consider myself quite a good rider. Turns out I know almost nothing!

I'm not too impressed with the way I was taught to ride as a child to be honest, because most of the basics just weren't there. Things I should know, I didn't.

I spent an hour learning how to half halt last week...... I just felt sorry for the poor horse, she was beautiful but I must have confused her or just annoyed her.

After half an hour I felt like crying! I just couldn't do it. It's hard to go from thinking you're quite good at something to realising you really aren't! By the end of the lesson it was all coming together and I felt much better.

Did anyone else have this experience?


P.S. I just want to say that the instructor didn't make me feel bad, I managed that all on my own...

[Laura83]

Yeah I had that when I went to uni.

I went from 12 years of riding well-bred KWPNs thinking I was pretty damn good to practically being body slammed back down to Earth when I started Equine Sports Science at university and everyone else was much much better than me! :p

You just have to relax, accept that you don't know it all and go into it with an open mind from that moment onwards. You end up hearing different sides to many stories and once you've absorbed one or two you use your common sense to form your own opinion.

I am still MILES off knowing anything at all, and that's fine by me. There are people who I knew/know who go around like they know it all then don't know what is to me very basic. Then there are very modest people like someone we both know MR who actually have such a wealth of knowledge and connections there is next to nothing she can't answer - you know Kt taught me the basics of long reining, poor Della was very very forgiving and patient with me, but I was the one who managed 17 years around horses and didn't know how to long rein.

[Midnight Rose]

Kt is amazing and she really doesn't know it :rolleyes:

I also don't know how to long rein.... :o Maybe once Kt's up and about again! :D

[LadyA]

I too rode for many years as a young girl doing jumping then when I returned after 25 year hiatus I returned to riding more for the fun of it and a little jumping, then I decided I really did like all 4 feet on the ground so I switched to dressage, well I will say that honestly I would of considered my self a fairly good rider......well not so once I started riding dressage, apparently I knew nothing and I started from scratch with a fantastic coach (very patient) now I love it, I have been riding about 2 years and am enjoying every minute of it, it takes time to get the basics, just stick with it and it will come.
Good luck and smile there is nothing better than riding a horse!

[Dreamchaser]

I've definitely been there! I remember my first few dressage lessons and how I felt like I had been doing everything so very wrong and frustrated I just couldn't get things right. But, with time, I started getting things right and seeing the progress, so I started feeling like I must at least know something!

[PurpleHammer]

Our situation is similar in that I recently started learning dressage, too, and it's amazing that different styles of riding (or even riding from one barn to another) might seem to have totally different ideas from each other at times.

Please don't be so hard on yourself, it's not that you don't know anything at all about horses, it's just that you are new at a different style of riding! If you were to ride with an instructor at a place that did the same style of riding as what you've done in the past, I'm sure your instructor would not say that you didn't know anything at all about horses! You probably know more (and am able to do more than you think!) right now and might be a little overwhelmed with everything that's new/different to learn, that's all. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it sooner than you think! :D

[*Sez*]

Me, too!:D
I grew up on and around horses but didn't have structured lessons from being between 8 and 11. The centre I went to basically lent you a pony for the day, you did all the jobs and you got two hours of riding, supervised by older girls.
After we moved away, I went on to have lessons again, but never felt like I "learnt" anything new. The RI would just should "heels down, shoulders back, hands down" on occasion, but other than that only directed us around the arena!

When I was seventeen, I started working at a school and got a one hour lesson on most days (if the instructor was free). She started to teach me shoulder-in, leg yielding, softness and working in an outline. I felt like a complete numpty!
Unfortunately, my job there was cut short by ill health and I went on to have a share then a loan horse, but had no facility for lessons.
After that I went back to riding schools, but again felt like I wasn't learning anything, and the lessons were mostly jumping. I could quite happily complete an hour's lesson, but never felt like I had worked, or like the horse had worked.

It was when we bought Jacob in 2005 and I started having lessons on him that it really hit home that I still knew nothing. I could stay on, had a nice seat and soft hands, but had really never progressed beyond the basics. Then Salsa came along and needed so much work on his basics, that lateral work under saddle didn't get a look in!
I've been trying to teach myself, but it's difficult, so I can't wait until I can call my RI and say that I can afford lessons again. :D

[Dooley]

If you're in Woking as your location on here suggests then I think I know where you had your lesson. Do NOT worry about it, do NOT feel depressed about it. I know of a few people who had the same experience on their first lesson there if I'm correct about the place.
The horse wasn't called Bella by any chance ?

I go and have lessons there every time I'm down in the South - it's fantastic. I think you really learn to ride there.
My horses love me when I come back from a lesson down there.

I spent my first lesson there (on Bella) in walk. Trying to halt - took a few rounds of the school :D. My friend apparently was even worse.
Friend also had trouble coming back from canter to trot the first time - just wasn't giving the proper aids.

Hope you enjoy your next lesson!

[Clava]

I've been riding for 36 years, but had my first lesson (dressage) in 26 years a couple of weeks ago and last week I had my second lesson. I was so exhausted after the first I could barely move for two days, but I loved it, I too thought I was an Ok / good rider, but I was mistaken. It was so exciting to be learning again and feeling my horse move better immediately, I was amazed. I had to shorten my stirrups (had the same length for years) and use my seat in a totally new way (bum bones, stomach muscles, soft back, leg muscles....so many new ones:D). After the second lesson I'm still buzzing and can't wait for the next one!! My lessons are with Lynda Davey "Ride with the Mind" (but I think my brain / mind isn't big enough to control all the bits of my body that she wants me too) and I think she is incredibly good (she notices the smallest movement in you and the horse so you get instant feedback if you get it right or wrong).
I have no doubts that your lessons will get better and be great fun, but it is possible to feel good about them from the start. Sorry to go on a bit, you can tell I'm still high from it.

[Midnight Rose]

The horse wasn't called Bella by any chance ?


Oui! :D

She was gorgeous! I wanted to eat her! I love the school and I love the instructor. She was very nice and patient and didn't do anything to make me feel bad, I just felt useless. I excel at blaming myself for being no good!

I'm v excited, if I end up able to ride a quarter as well as the instructor can ride I will be so pleased!

All I did was walk around too! I explained it to my boyfriend it was like going from driving my fiat uno (1987) and vw golf (1983) to driving a fighter plane. All these knobs and buttons that I just didn't know what to do with.

I'm very pleased with the school (just not myself) and certainly would recommend it to other people.

I'm riding Mr Pepys next time! Aparently he'll suit me better so will be the best teacher. She was so nice, saying that she didn't want me to think I was a bad rider and she was downgrading me to a less able horse, but I didn't feel like that at all. I firmly believe in matching the horse to the rider if you want to get the best out of a lesson.


Thanks to everyone that's commented on their own 'bad' riding. I feel much better now! :D

[Jane.A]

Been riding and competing at dressage for a good few years, even had some success, but when I started judge training I realised there was even more to doing it correctly. I also learned about exactly what each test is there to show, all about the scales of training and how they relate to each level of training. I then got a German coach. Heavens, did I feel useless. She was so focused on getting things right in the walk and trot, if your horse cannot make a good transition from trot to walk and vice versa then she/he clearly doesn't understand the aids correctly so there's no point progressing to canter. I spent 3 months just in walk and trot! Then we moved onto my sitting trot. I then discovered I was impeding the fluency and power of my horse's trot so I could sit to it, rather than improving my balance and suppleness thru the hips and allowing her thru. Have to say we are still working on that! I also do yoga and some pilates and once a month have a lesson on the mechanical horse to improve my seat and hands. We are all works in progress, I think the more we learn to more we realise we don't know. I just wish I had had access to the knowledge I have now attained when my body was young and supple enough to really make best use of it. Have to say that the teaching quality of the average riding school and AI leaves a lot to be desired, and very few local trainers have the understanding of the bio mechanics of horse and rider to assist those of us not so naturally gifted. Welcome to the journey that is good horsemanship, prepare for a rollercoaster ride, and know that there are many of us out there who can empathise and relate, possibly even share ideas and assist if you shout up.

[Lgd]

To paraphrase a saying

'the more I learn, I realise how little I know' :D

I think you learn from a horse every time you work with it. I've ridden and trained to a pretty high level for some years now but each horse throws up new challenges and the need to find a different way of approaching things.

I have three trainers I work with routinely - one of them is local and she runs regular clinics with the two visiting trainers coming every 4 - 6 weeks. I actually train different horses with each of the two visiting ones. I will occasionally do one off clinics with someone new just to get a different viewpoint and she encourages that. I'm about to restart regular pilgrimages down to oxfordshire to train with someone down there - only stopped going as my old lady had baby break and my younger mare wasn't at a level to justify the expense/time of the trips - she is now so will be getting back in gear once the horsebox living is finished.

[hmoses]

I don't think we ever stop learning. Isn't that what life is all about? Looking back now from a very old age I wish I'd known at 18 what I know now - about so many things:D But its what makes life interesting. Its just that the learning process can be very slow and frustrating sometimes, when we want to do something really well and we just feel stupid cos we don't get it at first.

And then to make it worse, when it comes to riding, there's TWO of you trying to learn - you and your horse. No wonder its hard sometimes. But soooooooooooo worth it.:)

[Dooley]

Oui! :D

I love the school and I love the instructor. She was very nice and patient and didn't do anything to make me feel bad, I just felt useless. I excel at blaming myself for being no good!(...)
I'm very pleased with the school (just not myself) and certainly would recommend it to other people.

I'm riding Mr Pepys next time!


I think the instructor is fabulous too ! Even though after a few lessons she stopped being quite as patient with me :D:D:D She has been known to shout " if you're going to to do anything at all then NOW would be a good time to start doing it" followed by "are you not doing it because you don't want to?" :eek::D

Have you been back for your lesson on Mr Pepys yet? I don't know him - what size is he? Would love to hear how it went !

[manwell]

had the problem too, it is so upsetting and so hard to get out of the "wrong way" that you have been taught in the past

[Midnight Rose]

I think the instructor is fabulous too ! Even though after a few lessons she stopped being quite as patient with me :D:D:D She has been known to shout " if you're going to to do anything at all then NOW would be a good time to start doing it" followed by "are you not doing it because you don't want to?" :eek::D

Eeek! I can be all sensitive! I hate being shouted at when I'm trying, I'll just have to grow an extra layer of skin.

Have you been back for your lesson on Mr Pepys yet? I don't know him - what size is he? Would love to hear how it went !

Not been yet, I'm going tomorrow. I'll let you know how many times I cried this time!

[Dooley]

Don't worry about the shouting, it was well deserved. If she'd had the slightest impression that I was trying hard enough she wouldn't have said that I'm sure ! I was "trying in my head but not with my body" at that point I think :p

No, seriously, she's fabulous. Every time I 've tried but still really messed up she's been lovely and supportive. She does expect me to do better than I seem to be able to do though - I don't know why but almost every instructor I've had has got so frustrated with me :eek::D always thinking I should be able to be a better rider than I actually am. Apparently if only I tried harder I'd be really good HAHAHA yeah right. They have no idea how hard I try !

I can't wait for my next trip to Surrey so I can have another lesson with her.

[Midnight Rose]

Maybe I'll come and point and laugh....I mean, watch :cool:

[Midnight Rose]

Just got back in. Much better lesson today, I had a few moment where it really came together.

The good points -

At the start of the lesson, in halt I asked him to stand nicely, ready to move forward and supporting me well with a rounded outline. And I really felt his back come up to meet my bum!

Feeling the difference between walking along and really walking.

Learning the proper signal for leg yield.

Learning the proper way to use my legs (I may never walk again....)

Getting him all ready to trot and then him just springing forwards the second I asked.

Learning how to control his shoulders and half halt/gather him together and control the speed and and and all at the same time!

My fingers have improved. I don't have open fingers anymore.

Learning to sit up and back properly.



Not so good points -

Walking over 4 cones....

Realising I'm a nagger.




So overall it was a good lesson! Wheee!

[Dooley]

I found I was a nagger too in my lessons with Lyn!
She'll get it out of you!:p

So what's Mr Pepys like then? Height, age, type etc ?

Sounds like you had a really good lesson and learnt loads for just one 45 minute session !

Going back again soon ?

PS No way am I going to tell anyone when I'm in Surrey next - I hate being watched ... I can't ride for toffee at the best of times, but when there's an audience I'm 100 times worse - except if it's a competition where it doen't seem to matter who's watching :rolleyes::confused: Weird, me ? :p:confused::eek::D

[Midnight Rose]

ISo what's Mr Pepys like then? Height, age, type etc ?

He's a very rich coloured bay, about 15.3 maybe but I'm no good with heights, not sure on age, he's a huntery type and he's a working livery. He's not lazy per se, but will take the mick and tries to do as little as he can get away with, which makes him good for learning things on as he will just ignore you unless you get it right.

I ride for an hour, so it wasn't just 45 mins, and I'm going back this weekend :)

[Dooley]

I must have got you mixed up with somebody else, I thought you'd said 45 mins in a thread about prices for lessons. But even for a 1 hr lesson you got a lot out of it ;)

I haven't met Mr Pepys. Possibly cause he's just a tad on the small side for me if he's 15.3.

Sounds like you've seriously got the dressage lesson bug. Hope you keep enjoying them!

[Midnight Rose]

I must have got you mixed up with somebody else, I thought you'd said 45 mins in a thread about prices for lessons. But even for a 1 hr lesson you got a lot out of it ;)

Yes, I did reply to that thread :) But I think they were asking for how much a 45 min lesson was so telling them how much an hour cost wouldn't have helped them! :p



I rode Rodney this weekend. He's lovely. A grey. Much sharper than both Mr Pepys and Bella, acts a bit like a young horse but he's 10. I learnt some leg yielding and I had another go at gathering him together before springing into trot. He was SO bouncy! :eek:

I've asked for a lunge lesson next time, I have an awful habit of sucking my knees up so I need to work on that. She doesn't know if we will but has put a note down to remind her what we are working on.

Once I'm richer (I've been having hard times lately) I hope to go once a week, so should see much more improvement then.