riding school problem

[helen1h]

Hi everyone

I have been riding now for 6 months, I have a group lesson once a week and am just starting canter work. I ride a 16hh chestnut mare called crystal and even though other people in my group have changed horses i am still on crystal. She can be quite forward going but is lazy and needs quite firm handling. She naps a lot and swishes her tail whenever you ask her to do anything. The main problem I have is asking for canter, she doesn't respond to my leg aids and when I back them up with my stick she bucks. At first it was just a little one but now she means it, my instructor has ridden her and has had the same problem but she just rode the bucks out.
I obviously don't have the same experience and don't want to use my stick on her as I know what will follow even though I am encouraged to do so.
I have asked to ride another horse a couple of times but they seem reluctant to put me on anything else, they say because I am not secure yet. I have fallen off twice but that was a while a go now and I feel my seat has improved a lot. I really don't know where to turn for advice.
Is it me? should I just try to handle the bucking or should I insist on another horse and admit defeat?

Any suggestions or comments would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Helen

[Yann]

One of my favourite school horses did this, although he went quite nicely for me most of the time. It isn't you, this horse sounds jaded and fed up with its job, and might even have a physical problem which is causing this behaviour.

Ask for another horse if your confidence is being affected, it's easy to blame yourself for everything that doesn't work out when you are a caring beginner, but you're paying good money for lessons and are entitled to some say in who you ride.

[galadriel]

If they're asking you to do something they know will result in a buck, they're a school you should dump and find a better one--particularly if they are concerned about your seat! If they think you are having difficulties with your seat, they shouldn't be having you canter at all.

If you have no other options in the way of riding schools, perhaps you can ask for a lunge lesson to help you develop your canter--but really, this horse sounds like she has a valid reason of one kind or another to not canter (perhaps something is hurting). I definitely think they're knowingly putting you in danger if they ask you to do something which is continually resulting in a buck.

[helen1h]

I think deep down I haven't been happy at my riding school for a while but when you are horsey mad and schools are limited you put up with things. It's kind of better the devil you know and all that.
I did ride another horse at last weeks lesson after a hefty buck from crystal got me so mad i had to get off!! I asked for canter on this other horse and got an immediate response which helped my confidence.
Anyway I could vent about this until the cows come home so i'll shut up now and listen!!!! : )

helen

[cvb]

Helen - if they say you are not 'secure' enough yet, what are they doing to help you with that ?

Or are you just doing the same kind of stuff every week?

Seems to me that getting you more secure is a responsibility you share with them. But as they are the experts, you provide the 'try', will and energy, and they provide an appropriate learning environment and the know-how.

if this is not happening, then is there anything you can do to help it happen ? Either by asking for a private lesson, lunge lesson or whatever (ask them what they can do to help you improve), or by moving schools (vote with your feet !).

Good luck.

[Laetitia]

I agree. They are not being very helpful with enabling you to gain confidence and thus acquiring a good seat. Either leave or insist on a horse you can feel safe on and does what is asked of it. L

[helen1h]

Thanks for the replies everyone
I think one of the main problems is that because I have my lesson in the evening the manager isn't around it's just a freelance instructor and the groom who doesn't assign the horses for the lessons.
The manager doesn't see me ride so doesn't know where i'm at with my riding hence why i have crystal every week. I will try to talk with her but have decided to try a few schools out while trying to sort this out. If I find one I like then problem solved if not then I have decided to get my own horse!! J/kidding i'm not sure what i'll do but thanks for all the advice it's really appreciated!!

helen

[Peace]

I definitely agree you should look around for another school! I left one for sort of the same reason - the school put a novice rider on a horse who was known to buck. Buck he did - the girl stayed on him, but as it was her very first time on a horse, I thought this showed a lack of good judgment on the part of the school.

You know, getting your own horse is sometimes a good solution.:) I found a school/boarding establishment I absolutely love, but they only had one horse on whom I felt comfortable. Shortly before this schoolhorse retired, I bought a horse of my own. I find I'm much more confident, and learn more quickly, with a horse I know well!:)

[eml]

Helen if you 'have to have ' this horse because you are not secure then the school are very wrong to put you on a horse that bucks. If the horse bucks anytime anyone tries to canter then it shouldn't be used in the school because it obviously has a problem. Please speak to the Manager about it or find somewhere safer!

[mojo]

A horse that naps and bucks should not be being used in a riding school. If I were you I would find a new place to ride. Ask to take a good look around the place first. Check the horses look healthy and happy before booking a lesson. This horse sounds like she may be bored or suffering discomfort.

[Wally]

Maybe I'm a bit thick, but your instructor is telling you that you are not secure enough to ride another horse, yet the one they give you now bucks and naps?

What on earth to the others do then that she doesn't think you are secure enough to ride?:eek: :eek: Doesn't sounbd like a school I'd like to go to, the horses don't sound happy.

As an instructor if I saw a horse swishing his tail on each command from his rider, or bucking on canter these would ring ALARM bells in my head, the horse is screaming for someone to liten to him about something, why aren't they listenening? (okay some bucks into canter are "we-hey, this is fun" but from what you describe he is trying to tell the world something)

[Monty]

That sounds like a Rebel type situation, which, OK.... was actually the fault of my leg position which I can't change.However, Rebel demonstrated this clearly by not doing it to other riders, except where they deliberately adopted my leg position. Eventually we had to agree to disagree and part company. You say in your case that the horse does it with your instructor as well.In that case, it sounds more like his back, tack, teeth, or as you said...he's plain fed up.
Either way, they shouldn't be putting you in this position, especially as you haven't been there that long and are having problems with you seat .....(And...Oh boy....do I know about that!)
I think you should be thinking about changing riding schools.It isn't always easy, by try to be more assertive in finding out how they deal with pupils like yourself....i.e mature,nervous,difficulties with your seat etc..... before you comitt yourself to a lesson even.My last instructor wouldn't even let you BE part of a group lesson, until you can control a well-behaved horse at canter.....and I think there was a lot to say for that idea!!

[Sidesaddlelady]

If you always have lessons at night perhaps the poor horse is protesting about being tired and being expected to carry on working after a long day in the school.

Find a new place.

[chapsi]

I agree with the others, that you should be seriously considering moving schools. It is your instructor's responsability to match you with the right horse, to help you to progress, in order to become a safe, confident and competent rider. The kind of situation that you are going through right now doesn't seem to be helping you in any case.

You know, getting your own horse is sometimes a good solution. I bought a horse of my own. I find I'm much more confident, and learn more quickly, with a horse I know well!

I also thought that this was the best option to handle my lack of adequacy. Right now I'm not so sure. At least in a school you can swap to a more suitable horse, but when the horse is yours, you're stuck with him!