tnawarriorprincess
2nd Jul 2000, 08:29 AM
I can only afford (money & time wise) to lesson once a week, of course I would live at the barn if I could. I took lessons for about a year, got pregnant with my daughter, & after about 3 yrs I have been back to my lessons for about 2 1/2 months now. I take private lessons, although recently my instructor has been allowing me to do some on my own before & after my lesson, & in the middle of my lesson this week she stopped to give me & the horse a breather while she gave some instructions to another woman who was having a similar problem.
I have found that when I ride before & after my lesson by myself I get that extra "practice". For instance if I feel that he is speeding up like a locomotive in trot or canter & doesn't want to listen to my seat then I immediately do a halt & rein back, or leg yield, or something for him to know that he has to listen to my cues, & bring his attention back to me. I think when you can follow your own lead & you feel that something is coming together that you have been working on, then you really gain more confidence in your riding skills. Especially when I can do something over & at my own speed rather than listen for the next instruction...& funny thing is that sometimes I get exactly what my instructor has told me better when I am by myself rather than when she is standing there during the lesson.
Ask your instructor if it would possible for you to get some individual riding time, what they would charge, or if they need any help excersizing the horses through the week?
Also (I know this is long), I have been told to tighten the outside rein more so than the inside, especially when they are playing with the bit or head tossing.
good luck, hope this helped! Tina
I have found that when I ride before & after my lesson by myself I get that extra "practice". For instance if I feel that he is speeding up like a locomotive in trot or canter & doesn't want to listen to my seat then I immediately do a halt & rein back, or leg yield, or something for him to know that he has to listen to my cues, & bring his attention back to me. I think when you can follow your own lead & you feel that something is coming together that you have been working on, then you really gain more confidence in your riding skills. Especially when I can do something over & at my own speed rather than listen for the next instruction...& funny thing is that sometimes I get exactly what my instructor has told me better when I am by myself rather than when she is standing there during the lesson.
Ask your instructor if it would possible for you to get some individual riding time, what they would charge, or if they need any help excersizing the horses through the week?
Also (I know this is long), I have been told to tighten the outside rein more so than the inside, especially when they are playing with the bit or head tossing.
good luck, hope this helped! Tina