Help me I'm confused and my head hurts

[Tommy Matterson]

I hate being asked questions by my instructor; "like what do you want to do today?" Basically because I don't know.

I've been riding since March this year and have reached the stage where I can do the basics (walk-trot-canter in circles).

I realise that I have a way to go before I'm perfect at even the basics, however, in a strange reversal of roles, I feel that my instructor (rather than me) wants the challenge of teaching me something new. That's not to say I lack ambition, however on the two hours a week I ride I am just happy enough to be on a horse.

I have done a bit of beginners jumping (mainly walking over poles with the occaisional 'skip' over a pathetically low bar) and enjoyed it. Should I do that every lesson or mix it up a bit?

I think I lack a goal (other than being a good rider). I need targets to reach. Has anyone else been through this stage or is it just me? Have I gone weird? Maybe its the latter, after all I am sitting here in my breeches at 10.30pm drinking a fine 8 year old irish whiskey whilst the dog licks my feet.

This message is as confused as I am. Please help.

[galadriel]

Hmmm!

After I've done the same sort of exercises enough that my students get to knowing them, I usually start off the lesson asking "What do you want to do now?" What I mean in that instance is "Which of the 15 or so things that we have done in lessons would you like to do?"

If your instructor is asking that sort of question, then think about what you have enjoyed in lessons and would like to do more of; think about what you don't feel like you've really mastered, and would like to practice; think about the things that you think you're going to do with your own horse someday when you're doing pub rides every chance you get, and what you need to practice to make that happen :)

There's also more to horses than the exercises you do in lessons. You could ask for a crash course on recognising and treating various illnesses, or what you do about a major wound, or how to give shots & other health maintenance techniques.

[Salina]

are you my riding clone???
thats what i am doing, walk trot canter and crosspoles, circles, and figure of 8 and rein back . . .
sitting here while dog is eating cushion . . . :rolleyes:

[Tommy Matterson]

I know, I know Galadriel. There's so much to learn and it goes on for ever and ever Amen. I guess it's the 'goal' I need. I need someone to tell me that I must achieve 'X' by a certain date or I'll be shot in the knee (or something).

Why is this dog so interested in my feet?

[Salina]

Poor old cushion, eh, my cushion, so why are you growling at me when i want to save its life??? ive already fed that dog . . . yish

[galadriel]

Okay, it seems to me that the last I heard, your goal was to have a horse to plod around on and enjoy. Is this still the case? What you want to do with a horse should determine your riding/lesson goals.

[Tommy Matterson]

Galadriel - My goals have changed. Yes I want to have a horse to plod around on (did I really say that?) but I also want to do that dancey thing with horses and jump large buildings and ride long distance carrying messages for the queen.

Salina - the dog has finished with my feet now and has suspiciously headed off in the direction of the kitchen. Oh btw I fell in love with an Irish girl recently. She lived in offaly. I was just passing through and so my love went unrequited.

Oh the tragedy of it all.

[galadriel]

No, you didn't say that, not quite ;) My phrasing.

Okay, then I have an errand for you: Go get some videos of 3-day events, and also some videos of dressage (as 3-day usually doesn't cover the dressage element well). Watch them. Look at what those riders do. Ask your instructor what you need to learn in order to do the things you saw them doing. Then ask to learn those things :)

I can understand not having a clear goal, as you're learning the steps involved. You have a vague idea of the end result ;) that you wan to achieve, but you don't really know how to get there--not your fault, you haven't ever done this before. If you can get a clearer view of the end result which you'd like to achieve, then you can be much more definitive about what you want to achieve. If you know that, then it'll help you with picking your intermediate steps--or at least directing your instructor :)

[Salina]

gerrof me cushion, ooops, i mean JACKET!!!!
MUFFIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:p
The pleasures of having a pet . . .
what height fences are you jumping? are they x-poles or straight? x-poles are better for novices because they help you to aim for the center of the fence
Datails of your riding school horse please! i ride an experienced showjumping pony, her name is goldie, and shes 12.2hh a little gem, im a bit to big for her though, i was riding a 15.2hh cob a year ago when i was 11!

[Tangle]

Originally posted by Tommy Matterson
Oh the tragedy of it all.

At least you've got clean feet :p

My in-laws have a dog that likes to lick - especially if you're pregnant. Anything you're not telling us......;) :D

[Tommy Matterson]

Galadriel - Thanks for the advice. I'll think about it carefully (incidentally I have all those videos). Another thought - perhaps I need an element of competition? Are there competitions for thirty year old beginner people? Mind you what would we do?

Salina - I mainly ride a 16hh Cob called Bob. He's quite sensitive and obliging . When my instructor thinks I need more of a challenge I am given Flint, who's a friend of Bob's and a massive 17hh. Flint is less Cobby with a much narrower barrel and who demands you get everything right (seat, hand, legs) before he'll oblige. Flint also has very different, um, length of stride. He is more of a challenge, I have problems getting him into canter on corners. However one advantage he has over Bob is that he doesn't take 6 dumps per lesson.

Oh and I ride over x-poles

[Salina]

17hh:eek:
I love big x poles, there fun to jump, its like trying to hit the center spot on!!!:D

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Tommy Matterson
Are there competitions for thirty year old beginner people?

Of course! But since you refuse to reveal your general location, helping you find one might be tough ;P Definitely something to ask your instructor though.

[Tommy Matterson]

Lets just say Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire (in merry old England) are my chosen areas of operation.

Georgia is a little bit out of my way.

[helen03]

ask your instructor if you can do some jumping lessons, bounce jumps, triples, no stirrups and rein jumping, do it by september or i will personally come shoot you in the knee, your only a few counties to the right of me (and i could steal your whiskey while i'm there!)lol :D

[Peace]

Are there competitions for thirty year old beginner people? Mind you what would we do?

I bet if you go to some small local shows, you'll see plenty of adult beginners - I've met more than a few at ours.:) It's also a good way to meet the horsey folks in the area, and I love the oppportunity to watch the advanced riders and try to steal their techniques.;)

Your instructors ought to be able to hook you up.

[tillynz]

Go on a quiet hack, do more trotting and get really bored, keep doing the same thing till your head is going to burst, then go watch some people getting out their and doing it, more trotting until you are so jealous and competition hungrey you'll eat the other riders unless they bow down. Then get to work.

PS Watching it in real life is far more imspring than a video. Real life you actually have to restrain your self for reaching out and tugging them off their horse.

PPS I am babysitting, my dog's puppies. They aren't eating anything.......so consequenly they are whining away.

[Wally]

Right Tommy, Want a challenge? you can obviously stay put now and not wobble about.

Give Smári Steingrimsson at Edda Hestar a ring and book a trekk or hack, whatever, on one of his Icelandics, then your head will hurt even more as you will experience tölt and pace and then you'll want to jump the buildings and do flying pace too.

Claire Grocott and Smári are great fun, give them a ring they are in Pitton just north of Salisbury. It's well worth the day out. If you want the number PM me. He also gives lessons in the gaits if you want, but a trek is as good as anything top start with.
My dog has just brought a 3x3, 4 foot fencing post into the house for me to throw!:eek:

[Santorium]

Tommy,

Not sure whether there are competitions for 30 year old beginners with a penchant for Whiskey, but there definately are such events for 27 yr old beginners and that's what I'm gunning for.

Like you I'm in walk, trot, canter land and enjoying it massively, but I (being a competitive swine) do have an end goal - my instructor and I going head to head in one day eventing.

Chances of me beating her currently are lower than absolute zero, but the deal has been struck and it gives us both something to aim for.

Once she realised just how serious about this I was she offered firstly to make sure it happens, and secondly to take a week off when it does and leave her yard and horses in my (hopefully) capable hands.

FYI - the yard has 5 horses in livery, her racehorse, and her one day event horsey too. I'm looking forward to receiving the key ;)

[joy70]

tommy

I have been riding since i was 11, seriously since i was 21 & bought my boy 10 years ago i too am in my 30's some weeks i just wanna plod, other weeks i get it into my head I wanna compete, so i do our shows allow for 30 somethings to be jumping small X poles, in fact most of em are adults at our jumping competition, then some weeks i have aspirations to be really good at schooling & have an obedient pony - this week im thinking about breaking/schooling him to western style! :D but on the whole the most important thing is that i ride!

so now whos confused!, think about what youve been enjoying on the horse :o and ask to do some more of the same

no ones licking my feet :( no ones licking me at all - gonna go sulk now as obviously my tootsies are not appealing ;)

[LindaAd]

Look in local tackshops and freeads for local riding club shows - they all have competitions for beginners, jumping and dressage (that's your 20m circles and the rest) and other things. Ours even has a geriatric jumping class, with little jumps, but you're a bit young for that... the lower age limit is 35.

[notpoodle]

(sorry this might be a wee bit off the subject of this thread ...)

wally,

you mentioned the courses at edda hestar! that sounds just like the kind of thing i'd love to do! i just had a look on their website, but was under the impression, you'd have to bring your own horse (and i haven't got my own). in fact, there was not a lot left of the webiste i looked at a while ago. are you sure they still do courses at edda hestar?

julia

x

[Wally]

He usually runs courses and he hires/lends horses for folk to do the course on, he always used to anyway. ....Unless he's suddenly changed tack (no pun:D :D ) in the last few months.

[notpoodle]

i shall investigate :)

julia
x

[FRED]

Have you tried group lessons where there is a course marked out with cones and poles...:D this can be great fun.
As one rider doe's figure of 8, another maybe doing serpentine while another 10mtr circle over poles while another goe's large, and everyone has to move on when the instructor says to change, no collisions allowed!!!, all this action while troting of course! fingers crossed every one gets there timing right.
It can seem like caous:D but I enjoyed it for a change.

[SwiftwindSpirit]

Originally posted by Tommy Matterson
I hate being asked questions by my instructor; "like what do you want to do today?" Basically because I don't know.

I hate being asked that question aswell, I never know how to reply.. I'm just like "umm.. I have no idea'. :o Really, I hate making decisions and it's just not possible for me to decide on things like this.. my mind just goes blank! :D

[Tommy Matterson]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I think what I need is my own horse. Then I'll have lots to do. Ha!

[Salina]

Have you ever thought of buying your own horse, and taking her to the lessons, and learning the lesson on her, then you could practise in between lessons? theres some riding schools over here that do that!:)

[Tommy Matterson]

Great idea. I'm off to PetsMart now!

[Horsey Bird]

your dog sounds like someone I once read about....oh yeah...that dude who was photographed licking Fergies feet all those years ago.....

Now what was all that about??? But since this is a family-oriented, clean-living type of forum, I wont delve any deeper into the psychology / psychosis of your dog....

However, I'd have to say that was an awful waste of his alloted 15 seconds of fame!

On a more serious note, since you're close to my neck of the woods, ie Somerset, is it safe to assume you have some pretty good hacking in your area?

If you want to challenge yourself and your hired-steed, see if you can go on a hack in the woods, on a beach or anywhere else. Its VERY different to riding in an arena. First the horse gets to see all kinds of interesting and potentially spooky things which challenges your wits, your nerves and your balance (depending on just how spooky those trees are). Second you can practice your "moves" in a more challenging environment, and third, its a lot more fun for all concerned (and you could probably take in a pub on the way back!!)

I must admit I didnt read all the posts before mine, so it may have already been suggested, in which case, many apologies...

[OlavS]

I'm a bit like Santorium on this one,
I want to start in the same SJ classes as my instructor :o

Mind you, she's been riding for 15 years (and she's only 17)... I've been riding for 6 months, so I guess it'll be quite some time until I can jump 1.20m (4 feet to you Imperial lot) and higher. But 1.20m is the goal...for now.

But then having been to Heather's seminar and watched her ride, along with videos of other top dressage riders, I'm thinking working on my sitting trot probably wouldn't be a bad idea. Could even be fun now that I've seen proof that sitting the trot is indeed possible :p