Progress plateau

[Judith]

Can anyone share the same experience of feeling they have reached a plateau? I know it sounds absurd when I've only been riding for about 18 months, but I've go a horrible voice in my head that says that I've reached as good as I'm ever going to get! I feel really stuck. I suppose it's just part of the huge learning curve and means that I'm getting on to more difficult and demanding stuff so the horses are playing up a bit more etc etc but I just don't think horses really respect me and it's hard to imagine they're ever going to think 'Hey this rider really knows what she's doing. I've got to listen here'!!!

I guess we get harder on ourselves, We don't just think: 'I can walk, trot, canter and do a bit of jumping'. When we've done these things we want to refine them and then it gets really hard. But I'm feeling I need a bit of a breakthrough.

Any thoughts? Know what I mean?

[SIXTEN]

Hi Judith! I have exactly the same feeling and I've been riding for 16 months! I am not nearly as satisfied or happy after my lessons as I used to be and I feel I don't accomplish as much as I used to. My teacher says its because he is introducing harder things for me to do and he doesnt cut me any slack anymore on my bends/circles/trot/canter/even the jumping! I think it's just a normal learning curve: first you progress immensely and then you polish everything you've built up. Good luck!

[Mare-e]

Judith,

You must be reading my mind.(see my post under"keeping him moving forward") I have been riding just over a year and am still nervous at cantor and some days feel like I'll never be as good as some of the 8 year olds. But there are those days when things start to come together, and I feel like I'm almost dancing with my horse. Even if its a perfect circle at an energetic walk, at least I have a taste of what it is supposed to feel like. Have also done trail riding in Vermont where the horse was so happy and energetic that it was easy to feel competent. More important, it reminds me of why I want to ride. Much as I want to be a good rider to be better than the kids and to please my teachers, its really important that I be a safe and sensitive rider. I always want the horse to have as much fun as I do. How old are you and do you have any specific objectives with your riding?

[Wally]

Learning the basics takes time and you will have mastered them usually by 18 months in the saddle. You will be going on to more demanding stuff now and you will have developed a more sensetive seat and will be more tuned in to your mount. It's not you not learning anything, you are just more aware of things not being exactly how you want them. The fact that you feel that you are not as good as you could be is great because you know there is improvement to be had, and willing to improve. The worst person in the world to teach is one who beleives there is no more to learn, they are switched off. With horses you never stop learning and feel you could improve just that bit more.

You have not reached a plateau, you are becoming alive to what a subtle art riding is. Good luck, keep up the good work.

[JCB]

I know exactly what you mean by this - I felt the same way a few months ago - it lasted quite a while but the last two months I have felt as if I am really improving. I think it is just that you have to assimilate all you have learnt and put it into practice for a while before you can begin to learn new stuff again. I commented to my instructor that I feel like I am really improving and she warned me that in a little while I will feel like I've reached another plateau and not to feel disheartened as it is all part of the learning process.

Stick with it and you will soon find you get over the "plateau". Also try doing something different for a change and you might realise how much you have improved - I don't go hacking very often (every couple of months) but when I do I am always pleased with the improvement from the last time.

Good luck.

JCB