Riding lessons & horses

[Bertie]

I'm not sure whether this is being posted in the right place - apologises if not:o

My problem is (not really a problem) that I have a weekely group lesson at my riding scholl which I throughly enjoy - however more recently I am being asked to ride more and more difficult horses I don't feel comfortable on. If you ask to change and say your not comfortable then you get a reply of "your in the intermeadiate to advance class you should be able to ride any of the horses on the yard". :rolleyes:

Am I just being a little pathetic???:o

Being only 5'4" and reasonably lightweight I have always been given the samller horses and ponies and rarely ride anything over 15.3hh, so when I'm asked to ride extremely difficult 17hh+ horses and jump them I do not feel I have the confidence or ability after riding smaller horses mostly - I also had a bit of accident last time I rode a 17hh+ and jump nearly fracturing my sternum, this may be jolting my confidence on bigger horses.

Any advice would be welcome - even if you think I'm being silly :) :o

[Echo64]

I really don't think you're being silly. I think it's quite natural that you'd be worried about larger horses.

Have you taken the instructor(s) aside and told them of your situation, explaining why you'd be more comfortable on the back of a smaller mount? You don't need to tell them your life story by any means, but it might help if you had a chat with them.

[Bertie]

I did ask last week not to ride this particularly difficult mare but was told I'm more than capable and get on with it, I'm not normally a person who backs down or is pushed or bullied into anything which surprises me why I just lay back and take it.

It's not that Im scared of larger horses, I've just not had that much experience. I have a lesson this evening and will mention it to me instructor if I get a horse I'm not comfortable with.

[S_F_S]

Originally posted by Bertie
"your in the intermeadiate to advance class you should be able to ride any of the horses on the yard". :rolleyes:


What a terrible destructive attitude from your riding school- an probably lowering your self confidence even further!

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Bertie
[B]I did ask last week not to ride this particularly difficult mare but was told I'm more than capable and get on with it, I'm not normally a person who backs down or is pushed or bullied into anything which surprises me why I just lay back and take it.

It's not uncommon for normally assertive people to suddenly lose their assertiveness in riding lessons. It's a phenomenon that's been noted but I don't know of any decent hypotheses on the cause.

But now that you're aware that 1) you're not alone and 2) you're not just being silly, perhaps you'll be able to feel more "yourself" next time you have a similar discussion. You're in lessons; it's their job to teach you and to help you build your confidence on horseback.

[horsemad]

Hi Bertie

No, you are definitely NOT being pathetic!!

I'm sure this must be a common enough problem. I can see this from the riding school's point of view - it must be difficult trying to match up horses and riders, and there may not be enough of the steady quiet types to go round! And the instructor obviously thinks you are capable of riding the more difficult horses, so you are probably a better rider than you think you are!:)

Having said all this, you are paying good money for your lessons, so I think you are within your rights to say you aren't happy with a particular horse. It makes no difference if your instructor thinks you are capable of riding the more difficult horses - if you don't feel happy, this is only going to ruin your confidence. Riding is supposed to be fun after all...

I do know how you feel - I rode at a riding school in Kent a few years ago, and there were only 2 or 3 horses that I would ride - I thought the rest were far too sharp for me, and I knew I wouldn't be happy riding them. Luckily, the riding school was very obliging and they always did their best to accommodate me. So speak to your instructor and see how you get on - if s/he isn't sympathetic, is there another riding school you can go to?

Good luck and let us know how you get on......:)

[Bertie]

Thank you all for your advice.

After my lesson last night I feel a lot more confident, I was placed on a larger horse than i'm used to over 16hh and a horse that ios renowned for being tempermental at times - Tuesday he thought he was a rodeo horse apparently!!!:eek:

My usual instrutor was not taking us - this new instructor is new to the school and our lesson so didn't know horses or riders so asking to change was not really an option tonight. I grited my teeth and thought conquer my fear - we were jumping as well:eek: :eek:

Throughout the lesson he did his rodeo impression every now and again - which I sat deep and pushed him on (on advice of usual instructor), he responded well and we jumped nearly 4ft :D :D :D

I was very please with myself and felt I'd had a good ride - although I think any bigger is too big for little me :p :p

Thanks again for all you help and advice :)

[horsemad]

Originally posted by Bertie


Throughout the lesson he did his rodeo impression every now and again - which I sat deep and pushed him on (on advice of usual instructor), he responded well and we jumped nearly 4ft :D :D :D



Well done - I think I was right in saying you are a better rider than you think you are - staying on a bucking horse and jumping nearly 4ft:eek: :eek: I reckon there's nothing you can't do:D

[Jamey]

Bertie, were do you ride? I'm quite close to you and am yet to find a yard with a decent supply of 15.2hh+ horses!!! Please!!! Tell me where it is!!!!:D :D :D Please!!!

(being pathetically desperate now :o )

[LynneAC]

Originally posted by galadriel
But now that you're aware that 1) you're not alone and 2) you're not just being silly, perhaps you'll be able to feel more "yourself" next time you have a similar discussion. You're in lessons; it's their job to teach you and to help you build your confidence on horseback.

ITA, maybe it's the pupil/teacher thing, respect and all that!

I'm glad you're feeling better about it now, I have the opposite problem so I can relate! I've been put on the 'better' horses without incident previously but after an accident jumping was put back to the beginner horses and am now getting bored. I've tried to address the situation but don't want to come across as cocky or think that I'm better than I am (I'm more than aware of my inadequacies).

All the best

x

[Tootsie4U]

Dont forget you also pay your instructor to evaluate your riding level and perhaps *push* you out of your confidence level a bit in order to make you advance. This is where having a good instructor that you trust is very important. Soemtimes you dont think you can, but they know you can!

Your instructor should be able to answer this too (as well as yourself): What makes you an intermediate/advanced rider? The length of time you've been riding or your ability?