My Second Lesson

[*HaRRY-J*]

Ok, so I had my first lesson and it went ok. The group I am with are all adult ladies which is what I had hoped for, but they are a bit more experienced so i'm playing catch-up at the moment.

I think that because I had a bit of riding experience in the past the instructor expected me to know the basics already- but because I never had 'proper' lessons I don't really! I always used to let my pony copy the one in front and wasn't properly in control.

so...

When she says to 'use your seat' to do something.. what does that mean?!! How can you use your bum to do anything?

[Grace O'Malley]

By "using your seat" she probably meant letting your hips rock with the horse's movement (and so encouraging him to go forward) versus "stilling your seat" by *not* going along with the horse's movement (and so sending a signal for him to slow down). I probably haven't explained this very well, but for example a while back I got to ride a friend/former instructor's horse; in order to slow him, she told me to inhale and then exhale deeply. She'd been training him to slow just with the relaxation of a deep exhalation. You can try that--don't collapse--just exhale, sit deeper and stop moving.

I know what you mean about being put in a group that's a bit ahead... When the instructor I mentioned above moved away, she helped me get a place with another instructor, who put me in a group of "mature" ;) riders. I felt like the class clown! I had to fake my way through a lot of stuff, simply so as not to slow the group down. Even for many of the things that I did know how to do, I didn't know the proper terminology for. So, I started studying books on riding, watched the others, and learned a lot from her very well-schooled horses.

Good luck!

Grace

[T-bred]

When she says use your seat she means for you to control the horse using your seat rather then the reins. So if you sit back and sit deep in the saddle that should slow the horse down.

Anna

[Scarlett 001]

Would it be helpful to have a few weeks of private lessons and then go back into the group? Might help you "catch up" with less pressure etc. I find private lessons really useful and lots of progress can be made. Just a thought...

[cvb]

why not ask HER what she means ? You don't have to do it in front of the group - see if you can get a quick word before or after. The instructor needs feedback to be able to teach you well - so she really needs to know if she's not explaining things properly.