Terrible Lesson!

[Katie_85]

Ok. This might be kind of a long post so anyone who doesn't wish to hear me ranting and raving and complaining and so on about my lesson might want to stop reading right about... now. Here goes: Today, for the first time I was on an English saddle. (I'm starting to see what Outrider means by leather napkin lol) I was riding an Arabian who is now in his 20's. I was in the round pen. My instructor was keeping the horse on a lead line until I found my balance. I was giving the horse leg pressure, but everytime I tried to bring him to the rail, he backed up. On the OTHER side of the rail there is a single line of electric wire. Now, I knew that the minute this horse swished his tail he was going to swish it on that wire and light up BOTH our lives if you get my drift! :eek: Anyway, we progressed on with the lesson and I just couldn't get the hang of this English saddle thing. So I dismounted, (a long way to the ground by the way) and my instructer got on and, whaddya know! Brand new horse! With me he was clopping around like an elephant. With my instructor on I think he dropped about 10 years in age and about 20 school riders in experience. I didn't even want to get back on and I'm about half considering quitting all together. I'm getting VERY discouraged and I'm starting to wonder if I'm really even interested in keeping this up at all. For those of you who were brave enough to read this post to the end, thanks and if you can offer any advice, it would be much appricicated.

[Edited by Katie_85 on 4th Mar 2001 at 01:52 AM]

[jillaroo]

Hi Katie,
Don't despair! It's early days yet! English saddles feel very strange after a western saddle, but just like everything else in life it's just a matter of getting used to it. I remember when I switched from western to English I was horrified because I felt so unbalanced and was sure there was no way I could move faster than a walk without surely sliding off and doing a faceplant in the dirt. But now I feel that western saddles are so big and cumbersome and I am much more at-home in an English saddle. Stick with it and if in time you still don't like it then go back to western, but since this was your first try at it don't be too hard on yourself.

[horselover]

I will never forget how akward and unsettled i felt when I first rode in an English saddle. I had been riding western for years, and the switch to english was almost my undoing! It does feel very awkward and strange- an anglish saddle IS, as Outrider often says, a "leather napkin." There's hardly anything there, huh? And the stirrups are so far back, and the thin stirrup leather doesn't help you hold your leg in position. My legs were flying all over! And I couldn't get comfortable.

If you have rode western for quite a while, this feeling is very normal. And I don't doubt that your feeling of awkwardness was being picked up by the horse and making him act the way he did.

We all have bad days when giving up sounds do nice. But just think about it- do you really truly want to stop? Trust me, it may take a while, but you will soon be riding in an english saddle as if you have been doing it your whole life!!! :) :)

[Outrider]

I've ridden western all my life and, shhhh, don't tell anyone, but I've even ridden english and had to train some horses in Saudi Arabia with only english saddles! I know exactly what you mean! Been there, done that, but didn't get a t-shirt! Here's what I suggest. Don't quit! If you have been riding western, you can get the hang of english. If an old cowboy can, anyone can! With your english saddle, you ight try lengthening your stirrups some. Your instructor may not like it, but tell her it is just till you get more balance. Use your knees to keep your seat. But here is my alternative and gives you the best of both worlds. Get an Austrailian stock saddle with a horn! It is a smaller saddle and shaped like an english saddle with less leather, but it has fenders in front that you set your legs against and it holds you in secure. If you can't keep your balance with an aussie saddle, well, YOU JUST CAN! I really like them. Before you quit riding all together, do yourself a favor and ry this kind of saddle as a compromise. Your instructor will understand. And if not, get yourself another instructor. She works for you...not the other way around. Happy Trails!

[Tammy]

When I first rode on an english saddle I felt really insecure. The thing that bothered me the most was the free-swinging stirrup leathers; they force you to develop a good seat and there is no leeway for laziness.

What helped me was to shorten the stirrup leathers a hole or two beyond what you would normally use. It was easier to learn to keep my heels down and put weight in my heels rather than the ball of my foot.

Do not grip with your knees (easier said than done!!) This will cause all kinds of problems as you will pivot on your knee and not have a deep seat with weight in your heels. The goal is to have your entire leg lightly wrapped around the horse like a "wet cloth around a barrel". This will enable you to use your leg for aids.

Keep up the lessons; english riding is more difficult to learn but I think it is worth it. Yesterday my vet told me she is taking dressage lessons in order to get a good seat and gain control of her body. She couldn't believe how difficult it is...found muscles she didn't know she had and this girl is in tip top shape!! She has ridden western all her life, so you see, you are not alone!

Take it slowly and remember the good moments!

[Sharon H]

If you enjoy riding western, why bother learning english? Surely you'd be better off to go back to western than give up altogether? I'm considering having a go at western riding for the first time and I might feel the same way about it as you do, but the other way around if you get my drift!

[Katie_85]

Thank you for your wonderful replies everyone! I had a night or so to think about it and I'm going to stick with it. I eventually wanted to go to an English saddle, but this was my first experience both with it and riding this horse. I never had so many problems getting the horse to cooperate either, but that was my fault, not his. Thanks again, and I'll kep eveyone updated on my progress. :)

[Dizzy]

losing the stirrups for a while, and let your instructor concentrate on your position. I have ridden all my life english, and am having lessons at the moment because I haven't ridden for a long time (about 4 years). Most of my lessons at the moment are stirrupless. I'm sure you'll find this easier as with riding western you will have good balance and a deep seat and when you have got used to the different feel and moved your legs into 'english' position you'll find the stirrups easy. One more thing is don't grip with your knees, try to have your shoulder, hip, heel in line, with your weight falling through your heel, but don't force it so that your heel feels rigid, be relaxed.

One thing my instuctor says is open your hips and have your weight fall through them, and imagine your legs are damp cloths just draped round the horses sides, relax and breath.

Please keep us posted how you come, don't give up, I've always been interested in the difference between western and english ride and you will be one of the best people to tell me. There is obviously a huge difference in teqnique, but between us we both achieve an understanding with horses.

Lesley

[Katie_85]

I didn't have a very good seat on the Western either, but I'm the one who eventually wanted to do English! I posted a few weeks ago about not being able to sit deep enough to get to a trot. :eek:
Outrider: As for the Australian saddle, nice thought, but
A-can't afford one
B-not usually riding the same horse from weekto week
C-gonna have to get used to the English some time!
But thanks for the suggestion. Maybe if I ever get my own horse I will do that.
Thanks again everyone and I will let you know how it goes.

Oh, and sorry if this post is a little spacey, I just got done typing an assignment so I'm not exactly awake and alert on what I'm doing! :o

[Meghan]

I started riding lessons last November, once a week, so I am still very new. I don't have my own horse yet, so my current goal is to gain enough skill and confidence to be able to ride whichever extra horse is available with whatever tack is fitted to that horse. As a beginner, I am limited to only a couple horses. Very few members of my local club have extra horses that are good for beginners.

So, I explained this to my instructor, and she is teaching me western and english, direct reining and neck reining. Basically a good seat and hands that will help me on any horse.

I started with a western saddle. After 3-4 lessons, she started having me ride the first half of the lesson bareback. We started in the roundpen so that I wouldn't have any problems with steering or really going anywhere. The idea was to help me feel the movement of the horse. Then we would saddle up and go to the arena. I practiced the sitting trot and learning to move with the horse. After a few lessons like that, we started doing the whole lessons bareback in the arena. This included short bursts of trotting. I was very nervous at first, so we would do short rounds, and I would hold onto the mane for comfort. My instructor had a bitless bridle, basically a sidepull, on the horse so that I would not be hurting her mouth at all.

I did finally fall off in the 4th lesson of this type. I know it sounds weird, but I am not nervous anymore. The fall wasn't so bad, so now I am not so terrified of falling. And I have gotten much better at keeping my balance. I am still a bit wobbly at the turns while bareback, but I am much better in the saddle.

I know you are wondering what this has to do with the english saddle, but this past week, I had my first lesson in the english saddle. After riding bareback for over a month, I found the english saddle to be much better than I expected. It felt comfortable, and not nearly as scary as I had first imagined. I do find it hard to keep my feet in the stirrups in the proper position.

I know it is scary to start, but see if you can do a few lessons bareback. Start on the lungeline at the walk. And as you get more comfortable, go to the trot. It will really help to gain your balance, and that improves your confidence. After riding bareback, that English saddle won't seem so small.

[Katie_85]

Thanks Meghan! My instructor said that she would like to teach bareback, but the Arabian which is her school horse is a little too spooky. She doesn't have many horses, but if I ever get the chance to try bareback, I will.:)

[Meghan]

You definitely don't want a spooky horse for it!

My regular lesson horse is a 32 year old QH. Very nice, and very good at ignoring my unintentional cues. And she stops as soon as she feels me losing my balance. Very good horse.

I have ridden one sort-of spooky horse, a 7 year old thoroughbred with more energy. I had the saddle for that lesson though. I probably would have done okay for most of the lesson if bareback, but not all of it.

It might be okay for you if the horse stays calm while on a lunge line. The instructor would control the speed and direction, so there shouldn't be any surprises.

[JackiAH]

Oh dont worry! I know how annoying an English saddle can be after using a western one! You just have to work on your balance.... Its ok, everyone has a horrible lesson once in a while.

[floppy]

daont despair katie..you cant learn in one day how to ride with a new style of saddle, new way of riding, and controlling the horse expecting to ride perfectly!!!:)
evn though i was taught riding english..and rode for the first time with a western saddle last month...i know its tough...except i knwo how more secure you feel with a western..so for you mayeb its tougher!...riding bareback might help..as well as riding with the english saddle with you feet out of the stirrups...best way to learn how to sit properly...my probelm with the western saddle is the damned pomel thing!! its always in the way!;)

[Altair]

Bad Lesson? I know how ya feel.

English saddles can be horribly strange after riding western. The first few times I rode it was western. The first time I rode english it felt very, very different. Lucky for me I wasn't quite "used" to a western saddle, so I didn't have a very hard time adjusting.

Trust me, if you keep working on it, you'll get the hang of it.

[malibu]

Hi Katie,

I haven't had time to read all the replies, so firstly I'm sorry if I've repeated anything that others have said.

I've never ridden Western before and I'm sure I would find it difficult at first - but I'd love to have a go someday.

The comments I have are more to do with your message in general. Firstly, don't be put off by the fact that your instructor rode the horse better than you - that's why she/he's the instructor and you're the student. If anything, proof that your instructor can ride and get the response they ask for shows that they will be teaching you the right things.

Secondly, don't underestimate the difference it makes when you ride a horse you know. You said that your instructor doesn't have many horses, in which case he/she is probably used to riding this one. When I had my horse, he was used in a few lessons. I remember one lady riding him and getting frustrated that she couldn't get him to trot on. At the end of her lesson she asked if I could get on him to show her (she knew he was mine). I got on him and he performed brilliantly, which made her feel even worse. But then I explained to her that I knew him and he knew me, so we each knew what to expect. Please don't beat yourself up over it - different people take to different disciplines/horses at differing speeds - you WILL get there eventually!