First Lesson went good, except...

[Galiena]

Today I had my riding lesson. There was some confusion, apparently the instructor had another student at the same time as me and her lessons are private (somebody else scheduled the lesson), but her parents (the student's) let her do a double lesson today. I was glad, otherwise I would've had to wait until next week. The instructor, Crystal, was nice and complimented me on my seat. I was happy because I was able to keep my heels down and back straight the entire time. I rode in a western saddle (which made me happier still, since I wasn't ready to ride in an English saddle). I felt a little bad, because the other girl (who has had lessons longer than me) kept having to be told to put her heels down and her thumbs up (I did that too).

It all went really well. I even got to trot. And then, when it time to dismount, I almost fell. I laugh even now. My boot got stuck in the stirrup or something. I've always been a bit shakey getting off. Well, today, the horse, Ginger, stopped kinda close to the wall (about three feet away). That made it worse. I was trying to get off without hitting the wall and my boot gets stuck. I almost fell but because I was close to the wall, I was able to use it for support while I got my boot out. I was embarrased but I was able to laugh it off.

And now, the weirdest thing...my feet hurt. More specifically, the arches on my feet. That has never happened to me before. Does it maybe have to do with my boots? They aren't boots made for riding. They have about a two inch heel. I'll add some pictures. (I would put up pictures of the lesson, but my mom used the camera on her phone so the pictures are blurry.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/BethySue/Random%20Stuff/Boots2.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/BethySue/Random%20Stuff/Boot1.jpg

[kedwards]

Yes, I think you'd find a boot with a smaller heel to be more comfortable.

Also, the very thick and heavy-tred soles on these boots may have contributed to your difficulty dismounting and could make it harder for you to free your foot if you fell.

Glad to hear that your first lesson went well - other than the awkward dismount part - and it's good to hear that you have a sense of humor about it.

[Purple Hugs]

Hi! well done on your lesson. :)
I'm getting excited about my 3rd lesson tomorrow.. and have thick soled boots also (desert boots) until I invest in riding boots.

I just wanted to mention that my RI here in the UK makes me take both feet out of the stirrups BEFORE I swing a leg over to dismount. Not sure if this is common everywhere or not, but it would prevent the risk of boot becoming stuck etc.

Glad you were able to laugh it off! :)

[Galiena]

Thanks for your help!

I think I will look for a new pair of boots this week (if I can convince my mom, or dad...).

I just wanted to mention that my RI here in the UK makes me take both feet out of the stirrups BEFORE I swing a leg over to dismount. Not sure if this is common everywhere or not, but it would prevent the risk of boot becoming stuck etc.

I was wondering about that today on the way home from my grandma's house. I didn't know if anybody actually did that, but I guess it would be no different than when I rode bareback. If I don't get a new pair of boots this week, I think I will try it on Thursday.

[Purple Hugs]

it's only a split second thing.. when you are ready to ***-mount pop your feet out swing one leg over and drop down. Nice and slow but steady. ;)

Have a word with your RI in case there is a difference in riding styles or something - you never know. :)

Good luck!

[Galiena]

Have a word with your RI in case there is a difference in riding styles or something - you never know
I think it might be the right way. I've looked it up in several places and they all say to take both feet out of the stirrups before swinging your leg over to dismount. Apparently I was taught wrong 7 years ago.
My mom said we could get me some new boots tomorrow...hopefully. We have to go all the way across town to do that, so we couldn't do it today.

[Tangle]

On an English saddle you'd drop both stirrups before dismounting. I know I'm not the most supple person on the planet, but the only way I know of to get off is to swing one leg over the horse's haunches and to get sufficient momentum I pretty well lie on the horse's wither's.

Trouble is Western saddles have a big horn on the pommel. Has the potential for a major :eek::eek:!

Glad you had such a good lesson - have fun boot shopping :)

[Galiena]

So, I guess I wasn't taught wrong. It was so long ago, the person who taught me may have told us that you are supposed to do that on an English saddle, but maybe not, since we were all riding western.

I hope I have fun boot shoppin. I just hope we can find a pair that won't cost a whole lot. And since I don't need a real nice pair yet, I'm hoping it won't be too hard to do.

[Purple Hugs]

Good luck shopping! Might still be worth discussing it with your RI as she/he might personally prefer you to take both feet out.. :)

Hope your next lesson goes well!

[cvb]

I just wanted to mention that my RI here in the UK makes me take both feet out of the stirrups BEFORE I swing a leg over to dismount. Not sure if this is common everywhere or not, but it would prevent the risk of boot becoming stuck etc.

Aha - but this is riding english not western.

Western you step down. Reason I have been told is the lack of fences in US of A ;) So if you step down and the horse starts to move off, you can step up pretty quick and not lose the horse :D

Being an english rider who rides western, I kind of have a hybrid approach where I keep my foot in til I am out of the saddle and balanced over the centre of the horse, and then kick the remaining stirrup free and jump down. This is also partly cos of dodgy knees and my lack of trust in them ;)

[LMS]

Leaving a foot in the stirrup while dismounting is a safety issue. Regardless of whether you ride english or western, both feet should be out of the stirrups.
In western riding, you may take both feet out first and then dismount and you may keep one foot in until the other foot clears the rump. When you're balanced over across the saddle you swiftly slip your foot out and land with both feet on the ground.

Keeping one foot in is asking for an accident to happen.

LMS
CTRAI, EC Instructor for Beginners

PS Did you find proper riding boots?

[Peace]

When I ride in a western saddle, or my western-style endurance saddle, I leave my left foot in the stirrup until my right leg clears the horse's rump. Then I take my left foot out and sort of slide down the saddle on my right hip until my feet hit the ground.

This is because I once got my foot stuck in the stirrup as I was dismounting - my boots were too wide. The horse started ambling away and I went bounding after him on one leg! :o :D

But if you take both feet out at once in a western saddle, it's easy to either get your shirt hung on the horn or your leg stuck on the cantle. (Never mind how I know this. :o )

Is there a Tractor Supply near you? They have a good selection of boots. Ariat Terrains are my new favorite. :) They look sort of like hiking boots but are narrower and don't have a deep tread. Ariat Ropers are wonderful too. The Ariat Lacers I like for riding but find them uncomfortable to walk in.

[Galiena]

Well, I got some boots. We drove all the way across town to State Line Tack, but we got me some. I didn't get to my first choice in boots-- they were out of my size, so I got my second choice. Here's what they look like...

http://www.statelinetack.com/media/slt/images/products/detail/large/July_05/lg_1066_497a5.jpg

My cousin told me to get paddock boots. And so I hope that is what she meant.

[SupaTania]

Those are fine, Paddock books are good to ride in. my boots are paddock boots too, although i'm hoping for tall boots for my birthday :D

I also take both feet out of the stirrups then hop down. But being 17, it isn't so hard to clear the horses rump just yet. Also land with your knees bent, or else there is a major OW factor involved.

[cvb]

Leaving a foot in the stirrup while dismounting is a safety issue. Regardless of whether you ride english or western, both feet should be out of the stirrups.
In western riding, you may take both feet out first and then dismount and you may keep one foot in until the other foot clears the rump. When you're balanced over across the saddle you swiftly slip your foot out and land with both feet on the ground.

Keeping one foot in is asking for an accident to happen.

LMS
CTRAI, EC Instructor for Beginners

PS Did you find proper riding boots?

So glad to hear what I am doing is legit ! (rather than a cop out based on age and infirmity ;) )

[Peace]

Very nice boots. :cool: I bet you'll find they make a world of difference. :)

[Purple Hugs]

Leaving a foot in the stirrup while dismounting is a safety issue. Regardless of whether you ride english or western, both feet should be out of the stirrups.
In western riding, you may take both feet out first and then dismount and you may keep one foot in until the other foot clears the rump. When you're balanced over across the saddle you swiftly slip your foot out and land with both feet on the ground.

Keeping one foot in is asking for an accident to happen.

LMS
CTRAI, EC Instructor for Beginners

PS Did you find proper riding boots?
Thanks for clearing up any lingering doubt we had as newbies! :D

[Purple Hugs]

Well, I got some boots. We drove all the way across town to State Line Tack, but we got me some. I didn't get to my first choice in boots-- they were out of my size, so I got my second choice. Here's what they look like...

http://www.statelinetack.com/media/slt/images/products/detail/large/July_05/lg_1066_497a5.jpg

My cousin told me to get paddock boots. And so I hope that is what she meant.

They'are lovely boots! :D
I like them better than my own! hehe

I bought plain jodphur boots (also known as chelsea boots over in the UK). They fit well though and are thinner soled thatn the pair I was riding in before - my old boots weren't bought for riding though.

Have you had any more lessons yet? How are you getting on?

[Galiena]

Have you had any more lessons yet? How are you getting on?
I just got home from my second lesson about 30 minutes ago. I was going to play the Sims 2 (with the new expansion pack I got yesterday! :D ), but decided I should tell you all how my second lesson went.

I rode the same horse (Ginger) I rode last time. I was happy about that. My lesson this week was private. That also made me happy. It was, again, in a western saddle, which, once again, made me happy. (I'll have next week's lesson in a western saddle, and then, the week after that, an English saddle.) I had so much fun today. And I looked at my RI like she was crazy.

After warming up Ginger in the inside arena, we went outside to a round pen. I wasn't sure what my RI had in mind, so I just humored her. I walked Ginger around the pen a couple times. Then my RI took the reins from me and put them over the horn of the saddle and told me to leave them there and hold onto the horn. Not that big of a deal. I could do that. She told me to walk Ginger around the pen a couple times. Then she told me to take one hand of the horn, put it out to the side, up in the air, and straight in front of me. Then I did that with my other hand. Then both of my hands. I put my hands back on the horn and my RI told me to take my feet out of the stirrups. Ok, that wasn't that hard either. Then, my RI told me to take my feet out of the stirrups and my hands off the horn and walk around the pen a couple times. It was kinda scarey at first, but I got the hang of it. Then, she had me do all of that, while trotting. I think it was then that I looked at her like she was crazy. Well, long story short, my RI told me that I got that a lot quicker than a lot of people.

My new boots are stiff and it was kind of hard for me to keep my heels down in them today. I think I will wear them to school some day this week so that I can kind of break in.

Oh, and dismounting wasn't a problem at all this week.

[Peace]

Those exercises your instructor had you do are wonderful for developing good balance. :) I probably did miles worth of them last year. :rolleyes: They really work, though - last weekend I was leaning waaay over to smack a mosquito on my right ankle when Bram spooked and shot to the left. But I've done soo many stretching exercises on horseback that it felt kind of normal for me and the horse to be going opposite ways with me in a strange position, so I was just fine. :p

Good for you for catching on to your balancing exercises so quickly. You'll always be glad you spent time doing them. :)

[Purple Hugs]

Sounds v.much like the exercises my daughter does :D Glad you had a good lesson, with no 'events' :)
I'm sure your boots will become comfy, I'd wear them locally rather than to school for a whole day at first. Save yourself from getting blisters - just in case they rub more than you think. ;)

[Galiena]

At school, we have block scheduling. So, we walk very little. It's also a small private school and when we do have to walk to our classes, it's not a great distance. I just can't wear them on Wednesday...our schedule is messed up then and we have every class. I'll take an extra pair of shoes just in case.

Yesterday morning, my calf muscles burned, but not as much as I expected. Nevertheless, I fully expected them to be like that all day. But they weren't. I am eternally grateful to that volleyball coach that I hated that made us exercise those muscles everyday.

[Purple Hugs]

hehe funny how you come to respect stretching and exercise when you are older! :p

good luck breaking your boots in! :)

[dancing-horse]

Congrats on ure lesson. About the boots. You need to get a RIDING BOOT and I'll tell you why. Those shoes u showed us do have a heel, but the heel is very large. Think about how uncomfortable the horse might be with those heels. Its OK for now though, but to pursue a proper riding career you need the proper apparel, and proper boots are deifntley a must. You can look on all sorts of websites for a picture of the type of boots you need. www.statelinetack.com
and u can probably find a good pair of ebay or something. They are quiet expensive, but the proper boots are essential. Shop around @ local tack stores and get your instrcutors opinion. I might recommend ARIAT to you. I use those boots. They are costly, but they are great quality and alst forver.
good luck

[Purple Hugs]

further down the thread on page 1 is the picture of the new boots Galiena purchased :D They are lower heeled. ;)