Question?

[nasha]

Hi,
I have a question about controlling a horse. I'm a new rider. On Thursday I had my lesson and I had this horse, "peach pie." This horse is a real sweetheart, however, when I ride him, he doesn't wanna move, he just stands in one spot. And in other times, he's really playful. Two weeks ago my sister had the same horse and she fell of him. That kind of scared me, cause now I'm scared if I get him again I'll get thrown off too. So I guess my question is, how can I learn to control him. I don't wanna be scared to ride him. I wanna ride well. But I'm also scared that if I pull the reins to hard or kick them to trot that I'll hurt them
I really wanna be a good rider.
Thanks for anyone who can help.
*nasha*

[kedwards]

Your concerns are reasonable, fair, and thoughtful.

It is possible to hurt horses and it is possible to hurt ourselves. I think having these thoughts and concerns (as a new rider, or any rider for that matter) is a good sign that you are a thinking and sensitive person.

Don't be afraid to talk about your concerns with your instructor and ask her these types of questions. This is what she is there for, after all. Ask her if she can help you to understand what happened that caused your sister's fall. Ask her to give very explicit instructions in how much leg or rein to give. Ask her to discuss with you how to tell when you've asked too much of this horse. What sorts of reactions is he likely to give?

I'm sorry if this advice isn't directly answering your question, but I really think these are the sorts of questions that your instructor is in the best position to answer.

[nasha]

hey kedwards,
Thanks for your advice. It helped me, I will ask my instructor. I just wanna learn more about riding. I really wanna be good at it, i loved horses ever since I was 5. But I know throught time and practice, I'll learn more.
Your very nice, :)
thanks again.

[spiffyscotty]

Hey,

so i have been riding for about 4 years, i have never taken lessons (but REALLY want to) but i would also love to be a good rider haha. i have ridden many many different types of horses, some that are so stubbern and lazy that you have to use sooo much leg with them and others that are so hyper that they buck and buck constantly if you do anything more then a walk. through my riding experience other then asking the instructer or owner how the horse is and what works well with them (how much pressure and such) is to just get on and ride and not be afraid. i know it is a scary thing to fall off... believe me i have done it many times, but now i am so used to it i just think if i fall i will just get back up. it also really helps to keep riding the same horse so you get to know them. Also it helps to watch people, like for instance if someone else rides "peachy pie" then you could watch them and see what works for them. that is how i have learned to ride and how to become better, by just watching and learning. well i dont know if i answered or told you anything useful but just thought i would share some of my experince with you.

[kedwards]

I just wanna learn more about riding. I really wanna be good at it

Me too :D

I'd like to say, "You'll get there," but the truth is, there isn't really any "there" to get to. What's a good rider? If you are ambitious, the definition of that goal will continue to evolve so that it is always still ahead of you.

In other words, that's a darned big goal that can keep someone busy for a lifetime. In the meantime, focus on one or two very specific goals that you can reasonably accomplish in the short run. Identifying these is where a good instructor can come in.

In all fairness, I think it's particularly hard for beginners to learn on horses that won't go forward. While learning to move a reluctant horse forward is important, the skills needed to accomplish that are best learned on a moving horse.

[nasha]

Hey spiffyscotty,
you've been riding for 4 yrs now. Do you have your own horse?
Ya it is a scary thing to fall off. But I know that every rider someimes falls off. But you just have to get back up again. When I saw my sis fall, that scared me cause we're just starting out and suddenly she got thise horse that was really playful adn thre her off, so that kind of scared me. But I don't wanna be afarid of riding peach pie. I wanna learn how to control him, and ride him well. Cause he's a real sweetheart, after my lesson when I put him back in his stable. he knew he wasn't good in the lesson, and he was giving me a hug and looking at me with his brown big eyes. He's a real sweet horse. He just sometimes doesn't wanna ride. I know that all horses are different, and they all have there days where some days they just wanna run in the field and not have a lesson. I guess it's like going to school for them, they don't really wanna go some days and some days they do. lol.
I'm having my lesson today, so hopefully I can do better in my lesson. But if someone has peach pie then I'll look at how their riding him. But one girl in my class had him and she had the same problem.
Thanks for the advice, spiffyscotty.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with me, :)

Hey kedwards,
ya I agree with you on that, it is hard learning to ride, on a horse that doesn't wanna ride. lol.

I think every rider wants to become a good rider and get even better.

Thanks for that advice, I really love it. Ya I have a goal. or two lol. My first goal is to learn learn learn and become a good rider. I jus don't wanna be afraid to ride a playful horse, ya know.
Thank for your advice and help, you both helped alot.
I have my lesson today, so we'll see how that goes. :)

[spiffyscotty]

hey, yeah i actually lease 2 horses now. one is 36 but i dont ride her because she is so old, and i have a 16 year old paint gelding who i ride. i get free board and feww lease so all i have to pay for is food and farrier. i also ride 2 other horses near my house, well let me know how the lesson went!

[nasha]

Hey spiffyscotty,
how r ya?
You lease two horses, lucky. I hope one day I can own my own horse. The girl horse is 36 ahhh.
your other horse seems nice. 16 he's young. free broad, ** lucky.

I had my lesson yesterday. And it went soooooooooooo well. I'm sooooo so happy. lol. As u can tell lol.
I didn't have peach pie cause peach pie was in another lesson. Last night I had a horse named Anakin. He was soooooooooooooooooooo good. He's young, I'm not sure how old though. He loves to jump and he does it so well. yesterday our teacher made us a little course for us to jump and it was soooooo much fun. It was my frist time doing it, and I can't get enough. i love the bigger jumps, it's such a rush. I love it. And when your getting ready for the jump that's even more exciting. lol. It seriously feels like ** flying or something. I love doing jumps. Ridings getting so much fun lol.