Sack of spuds in an armchair!!

[Kryss]

Yesterdays lesson: I've been taking lessons since May and I feel I'm progressing in some ways. So yesterday I took some positives out but got one big negative. A while back I got my RI to take some pics of me. I'm glad I don't know how to post pics yet as you'd all have a laugh :( Very much sat like a sack of spuds in an armchair!! So to my dismay pics from yesterday are the same!! :eek:
Yes I cantered round and got the feel of the correct or wrong lead, and turned in canter to pop over poles, x poles and a 1 foot pole and on the last run managed to keep him going all the way through...so was feeling pretty good. I know it was all a bit ragged and the poor horse put up with lots. But feeling deflated on seeing my pics. I know it's early days and I don't get to ride more than a couple of times a week at best. There's so much to remember and I was hoping that my seat was developing as I went. I feel happy and confident on the horse. Was wondering if anyone has any tips..I don't want to get into this bad habit. I see so many other riders looking so good on the horse and that's where I want to be. :)

[Cherokee]

don't put yourself down , you have'nt been riding long and getting and maintaining a good posistion is hard.It sounds like you have been improving really well in other areas :D .I have got loads of photos where i look absolutely awful(i have been riding for a year) but then i also have some quite nice photos too and it is great to be able to see how much i have improved.when you say sat in an armchair do you mean when you have your lower leg quite far forward ? If that is the case don't worry too much just try to get your lower leg a little further back but when you are still developing your position it is hard to do everything right at once.

Good luck :D

[Kryss]

Thanks for your support Cherokee. Sometimes it's frustrating. Yes there's progress in many ways. I'm so aware that if I had more time on a horse I could improve everything. As still a beginner/novice it would be so nice perhaps to take a step back and just for a while and maybe just consolidating what I've got so far. Just to sit on a horse myself without having to learn something new...just figure out somethings myself! I'll get there I'm sure :D

[bexj]

Hey don't be too hard on yourself. I had much the same conversation with my instructor last week, and I've been riding for a total of oh gosh, about 20 years!! It takes ages to develop a good seat, and remember all the heels down, look up, hands up, back straight etc etc etc all at the same time. And it is more difficult when you only ride once a week or so!

You sound like you are doing really well with your riding, so don't get disheartened by looking at a few photos which may have caught you in an "off" moment anyway!

[laura jeanne]

I'm so aware that if I had more time on a horse I could improve everything. As still a beginner/novice it would be so nice perhaps to take a step back and just for a while and maybe just consolidating what I've got so far. Just to sit on a horse myself without having to learn something new...just figure out somethings myself! I'll get there I'm sure :D

I felt that way for a long time! I just wanted to practice by myself but in a lesson, you are always being told what to do. My teacher now has us back at the walk and sitting trot so we are really practicing the basic position. I'm still not very good- still don't feel completely natural in the arena. I feel much better just out on a ride. Maybe things just distract me on a ride and I'm not so self conscious about every little thing and get to relax more. I've been riding for 2 years.

[shirley]

I am still in the process of learning to jump at the moment. Actually went over a very small jump last week, did it four times and came off on one of them. I got to thinking about how I must look to some of the others who were doing the cross country course nearby all who really looked good, good position, great balance, rhythmn etc and I must look like pants, feeling very much like a sack of potatoes on back of my horse. But then thought several monthes ago I would not even have attempted to jump, not even contemplated it either. But now I am, so I reckoned that although I must look bad, I had made progress. Actually getting over the jump and staying on and falling off after the jump was a big leap (not proverbially by the horse) forward for old me - but that the style etc could be developed, we had done it and got over the biggest fear - having all four feet off the floor at once!!!
So onwards and upwards (not to high though!!!!)