Need some reassuring

[Jubato]

Hello all!

My hubby and I are completely newbie riders and had our very first lesson today. I loved being around the horses, although somewhat nervous as was first time.

To begin with, my horse started walking by itself when it saw my husband's horse walking. I haven't even nudged yet! *laugh* Most of the lesson, I just felt like she just followed my husband's horse who later got mad at her and tried to nib her. We had a little moment there. However, I felt a really deflated by mid-lesson. Instructor had us do a sitting trot, that went ok, I like bouncing up and down. But the rising trot, I just *can't* seem to get it. It got pretty frustrating as I can't figure out if it's just my legs not being strong enough or my stirrups were too low (I'm only 5ft) or what is it. :( He spent a chunk of time focusing on trying to get me to go up and down and up and down but I still couldn't get it. :(

Instructor kept pushing my foot around and when he says it's in the right position, I feel like my ankle's twisted.:eek:

Ahhhh feel kinda sad now, am I just not "suitable" for riding or something? My husband didn't seem to have problems at all.

Tell me it's going to get better!!!! :o *sniffles*

[kirstie]

Awww poor you i can tell you it will get better, when i watch my RI giving lessons 9/10 times riders will bounce around all you need is practice it look me ages to get used to raising trot :o :D but you'll get used to it eventually. and about the ankle hurting when your instructor pushes it into the right place it will hurt for a while but then it will come natural. Good luck. and by the way anyone can do riding you just have to enjoy it and have fun ;)

[Whatanejit]

HI Jubato:D

Please don't be sad - your post was a bit deja vu for me!!

Your lesson sounds perfectly normal for a first lesson - some will be amazing some will be frustrating, some will just be.

I ride with my husband too and some weeks I am rubbish and he has been the star - other weeks it is the other way around and some weeks we are both just ok.

If you love the horses and like the challenge of learning to ride - it isn't as easy as it looks - just enjoy and don't put too much pressure on yourself.

After a few lessons you should have a lunge lesson each where you can have RI full attention on you.

It took me a while to realise that rising trot isn't up down it is actually a 'pelvic thrust' forward and then sit.

Move your hips towards your hands rather than jump up and down.

Sit on the arm of your sofa and practice ;) ;)

Sounds like you did just fine to me.

Hope to hear some more of your stories on NR

xx

[horse__obsessed]

Its going to get better! Im sure you'll soon overtake your husband!

Try asking if you can make your stirrups a bit shorter, as this can help (though it isnt techinically correct, it helps!)

[Valentine]

Totally agree with Kirstie... some people take longer then others to grasp it but it just takes a bit of perseverance and you'll soon be doing rising trot naturally and be wondering how you could ever NOT do it :D

[XxTraceyxX]

Awwww Don't worry hun! I was like that when i started riding (even though i was 12) My riding instructor told me i was doing everything wrong and told me i couldnt ride to save my life :( but then i moved to a better yard and have improved soo much:) If you want, have a word with your RI and ask him if you could work on your postion more and the easier thing that i found when doing rising trot was to go "up, down, up, down"in my head when the horses legs changed. If you find that hard get your RI to help you by saying "up down" for you it worked for me! :)

Also if you find it uncomftable having yur foot down in the stirrups try putting the balls of your feet on a step or some stairs and just gently push your heels down it may sound stupid but it helped me:)

Hope you do ok *It will get better!*

XxTraceyxX

[Imp]

It's going to get better! There. I can say that with confidence and I know diddly squat when it comes to instructing :D

If you've never ridden before your muscles aren't used to being held for some considerable time in what is a rather alien position to them. The rising trot takes concentration, steering, speed that you are unacustomed to, hands in the right position, sitting up straight, legs back, heels down... too much to take in and time your rising and falling to the horses movements in your very first lesson. Don't punish yourself, you did brilliantly to get on, steer the horse in walk and sitting trot. WELL DONE!

Oh, and re the horse going because your OH's did, that's normal. They are well trained school horses and do this all day long, they know the score. I used to find that at the end of the lesson when the RI shouted 'and you can turn in to dismount now' I didn't need to steer because the horse did what she said, never mind what I wanted! This is the safest environment to learn how to ride and the horse will continue to do what is needed even if you give sometimes conflicting signals - so no worries on that score either :D

Do let us know how your lessons go on and really, well done, today sounded like a good start!

[Jubato]

Wow, thank you all for the encouragment! :D :D

I will take all your advice and practising tips to heart and keep trying for sure! I feel so, so much better already! We did a private lesson with just the two of us so I had only his experience to go on for comparison. Good to hear I'm not beyond help! ;) And will start making a little more use of that gym membership to work on my "asleep-for-quite-awhile-now" legs.

Now I can't wait for next Saturday! Wheeeeee! :p *bearhugs everyone*

[Grace O'Malley]

I don't think many people master posting trot at their first lesson! I spent ages just walking and getting my balance and the hang of steering :p And don't measure yourself against anyone else's progress!

You'll be fine :) If it was easy, we wouldn't need lessons!

[Zingy]

Sounds like you did brilliantly :) I did nothing but bounce around for weeks and I was known to start rising to the walk :o Horse speeded up so I assumed it was trot! To trot and even try rising trot in a first lesson is a huge achievement and it will come.

I'm guessing your instructor is twisting your foot so you feel like your toes are pointing in, but they're trying to get them toes forward? My advice would be to completely ignore where your feet are because it's not your feet that are causing it. The reason you feel twisted when they're 'correct' is because they probably are twisted. My instructor used to do this with me and it's completely impossible to keep them there without tensing, which is not what you want. The reason it happens is because your hips are not correct and you are turning out at the hip. That means your leg is twisted out all the way down and as a result your toes turn out. To correct it at the foot twists your ankle as it doesn't correct the cause.

To correct it, ignore it for now! It's almost certainly something that will sort itself out as your muscles get more used to riding and you become more secure and relax. If in 6-12 months you're still doing it, there are things you can do that will help, but it's really not something to worry about straight away. It's certainly not a criminal offence to ride like that - maybe not perfect but I did it for at least a year!

[horseygal90]

Sounds like you did good anyway! I don't believe that there's anyone who's not suited for riding - Sure, if you have a good natural balance etc. it will help, but it's not essential, and anyone can do it. It's not something that you can just say 'Oh, I'm not great at it, I'll give up' - There's always something to learn! (Sorry... got a little side tracked then, just don't want you to be all disheartened so early on!)

Saying "Up, down, up, down" etc. should help you to get the rhythm you need to do rising trot, as Tracy suggested. Rising trot is one of those things that will just 'click' one day - And you'll never look back!

Have fun next saturday!

[dotsanddashes]

Hey girl, you did GOOD. You got on, stayed on and lived to talk about it afterwards.......there can never, ever be another first time, and from what you posted, you had a pretty good one.

Do the exercises.......think of elvis (yuk!):eek: do the pelvic thrust thingy....get those lower back muscles working and get used to the feel of them working on the ground, on the arm of the chair.....then when you get in the saddle, it won't feel quite so alien.

Keep us posted......I had my first Western lesson today, and for a rider of over 20 years, I suddenly remembered how alien and out of control it all felt.....quite a wake up at nearly 40.:)

Remember all of us have been there, or are there....that's why we are on this forum!

Keep it up...

[kedwards]

There you go! It will definitely get better.

For what it's worth, people differ in what parts of riding come easy and which parts take more work for them. Try not to worry too much about comparing yourself to anyone.

[Em 1]

I loved being around the horses...........

To begin with, my horse started walking by itself when it saw my husband's horse walking. I haven't even nudged yet! *laugh*...........

Ahhhh feel kinda sad now, am I just not "suitable" for riding or something?......

In my opinion you are perfect for riding!:D If you can love the horses and laugh when things aren't going to plan you will definitely fit in to the horsey world! How else are you going to handle being towed through the mud at top speed, dumped uncerimoninously for the sake of a carrot, smeared with a grassy kiss after a lesson etc:D ;)

Enjoy it! You're making great progress and before you know it you'll be rising to the trot over speed bumps like a pro!!:D :D ;)

[Crazy Mare]

Congratulations on your first lesson, it sounds like you did great :)

Try not to be disheartened, rising trot will come.

When I started riding it took me a few lessons to learn to rise in trot and then a fair few more before I could do so when steering at the same time. Now it feels like the most natural thing in the world to me.

Thing is, now Im going through the same thing learning to canter ;)

You will feel like some lessons go better than others but as long as you keep enjoying it thats the most important thing.

Best wishes,

CM xxx

[vimto92]

Blimey! You expect to get it all in 1 lesson! *GuLpS*
Don't worry - the things come gradually and there is always something to be learnt or revised.
Your height has nothing to do with the matter! Your stirrups are the correct length when they touch your ankle bone when you let your foot and leg dangle.:)
Foot position will take a while and some riders still find it difficult after years I believe.
And please don't tell me you and your instructer expected you to get rising trot on your 1st lesson!:eek: It takes time and will just click eventually. Let the horse "bump/bounce" you up for 1 beat and then control your soft landing back into the saddle for 1 beat. Don't worry about it please!:) I worried but it just "clicked".
Don't be put of from riding because there are so many things to learn/remember and do at once. It gets easier.:)
Yes horses do follow one another. Maybe you could ask your instructer whether you could swap who is leading the ride at the halfway point in the lesson. And don't be afraid to "nudge".
I didn't sound too harsh in this post did I? Hope not.:o
Glad you feel better after reading some of the posts - thats NR for you!:D
Vic x;)
And deep breaths, relax.

[Purple Hugs]

Welcome to NR! :D You're going to love it here.. it's totally addictive.. as is Riding itself! :p

I have been riding just under 6 months now, and am still on the rising, sitting trot and walk..so believe me it takes time! ;) there's a lot to it, and when you think you've got it 'off pat' something else crops up!

BUT.. having said that, I feel like a rider now! :cool:
I started riding with my friend, but thankfully the friend dropped out.. I say thankfully as she was much much better than me! Think she only came along to hold my hand for the first lesson! ;) My daughter started at the same time too.

We've gone through shared lessons, and now ride alone (a bit dearer but worth it). But it depends if you want this as a shared interest with your hubby.

Gosh I'm rattling on.. all I wanted to say was be patient, enjoy and if you feel you got one thing from a lesson then you are doing well!

remember... 1..... 2.... 1..... 2 even if you have to say it out loud it'll help you get the rythm of rising trot. ;)

Good luck!
Hugs, Jane

[sweuzo]

you'll improve no end in no time to begin with... and don't worry about hurting in pretty much every part of your body to start off with, as you ride more and more you muscles etc will get used to it... and don't feel bad about not being a great rider right away, your not expected to be brilliant every time, and especially not when you first start, just keep up your lessons and read a bunch of books about the theory of riding as i found this helped me...

when you master rising trot... you'll find its a hella lot easier and more comfortable that sitting trot (though in sitting trot you are not supposed to 'bounce' out of the saddle)

and oh... when you start cantering, thats when it really gets fun. i enjoyd my first canters (though they weren't strictly correct) more than anything else. The speed, and freedom :)

when doing rising trot, i found that rather than thinking up down up down, let the horses movement sort of push you out of the saddle, and its more of a hip thrusting motion... than straight up and down (:o)


but most importantly of all DON'T GIVE UP AFTER ONE OR TWO BAD LESSONS... even if you are nervous you will get it back just take it slow if you loose confidence.

[Greentchr]

. But the rising trot, I just *can't* seem to get it.

Welcome to NR!

Oh, I remember the feeling! I felt like a complete dunce for weeks of lessons, and walked through most of them. What saved me was an afternoon of "I'm going to get this if it kills me!" and I trotted up and down our dirt road for 20 minutes before it just clicked. I think my horse was very grateful that I figuered it out!

What I did was stand in my stirrups until I thought I had the rhythm, then try to go with it. Sometimes I would get it for a few steps then be bounced out of rhythm again, stand and try again...and again...:) This is one place where having a really rough trot is good, because it is easier to find the rhythm! I have to say that my legs and ankles were pretty sore for days- but it gets better every time. A good mid-week exercise to build up the muscles is to do lunges (standing up straight and taking a huge step forward with one leg, then stepping back) and 1/2 squats. Walking up stairs 2 or 3 at a time also helps the right muscles.

Don't worry about your husband getting ahead- he might just have an easier time at feeling the rhythm at this point, but you will do just fine with pereverance. I learned with my 12yo son- who can ride circles around me. That's OK- we all learn at our own pace.

[Jubato]

I absolutely love NR!!! You guys are fab! :D

Now that I've had you guys and the weekend to just recap. OH is just naturally athletic and been on school teams all his life so will just leave him to it and concentrate on myself! I can't wait to ride again this weekend. Counting the days and it's only Monday. Gah! :p

Off to the gym today *pounds fist for emphasis* and ordered a couple of books off Amazon to be a bit more prepared next lesson.

Also very happy that the OH has promised there will be no moaning about cost regardless of my learning pace heheh! Rawr! ;)

[Em 1]

so will just leave him to it and concentrate on myself! I can't wait to ride again this weekend. Counting the days and it's only Monday. Gah!

Sounds good to me! Counting the days is a classic symptom of total addiction! Just wait until the summer, sunshine, warm evening rides, riding just gets better!

I also learnt to ride with my partner. We took it in turns to be 'in the lead';) . As long as you are enjoying it, it doesn't really matter!:D

Happy riding :D

[palmerlover52]

Don't worry, everyone is the same!! Now i do it naturally, and i get shouted at for rising when i'm meant to be sitting!! Try thinking of a good 4beat song, so you can sit every other beat. Or just count one-two, out loud if it helps, and go to the beat. Plus, remember it's only your first lesson! i only walked in mine and spent the time cursing my seemingly mad instructor who kept telling me to carry a tea tray with my hands!!