shall I give up and buy a sports car?

[brandy's mum]

I've been riding for about a year and not fallen but have now fallen off twice since Christmas, both times when trying to canter (once intending to canter and second time horse went into canter unintended!) Up till then had managed rising trot fine and doing simple school figures in walk and trot. Now my RI is saying that I can only ride one of the RS horses which she considers the most calm (he was one of the ones I fell off!) Problem is his owner takes him eventing so he can be away from the RS for several weeks in the summer. The RI says they then won't have any horse for me to ride.

I got some bruises first time round but got a body protector and didn't have a mark last time I fell. I'm mid 50's, I'm very well insured, haven't blamed anyone except myself , got back on both times and finished the lesson but I don't feel in a position to argue. I suppose I feel they'd prefer me to give up and to be honest I am thinking of it. I could buy a Mazda RX and after all, nobody could stop me driving it!
I'm feeling very miserable, is it worth persevering or trying a different RS?? or should I just give up

[Skib]

Where are you? You do need someone who can teach you safely and work through with you till canter. That means providing regular weekly tuition on a suitable horse. It took me about 2 years to canter. I too fell at my first accidental canter, but like you was not hurt and though I dont recommend falling, you shouldnt let it deter you.
You are on your own through this eccentric business opf learning to ride in older age - and may need to shop around different schools or go to more than one in the process. In my first eighteen months, three teachers washed their hands of me - either couldnt be bothered or said I would kill myself. All of which was nonsense. I knew it took 5 years to learn German and I set myself the same time scale to learn to ride. If you still cant ride 4 years from now, then it may be time to consider the Mazda. But I warn you, it is highly unlikely. I am no athlete and yet I learned to ride. By three years you too are likely to be very happy in the saddle in walk, trot and canter.
If you are in the UK it is likely someone on this list may have some suggestions for you. Or may be help you find a teacher through the Enlightened Equitation lists. But I do wish you well and if you dont get some progress via this list, feel free to pm me.

[brandy's mum]

sorry, should have said, I'm near Birmingham, work part time so have plenty of time in the week to travel to a RS

[eml]

Definately try different RS (possibly several) If the only reliable horse your school can offer is one working livery competing eventer then I can see your problem. Reliable to me is smooth paced will not canter unless absolutely correct signals are given types. Accidental canters are at most three paces when some external thing is really scary!

[*Sez*]

Try another school. Everyone falls off once in a while (I came off twice in the first fortnight of having my OTTB and ruined my reputation of "Bostic Bum" ;) ) It sounds as if this school are not helping with your confidence, and that's what you want to build on. IMO, falling off twice since Christmas (which was two months ago!) does not make you a disaster :rolleyes: . It just means you need more work on your canter transition, and probably a bit more confidence to do it. Don't give up. You will find a teacher who helps you a good deal more and you'll wonder what you ever did with yourself before you found them! And good on you for getting back on. I find it a bit of a personal vendetta - I have lost count of my total number of falls in the last nineteen years, but in memory have only not gotten back on once, because I had a broken hat and partially dislocated hip and knee. I've gotten back on with my shoulders coming loose from their sockets simply to prove to myself that I can :o and often muttering to the offending horse "you're not getting the better of me.. grumble grumble grumble". :)

I know it's easier said than done, especially since your confidence in your instructor has taken this knock, but I would try another school and maybe have a couple of one-on-one lessons to help you get into the swing of things before joining a group lesson. Good luck!

[Smoore]

please try a different school.

[kedwards]

As others have said, just seek out another school.

Some places really don't have school horses and make do however they can. After all, they are expensive to maintain. The fact that your current yard lacks suitable horses is in no way a reflection on you. Just go somewhere that does and get on with having a great time riding.

[jumpinintherai]

If you feel you could ride by yourself a couple times a week you may want to consider a share? This way you could work on an easy horse that you could get really used to, but as the others have said I would consider trying another school before doing that.

[brandy's mum]

I think what "Sez" put is totally right,
"It sounds as if this school are not helping with your confidence, and that's what you want to build on."

I feel like I've really lost loads of confidence so yesterday couldn't even do things I was doing well before. I felt my RI was looking to criticise and gave me no positive feedback at all. so then it gets into a down spiral. Any suggestions of where else to go would be welcome - and how to get my confidence back and stop me feeling so depressed about it. Feel free to pm me

Thanks so much Skib for your pm I'll follow it up and let you know how I get on

[domane]

Definitely find another riding school.... in the meantime, why not look into finding a riding simulator?? I'm led to believe that these feel very realistic and it may be a controlled way of getting you used to how a canter feels and boost your confidence, before you progress to the real thing.

I would also like to add that not all horses suit all people "ride"-wise and just because you have come off the same horse twice, does not mean that you "can't" canter - just that that particular horse may not have suited you.

Please don't give up - there are plenty of comfy-canterers out there... and you WILL "get it" with practise....

[Lexter]

I would recommend a new school. Unfortunately there are not a lot of schools that cater for older riders, they only want to teach children for some reason.

It is not a reflection on you, and I would not have thought that a horse that goes away eventing regularly is really the right sort of horse for a Novice. That is no slight to you, but a rather badly run school.

Best of luck trying to find an alternative school, and don't give up!

[MoeWalker]

Don't give up... at my livery yard the RI will help you to overcome anything. We are just by Barr Beacon on the Sutton/Walsall border if you are interested?

[Dummer&Drummer]

whats a riding stimulator ???? :) ive fallen off lots of times. i think you need an ri that is going to boost your confidence i agree with the others - hold out on the mazda just for now :) ps drummer came from birmingham :)