Returning adult rider with weak legs or no legs at all..

umathehorse

New Member
Jul 7, 2017
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Hello all!

First of all, I am new here, and it's an honor to be a part of this great forum.

So.. I am in my early 30's and I picked up riding again after 8 years of a long hiatus. Also, about four years ago, I got really sick and lost all my muscle because of the side effects of medications I took for an extended period of time (I was literally skin and bones for quite a long time - it was horrible!). Anyways, when I rode back then, I almost always rode in group lessons (English, never Western) and I was not a serious rider back then. Well, I decided to be closer to horses again last month, and this time I am taking private lessons because I want to be a better rider with solid fundamentals and I want to be able to train my own horse in the future. Anyways, when my new trainer - an English rider, jumping backgrounds - saw me riding for the first time at the new barn, he said that my posture was pathetic (Sadly, I totally agree with him, and I am actually grateful for his honest feedback) and we have been working on my equitation. So, I had my 8th lesson with him yesterday (I ride twice a week), and I think I am gradually improving.

But here is my main concern that's really frustrating me:
It feels like the horses I ride just ignore my legs when I ask him to trot or canter (sometimes even refuses to walk) when I am not carrying a crop (and of course I don't wear spurs, since I am only a beginner).
I think I am doing everything in terms of the leg aid my trainer is telling me, for example, applying the pressure to horse's sides (squeezing) using the inside of my legs, or tap (or dig) the horse behind the girth with my heels if he or she doesn't respond to that. Of course the horse doesn't care about what my legs are asking for, so then my trainer would tell me to squeeze harder, and then to kick the horse over and over again till he or she listens to me, and never to give up. It was quite a sight yesterday when I had to practically swing out my legs almost perpendicular to the horse's sides and kick her over and over again to get her trot. It was so bad and by the end of the lesson I had pretty bad leg cramps. Anyways, whenever my trainer hops on the horse I was riding, the horse instantly becomes lively and starts to walk, trot, and canter as he asks. So the horses at the barn are not lazy horses or at fault. It's 100% me that's problematic. I asked my trainer what I was doing wrong or differently from his riding. He said that I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. So I am really confused. I want to be able to communicate with my horse. Is it because I have no muscle in my legs? But then if you think about it, even little kids can ride. They don't have bulky, muscular legs. I need help. I don't want to lose hope. Thank you.
 
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I think that a lot of it is in belief, if you doubt it will happen the chances are it won't & vice versa. Also if you don't have much strength be very clear in your aids & make sure that you aren't doing anything to contradict yourself, hard when you're a beginner. To be fair it isn't easy on school horses because generally that aren't that responsive, the nature of their work means that they can't be unless a school keeps specialist schoolmasters. Don't despair, it will improve the more you ride x
 
Thanks carthorse. I will try my best to focus and not to doubt when I ride next week.
Though, I must say that it is a bit unnerving to see the stubborn school horse I was on just seconds ago instantly turning into a responsive, obedient horse when my trainer/instructor gets on.
Thanks again for your kind words of encouragement. I will keep trying.
 
First of all I do agree with Carthorse. Very typical experience of early lessons on RS school horses - and also particularly difficult for people on a forum to know what to suggest, as the RI knows what you are doing and knows the horse.
But I am now going to reply on another track. About weak legs. Dont worry about your legs being weak - how sensible to start riding again. Because one doesnt need them. I started riding in older age and I use very little leg, partly because I am not athletic but partly because it wastes my energy. It is the job of the horse to carry me along and do the running for me. My left leg is particularly weak.

I have taught all the horses I ride to respond to very small leg cues and sometimes to none at all. But this is not magic - it is something one has to teach the horse to do. Riding for the first few lessons is taught as if the horse were a computer. Kicking the horse is like pressing the button on a computer and bingo the horse will walk forward. But real riding involves making sure the horse understands the significance of the cue you give, and how you handle the horse when it either doesnt understand the cue or (more likely in a RS lesson horse) would rather not oblige you. Indeed there are moments when, as your RI said, a good hard kick is needed.

Now think of it from the point of view of the horse. Most horses by instinct want to maximise food intake and minimise energy output. The horse is not going slow to spite you. Think of it more like a conversation. You ask the horse to walk and every few steps he will ask Do you really want me to walk on? And you have to say Yes, I want you to walk on.
It is actually quite hard to persuade a horse to speed up and keep going once it is in motion - far better to nip the problem in the bud. When you first mount make sure you are relaxed. Breathe deep and slow, Dont press your legs against the sides of the horse. The rib cage of the horse has to swing from side to side to make room for its legs to move. As you sit on the horse, try to relax and feel that movement and allow it to happen under you. So you lift the rein, touch lightly with your legs and hope the horse will walk on at once and at the speed you want. If he doesnt. Stop him a.s.p. Halt him and ask for walk again. If he doesnt give you the walk you want. Stop again and really use a stronger kick of leg aid this time. If you need to stop and ask a fourth time - this is where you can hold both your legs out from the horse and klonk them on his sides - true you havent a whip but you can slap your hand down on your thigh. Or flick him on the shoulder with the ends of the reins.Get the horse to pay attention to what you want. And when it does what you want, ride ever so gently so the pressure is off and he gets the reward.
Once the horse is walking nicely for you, dont just plod on round the tread mill of the school. Halt every ten strides or so and then walk again., Riding halt walk transitions is an excellent way to get a horse listening to you and moving. Keep breathing and allowing the movement under you.You ought to find he will go forward for you with lighter and lighter aids.
And the same goes for trot. If you dont get the instant transition you want, bring the horse back to walk and ask again.
And as you RI says, the third or fourth time of asking one may meed to be stronger than one really likes.
Getting a slow safe beginner horse to listen and go faster for you using minimal leg on your part, is a skill worth having.
You may not be enjoying these early lessons and feel frustrated - but dont feel it is your fault or that your legs are lacking. In the end it is human brain power not brawn that persuades horses to do as we want.
 
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Try not to get disheartened, when my trainer would get on my mare she'd turn into a superstar, he had the same effect on my old horse too, before I lived here Bo would be a git for weeks, eventually I'd book a lesson and travel the 3 hours and Bo would suddenly turn into an angel :rolleyes:
Your strength and the horses understanding of your cues will improve the more you are on him :) hopefully your RI has a plan to help you along, effective use of a schooling whip can be very useful in the very weak legged, think of para riders, sometimes you see them with 2 so they have back up to the legs (or replacement for them) on both sides :) I have a double amputee friend, it took him a while to relearn with his horse after his accident but he's now back to doing everything anyone else can :)
 
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Hello, just read this post and am glad you posted @umathehorse. It sounds very similar to how I feel having come back to riding at the age of 61. Thank you @Skib for your post, lots of good info that I too can use. There is much to learn, and Buddy is teaching me well.
I wish you well with your journey. :)
 
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Hello fellow riders, and hello LyndaB, I just had my 9th lesson with my riding instructor since I took up riding again.
I tried and focused very hard this time not to lose out in the mental game (or, to remember and execute what you'd all said in this thread). And, surprisingly, it totally paid off! I was able to get the school horse moving at walk and trot at a decent pace WITHOUT A CROP. It was awesome! But, alas, I was unable to get her to canter, so my RI handed me a dressage whip and it worked some magic out. Even though I couldn't get her to canter without artificial aids, it was a huge improvement on my part today. So thank you all, and thanks for your kind words of encouragement. NR certainly does wonders! Happy riding and happy learning!
 
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