It's been a while since I've posted here, but I wanted to check back in with a progress update.
Somehow, I'm both frustrated and elated by my riding progress! Frustrated because the entire equestrian learning process takes sooo long, especially when my mind understands a concept, but my body and skill level just aren't up to par with carrying it out effectively It's like as soon as I feel that I become better at something, I learn that I have even further to go and improve than I thought... you can never be completely happy with yourself when it comes to riding if you're always trying to push yourself to perfection haha! But elated because despite frustration being inevitable when you're learning and trying to improve anything, I am incredibly happy with my relative progress!
I began taking lessons last June, and at this point, I am now comfortable both posting and sitting the trot, with and without stirrups, as well as cantering with and without stirrups, and riding all 3 gaits bareback... as well as *controlling* and balancing each gait better... not perfectly and often not 100% correctly, but it is progress. I feel more that I am riding now, rather than just sitting along as a passenger, you know? I have a much greater comprehension of contact and using inside vs outside reins effectively, as well as better control over my legs (though I by no means think I am great at anything... it's just that at this time I am happy with my own personal progress considering I am technically still a new and very beginner rider). I have been told by my instructor as well as other boarders that I have a good natural seat... which is my absolutely favorite compliment!
Things I need to work on: keeping my shoulders back! Keeping my outside hand down, esp when doing circles. Adjusting the reins fluidly lol. Keeping contact consistent, especially through figure 8s and the like. My heels are OK, and I have dropped my stirrups 4 holes since I began riding-- I think I can keep them pretty 'correct', but I have to consciously focus on that more often than not... I'd like them being deep and weighted to be more of an ingrained habit. Not leaning back at the canter; RI said it's better that I lean back than crouch over like most, but that leaning like that is a driving aid and I need to be more centered. I need to keep my elbows softer... interestingly, I didn't have a single lesson through December and only even rode about 3 or 4 times because life was simply too busy between final exams and family visiting, and this (elbows... along with my shoulder) was what my instructor had to get onto me most about at my first lesson back... when before I'd barely ever been critiqued on it. Crazy how fast you can form bad habits when you don't have a knowledgeable eye to correct you!
What I feel has improved: my balance and 'looseness/softness'-- no more bouncing because I don't brace! Core strength for sure-- thank you sitting and stirrup-less trot! Understanding of proper contact. I am very, very happy that multiple people have complimented my seat. Danny has spooked pretty severely a few times and I have stuck him well (according to witnesses LOL... once while Danny was hauling off down the long side of the arena thanks to an unexpected strange man in a startlingly white t-shirt [in Danny's opinion....] walking down the drive, a fellow boarder jovially called out, "GOOD SEAT, GIRL!" ). My leg has improved (especially since getting tall boots). I am assuming it's still not great, but I'm also going to be bold and assume it may be decent for my experience level considering my instructor hasn't critiqued it much lately... or she's just thinking we'll get to that later haha. Overall, I feel as if I'm gaining a bit of muscle memory and have better control over moving my body parts more independently. That has been one of the biggest things I've tried to work on-- making sure all my parts can work individually so that I can be an effective rider. Though I have to say that at my last lesson my instructor told me to put my outside shoulder back, and as I did Danny broke into canter because I also moved the outside leg back... whoops lol, clearly I have much more to improve upon. But at least he was trying to be a good boy haha!
So, yes, that's that. I'm no expert, but I'd like to think this is decent progress for 6ish months. Would you guys agree? I know every rider has a different timing of progression and that's absolutely fine, but I'm curious to hear about all your milestones as riders, too! How long was it before you began to feel confident in your basic riding skills such as contact, position, and generally riding the gaits correctly? Essentially, when did you move from beginner to intermediate? If you're advanced, how many years do you think it took you to get there, and under what circumstances? Also, do any of you compete? How long after beginning lessons did you begin schooling shows, and in which disciplines? When did you feel comfortable going out on trails? I know there are a lot of factors that go into becoming a good/effective rider, but I'm interested in hearing individual stories.
And now to end, a short story from this past weekend when I schooled bareback because I still glow when I remember it: we have a rider at our barn who is very respected in her dressage work. Well, I was riding bareback, working on sitting the trot correctly and halting from my seat, focusing on that and not really paying attention to the surroundings outside the arena. Danny, my angel boy was moving SO well and being so responsive... I am not a great judge at all, of course, but I'm getting to the point where I can *feel* when he's properly engaged, and he was very soft in the poll as well... giving and dropping his head the way I was asking and I was generally just very, very happy with both of us that day and totally absorbed into getting the most out of the ride. So, I was sitting the trot, came out of a corner and halted, and from the side of the arena I heard this woman say, "That was excellent. You look absolutely wonderful." I looked over to this respected woman nodding approvingly and it was just SO SO validating to receive a random, genuine compliment like that! Made my day, and not going to lie it made me a bit emotional in the moment because it's not often I have a ride that I feel is genuinely good and satisfactory (due to both my own inadequacies and error, and the fact that Dan Man can be very opinionated sometimes... though, I do have to say he has gotten FIT throughout recent months and that is certainly helping him to move better and with more ease). I'm sure I'm nowhere near where I need to be, but that I am improving, and others are recognizing it is such a rewarding feeling! Especially when I've had to grit my teeth through many humiliating riding moments in front of them
Thanks for listening to the rambling of an excited new rider
Somehow, I'm both frustrated and elated by my riding progress! Frustrated because the entire equestrian learning process takes sooo long, especially when my mind understands a concept, but my body and skill level just aren't up to par with carrying it out effectively It's like as soon as I feel that I become better at something, I learn that I have even further to go and improve than I thought... you can never be completely happy with yourself when it comes to riding if you're always trying to push yourself to perfection haha! But elated because despite frustration being inevitable when you're learning and trying to improve anything, I am incredibly happy with my relative progress!
I began taking lessons last June, and at this point, I am now comfortable both posting and sitting the trot, with and without stirrups, as well as cantering with and without stirrups, and riding all 3 gaits bareback... as well as *controlling* and balancing each gait better... not perfectly and often not 100% correctly, but it is progress. I feel more that I am riding now, rather than just sitting along as a passenger, you know? I have a much greater comprehension of contact and using inside vs outside reins effectively, as well as better control over my legs (though I by no means think I am great at anything... it's just that at this time I am happy with my own personal progress considering I am technically still a new and very beginner rider). I have been told by my instructor as well as other boarders that I have a good natural seat... which is my absolutely favorite compliment!
Things I need to work on: keeping my shoulders back! Keeping my outside hand down, esp when doing circles. Adjusting the reins fluidly lol. Keeping contact consistent, especially through figure 8s and the like. My heels are OK, and I have dropped my stirrups 4 holes since I began riding-- I think I can keep them pretty 'correct', but I have to consciously focus on that more often than not... I'd like them being deep and weighted to be more of an ingrained habit. Not leaning back at the canter; RI said it's better that I lean back than crouch over like most, but that leaning like that is a driving aid and I need to be more centered. I need to keep my elbows softer... interestingly, I didn't have a single lesson through December and only even rode about 3 or 4 times because life was simply too busy between final exams and family visiting, and this (elbows... along with my shoulder) was what my instructor had to get onto me most about at my first lesson back... when before I'd barely ever been critiqued on it. Crazy how fast you can form bad habits when you don't have a knowledgeable eye to correct you!
What I feel has improved: my balance and 'looseness/softness'-- no more bouncing because I don't brace! Core strength for sure-- thank you sitting and stirrup-less trot! Understanding of proper contact. I am very, very happy that multiple people have complimented my seat. Danny has spooked pretty severely a few times and I have stuck him well (according to witnesses LOL... once while Danny was hauling off down the long side of the arena thanks to an unexpected strange man in a startlingly white t-shirt [in Danny's opinion....] walking down the drive, a fellow boarder jovially called out, "GOOD SEAT, GIRL!" ). My leg has improved (especially since getting tall boots). I am assuming it's still not great, but I'm also going to be bold and assume it may be decent for my experience level considering my instructor hasn't critiqued it much lately... or she's just thinking we'll get to that later haha. Overall, I feel as if I'm gaining a bit of muscle memory and have better control over moving my body parts more independently. That has been one of the biggest things I've tried to work on-- making sure all my parts can work individually so that I can be an effective rider. Though I have to say that at my last lesson my instructor told me to put my outside shoulder back, and as I did Danny broke into canter because I also moved the outside leg back... whoops lol, clearly I have much more to improve upon. But at least he was trying to be a good boy haha!
So, yes, that's that. I'm no expert, but I'd like to think this is decent progress for 6ish months. Would you guys agree? I know every rider has a different timing of progression and that's absolutely fine, but I'm curious to hear about all your milestones as riders, too! How long was it before you began to feel confident in your basic riding skills such as contact, position, and generally riding the gaits correctly? Essentially, when did you move from beginner to intermediate? If you're advanced, how many years do you think it took you to get there, and under what circumstances? Also, do any of you compete? How long after beginning lessons did you begin schooling shows, and in which disciplines? When did you feel comfortable going out on trails? I know there are a lot of factors that go into becoming a good/effective rider, but I'm interested in hearing individual stories.
And now to end, a short story from this past weekend when I schooled bareback because I still glow when I remember it: we have a rider at our barn who is very respected in her dressage work. Well, I was riding bareback, working on sitting the trot correctly and halting from my seat, focusing on that and not really paying attention to the surroundings outside the arena. Danny, my angel boy was moving SO well and being so responsive... I am not a great judge at all, of course, but I'm getting to the point where I can *feel* when he's properly engaged, and he was very soft in the poll as well... giving and dropping his head the way I was asking and I was generally just very, very happy with both of us that day and totally absorbed into getting the most out of the ride. So, I was sitting the trot, came out of a corner and halted, and from the side of the arena I heard this woman say, "That was excellent. You look absolutely wonderful." I looked over to this respected woman nodding approvingly and it was just SO SO validating to receive a random, genuine compliment like that! Made my day, and not going to lie it made me a bit emotional in the moment because it's not often I have a ride that I feel is genuinely good and satisfactory (due to both my own inadequacies and error, and the fact that Dan Man can be very opinionated sometimes... though, I do have to say he has gotten FIT throughout recent months and that is certainly helping him to move better and with more ease). I'm sure I'm nowhere near where I need to be, but that I am improving, and others are recognizing it is such a rewarding feeling! Especially when I've had to grit my teeth through many humiliating riding moments in front of them
Thanks for listening to the rambling of an excited new rider
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