I'm in my 20's but never got to have long-term riding lessons when I was younger. Over the last 8 months, I've been taking up lessons again because I would like to get to the point where I could have my own horse as a hobby and maybe enter a few small shows.
What makes things difficult is that I have a mild disability- cerebral palsy- that affects my walking and makes my legs/heels a bit stiff. But I don't use a wheelchair or anything, and I am able to go to the gym and get through life just fine.
When I got back into riding last year, my previous riding instructor did not seem to make a big deal about my mild disability. Yes, my heels weren't perfectly flat, etc,. but I was secure enough in the saddle. I was able to progress to things like learning to canter and doing trotting poles. I was not the best, but I was enjoying myself.
I've moved to a different state a few months ago, and started riding at a riding school here. However, my new instructor seems to really harp on things that I'm not able to do well. I can't keep my heels down, I twist my torso around too much. Particularly, her style of riding is to only control the horse using your legs, and I've realized my left leg is weaker compared to my right. I'm not able to steer him adequately, and he meanders around the arena in any direction he wants. Today was my 4th lesson on this horse, and all I've done is walk around and around while she tells me to steer him by pushing with my left leg and seat. Still I struggle with what she asks me to do. Safe to say, it wasn't a very good lesson and she told me that next time she'll have me walk on the lunge line.
I've sat on a number of horses in the past and never had a similar problem with steering, but I feel very disheartened by this. I see a lot of people with cerebral palsy much worse than mine ride at the ParaOlympics for example, but why is it so difficult for me?
Honestly, I feel like I'll never progress like this. Part of me wants to quit because it feels futile and I don't like leaving my lessons feeling frustrated at myself and my disability. Can anyone offer me some advice? Should I keep at it, or switch riding schools?
What makes things difficult is that I have a mild disability- cerebral palsy- that affects my walking and makes my legs/heels a bit stiff. But I don't use a wheelchair or anything, and I am able to go to the gym and get through life just fine.
When I got back into riding last year, my previous riding instructor did not seem to make a big deal about my mild disability. Yes, my heels weren't perfectly flat, etc,. but I was secure enough in the saddle. I was able to progress to things like learning to canter and doing trotting poles. I was not the best, but I was enjoying myself.
I've moved to a different state a few months ago, and started riding at a riding school here. However, my new instructor seems to really harp on things that I'm not able to do well. I can't keep my heels down, I twist my torso around too much. Particularly, her style of riding is to only control the horse using your legs, and I've realized my left leg is weaker compared to my right. I'm not able to steer him adequately, and he meanders around the arena in any direction he wants. Today was my 4th lesson on this horse, and all I've done is walk around and around while she tells me to steer him by pushing with my left leg and seat. Still I struggle with what she asks me to do. Safe to say, it wasn't a very good lesson and she told me that next time she'll have me walk on the lunge line.
I've sat on a number of horses in the past and never had a similar problem with steering, but I feel very disheartened by this. I see a lot of people with cerebral palsy much worse than mine ride at the ParaOlympics for example, but why is it so difficult for me?
Honestly, I feel like I'll never progress like this. Part of me wants to quit because it feels futile and I don't like leaving my lessons feeling frustrated at myself and my disability. Can anyone offer me some advice? Should I keep at it, or switch riding schools?