How Well You Ride???

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XwonderX

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Jun 6, 2005
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Ok, I've taken a grand total of three lessons (yeah I know, I'm a novice, but that's why I'm here) and I have a question that's been buzzing around my mind since day one.
How do you really and truly know how well you're doing?
My trainer is incredibly nice so I think, if I had a lesson where I didn't do well, she wouldn't tell me. The only other people who ever watch me ride are my mother, my best friend, and my best friend's family and they certainly aren't going to tell me if I'm awful.
I always hear of people saying that you can't ask how well you did. That you're supposed to know how well you performed. So I was wondering if anyone else ever has/had trouble telling how well they ride.
Honestly I feel like I'm learning slowly or something. I've had three lessons and have only just begun posting at the trot (which is much easier and much harder at the same time, than posting at the walk). My trainer tells me I do well but honestly I'm just not sure if that's true. Is this normal? Is there a such thing as a 'normal' speed for learning?
 
Don't stress about it. People will all learn at different speeds and be better at different disciplins such as dressage or jumping. Balance and a good seat may also make alot of difference between those who are good riders and those who are natural riders. Confidence also plays a big part. Why don't you ask your mum to watch you and ask her for her honest opinion. If she doesn't know much about riding then find someone you trust and ask them. I know sometimes you feel alot better just hearing someone say "you're making alot of progress, well done". If thats not possible then in time you will be able to tell just how far you've come, you'll get to the stage where your instructor just needs to tell you to do a circle and they wont be saying "MORE LEG, MORE INSIDE REIN" and so on. Just remember riding is about having fun and learning at a pace that suits you, it doesn't matter how long it takes just as long as you're learning what you need to incase you ever come to own your own horse or go further with a riding career.
 
Most folks take group lessons - it's then fairly easy to tell as you see other people ride the same horses over time, and do the same exercises...

There again - why does it matter? Some places I've visited are full of praise for my riding - others have a definate look of 'you have _had_ lessons before right' :p It depends on their style of teachning and standard, everybody learns stuff in different orders and with a different emphasis...

Most people have good days and bad days anyway - it depends on the horse, your preferences, your mood, the weather, the env and a hundred other things..

Sometimes I *almost* look competent :D

aj xx
 
The fact your instructor is going easy on you the first three lessons isn't so bad. My previous one barked like a dog at me and everyone else constantly. Actually to the point getting mad at us often. :mad:

She probably is seeing things that need work but she's letting you work on one thing at a time and will fill in the other things later. She's probably teaching with a mindful eye to maintaining your confidence. Not such a bad thing. When confidence gets shattered, it's alot longer to get back.
 
why don't you be your own critic, if you feel that there is something that your not doing so well on, practise!
also why not ask your instructor if there is anything you can improve on, I'm only on my 8th lesson, too, so if there is anything you want to know pm! :)

but don't worry i was really nervous if i was doing well or not. if you are doing well, the horse will be a better ride. :p

ash xx :)
 
Good on your instructor for being nice - you need this in your first lessons, and I am sure that she gives you constructive criticism during your lesson as well as lots of encouragement and praise. I wouldn't worry about it too much at this stage - its not a race to see who can canter or jump first - every rider is different, as is every horse that you ride. As long as you are learning each time you get on a horse then you are doing ok.

But I don't see anything wrong in asking your instructor, especially if you get the impression she will never tell you if something is wrong......I ask from time to time - just a simple "we are going in the right direction aren't we?" usually provokes a response along the lines of "yes - you still have some things to work on such as x - y -z, but look how far you've come in x months"

Otherwise, if you have access to a video camera, then get your mum to tape your lesson, and then again in a couple of months time and just see how you have improved.

It is usefull to watch other people too, but don't get too hung up on what they can do that you can't - they will have things that they can't do well, that you can!
 
Thanks everyone. I feel a little better now and I think I'll take the suggestion about video taping one of my lessons. It'll give me something to laugh at :D
 
An idea to help you

Why not get someone to video you while you riding
Then you can not only see what ability you are at but you can also see what you are doing right/wrong and what your instructor means when she/he says you're donig this wrong/right eg you leg is to far forward
Best of luck
 
Hi - I think I'm on about my tenth(?) lesson now. I was really wondering the same thing. My instructors were always so full of praise, really boosting me up and telling me how well I was doing, had a good balanced seat and that they couldn't foresee me having any problems learning anything. I assumed they must be trying to boost my confidence!

It's strange because now I'm having to take much more control of the horse in my lessons I'm making more mistakes and my instructor has to keep 'telling me off'. As I have more things to bear in mind (rather than just concentrating on me) sometimes things slip - i.e. my heels might start to rise a bit or I tense my hands up when I'm concentrating on something else. I was a bit crestfallen after my last lesson but after giving it some thought I realised that this was probably inevitable and that only by going through this was I ever going to solve this issues. At least I know what to look out for and what I'm prone to. So really it's just made me more determined not to let those errors happen at my next lesson.

So, it's really good that your instructor is being positive - I reckon they'll soon let you know when/if you start to slip. The last thing they want for you (or their horse!) is for you to develop bad habits. Keep up the good work! :)
 
I had private lessons (and still do) & often wondered the same thing. Then a couple of months ago I asked about joining an adult class as well as my individual lessons. They put me in a class with other riders who'd been riding for years (I'd done about 4 months...) - I realised how much I'd progressed when I found out I could do everything they did & keep up with them. I may not do it quite as prettily as them, but at least I was doing it adequately! Plus being with more experienced riders is really bringing me on fast now :-) Keep at it!
 
What an interesting thread! I ask the same thing about my riding- And mine is complicated, I think, by the fact that I own my lesson horse and when I ride with my trainer my lessons are as much for me as they are focused on retaining my WP horse as a dressage mount. Sometimes I don't know which one of us learns more in a lesson. :rolleyes:

I've had three lessons and have only just begun posting at the trot
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Haha! That's nothing! I've now had a total of 12 private 1hr lessons and haven't learned to post! I'm cantering and am getting better at steering the canter, do some lateral work, and can sit the trot like nobody's business (maybe that's the point?) but he hasn't asked/shown me to post yet!
 
Yes - it's much trickeir to gauge progress on your own horse - that's one of the reasons its good to occasionally ride someone elses/a lesson horse etc. It lets you see how much you know you can transfer to other horses - which is an important skill long term for your riding - even if you very rarely ride anything else.

Oh and are you learning to ride western lindseyanne? It would be very rare for an english rider to learn to canter before learning to rise to the trot (post). It's a bit of an art sitting to the trot in an english saddle - I'd never have kept going if they hadn't taught rising asap! :D

aj xx
 
hey dont worry

hey look if the trainer is as professional as they should be then they shuld tell you. they should say things like your doing really well but you could try doing this or whatever. or they could say to you at the end things like, that lesson wasnt as good but if you keep trying then it should come to you more naturally.
dont worry everybody has crap lessons. even me. i have been riding for 13years now ever since my 2nd birthday. i still fall off and things so dont worry. everyone is the same. even the best riders fall off and have crap lessons. it not just you k?
so carry on and just try your best and if you think that your doing something wrond dont be afriad to ask how ure doing. ask them if you could do something better.
the more practise you get the better you get k?
have fun riding!
lena x :D
 
I want to know what you guys think of my riding skills?! Im not sure! What level am i at now?!
I can:

Walk, trot, canter, gallop and stay in control of the horse.
Can do simple dressage moves like shoulder in, collected and extended walk, trot, canter. (but not to judges standard! lol)
Can jump up to 3ft6/4ft
Entered jumping shows (got placed) and a basic xc course!
I can handle and bring on young horses.
Sit most bucks and rears.
walk, trot, canter and jump bareback.
Lunge.
Lead beginner riders at walk, trot, canter and over small poles.
Handle horses from the gound including unbroken horses.
Have done some work helping to break in young horse before. like weight in stirrups and laying over saddle etc..
erm.. cant think of anything else you might need...

but hey what do you think?!
Steph
xxxxx
 
ajhainey said:
Oh and are you learning to ride western lindseyanne? It would be very rare for an english rider to learn to canter before learning to rise to the trot (post). It's a bit of an art sitting to the trot in an english saddle - I'd never have kept going if they hadn't taught rising asap!
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I'm not learning western, my western horse is learning english. :) I had one or two lessons in his western saddle (came with him), but it didn't really fit either one of us so in it went on a trade for a nice used stubben. :D

I know! Everyone I talk to says it's odd I haven't been instructed to post yet, but I think it's all part of my instructors evil plan. :p And it's working, I'm very comfortable sitting the trot in an english saddle now. I've done it so much I think I've finally got that "muscle memory" thing down- I can think about collecting him and asking him to move correctly now instead of thinking about bouncing off!
 
Steph - I don't really know what level you're at (especially considering I ride saddle seat and have never even attempted dressage) but you're better than me!
 
Stephanopolis said:
Thanx!! but at the end of the day if i even tried side-saddle it would be a disaster so your a great rider for being able to do it! :D

Steph
xxxxx
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Hehe, I'd take the compliment except I don't ride side saddle. I ride saddle seat. They're two very different things (although they are both English styles). It'd be a disaster if I tried side saddle!

Here, this is a site with a little information on saddle seat:
http://www.peeperranch.com/saddleseat.htm
 
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