Hi there,
I am a long time lurker here and have been learning to horse ride for 18 months. I have just purchased my first horse and have been having teething problems the main one being that I have overnight turned into a bag of nerves! Hoping to be able to get some advice.
The mare that I bought is 12 years old, ISH, and a been there, done that type. She has great ground manners, is voice trained and is absolutely good as gold out hacking (doesn't spook, behaves in open place etc). I have her four weeks and have ridden her three times in the arena and once out hacking. On the hack she was brilliant although it was only a walk and it was probably our most successful ride. The three times I've ridden her in the arena there have been issues when I have asked for trot. I'm nearly sure my aids are too harsh (I've come from riding school cobs where you had to be quite firm) and she takes off into canter when I'm only looking for trot. This frightens me as one of the times we did two and a half laps of the arena before I could stop her.
I'm beginning to worry that the way I've learned to ride is unsuitable for the type of horse she is (ie responsive). I can canter no problem but don't like her doing it when I haven't asked for it (makes me very nervous). I'm used to being quite firm with my aids in order to get a response on riding school cobs. I'm beginning to think I should've looked for a bombproof cob similar to those used in riding schools as that is what I'm used to riding but I thought she would be the next step up which I did feel ready for.
Any advice on how to keep her in trot and not panic when she takes off into canter?
I am a long time lurker here and have been learning to horse ride for 18 months. I have just purchased my first horse and have been having teething problems the main one being that I have overnight turned into a bag of nerves! Hoping to be able to get some advice.
The mare that I bought is 12 years old, ISH, and a been there, done that type. She has great ground manners, is voice trained and is absolutely good as gold out hacking (doesn't spook, behaves in open place etc). I have her four weeks and have ridden her three times in the arena and once out hacking. On the hack she was brilliant although it was only a walk and it was probably our most successful ride. The three times I've ridden her in the arena there have been issues when I have asked for trot. I'm nearly sure my aids are too harsh (I've come from riding school cobs where you had to be quite firm) and she takes off into canter when I'm only looking for trot. This frightens me as one of the times we did two and a half laps of the arena before I could stop her.
I'm beginning to worry that the way I've learned to ride is unsuitable for the type of horse she is (ie responsive). I can canter no problem but don't like her doing it when I haven't asked for it (makes me very nervous). I'm used to being quite firm with my aids in order to get a response on riding school cobs. I'm beginning to think I should've looked for a bombproof cob similar to those used in riding schools as that is what I'm used to riding but I thought she would be the next step up which I did feel ready for.
Any advice on how to keep her in trot and not panic when she takes off into canter?