i feel like a really bad rider...will i ever get bettter?
I started riding in June (I'd ridden in lessons before that a year before but my mom pulled me out because I got a bad grade on a math final) (oh and I'm 15 and a girl). I really love horses, I was a really shy person before and they just help me feel more relaxed. I worked at a horse camp all summer, I help with therapeutic riding lessons for special needs kids now, and I clean my instructors horses stall for lessons on wednesday and i LOVE doing that stuff, but, I'm not that great at actually riding. I trot and just started cantering, but I just don't feel like I'm ever going to be that good. I had a lesson with a new instructor on Tuesday (my old one moved) and she said (nicely) that I was doing a lot of things wrong, like my stirrups were too short and I had my leg too far forward (like I was sitting in a chair, yikes) and I wasn't holding my back the right way. So I made them longer, and it felt really awkward and it was hard to trot and stuff. I had another lesson Wednesday (with a different instructor, I have a different one for tues than wed lessons) and she lets me canter and stuff, but I don't really feel comfortable cantering with a lot of other horses in the arena (and we can't afford private lessons). And sometimes when I canter I lose my stirrups and I just feel bad because all the other kids are like 10 and 11 years old and a lot better than I am, and the girls that are my age are a lot better than me. One of my friends there keeps asking me if I started jumping yet (we ride english), and I really don't think I'l be doing that for a while.
What should I do? Yall have any tips on just what I can do to get better? And will I ever get better???
Mel2009-09-19T19:01:00Z
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The problems you have described with your riding are absolutely common to all beginners, and only riding for a few months definitely means you are still a beginner.
No one, I repeat NO ONE, is a "natural rider" who can just jump on a horse and ride perfectly. It takes years of riding to develop a good seat, and from there the learning still never stops.
One thing major thing to work on is your confidence. Bracing (putting your feet to far forward) and being nervous at the canter with other horses around are definite signs that you just need more time in the saddle to learn to relax and just move with your horse.
When you start to feel overwhelmed by trying to keep your legs in the right place, your heels down, your hands still, and your back straight, and stay on the right diagonal all at once, just take a deep breath, relax your body, and think only about being in sync with your horse. When you are relaxed and moving with your horse, everything just falls into place and feels right. This takes TIME and no, you won't be able to do all these things right at first, especially if you are trying too hard.
This may sound funny, but try doing some yoga or pilates at home-these exercises really help you learn how to breathe for relaxation, balance, and strengthen your core.
It really would be worth it if you could talk your parents into paying for one private lesson where your instructor has you on a lunge line doing exercises to build your balance and confidence. Explain to them your concerns and offer to do some extra chores or something for the week.
Don't even worry about jumping. Some instructors will rush riders into jumping after only riding for a few months, but this is in no way a testament to that rider's ability, more of a signal of the instructor's incompetence. Jumping before you have developed a balanced and independent seat is looking for trouble-for you and your horse, and no rider gets there in just a few months. Being able to hang on over a jump does not mean someone knows how to ride.
**losing stirrups can be caused by pinching with your knees or generally tensing up. When you are tense, your body naturally moves toward the fetal position-with limbs drawing closer to the body-so again, breath and relax:-)
**the next poster mentioned a great idea-sing to yourself. Sounds silly, but when you sing, you are breathing, and then relaxing. You can just sing quietly to yourself and if you are really worried about someone saying something, just tell them to mind their own business or that you just have a song stuck in your head;-)
Don't be discouraged. You are doing fine! You haven't been back in lessons that long. Guess what? No matter how old you are, there are always people younger who are better at whatever sport you do? Guess what, I am 26, and this past winter, I took lessons from a 17-year-old (excellent rider that I respect and have known since she was 3. I actually gave her basic lessons when I was young...know what? She LIVES on a hose farm, has ridden horses all the time her whole life and was homeschooled so she could ride and show more...do you think I could beat that????). So, there you go, I was "schooled" by someone only 2 years older than you! Hehehe... She's great, though, and cheap! She has broken and trained 2 horses...that have won all firsts in their first show--junior and adult high point overall!
I digress... The first thing that you have to lose is worrying about age (see above). Did you watch the olympics this summer? A guy was jumping in the olympics for the first time at the age of 60! You are 15. So, I think you have pleeeeennnnnnty of time! :)
Important: 1. Make sure that you call all around your area and find the best riding instructor for the money you can pay. The first part of your question is not your fault. I too suffered from poor early training. My first instructor basically taught me how to tack, groom, stay on a horse, wtc...barely. My second instructor was like...wrong, wrong, wrong...hehe. Actually, you will find that almost every instructor changes a little somethign about you. However, the best instructors should agree on most everything. So, get a great instructor, and the next great instructor won't tear you apart. 2. Get thick skin. You/your parents are paying to get your money's worth. Of course, an instructor should be encouraging and not mean, but take instruction as instruction. Don't feel bad about it...just listen and try your best to correct it. 3. If you feel uncomfortable, tell your instructor. I have taken group lessons before where the instructor would let some canter one at a time and then you stay in the center when the others canter all at the same time. 4. DO NOT FEEL PRESSURED TO JUMP. Never jump until you have an excellent seat and confidence at wt&c. You need to be solid and confident or you will eventually eat dirt.
Anyway, it will take time. Some people get it quicker than others. Some have more time and money than others. Unfortunately, that is life. If you make sure that you have a great instructor who knows his/her stuff, you have patience, you have endurance, you stick it out, and you just worry about you (not the other kids). You'll be fine.
if it makes you feel any better, I rode in an adult jumpin class, but one week i missed (this was about 3 years ago...mostly into dressage now). Anyway, I had to ride with 12-15 year olds! Ha! It was actually fun. I was definitely better than them...they were a class down...but still. You know what? I made the most of it! I asked them about school, complimented, them, asked how long they'd been riding, suggested they work around the barn a little to learn more, etc.
You are the "cooler" older one! So talk to the young girls, get them to like you, and they will cheer their cool, high-school classmate on.
You can do this, and you're doing fine! Now, I want you to make sure you have a great instructor. Then, I want you to try your best and ride as often as possible and watch other lesons and hang around the barn as often as possible. Next, save your questions somewhere--hang it on the wall if you want. I guarantee if you do all that, a year from now you'll say to yourself...who was that girl? you'll be comfortable at a canter and starting crossrails, and you'll be starting to answer these same type of questions on yahoo answers!
You remind me a lot of myself. :) I move to a new barn about a year ago, and there were two other girls there my age, and they were way better than me I had a lot do learn (I was also doing a lot of things wrong!).
The best thing to do is focus on yourself and your riding. If you worry about the other people, they will just distract you and you won't ride as well. The only way to improve is to PRACTICE! The more you do it, the better you will get. It just takes time! Don't worry that there are younger kids who are better than you. If you feel self-conscious or you mess up, just laugh about it! Believe it or not, those younger kids will look up to you since you are older, even if you aren't a better rider than them. Just be happy and have fun! It always makes learning easier.
Don't worry if you instructor is pointing out your faults...she is only trying to help. Do your best to do what she says, and you will improve quickly and she will start complimenting you! :)
Good luck, and remember not to worry what the other people think! You WILL improve and become a better rider. It just takes time! And since you are older, you actually have the upper hand because you are more mature and able than those younger kids. If your friend asks if you've begun jumping yet, just laugh and tell her you've got a few things to fix before you start jumping. :) Just relax and have fun!
you WILL get better, everyone feels like that at some point. Just have your stirrups in the middle or wherever they feel comfy. I used to have the leg problem, if you grip with your knees then it will make it easier to bring them back. For the back thing, make so there is a straight line from your shoulders to your hips to your heels ( this will also help with the lower leg problem). For the stirrup thing, put all your weight down in to your legs and feet and push it down into your heels, then keep your toes straight forward and the stirrups shouldn't keep coming off. don't worry about the other girls, they've probably had way more experience at riding, and maybe it comes more naturally to them. If you carry on doing what you love and really focus on the things you need to improve on when riding then you will get better. Once you have have got your center and trot sorted you can be doing very small fences.
Don't feel bad, you haven't been riding for that long. Just listen to your Tuesday instructor, and for you Wendesday lesson I would talk to the trainer about either switching you into another lesson group, or maybe not do some of the stuff the other lesson kids do. If you try to do stuff that is really to hard for you, it can actually make you a worse rider. Ask your tuesday instructor to put you on the lunge to work on your canter (if she believes you are ready). Good luck!