Natural talent in the saddle?

I agree with you. There are people with natural balance who will find it easier and some are quicker learners and so may pick things up quickly.

Some people "click" with certain horses but I don't think anyone is born a rider. For example, I got my TB when he was 6yrs old, on his way to the knackers yard as he was deemed "unsafe and unrideable" (by an experienced horseperson). Within 6 months he and I could do anything and he became a fantastic RC horse, we wiped the floor showjumping and he was a willing little horse; honest as the day is long. I don't put that down to any "natural ability" that I may possess - I just know we clicked. As on the other hand there are horses I have had who go well for some people and I have been unable to get a decent result out of them. It's swings and roundabouts, as it were.

The ability to stay on and the ability to ride are different things entirely. I can stick on just about anything but there are many horses out there who I just can't get away with, I think everyone is the same in this respect.

So yes, I agree with you. There are people who can get on and stay on, but that does (in my eyes) make them natural riders.

I do think that there is such a thing as a natural rider. What I mean by this is an individual that has been blessed with natural tendencies and a way with horses. This does not mean that they had no need of lessons, education or practice, but that results come easier to them.

I knew an individual once that had spent many years as a professional dancer. She was graceful, athletic and fit. Now, you might think with all her athletic qualities, that she would be a natural in the saddle as well.

Unfortunately, she was clumsy and ungainly on a horse. She never was able to get the feel for riding. Personally, I think that all her years in such a controlled discipline as ballet, it made it difficult for her to understand that riding is a partnership. A team sport rather than a solo act. That's just my take on it.

Good question.

I think it pretty much depends on the rider AND the horse. If the rider and horse click, they'll probably look good together. I think most riders have to have good balance and a good posture. Riding isn't something you can learn in a month, in my opinion. It takes years and years to master, and you never stop learning. There are tons of things to learn.

Even when you think you know a lot, theres always someone who knows more. I think its great when experienced horse people pass down their wisdom to little ones. :)

Anyway, in conclusion, I dont think theres such thing as a 'Natural Rider.' It takes years to become a great rider. And theres always different horses, some more difficult than others. If you ride one thats difficult and keep at it, until it seems easy, you move on and find an even more difficult horse. So, you can never really 'know it all.'

Theres always stuff to improve on! I've been riding since I waas 7 years old, now I'm 13, and I've just perfected my canter on my pony. I occasionally ride a more difficult horse that is more green than my pony, and its so different. I'm trying to get my canter perfected on him.

I'm still working on getting my perfect jump.

You could ride for 2 years or 20 years and never know everything. :)

I think there are some people who are naturally athletic or have the right build and body type for riding, and they tend to pick up the basics faster than those who are not so fortunate. But after you learn the very building blocks of riding, I think the playing field is leveled by how badly you want to improve and participate in this sport. I taught kids that were very athletic, had a good foundation, but were in the sport because their parents wanted it or a similar reason. When we started jumping or schooling lateral movements or getting to the really technical aspects of riding, they would start to fall behind the kids who really wanted to learn, really wanted to improve.

I do think there are people with natural feel. That's one of those rare, elusive qualities, that almost precognitive instinct about how a horse will react. Our best, Olympic-level riders have this high sensitivity. You can see it in some riders from an early age. I taught one child who rode the pony jumpers. He had such great instincts when it came to the horses. He could feel every slightest move from them, and would naturally adjust his position to better accommodate the horse. He did it without being prompted, just off what he felt. Give him two years and I think he's going to make a huge splash in the junior eq ring.

Feel can be acquired over time, but I think riders who naturally have this instinct will always be a little ahead those who have to work to get it. So I think there are riders with inborn skills, but it's coupling them with correct, structured training that creates truly great riders. But hey, that's just my opinion.

I think that it is a learned sport, i think that yes some people have the natural balance, poise, and seat for riding. I also think that some people "click" with horses while others do not...and when it comes right down to it, i think you will only excel at a high level if you have that natural connection to riding...

I do believe that anyone can learn to ride...but the question is can they master the art of riding?

I agree with you 100%. Some people are more coordinated and well balanced than others, though, and some people are more fit than others, which must contribute something. And, some people "catch on" quickly and have no difficulty understanding verbal instructions (like at a riding lesson) whereas some others might be more of a visual learner, and/or may need accomodations to fit their learning style. That might make it seem like they are less adept at riding, when really all they need is for it to be taught in a certain way.

I agree with you. My trainer told me that I am a natural at riding and that she thinks that I will go very far but I also think that is because I have really good balance from doing gymnastics for 8 years. And no I dont think people will ride good without taking lessons

I agree with you. Riding is a skill that can and must be learned. It comes more easily to some than to others. And we all have certain skills that are hard for us so we work on those harder. The best riders in the world take regular lessons so that they have someone on the ground who can help them to be better still because you can never learn it all.

I don't know if I agree with you. I was a rodeo cowboy many years ago (I'm sixty five now) and I came from Brooklyn, New York. They used to say I could ride anything with hair on it and I worked for a local rancher in the saddle much of the time. I never took a lesson but was considered to be a very good horseman.

Natural talent means a lot of different things to people. Some people may tell you that or say that about you when they want something from you. Others tell you that to flatter you - usually because they want something from you. Then there are people who also don't know what they're talking about when they say that and if you asked them they wouldn't know what it meant either. And lastly, there are those who ARE experienced, DO know what they're talking about, AREN'T trying to flatter, DON'T want anything from you and genuinely believe that you have an innate sense for working around and riding horses! ADD: Probably riding 6 months or less.