Am I good?

Question

I started riding 3 years ago and until the last few months I was showing in walk-trot. I finally won a blue and a red in walk trot and now that I'm in walk-trot-canter I can't get any higher than 5th. I started jumping this year and do about 1 foot cross rails. Is this where I should be? Is 3 years too long to be in walk-trot? Should I just give up or am I making decent progress?

Answer 1

YES! You are good.

If you are walk, trot, and cantering, and jumping without falling off after 3 years, you've made good progress.

The ribbons may or may not be a good assessment of your riding. It is excellent that you got 1st and 2nd in walk trot. That shows that you must know how to hold your body in the right posture, how to sitting trot pretty well, and know your diagonals without difficulty. And that's a pretty difficult thing to learn. And I don't know if you look down for the diagonals or feel them, but if you can feel your diagonals and get them right, you're progressing splendidly.
The ribbons are a good assessment of your riding if you fell like you did as well as you could after coming out of the ring. If you know that you made silly mistakes and it was just because you were nervous, then the ribbons don't show how good you are. Or if your horse was acting up in your classes, then the ribbons don't show how good you are either. After your show, assess yourself and talk to your coach. I know it's good to have someone else (the judge) assess your riding too, but if you and your coach know that you've ridden a lot better in your lessons than at the show, then the judge's opinion isn't a true assessment of your riding skill.

Actually I think it's great that you won ribbons in the WTC classes within your first couple months of showing in the division. Particularly since you're probably riding against people who have been showing WTC a lot longer than you have.

A lot of your progress depends on how often you ride and what your instructor has taught you. If you're in group lessons, compare yourself to the others who started riding around the time that you did. You have probably all progressed at the same rate. It's unlikely that the others learned cross rails 2 years ago and your instructor just didn't have you learn too. And if the others have progressed a little faster than you: 1) it's not really that important because there's always someone who does things a lot faster than everyone else and 2) it might be some physical difference: meaning if you're a lot younger and smaller than the others... it's not as safe for a child to jump as it is for a person with longer legs because that bigger person's weight and legs will hold them on the horse whereas a much smaller child can get thrown off easier.

Set goals for yourself in each lesson... today I want to keep my shoulders back, today I want my heels down, today I want my leg to stay still at the canter... that sort of thing. And when you've mastered one, concentrate on another.

I think you're doing better than you think you are. And even if you're not doing as well as you wanted, just keep trying. The fact that you are here asking us whether you are doing well shows that you are concerned about riding and that you obviously like it. I don't care if I was the worse rider in the world... I would keep doing it just because it's the greatest thing in the world! So if you love it, keep doing it!

Incidentally, here's 2 personal stories...
1. I'm in my 3rd year of riding, I show WTC, and I'm just learning to jump 2 foot. So I'm not that far ahead of you.
2. I was jumping 1 foot for about 6 months... and I was just trotting them. I cantered jumps only a couple of times. I finally got sick of it and took a lesson with another instructor and started jumping 2 foot. So if you think you're ready for the next step and just don't have the opportunity to progress because your instructor hasn't challenged you, then either tell her or if you don't like her, then find another instructor. It is their decision because they're responsible for your safety, but if you think that you're ready, don't let them hold you back.

But the answer is yes, you are doing well. Only quit if you really hate it. If you're not progressing because no one lets you, then make it change. If you are doing as well as you can, then be happy with the progress that you have made. The kids who learn to ride at the barn that I teach at don't learn to jump at all because we don't have the horses for that. And another instructor has them ride for over a year before cantering at all. So at least you know that you are doing better than them!

Keep riding, you're doing great!

Answer 2

I think you should show in walk trot canter. Make sure that when you are riding regularly, that you are working hard on your form and keeping the horse moving forward. You could have someone videotape you while you ride, that way you can see what things you need to work on. If you are in a lesson program, pay close attention to what your instructor is telling you, and make sure you do it. I know it can be tough to break bad riding habits, but it can be done.

Make sure to keep your reins even, back straight, and your heels down at all gaits. I have been riding for 13 years and canter is still tough for me to remember everything at once, especially on a lazy horse or a horse with a rough canter!

I don;t think there is anywhere that you "should" be. Everyone learns at a different pace. Don't give up! You are doing great! It takes a lot of work and a lot of practice to become an experienced rider! Keep at it! :-D Don't worry about the ribbons, just do your best you can!

Answer 3

Let me ask you something. Does it really matter what a bunch of strangers on the internet think about your progress? For that matter, does it really matter how quickly you progress with your horses? There is no time frame in horse back riding. It is better to wait until you are comfortable in moving to the next step than forcing it upon yourself when you may or may not be ready, and may end up causing more harm than good. Just keep practicing, and when you are ready for the next step, you will know it. I assume you are taking lessons, and your instructor can help with your time frame as well. Some people never canter their horses, and just ride them on trails. There is nothing wrong with that.

Answer 4

How fast you progress does not determine how good you are. At the barn I ride at, they take it real slow and easy at first, taking up to 3 years of riding just to canter. This does not mean you are a bad rider, if anything it means that it will provide you with a good foundation for later. Please do not give up, just have fun with it and learn more!

Answer 5

Just keep going....the more practice you have the better you will get. If you like jumping then concentrate on that rather than dressage.

If you have the choice of using different horses (am not sure whether you are at a stable or not) then try that and see if you "click" with one particular horse rather than another. If you own your horse then just get out there as often as you can.

Answer 6

how old are you? a younger person learns to ride much quicker than an older one, so if you are youngish, then you should probably be more advanced...that it unless you are a timid rider. if you are on the older side, then you are doing pretty well keep up the good work!

Answer 7

You are good why? . İf you are here and if you are ask this question to us you are good because its meaning the answer of me or another is importand for you. you treasure to our answer so you are good. At least as a person... Good Luck...

Answer 8

Give up you should be galloping by now,go and be a stable hand..

Answer 9

ur on the track but have to work harder

Answer 10

I dont know, I dont ride...but...CONGRATULATIONS....You Rock !!