Horseback riding tips?

Question

Well its warm again which means I've finally been able to get back into the lesson program at my local riding stable, off to a good start so farb but could you give me a few pointers for these problems?

Everytime I try to use my heels I use my ankel. even though i'm pushing as hard as I can my instructor still says there's air between my heel and the horse's side and says i'm not using the right part of my heel.

I also ride a quite forward horse who is constantly trying to pick up a canter when she is supposed to be trotting. How can I get it so i'm not constantly fighting her to slow down?

Thanks

Actually I do, do gymnastics and my instructor says I have a good seat

It's not that I have a problem with leaning forward

by "i ride a horse that is quite forward" I mean that the horse is speedy not that I ride leaning forward.
sry of I confused anyone

I ride english/jump

Answer 1

Don't press your heel down so much. Yes, keep your heels down, but when you are asking her to go forward, make contact with your ankle then curl your heel into her slightly if she needs more pressure.
Do a lot of small circles with her. Or do a lot of one rein stops. That will teach her that maintaining a constant slower pace is much easier than stopping and starting a hundred times. Also, do a lot of rollbacks and backing in circles. Get her really light on your hands.

Answer 2

I never teach my clients to give an aid to the horse with their heels! Infact, it's incorrect to try to maintain contact with the horses sides, unless you are actively giving an aid. Your legs should hang down either side of the horse naturally, with your ankle being directly under your hip and the ball of your foot resting (not pushing) on the stirrup. When you apply the leg, it should be with a squeeze from your lower leg, by which I mean your inner calf. The only time I would ever use my heel, or instruct my clients to do so, is to sharpen up the horse to the aid from the lower leg.
If you are pushing very hard with your leg, on a sensitive horse, it is no wonder the poor animal is trying to submit to your request. You will be asking for canter, whilst holding her back.
Your seat should be the primary aid when riding, but this will only happen, with correct instruction, as you become more advanced. All of my advanced clients can now ride bareback and bridleless, controlling the horse with their seat. It's beautiful to watch, like a dance!
I would look for an Instructor who knows how to teach you classical riding if you wish to learn true English style, because this is where it's basic principles come from...

Answer 3

You seem to have a problem finding your center of balance; I'd reccommend take up a balance sport like gymnastics. When you're leaning forward, to the horse that means 'Let's go faster!' and she tries to do as your weight is telling her.

Your horse picks up her cues from you - if you're tense and uncomfortable or at all off balance, she'll pick up on that. It's best to be relaxed and maybe take a pleasure ride before the lessons if at all possible and practice your balancing on your own.

Answer 4

MY RULE OF THUMB IS TOES UP HEELS DOWN. ALSO A LOAP IS MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE TO A HORSE THAN A TROT, SO I WOULD JUST KEEP WORKING WITH YOUR HORSE. ALSO MY MOM IS A RIDING INSTRUCTOR AND SHE SAYS THAT SHE CAN SEE SPACE BETWEEN MY HEELS AND MY HORSE BUT I AM MAKING CONTACT WITH THE HORSES SO IF U KNOW THAT U ARE TOUCHING THE HORSES SIDE THAN DO NOT WORRY WHAT YOUR INSTRUCTOR IS. ALSO I USED TO DO GYMNASTICS I WAS ALMOST A LEVEL EIGHT WHERE DO U DO GYM? PLEASE E-MAIL ME BACK

Answer 5

do you know the horse well? if so here's tips

when you feel her start to think about running stop her she normally gives you hints on when she wants to run

run her / longe her / and mack sure she knows your the rider and your in controll

let her run after the lesson and just have fun sometimes i mean give her a break she is stuck in her stall or out side but no one is going to run with her.

if you dont know the horse well then theres some hints

hold the riens back more to tell her to stop cantering

have fun

love her but be firm and gentle

if you want to run she will and she can sence it to so dont all ways put the blam on her




i dont really have anything for your heel' angle problem cause i havent gone through it but practice at home and at home try to stick your feet in more


hope this helps you

Answer 6

I agree with sarah b..I have horses and if you do lean forward the horses will sense that you want him to move faster...like she said, park you butt way back in the saddle and relax...Horses are very sensitive to your motion..More than you realize. If your tense, their tense, if your mad they get confused, if your nervous, their gonna be nervous..You get a better horse when your calm, so they listen to you and your commands..Lots of praise when he does a good job...No smacking or hitting..

Answer 7

she's probably trying to speed up because your forward position makes her think you want her to move faster. Sit back and pull the reins to your hips. Keep your hands no more than 4 inches apart from each other. I think your leg issue will correct itself if you stop leaning forward. If you feel your reins are too lose tighten them up abit as well.

Answer 8

ride hunter?
dressage?
western?
well its hard to explain how to do that with out showing you in person...so i would just ask "Will you show me what you mean?...I don't understand."