HELP ME WITH MY riding skills????

Question

Hi, I really want to go to my local riding school and ride for a half an hour private lesson but I feel like I am a really awful rider. I have been riding for almost 7 years, little and often, and I dont seem to be making any progress. As I cant afford lessons every week I usually go once or twice a month. I get really scared and tense up a bit when the horse starts to cantre, I think this is holding me back quite a lot, I start to shake so my leg goes all wibbly, I feel so out of control, can you give me any tips on how to get a nice slow cantre, also I have always had a problem with sitting still and up straight, can anyone give me any tips???

Answer 1

why not have a ride with other people it work out cheaper and if you are scared tell somebody because what is the point in paying all that money for you to be scared and if you can not sit up i would advise you to get a body protector

Answer 2

You have confidence issues that are not uncommon in the horse world. Even only riding once a month, you can still build your confidence, and improve your riding, but it will take a lot longer.

Ideally, lessons should be twice a week, once a week is fine, Once a month, just set your expectations out longer, because it is going to take you longer to learn.

Your best bet is to be sure you are riding an old, old, steady school horse - one that is very tolerant of mistakes on the part of the rider. When you canter, your instructor should be having you canter only a few strides at first, to build you up slowly - not making you go around the whole afraid - that doesn't help anything.

Your legs are shaky & wobbly from tiredness. The muscles you use to ride a horse are not the same muscles you use for anything else - so you will tire out more. Muscles build up over time with regular exercise, so again, it's going to take a lot more to get used to it only 1 time a month as opposed to more often.

If you can, why not offer to work off some lessons by cleaning stalls, grooming horses, anything of the sort, in exchange for extra riding time? Even 2 lessons a month will improve the quality of your riding as you progress.

Consistenency is best - whatever program you get into - wether it's once a month or every day, staying on your program is the best thing of all.

Answer 3

First, don't think that you're a really awful rider. Try to be confident about your abilities.
Try just walking and trotting for a while. Do whatever's comfortable for you. Have you told your instructor that you're scared? Tell him, if you haven't already done so. When you're tense, the horse will be tense, you'll be more likely to fall off, and the horse will likely go faster.
I understand being nervous while riding; I used to be a very nervous rider. It took several falls and many, many hours in the saddle to cure me of it. Think about why you're tensing up when you canter. Are you scared to fall? You said that you feel out of control--are you afraid that the horse will bolt with you? Figure out what bothers you and don't worry about it. If you're scared to fall, realize that it'll happen eventually. Learn how to fall off. If you're afraid to lose control, learn about techniques that you can use to stop a horse. Practice an emergency dismount (I recommend doing it bareback at first, then trying it with a saddle and at faster gaits.) so that you can get off safely in an emergency.
Wear a helmet, if you don't already. It might make you feel more confident, although a helmet can't protect you from everything. Work on building a balanced seat at each lesson. Ride without stirrups or ride bareback. Have someone lunge the horse while you ride. You can work on your position without having to control the horse. You can try working without reins, stirrups, or saddle. Try fun exercises, like reaching for the horse's ears, touching your toes, bringing your leg up and over the horse's withers (so you're sitting sidesaddle), around-the-worlds, and lying back on the horse's hindquarters. Be cautious when you do these, though. Ask someone to hold the horse, and don't do them on a horse who might spook.
What part of your body won't stay still when you ride? If your upper body tips back and forth when you canter, you should work on strengthening your abdominal muscles. If your legs swing, work on strengthening your calves and thighs.
Your horse will canter more slowly if you're sitting back and relaxed. Try letting out a deep breath whenever you get nervous. Make sure your upper body doesn't rock back and forth, but don't become stiff and allow the reins to jab the horse in the mouth. Allow the horse to move you, but don't overdo the whole moving thing.
Ask if you can work at the stable in exchange for more lessons. Spending more time riding is really the best way to improve.

Answer 4

Well different horses have different speeds. Ask your trainer if he/she can give you a slower horse. Also if your legs are wobbling around then your stirrups are probably too long. If you have you legs striaght down., the stirrup should touch your ankle bone. Also., keeping your heels down will help you stay in the saddle. And don't get disscuraged, at least you were brave enough to start horse back riding, its a dangerous sport that requires serois guts. You should be proud of yourself. If you feel nervous while riding, think of something relaxing, because if your tense, your horse will become tense too and most likley spook [take off] so while your riding, think of the beach, on a nice sunny afternoon and the breeze in or hair or something, take deep breaths and relax, go with the motion of the horse.
I hope all of this helps you!

Answer 5

I used to get really nervous when we had to canter, and in the group lessons that I was in (cos mum couldn't afford private ones) everyone had to stop and watch you as you did your canter. and then they would all have advice for you when you came back to the group. That was really good, not only did we get feedback from the instructor, but we also got ideas from other riders who were going through the same thing as you - all of us were so scared when we started to canter, but the group was really good cos they understood what you were trying to do, and how much guts it took... My instructor was also reaaly kool and if someone wanted help with their canter she would arrange a private half hour session where she would get a quiet school horse and lunge us - really good!
When you are being lunged you dont have to think about controling the speed or where the horse is going or anything, you just focus on wat you r doing and ur position... within the half hour you can notice a big difference in ur riding.
Also, like someone else suggested, see if you can help out at the school in return for lessons...
Good Luck! Let us know how u go!!!
:D

Answer 6

Sadly, the only thing that is going to help is more riding. It sounds as if you lack confidence. More riding will give you more confidence, more confidence, better balance, better balance will make you more comfortable and that will get you you a better ride. If you can't afford more lessons every week, ask the trainer if you can help out around the facility in exchange for more lessons. Ask if they have a push button horse, one who is trained to do the correct thing regardless of the rider. Often good trainers have these horses who have been professionally trained for junior riders and shown for some years available for lessons, if yours doesn't look for one who does. My daughter started with our trainer at 4 years old on two absolutely wonderful push-button horses. She was very confident and could canter on them in the round pen. At 17 she had a 17.3 hand Holsteiner she jumped. You sound determined and I wish you the best of luck. God Bless.

Edit:
Where are you located and what kind of riding are you interested in? E-mail me if you would like. Perhaps I can help.

Answer 7

Well it depends do you ride english or western? I know nothing about english except you want to keep your posting in rythm with the horse.
Now when your horse starts cantering don't freak out, honestly the worse thing is you fall off, you'll be ok lol. Don't think about any of that just pay attention to your horse. Keep all your weight in your stirups and keep your heals down. Hold your horses head up, it'll keep you in control. Most important though stay calm! Your horse picks up on when your nervous and they'll take control, you really don't want that so stay positive and don't worry. If your horse starts cantering to fast just tug on the reins.

Answer 8

Try to not be so nervous. The horse feels it and can start to go faster. Also, try to move along with the horse, sit deep in the saddle, and have fun. This is if you are riding western. I am not so sure how to help you with english, though.

Edit: What RMR278 said I believe is dangerous. If you hold the horn, then you can get pulled out of the saddle and fall. That's just what MY riding instructor taught me.

Answer 9

you need a bomb proof horse, you have been riding some for 7 years and have made little progress, find another trainer if you can. also you can get an experienced rider trainer to lundge you with the horse and get the horse to canter so you can get used to it, you just learn to stay relaxed and hold the horn (use a western saddle more secure feeling) once you realize how wonderful cantering is you will almost instantly lose your fear (I did).

a friend of mine an experienced rider did that for me, I lost my confidence in cantering when I got thrown off a runaway. it was the scariest thing I had ever experineced. he really helped me alot. he put me on a bomb proof horse got me to hang on the saddle horn and to relax and the horse started to trot and broke into a canter and I really loved it once I realized I wasn't going to bounce into eternity.

RRRRR

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Answer 10

Well thebest thing is to just keep your mind busy with all the things you have to do. Remind yourself heels down back straight shoulders back. Just keep repeating it in your hoead and you will eventually get it straight. If you are riding western then a lope should be too terrifying its pretty slow usually. but english is different its quite a bit faster and you should try just walking and trotting untill you feel comfortable and strong enought to canter. Keep working at it and try doing some home exercises to keep your muscles strong. Hope I helped

Answer 11

You seem to have experience,that helps.But remember to stay calm or try,a horse can sense feelings so be confident but firm.When the horse starts to canter see-saw a little on the reins and say,"easy" in a calm voice.To get a nice slow canter you should have a calm horse.If the horse tears around then do what i said before but not as much.I hope my advice helps.