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Instructor Took Me Off The Horse

7K views 37 replies 27 participants last post by  Celeste 
#1 ·
So, I recently started riding at this new barn and was put on this horse today that was really fresh. I couldn't get him to listen to me, he wouldn't stop when I told him to. I couldn't get the canter down right, I was bouncing around way too much so I trued to stop and start again but that wasn't working. The instructor took me to the end of the ring and told me to get off. He put one of his stable hands on and she continued to ride while I just stood there and watched. This made me feel as if I'm a really bad rider. I got about 20 minutes of riding in... I usually ride for more than an hour. I've never had this happen to me before, I've never been told to get off a horse and not get back on. I didn't even get told why I wasn't allowed to keep on riding and I'm afraid to ask. Usually I get the canter down right away, it's my favorite. I feel awful, as if I can't ride. I bet nobody else has had this happen to them before... This brings my confidence way down and I'm afraid to go back and ride again even if I am given a different horse.
 
#37 ·
The question is why be embarrassed, or have hurt feelings? No time for emotion when learning to train. It wont be the first time, nor the last, that another rider can help save your butt (and the horse's mind). And you OBVIOUSLY did know WHY....you stated all the reasons! (But perhaps you dont understand how far south those elements can go?)

And omg, I have seen a top (international trainer) tell George Morris to get off, and then ride the horse. Or Willi Schultheis tell multiple olmypic riders to get off, and do a movement, and then replace the rider. Ideally a rider asks for help for the good of the horse, but sometimes it is simply easier to put a more educated rider on to solve the problem and then put the other rider back on. It won't be the first time, nor the last. We are not in this for our egos, or to serve us; riding is for the training of the horse.

What did you LEARN while watching? What did you change when you got back on? Where you watching HOW the other rider got calm? Or were you just upset, and learned nothing from the experience? One learns to ride by riding, but learns to train most time by watching how others get success!

First kudos to your teacher for making sure you and the horse were safe. That is a wise person who puts you (and the horse) first.

The further question is why the horse could not listen to your aids. Where you tense because he was fresh? You have to create relaxation in yourself to minimize tension, not just do more exercises. That is a difficult lesson to learn, to be relaxed even when the horse is on the muscle. The greater tension (on your part) reveals itself in the bouncing, the inability to get a transition (although I would not even be asking if the horse could not be relaxed in the other gaits (starting with walk), and an appropriate tempo. Where you pulsing the aids, or merely holdinggggg?

Imho this was a good learning experience if you take it that way. From the comments about time on the horse, I dont think you saw the chance for learning.
 
#38 ·
If you were paying for a lesson, you should have been put on a horse that was at your level. Maybe the trainer hasn't taught you enough to know what level you are on, but it sounds like you were way over horsed. If this kind of thing continues to happen, I would find a better stable.
 
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