Starting lessons!

I've always wanted to take riding lessons since I found out what horses were and that you could ride them. My parents never wanted to pay for it and now I'm making enough to pay for it on my own! =D
Its on a lady's private barn. Its not fancy and very small but very laid back. It on the expensive side, $60 an hour so I can only go once a week since I'm trying to save up for college in a few months. Is once a week enough time to actually learn anything?
The lady who is teaching me is soo nice! Much nicer than I thought she would be. Shes been training horses and people for 35years and does natural horsemanship which really makes me happy! Shes also offered to teach me things outside of riding. On Saturday (my first lesson day) shes doing to be training a horse with rearing problems and shes invited me to come and watch. Shes also invited me to any clinics that she goes to and mentioned that I should volunteer at Heavenly Hoofs, a theraputic riding center that is non-profit, to get more experience in a different atmosphere.

I'm so excited!! I'm also extremely nervous. I've been in a saddle before but never in an english saddle. I'm also going to go out today and purchase a helmet and proper riding pants. WEEE!!!!

Congratulations and have fun! That sounds awesome that the instructor is so willing for you to come out and watch her working with different types of horses. I second the thought about volunteering at a therapuetic riding center, I did that all through high school and loved it. I graduate from college in two semesters and am hoping to get a job as either an instructor or in management of a therapuetic riding center (hoping for instructor!). Dream job for me!

Yeah I'm definitely going to look into it. The only problem is that my job changes my schedule every week and my boss refuses to give me a fixed schedule.

I just purchased new riding pants and a helmet! =D Apparently most people wear size 30 or something because thats 98% of what they had. I needed a 28 long and they only had a 26 reg so I ended up with that. Its a bit tight but is still comfortable and easy to move in.

=D

have fun! I take lessons once a week and you can learn its just that you need to do them every week! I also work and a handi-capped riding stable. Its fun and it makes you feel good.

Okay, heres me in the new pants and boots. Does everything look okay?

Attached Images

riding pants 001 [800x600].JPG (60.3 KB, 33 views)

another quick question, do riding pants shrink in the wash?

In the wash (when washed on cold) I don't think they do, now if you dry them in the dryer they will definitely shrink! I know from experience.

Congratulations on getting time to ride in lessons! Once a week is definitely enough to learn anything you want, it just takes a little more hard work than someone who has the opportunity to ride every day, I think. And your riding pants and everything look good. :) Have fun and good luck!

Yup, drying breeches ALWAYS makes them shrink - hang them to dry, lol. Congrats on starting lessons, sounds like a very nice place. Personally, I'd buy some half-chaps too. They'll protect your leg and give you a bit more grip, and they'll extend the life of your pants a LOT. You can get them for fairly cheap and they are well worth the money.