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My First Lessons - How am I doing? (Photo Intensive)

3K views 29 replies 19 participants last post by  anrz 
#1 · (Edited)
I've never ridden English before, and the only times I've ridden before now were two trail rides, one at Lake Tahoe, NV and another at Estes Park, CO. (The one in Estes Park was 2 hours and my horse was very sweet!)

I've been trying for riding lessons close to all my life (I am now 16, you can imagine how happy I am to now be riding) And I consider myself very lucky! (even if I don't become a good rider.) Because my lessons are affordable ($20, plus she is letting me work some of them off.), and I'm riding at a ranch full of Friesians. My lesson horse is also a friendly Friesian gelding who although he's very young, he's very good.
That said, I would like to correct my problems before I make a habit of them (I know I can't expect to do well on my first two lessons) But, Ludsen (the horse I ride) is also a show horse, and I don't want to ruin him.


Here are some photos of us riding, if you would like more I will certainly take more this Friday.
















I've noticed some things I'm messing up on all ready
+ I hold my thumbs UNDER the reins instead of over
+ I hold my hands at the wrong angle
+ I lean foreword
+ I look down a lot
+ I get REALLY tense ):
+ Ugh, I have so many problems, I'm sure you guys can easily spot them and help me with them.

I usually correct these things right away when I notice them myself, but what's a good mindset to have to prevent these things?

I'm also not very agressive. What can I do to toughen up?
 
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#4 ·
Just practice!
The more riding you do the better your position and confidence will be.
One thing I did before I started taking lessons was read.
I read every riding/lesson type book I could fine, and by the time I started taking lessons I already knew just about everything my trainer was talking about, so the only thing to do was to try it out and be corrected if wrong.
There's always more to learn about riding and horses in general.
I wouldn't worry about being 'toughed up' just yet, the more time and practice you have under saddle and even just being around horses the more confidence you'll have so you'll start to toughen up without realizing it.
Don't be so hard on yourself it's only your first lesson! :)
One thing I have to say about looking down..
just remember that when you look up you also shift your weight back which gives you a better seat which will help with tons of other things.
Look up between your horse's ears, shoulders back, elbows bent and to your sides, heels down. There's tons of stuff to remember, but you'll get the hang of it and start doing it without even realizing it.
 
#5 ·
Just practice!
The more riding you do the better your position and confidence will be.
One thing I did before I started taking lessons was read.
I read every riding/lesson type book I could fine, and by the time I started taking lessons I already knew just about everything my trainer was talking about, so the only thing to do was to try it out and be corrected if wrong.
There's always more to learn about riding and horses in general.
I wouldn't worry about being 'toughed up' just yet, the more time and practice you have under saddle and even just being around horses the more confidence you'll have so you'll start to toughen up without realizing it.
Don't be so hard on yourself it's only your first lesson! :)
One thing I have to say about looking down..
just remember that when you look up you also shift your weight back which gives you a better seat which will help with tons of other things.
Look up between your horse's ears, shoulders back, elbows bent and to your sides, heels down. There's tons of stuff to remember, but you'll get the hang of it and start doing it without even realizing it.

All right, Thanks!

I've been reading online and picking up magazines every once in a while.

Are there any specific books you recommend?
 
#8 · (Edited)
whitetrashwarmblood - I'll keep trying to find a good one, and I'll try to find the magazine if I can too.

Kickshaw - Do you think it would be okay to ask my trainer if I can see her ride?

I really am having a great time, I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life. Ludsen really is a cool guy, there are some others there too that look like they're right out of a magazine or calendar, but I don't think they'd have the patience to put up with me riding them like Luds does.

Thanks so much everyone! I'm so glad people are willing to help me out <3
 
#9 ·
Heya, first off, congrats for starting riding! I'm sure you're going to enjoy the time that you have around horses, and it sounds like you've found yourself a nice horse to bond with and have lessons on! Well done!

I think you need to not be so hard on yourself! Good on ya for wanting to ride correctly from an early stage... but don't forget to enjoy it and have fun too. Sure, gaining bad habits sucks, and are easier to fix if you nip them in the bud before they become a problem. But I think you're basic riding form is quite good, especially for someone who is new to riding! It's easy to fix your hands and the looking down thing... they're easy 'flaws' to have.

My main point is to really not worry as much. You look really great up on Ludson, and it looks like you have the proper instruction to become an awesome rider!
Good luck!
x
 
#10 ·
Yea i have to agree with ohmyitschelle. Dont be so hard on yourself, you are doing great :D Just keep riding and little things like thumbs not on top of the reins and looking down will easily be corrected. The head looking down and being tense is most probably from the excitement and possible nerves, which will clear pretty soon :D. Good luck your doing great :D. Oh and beautiful horse :D
 
#11 ·
I would say the one tricky thing people always mis is keeping those heels down! My instructor always used to tell us HEELS DOWN! Your my age! =] But don't be so hard on yourself. Watch other lessons, take what your instructor tells you to do and do it or work on it. Also the one thing I used to practice is standing on something where my heel was off and practice putting my heels down and toes up! Goodluck, congrats on getting to ride!
 
#21 ·
Update: So, unfortunately, I was not able to get photos today, but I made TONS of progress, and I can post the trot pretty well and get into rythm with Doc (Unfortunately, I did not ride Ludsen today since A. His trot is too powerful for it to be one I learn on. And B. He had just been used in 2 previous lessons.)

I'm getting more agressive, and I'm starting to be straighter in the saddle and looking up more, but I can't keep my heels down that well. ):
 
#22 ·
Maybe there are a few minor things you need to work on (I wouldn't know them because they're minor, but I'm guessing) but one thing I like about your style of riding is that your hands are nice and loose. No wonder your trainer is allowing you to ride her show horse, your position issues are very small for someone just beginning in english and you have light hands already! That is the most important thing since you said you were worried about ruining her horse, well having heavy hands is the easiest way to ruin a horse. I'm starting my first English lesson in 9 yrs next tuesday! Have fun you look great!!
 
#23 ·
Thanks for the video links! They were really helpful!

Does anyone know where I can find a video of someone doing a good posted trot with their weight in their heels?

And I could use some advice on handling a really powerful trot, I'm having lots of trouble posting on Ludsen since he's a 'huge mover' ):
 
#25 ·
I just started back after 8 years off- I am taking dressage lessons- which is new to me...its been 4 months and believe me- I AM FAR FROM PERFECT- so don't be so hard on yourself after your FIRST lesson :wink: I lean forward too- and I cant seem to keep my legs far enough back...but practice makes perfect...or close to perfect. Keep up the work! And your SUPER lucky to have that beautiful guy to take lessons on!
 
#26 ·
I think you look great!! You really don't look like a beginner beginner at all. You have natural leg position and your heels go down nicely. Everyone tells you to keep your heels down, but remember to keep your toes pointing straight as well. Keep up the great work! And the horse you ride is gorgeous!
 
#28 ·
Lol! Thanks for all the compliments! If you think Ludsen is a pretty boy, you should see Marko and Teake! :) They're total heart-throbs! Probably not the right term, but I'm tired.

Also to add to my trotting video request; anyone have photos of good equitation at any or all of the gaits? I've been looking for a few but I can only find photos of people going over jumps or at weird angles.
 
#30 ·
For only having had a few english lessons, you are doing really great! You really aren't as bad as you think you are- you just have a few flaws but you look really natural and relaxed (even though you say you tense up, it doesn't really look like it). I think that you just need to work on getting your legs right under you- in one they were two far forward and in the others they looked like they might need to be a bit MORE forward. You might be leaning a bit too far forward, though. Overall, you did a really amazing job.
 
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