Do you ever get discouraged?

So I am at this point in my riding that I expect more of myself and I just keep falling short.

I've been riding my entire life but just hoping on a riding around, horses always scared me and I was timid. Last fall rode in a few play days and decided that I really liked this. I went to a Martha Josey camp in November and started riding more over the past four months when my Aunt brought her horses to my house after her divorce.

This week has been tough in my personal life so like any horse person would do I spent a lot of time in the saddle, getting to know my new mare; or just sitting in the feed trough while my gelding, my heart horse, eats rattling on about anything and everything.

The past two days I have been riding hard with my Aunt practicing the barrel pattern. My new mare which I've had for two weeks plowed over two barrels, all on my account. I keep forgetting minor things like forgetting to slide my hand down in a turn, keeping my feet forward, dropping my outside rein to soon, or over anticipating and causing her to do the same. I feel like I shouldn't be making these mistakes. I'm still not ready to run my gelding, who is a very experienced very fast barrel horse who gets really antsy and knows his job, at his full potential. It might be crazy that a novice rider rides an experienced "hot" horse but he's my love and we get along so well even at a slow run!

I set small goals for myself and have achieved them so far. Every run I've made has been faster and faster, two play days and one actual barrel race. I just don't feel like I'm progressing the way I should and I'm so discouraged. I wanna go and turn and burn and I just can't yet I've always been an over achiever and pressure myself I guess I do that with my riding too.

Do any of y'all ever feel that way?

Oh my gosh, yes!

I see people who have had their horses for a year and can already do more than I can in my going on three years. There are kids years younger than me who show every weekend at those highend shows and have amazing horses. There are people my age who were in a similar situation to mine (green rider/green horse) who just did a better job with their animals and with themselves because they were just BETTER. Because they're faster learners or harder workers or just born lucky.

I feel constantly like I should be better and have no excuse not to be and wonder why the hell I'm not THEM.


So yeah... I get what you're feeling. :)

Yes I get discouraged LOL I was a decent rider until I had to take years off and gained 70 lbs. Now look at my thread of me falling off. Major setback. I don't even have the balance and rhythm I once had. My butt got off the ground in .5 seconds and kept at it.

The first sentence.. yes yes yes.

You're being too hard on yourself. Everyone learns at their own pace, ride different horses that are trained at different levels, experience different things. Some of us catch on quicker than others and some of us take our time to get things right.

It's okay! Just back off of yourself and give yourself some credit!

Maybe you need to go back to a trot till you get the pattern down with the barrels. Only add some speed when you got it mastered at the slower gaits :)

It's all good!

I think everyone gets discouraged. I totally do, I am in my mid 30s and have been riding all of my life.

With the things that you are experiencing, I think you need for them to be second nature, so not something that you think about. If I were you I'd do a lot of practice at slower speeds until you don't think, you just act.

Yes. I think everybody does at some point.

You gotta show some strength and courage and fight through those tough times and always think postitive. =]]

Always always always.
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Thank you! I've just been feeling so down on myself. Every time I ride I walk the pattern, trot the pattern at least 3 times, then lope through, and then I make a "run". I'm going to start riding bareback and stirrupless to help my balance!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who feels down and like I'm a slow learner!

On a good note I was riding my new mare in the poles, we're not quite getting along as she's quite cantankerous, and I just wasn't feeling comfortable I couldn't tell if it was me or her, since she had been pastured for a year before I got her. I asked my aunt (who is my teacher, horse tuner upper, and riding partner) to run her through to see what was wrong. She did, gripping the saddle horn the entire time. After she dismounted she said "Well it's definitely her, she is a rough as a cob! I had such a hard time staying on and you did so great, I can really tell your riding has improved!" That made me feel so much better!

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement and the shared stories of your own problems. We will get there! Perfect practice makes perfect!

I agree with the previous posters....we ALL get discouraged at times!!! It seems like you're going through a tough time anyway...and you're focusing on a competition goal to boot. I would focus on bonding first, especially where the mare is new to you. Go for walks with her, sit in the grass and watch her graze, take her for a laid-back trail ride. I'm not saying don't do barrels too, but don't make it your only focus--it sounds stressful! Be careful too, about making her barrel sour. If you're doing the patterns over and over and over and getting frustrated, she's probably frustrated too. Try to end on a good note, then go do something else with her. Good luck!