Do you ever get discouraged?

I agree riding should be fun and sometimes I get so caught up in improving that I forget to have fun! You guys give the greatest advice and words on encouragement!

VA Cowgirl- That must be really frustrating. Good for you though! I'll tell ya this it took me FOREVER to learn to post. I had people try to explain it to me and I watched so many people trying to figure it out on my own. One day I was trotting a horse at the barn I work at and it just clicked! I got in rhythm with the horse and it just happened. Have fun and good luck!

Countryjewel- I know how frustrating that is. My little cousin is such a know it all and always has to trump everything I do, when in reality she can barely trot my mare through the pattern at a slow 40 seconds.

Amlalriiee- Thank you!

Thank you so much! The teacher made me SO mad - he was like, "I wanna see you posted and I wanna see LAPS!" I'm like, Ok Drill Sergeant -_- I said, "Just let me feel the rhythm of the horse first, please." That ticked him off and it blew up from there...ARGH! So we'll see how Saturday goes. I'll just keep trying and trying until it clicks. Thank for the kind words :)

I'm actually Setting myself up at this point for this feeling. I have a 4 year old warmblood. He's currently in training with my dressage instructor and she rants and raves that she has never seen a horse move the way he does in 25 years, she traveled all over the world training. He had the most beautiful trot. BUT I have never taken a single lesson till now and I had no idea what posting the Trot is till now. So my trainer is trying to find a young at least second level rider to ride him as well. I can't help but feel I'm so far behind, I struggle so bad riding Leon and then this little kid who has been lucky to take lessons their whole life is going to come and take him. :( I hate it.
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I do get discouraged too, it's somehow "wonderful" to see that I'm not the only one
Sometimes I just feel like I'm stuck in my development as a rider and handler and a liability to my horse, but it's not worth it giving up. It does get better with practice, and sometimes it's just that one has a bad week or so too.
It's great being around horses, and I feel very lucky for having my own lovely mare who's so patient with me :-D

Sometimes I still do, yes. I am a perfectionist, I guess you could call it. I am my own worst critic when I feel I fail to measure up to the standards I set.

It's a work in progress.... I'm learning to take a step back, and a deep breath, and tell myself that I set the bar, no one else, and I need to respect my own boundaries and skill level.
I find that when I enjoy the simple successes, it gives me the confidence to attempt more difficult tasks.

I wish you luck. Focus, but don't forget to have fun.