I've been riding on my own, just western, for awhile now on my own mare. She's hot and has a lot of go, and I feel like she's made me better. I watch a lot of videos on youtube as well, but I knew I couldnt teach myself to ride english. Which is what I want more than anything.
Today, I had my first ever formal riding lesson, in the history of my life. The lesson horse was like 20 years old, and lazy as all get out. I've never ridden in an english saddle. I was completely fascinated. Every theory and concept I've ever read about made sense. It was great. Going around the arena, I posted on the right diagnal, etc etc. The instructor kept saying to me "You're doing really well."
Then, she set up a little trot pole, and then said, "Well, lets go in the round pen to canter first."
Went in the round pen. I should have told her I dont like round pens. My own mare, routinely slams my knee caps into the rail,and since then, I flinch and dont like to be close to a rail, hence I havent cantered in a round pen.
I was cueing him into a canter, and several times it went well. Felt great. Then she commented "You have a natural seat." I was so happy. I felt like I was doing okay. Then, I was just focusing on position and my weight in the stirrups, and I went to cue him, and THEN i saw the rail. i flinched, my weight was off balance in that transition between trot and canter, and i saw a vision of the ER. My family is out of town. I remember thinking, "Can I drive myself to the ER with a broken arm?" I saw the hard pipe rail and I thought "this is it". I grabbed hold of the rail, and came off...holding to the rail I set myself down on my feet. She told me "ive never seen someone save a fall quite like that."
I got back on, but instead of figuring out how to change leads like we'd been doing, my arm hurt, and I was a little shaky. I feel so stupid. I felt so good, and like maybe I was a little bit of a natural like people ahve told me in the past. Instead, I fell off..doing NOTHING DIFFICULT! I felt like a moron!
Has anyone else fallen off doing something simple, like a first lesson? She told me at the end "you did fantastic." I thought, yeah, you tell everyone that!
My arm has a big knot on it that is turning black. But other than that, i just feel STUPID :evil: I've been riding for how long, by myself, in the woods, and I've never FALLEN. But today, the first time I've ever ridden a horse in public..I not only fall, I fall doing something ridiculously easy! Maybe I suck more than I ever imagined
Today, I had my first ever formal riding lesson, in the history of my life. The lesson horse was like 20 years old, and lazy as all get out. I've never ridden in an english saddle. I was completely fascinated. Every theory and concept I've ever read about made sense. It was great. Going around the arena, I posted on the right diagnal, etc etc. The instructor kept saying to me "You're doing really well."
Then, she set up a little trot pole, and then said, "Well, lets go in the round pen to canter first."
Went in the round pen. I should have told her I dont like round pens. My own mare, routinely slams my knee caps into the rail,and since then, I flinch and dont like to be close to a rail, hence I havent cantered in a round pen.
I was cueing him into a canter, and several times it went well. Felt great. Then she commented "You have a natural seat." I was so happy. I felt like I was doing okay. Then, I was just focusing on position and my weight in the stirrups, and I went to cue him, and THEN i saw the rail. i flinched, my weight was off balance in that transition between trot and canter, and i saw a vision of the ER. My family is out of town. I remember thinking, "Can I drive myself to the ER with a broken arm?" I saw the hard pipe rail and I thought "this is it". I grabbed hold of the rail, and came off...holding to the rail I set myself down on my feet. She told me "ive never seen someone save a fall quite like that."
I got back on, but instead of figuring out how to change leads like we'd been doing, my arm hurt, and I was a little shaky. I feel so stupid. I felt so good, and like maybe I was a little bit of a natural like people ahve told me in the past. Instead, I fell off..doing NOTHING DIFFICULT! I felt like a moron!
Has anyone else fallen off doing something simple, like a first lesson? She told me at the end "you did fantastic." I thought, yeah, you tell everyone that!
My arm has a big knot on it that is turning black. But other than that, i just feel STUPID :evil: I've been riding for how long, by myself, in the woods, and I've never FALLEN. But today, the first time I've ever ridden a horse in public..I not only fall, I fall doing something ridiculously easy! Maybe I suck more than I ever imagined