Joined
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8 Posts
Hello! I am a new rider, started riding about 4 months ago. I'm 37 and out of shape. I'm about 20 lbs overweight, and pretty physically weak, but I'm working on both.
I had never ridden (aside from a few slow-walking trail rides) before starting lessons. It was my life's dream to have a horse, but I only recently decided to stop waiting for it to feel like the "right" time and just do it! I started with once a week lessons but soon realized that if I couldn't practice more between lessons my progress would be painfully slow. I currently take lessons 3x a week while I patiently look for my own horse. The barn owner leases horse but none are available currently so that's not an option right now. I want to learn western dressage (maybe English dressage someday as my balance improves), ride confidently on the trails in groups and alone, and do gymkhana games for fun (not competitively).
I am progressing, but it's sloooowwwww, somewhat frustratingly so. It's like if I know what my heels are doing, I don't know what my hands are doing. If I know what my hands are doing, I don't know what my eyes are doing. If I know what my eyes are doing, I don't know what my legs are doing, and on and we go. I also feel like I have very limited lower leg control when in a trot or canter. I often still feel like a passenger trying to grab the wheel rather than the driver. I'm getting better, but struggling with balance (in my aids, in my body) and follow-through (not confident enough that I "asked correctly" to firmly expect a correct answer from my horse). We still look like a cluster-cuss in many ways when I ride. I assume this is normal, and my RI says that it is, but I also have no examples to look to for what to expect as an ambitious, beginning, middle-aged rider. Would love some insights.
I have two specific questions
1. How long should I expect it to take to balance my aids? Right now I am in saddle 3 hours a week, but once I find the right horse, I expect to do an hour a day at least 5x a week, and perhaps on Saturday 2-4 hours. I absolutely realize it's highly variable, but I would love SOME frame of reference. I am in it for the long haul.
2. I would like to master Western Dressage. What's a realistic timeline for a complete beginner to advance through the levels?
Any general tips or advice would be welcome as well!:runninghorse2:
I had never ridden (aside from a few slow-walking trail rides) before starting lessons. It was my life's dream to have a horse, but I only recently decided to stop waiting for it to feel like the "right" time and just do it! I started with once a week lessons but soon realized that if I couldn't practice more between lessons my progress would be painfully slow. I currently take lessons 3x a week while I patiently look for my own horse. The barn owner leases horse but none are available currently so that's not an option right now. I want to learn western dressage (maybe English dressage someday as my balance improves), ride confidently on the trails in groups and alone, and do gymkhana games for fun (not competitively).
I am progressing, but it's sloooowwwww, somewhat frustratingly so. It's like if I know what my heels are doing, I don't know what my hands are doing. If I know what my hands are doing, I don't know what my eyes are doing. If I know what my eyes are doing, I don't know what my legs are doing, and on and we go. I also feel like I have very limited lower leg control when in a trot or canter. I often still feel like a passenger trying to grab the wheel rather than the driver. I'm getting better, but struggling with balance (in my aids, in my body) and follow-through (not confident enough that I "asked correctly" to firmly expect a correct answer from my horse). We still look like a cluster-cuss in many ways when I ride. I assume this is normal, and my RI says that it is, but I also have no examples to look to for what to expect as an ambitious, beginning, middle-aged rider. Would love some insights.
I have two specific questions
1. How long should I expect it to take to balance my aids? Right now I am in saddle 3 hours a week, but once I find the right horse, I expect to do an hour a day at least 5x a week, and perhaps on Saturday 2-4 hours. I absolutely realize it's highly variable, but I would love SOME frame of reference. I am in it for the long haul.
2. I would like to master Western Dressage. What's a realistic timeline for a complete beginner to advance through the levels?
Any general tips or advice would be welcome as well!:runninghorse2: