[FarRider88]

I have developed a heavy hand from my first lesson horse .A percheron mare she was slow sluggish and unresponsive to my body movement . I am now taking lessons on a buckskin mare that is a bit more responsive to my movements in the saddle. I feel that the percheron may have not been a good first lesson horse and that I should of started on the mare I ride now. I love horses and my riding. I just want to see if I was started in the right direction. My goal is to use my horseback riding on my ranch and raise my own horses. Any advice is welcome thanks.

 

[tinyliny]

No way to go back and change things. Just go forward and recalibrate your hand to the new horse. It won't take long. Riding a sensitive horse is such a joy. I do love heavy horses, but sometimes they do get 'heavy' and than can be tiring to ride.

 

[jaydee]

A lot of horses used in riding schools for beginners have a tendency to be more whoa than go and after years of being ridden by people who use the reins to balance themselves they can also have very insensitive mouths.
I'm in two minds about whether either are really bad things for a nervous or unsteady novice as I think its more important that a rider gets moved up on to a slightly more challenging horse once they've got a firm grasp of the basics and don't get stuck in the habits of kicking all the time and being too hard on the mouth

 

[SilverMaple]

Drafts and draft crosses are commonly used as lesson horses because they're solid, sane, and safe and generally their gaits are easy to ride. A safe, gentle ride is more important than a soft mouth for a rider just learning or addressing bad habits. That's why they used her. So now that you've graduated to another mount, your seat is better and you can concentrate on soft, giving hands. Another step along the line. Enjoy and don't lament what has happened in the past-- take what you learned and move forward. Now that you know what sluggish and dull feels like, you know what NOT to do with your future horses.

 

[elkie09]

I have developed a heavy hand from my first lesson horse .A percheron mare she was slow sluggish and unresponsive to my body movement . I am now taking lessons on a buckskin mare that is a bit more responsive to my movements in the saddle. I feel that the percheron may have not been a good first lesson horse and that I should of started on the mare I ride now. I love horses and my riding. I just want to see if I was started in the right direction. My goal is to use my horseback riding on my ranch and raise my own horses. Any advice is welcome thanks.

Most people are started on slower horses who are reliable and forgiving. I know it can be frustrating, but it is often for your own safety. My own trainer originally struggled to make me happy with lesson horses due to the fact that I wanted a more responsive horse and she wanted me to gain an independent seat and calm hand before moving to the more forward/sensitive horses. The less responsive horses will help strengthen your leg as well, which is crucial with the more sensitive horses. A noisy leg can send mixed signals to a sensitive horse and a calm horse will forgive you for it

I've ridden probably over a twenty different school horses in the past few years in between the fiery mare I shareboard now. Each horse has something to teach you- believe me!

 

[Sandycat]

I agree with the above statement. I'm a beginner so I haven't rode anything but the quiet beginner horses. I keep telling myself that if I can get these guys to move, when I graduate to the more advanced horses, I'll have no problem! Lol

The horse I rode in my last lesson would literally walk right into the corner of the arena and stop if I didn't tell him to turn correctly. At first it was really frustrating, but by the end of that lesson, my turning really improved. I had gotten so used to my usual lesson horse who would just follow the rail around regardless if you told him to turn or not.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[FarRider88]

Thank you all for the great replies very much appreciated.It is frustrating at times the lesson sometimes ends better then it begins . I'm still working hard on it thanks all!One of my goals is to have enough lessons to start on my own horse . I just wanted to make sure I was on the right track. Thanks again.

 

[QtrBel]

No way to go back. Don't blame it on the breed though. It is more the experience the horse has had that has brought it to that point than the breed and an instructor that failed to see what was happening and instruct you on how to improve.