Not Picking Up On It....

[Maz]

Having read most Heather's book, after seeing and reading all the Kinder Way pages on the New rider site, I still can't pick up on many parts of it, even though it makes perfect logical sense when I read it. I think part of my problem is the fact that I do ride at a very 'BHS' school and I'm so busy trying to get my horse to move (or not, depending on the horse!) while doing everything else my instructor is telling me to do, that I don't have time to try EE methods successfully. Seeing as I'm still young too, I've never taught myself anything, I've always had teachers instruct me in how to learn. Or, maybe I'm just trying to run before I can walk. Imparticular I'm having trouble with sitting to the trot, and getting any horse 'on the bit' - even though they are capble of this. However I'm willing to learn , I just need some guidance and I'm not sure what to do. Any advice?

[Pete]

I dont envy you!  Most riding school horses are just tired, and usually hurt from badly fitting saddles too.  Your best option is to try and find a local riding club, and track down some of the younger members who might be able to help by giving you some rides - either that, or find someone who has horses that need exercising - I can always use someone like that, but can never find them!  Try the local tack shops - there are often ads from people needing help with their horses.  You aint going to go far with a riding school!

Cheers - and welcome to the forum too - hang in there, because as this develops, we will start to organise events and opportunities that you may benefit from.

Pete

[KathyGrant]

Dear Maz,

I know exactly what you mean. I'm not sure age is particularly relevant - I'm 42 and still daren't speak up for myself! :(  I noticed a distinct change in attitude in one young woman when I started discussing Heather's book and video. I now keep quiet. It's a pity not all instructors are as sympathetic and tolerant (of a slowness to learn in my case!) as the guys here.

As far as "getting it", I'm starting to read Heather's book again , as I keep forgetting things. It's hard when you only ride once a week. Still, chin up eh?

Take care, and keep trying,

Kathy.
 

[Cobstar]

Hi Maz

It is possible to help yourself learn.  The important thing is to try and break things down into manageable chunks 'cos you can't fix everything immediately.  If I were you, I'd try to work out the sitting trot thing first and not get hung up on getting the horse on the bit.  Reduce your concerns about getting on the bit to - is the horse moving forward at the speed I want and in a regular rhythm and don't worry about where his nose is.

The sitting trot thing is best picked up by working on picking up the correct feeling in walk first.  Walk gives you more time to feel what is happening under your seatbones.  Heather didn't have the simulators when I first went on a course with her and she managed to teach a non-athletic, unco-ordinated lump like me to pick up the footfalls and weight aids for turns etc on her fantastic schoolmasters.  Thank you Heather, Butch and Dandy!  Hopefully Dandy will keep quiet about the amount of time we spent standing in the corner because he did exactly what I asked him to, not what I thought I'd asked.

If you can get somebody on the ground to tell you when the horse's hindleg on one side is on the ground or stepping under then you can try and match what you're feeling to what is happening under you.  

Is it possible for you to go and have some lessons at Suzanne's Riding School in Middlesex - or is that too far away from you?  

Not sure whether my mare would be too big for you - but if you can get down to Kent a couple of times at weekends then you could use her as a moving platform and I'll try and offer you some help.  She's been off work but she's ready to start some work under saddle and could cope with some walk and trot.

[alexis_haines]

Maz

I don't now where you are in the country but I can recommend Susie Neville-Parker near Pembridge Herefordshire.

Susie isn't EE affiliated but she is enlightened.

http://www.arrow.u-net.com/

Alexis

[Maz]

I'm situated in South London... and have yet to find any truely 'enlightened' teachers. I think n my future lessons I'll pay more attention to 'myself' than my instructor. One of the good things about my school is that it has mirrors around the edge of the indoor school, and they can help in seeing which foot is hitting the ground when. However its still very difficult to work it all out as I can only catch snippets of myself in the mirror. I really do need to break everything down into 'chunks' more. I'm the kind of person who just sees the long term goal and wants it now. What would be the ideal order of 'chunks' though. Would co-ordinating my seat be the first thing to work on?

[Cobstar]

Hi Maz

Start by asking yourself some questions:

1) what am I good at riding-wise? (don't be hard on yourself think of all the things you've achieved that you  couldn't do before you started riding)
2) what do I aspire to be able to do as a rider?
3) thing of someone you have seen riding and admired- either in real life, in a photo or on TV/video - it will give you a visual picture of what you're working towards
4) list the things that are holding you back from achieving your obectives and then try and work out which are causing the most problems at the moment and need to be worked on first.

If you want to share your answers on this forum then I'm sure lots of people would be willing to offer you feedback. Alternatively feel free to PM me.

 

[Maz]

Been meaning to reply for ages but never got round to havng enough time to think until now.

1) I can sit on a horse in a fairly competent position, I can use basic aids to ask a horse to walk, trot, canter and I can sit through all 3 gaits (have problems with sitting trot on bouncier horses). I can use a combination of aids (seat, hands, legs) to turn, circle, and perform basic lateral movements such as leg yield.

2) To be honest theres nothing I don't aspire to be able to do. At the least I want to be a competent rider which a horse is happy to be ridden by. I don't want to have to use force to make a horse do anything, I want to be in the situation where I ask, and he'll willingly give. I also want to ride in a way that inhibits the horse as little as possible.

3) There's no-one in particular

4) Problems, where do I start! I'm not really sure how to order them yet, but I'll write all that I can think of down.
- I have limited riding time as I can only ride once a week in a lesson at a riding school. I don't have much choice about what I do in my lessons, as they're group lessons (I prefer them this way though)
- I have limited travel options so there's a limit to the no. of places I can ride at. I also have limited funds for riding so I can only ride once a week.
- I don't have my own horse to ride regularly and train/learn on.

I suppose this leads on to all sorts of other problems but those are the basics. I also have riding/positional problems, but I suppose these could be sorted with proper instruction - if these were the types of problems you were looking for, then I'll be happy to write another list!

[Cobstar]

Hi Maz

Well it sounds to me as though your already more than competent in all the basics.  If you can sit to the trot on the majority of horses then that's great 'cos you can work on refining your skills so that one day you can cope with even the bounciest stride.
.
What you really need is opportunities to ride a range of horses.  When I was in the sixth form at school I used to help out at weekends and holidays at a brilliant riding school and stud. Learnt proper stable management and got to ride at least once a day and often more.

I'm sure if you advertised in one of your local horse magazines you'd be able to find someone who'd let you ride in exchange for some help.  Have you tried that?

It's also worth saving up to go on one of Heather's simulator courses. Or try to get to an event where she's got the simulators. EE is going to be at the Equine Event in November - perhaps you could arrange a trip.  I'm sure Heather would be delighted to see you.

Maria

[KathyGrant]

Hi Maz,

I fitted all the things you said about yourself. And I reckon there must be thousands of people like us. Isn't it frustrating when you want to try all sorts of things, but can't because of being in a group situation? It must be so much easier when you have your own horse, and can hack out casually.

By the way, what I would like to know is, which comes first: the long leg followed by a balanced seat, or a balanced seat followed by the long leg? I have to say, when I rode as a teenager, it was only after I'd been riding for some time (and I mean years), that I was able to lengthen my leg. In trying to ride with a long leg now, I find I can't get my balance, and tend to tip all over the place! And no, I never ride when under the influence of drink!!! Any thoughts?

Kathy.

[Kit Kat]

Hi Maz,
I'm just going to second what Cobstar said - do all you can to get onto one of the simulators.  I was in the same situation (book made perfect sense - no chance to really practice on the school horses), but it all came together in seconds once I got on the machine.  And it translated back onto a real horse too!  Its like your body just needs that little key turning and then all the doors open up.  Good luck!  Kat

[Sarah B]

Hi Maz

Just a thought, but does your current riding school have the ability to take people out on escorted hacks?  If they do, you might find that you can hang around at the back of the group (or just ignore the escort) and allow yourself think and feel what the horse is doing underneath you.  It would certainly be easier than trying to do the same in a lesson with the instructor issuing a constant stream of instructions at you!

Good Luck - and try to get on one of the simulators at some point - it really does help!

Sarah  

[Maz]

Thanks for the help everyone.
I was wondering if anyone knows of any events in the London/Surrey area that Heather may be appearing at soon. Getting on a simulator sounds like the best option but won't be able to get on one of her courses soit would have to be at a fairly local event.

[Cobstar]

Hi Maz

If I hear of anything, I'll let you know.  It's also worthwhile keeping an eye on the Dates and Events section of the main website.

 

[Anna B]

Sarah B's suggestion of going on a hack is a really good idea.  You won't have so many other things to think about, as you do in a lesson.  I went out on a hack a couple of weeks ago and could really feel the horse's back moving underneath me - it almost feels as though you are walking along yourself, like his legs are your own.  Definitely recommend it if your school does hacks.