Hello!
I've been riding since January, I had a few lessons in a riding school and progressed nicely to trot. My partner is an extremely experienced showjumping and dressage rider and she suggested we part loan a horse rather than ride on riding school horses which are very different to privately owned. It'd been a little up and down as the first horse we loaned for a few weeks was not as described, he was an ex-racer with a bundle of problems (bless him) which I as a novice found very difficult! I couldn't lead him as he would rear up vertical, he bit me in the stable etc... anyway, under saddle he was a lovely boy and really helped me further establish my trot. My partner and I concluded as lovely as he was under saddle he wasn't the right loan for us as I could never be solely responsible for him.
Okay so - we now loan a new horse and she is a dream pony. She is easy to lead, she puts her head down to try and help you tack up, loves kisses etc etc etc. I've been lunging her myself in trot, taking her the field and she has really restored my confidence on the ground.
My problem is... she is very, very sharp. Her owner and my partner both think she is fantastic but when I first rode her my leg slipped back and I went in a tornado of canter for about 4 laps of the arena!! She was very good bless her and didn't get excited or buck, but now I am so aware of my leg position and how sharp she is that my confidence is very low on her. I always get nervous when we're in trot that I will accidentally get her to canter again. (I want to get proper lessons in canter when my trot seat is perfect.)
My partner has been working on more advanced movements with me in just walk. For example leg yielding up the wall and down the diagonal. (which is amazing to do by the way!)
Has anyone got any advice for a new rider on a sharper horse? I know she is a more experienced ride and my partner is telling me if I stick with it and work slowly on my confidence and leg movement then it will be worth it in the end.
Any advice appreciated!
I've been riding since January, I had a few lessons in a riding school and progressed nicely to trot. My partner is an extremely experienced showjumping and dressage rider and she suggested we part loan a horse rather than ride on riding school horses which are very different to privately owned. It'd been a little up and down as the first horse we loaned for a few weeks was not as described, he was an ex-racer with a bundle of problems (bless him) which I as a novice found very difficult! I couldn't lead him as he would rear up vertical, he bit me in the stable etc... anyway, under saddle he was a lovely boy and really helped me further establish my trot. My partner and I concluded as lovely as he was under saddle he wasn't the right loan for us as I could never be solely responsible for him.
Okay so - we now loan a new horse and she is a dream pony. She is easy to lead, she puts her head down to try and help you tack up, loves kisses etc etc etc. I've been lunging her myself in trot, taking her the field and she has really restored my confidence on the ground.
My problem is... she is very, very sharp. Her owner and my partner both think she is fantastic but when I first rode her my leg slipped back and I went in a tornado of canter for about 4 laps of the arena!! She was very good bless her and didn't get excited or buck, but now I am so aware of my leg position and how sharp she is that my confidence is very low on her. I always get nervous when we're in trot that I will accidentally get her to canter again. (I want to get proper lessons in canter when my trot seat is perfect.)
My partner has been working on more advanced movements with me in just walk. For example leg yielding up the wall and down the diagonal. (which is amazing to do by the way!)
Has anyone got any advice for a new rider on a sharper horse? I know she is a more experienced ride and my partner is telling me if I stick with it and work slowly on my confidence and leg movement then it will be worth it in the end.
Any advice appreciated!