Riding lessons for an old hat...

WOW... Last night I had my first riding lesson in about 10 years... We rode Bareback... THAT was the first time Bareback in about...15 years or so... and...I have to say... I was humbled to a point. I did fine...but butt hurts and I learned that I'm completely out of shape and needing serious work... I also learned that my previoius riding instructor left me behind wiht some holes in my riding... No big ones but holes non-the-less...

The humbling part was kinda tough to deal with...LOL... But I'm still pretty impressed with the instructor because she didn't fail to mention to me "WHEN you get beyond me..." and proceeded to tell me the name of a Dressage Instructor nearby that will work with me... At least I have potential...

Aside from being completely and horrifically out of shape...I have to say that I am now more of an advocate than ever of Riding lessons and riding bareback from time to time and in the beginning than I ever was... I think it's good for ALL OF US to do it at LEAST once a month so that we can keep that seat of ours and not rely on those stirrups and thighs...LOL... GREAT fun and I thought I'd share my new found wisdom...

Especially since we have a new member just striking out on her own with a new horse. Riding lessons from the right instructor can be a VERY worthwhile investment.

 

I agree Sara! How's the butt doing? lol I really enjoy Dressage because I've found more so than other seats, they advocate always taking lessons. There's always something else to learn. Even Grand Prix riders take lessons! Other seats i've ridden tend to have the outlook that once you know how to ride correctly, you're done, which just isn't the case with horses.

 

Ya know...honestly I was a little bit hurt or injured so to speak regarding taking lessons again and how MUCH the instructor did to knock me back to the beginning... But NOW that I think about it...she KNOWS I want to ultimately do Dressage and is likely just going at it from that perspective... She's VERY specific and so it was a trying lesson... I didn't tell her I was aiming for Dressage but she knows I'm interrested in it and I NOW bet she's being tough on me for that reason... Heck that makes me feel 100% better about my skill...LOL...

I got home though...and the BF had to do some serious talking because I was pretty injured in the pride erea... But I'm VERY glad we're going at this from that perspective and direction... Can't wait for the next one!!!

The Butt...LOL... WOW horse's spines can be MIGHTY hard... EEEEK!

 

ooo I love bareback! My IHSA trainer at uni was ready to kick me off the team cos I kept showing up for lessons bareback lol She thought it was "unnecessary and improper" bah I love bareback...it's really good for working on balance and connecting with the horse.

 

I used to ride Bareback all the time and loved it...but after so long...it was like I was a kid again and didn't know anything... But I agree that Bareback is where it's at!

 

i love riding bareback! It really helps connectm e with the horse and in the case of english riders i think more lessons should be done bareback, if oyu need a strong leg, that's how your gonna get it! (not saying that western riders shouldn't ride bareback, they should! But since English needs alot more strength in the legs, english riders especially should ride bareback.)