Hi,
I have just had my 3rd western riding lesson yesterday and feel thoroughly deflated. After spending 12 years riding English on and off and having a 3 year break I decided to give Western a go, but I feel as if each lesson has got worse.
I don't have a horse to practise on so I know in reality I've only done 3 hours of it but yesterday my brain could not comprehend split reins and what to do with them, I couldn't put my heels down and I couldn't steer!!! And the idea if flapping your legs against the horses sides put me on total overload!
I felt totally helpless as I tried desperately to jiggle the reins and focus the horse.
I've only been walking and jogging in each lesson. Did anyone else have the same problems when they started? I was about ready to give up as daft as it sounds.

I no just what you are going throw if you haven’t tide yourself up in knots with the reins must be better than I was. But 7 years later I think I mite have the hang of it. That’s my opinion [not any one else’s]. Stick with it it’s worth it.

Thanks Libby

Hi

I think everyone has been where you are at the moment and to be fair it does not apply just to riding, I took up playing the saxophone a few years back and started off resonably well and then just started hitting barriers could get the notes right nothing felt frustrated everything you mention and then I would have a break through and things will go right.

The same has happened with my riding. You will always hit some barriers and things might not seem to be going the way they should be a point will come and you will turn a corner. Remember we are always our worse critics and you are probably not doing as bad as you think you are, but because it is new not only from your 3 year break but because it is different to the way you use to ride you will get frustrated alot quicker. For 12 years you have been able to ride and now it seems like you can't difficult concept to grasp sometimes. But it will come. This is a very long winded way of saying keep at it, the dividends will pay off and be worth it.

All the best

Neil

Don't stress! Do you drive a car? don't you remember the steering off to the left every time you changed gear (or was that just me... ) the stress of mirror-signal- manoeuver, up a gear, down a gear, hand brake, side mirror... omg all at the same time?!

Ever had an english lesson with a "real" BHS instuctor???!!! "chin up, bum under, shoulders back- heels down, TOES IN, LEGS BACK, DON'T GRIP up DOWN up DOWN up DOWN..." need I go on??!!

Relax, you'll be fine. Enjoy the ride, if you get a little further down the line and if you really don't feel you're getting it, try a different instructor. They all have a different way of teaching, you will find the right one for you.

Don't give up, it's AWESOME!

welcome to my world, i've ridden english for the past 24 years. Had a break for the last 5 years , due to my cobs age more than anything else, sadly he moved on to pastures new 1 year ago.What I like about western is that your not constantly niggling the horse with a contact, that and the fact it suits my bad back more.
What I dont like is that at 16 stone no-one has anything big enough for me to ride( my fault not theirs, no-one force fed me).
So a diet it is from now on, I cant wait to get on my youngster next year, fingers crossed, he will be big enough for me to ride, either that or I'll have another big dog, that or its lipo- suction