Hi guys,
Thanks for all the words of encouragement-I'm so glad it's not just me, but I do wonder if being older has got me stuck in my ways and more resentful of failure...my riding school as a kid told me to do all manner of things and would shout and scream if I didn't get them right and I would just go along with it thinking "aww this pony is so cute..." I guess I need to put on those rose tinted specs again and not take myself so seriously
Cheers once again!

Don't give up! I was lucky enough to have my first real go at western at Whitetor Stables (don't think it's there now or not in the same format) and there we went out for hours so you could just get the feel of the horse in all gaits without worrying about reins. It was like coming home! When I started lessons on my own young horse I felt like I was riding with spaghetti. I was so busy sorting out the 'spaghetti' I couldn't do transitions or steer. BUT it does come. Don't understand the bit about "flapping your legs"but it did get my imagination going!
Keep at it, it's a great way of riding with lovely people.
Just seen your last post, don't worry about age, I started in my very late 50's and hope to do my first show this year (61).

Post edited by: misty, at: 2008/02/24 20:49

I am also of a mature age and my mind does not grasp things as quickly as I had hoped it would. I started Western about 4 years ago and really got into it after my first show. Did not do well but just the fact that I went out here and did it on my silly Dales pony! Still have the Dales, but now compete with my Quarter Horse and even ventured out and bought a 3 yr. old QH last year (she is in training still). I still get frustrated in lessons when things do not go according to plan. Trying to teach me and my horse flying changes at the same time has been a challenge, but we are getting there SLOWLY. Horse at age 13 is quicker to learn than I am!

Hang in there! and yes, perhaps trying a different trainer might help, but with them being so far a part not always practical, especially if you want one with a western trained horse for you to use.

Hi Moose, yes I found the conversion to western very hard but hang in there the penny will drop, where abouts are you in the country?
Ria

Hahaha - with 3 hours in the saddle I think you're doing just fine!

In my first lesson I did as I was told and thought 'wowww... this is amazing!!'. In my second lesson I didn't and promptly fell off . I'm STILL learning the lingo! It was only 5 minutes before my first competition that I worked out how to bridge the reins on a snaffle-bitted horse. I have no idea about riding one handed with split reins - but a friend gave me an interesting demo on Saturday of how to shorten reins with one hand with a camera strap!

One year on, I can just about keep my heels down, bump with one or other leg as needed and am getting the gist of framing up and releasing - but only just... I occasionally beat myself up for being completely incompetent and useless, and recall just how whizzo I was as an English rider BUT... then I remember that I've not been so totally interested in any other riding method since I was about 10, and realise that I'm willing to spend most of my spare time learning more and more. In the meantime, I've had a ball and have got to compete already and meet some hugely talented and helpful people even as a TOTAL NOVICE. Can't get better than that, surely??

well done you Misty go for it!
Ria