| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| UrbanChick |
Posted - Aug 30 2007 : 7:41:14 PM
Well I think I'm going to switch barns and instructors. I like my current instructor, she is very nice but I think I want a little more instruction than what I've been getting. I don't feel like I'm learning balance and I am starting to like the close contact feel of the treeless saddle I'm on so I think I want to switch to english riding and dressage. Sitting on a western saddle is not as fun as I thought it would be. Although she is a very nice person and she is a good instructor I think I want to learn a different style of riding. I just spoke with a woman that does both english and western at her barn and she and I got along very well on the phone. She's a little closer to me than this other barn and she starts english and bareback with all her beginner riders because she wants them to learn balance and have that close contact. She is on the show circuit and trains horses as well. She seems to know more of what is going on out in the horse world than my current instructor. The place I go to now they mainly do guided trail rides. So I think I'm going to move to a new barn when my lessons run out. Do you think that I'm being flaky? Should I just stick with western riding or do you think english is the way to go first and I can always go trail and western riding later after I learn more basics of horsemanship? Boy all this horse stuff can get confusing and everyone has an opinion as to what is right. Makes it hard to know what to do?
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alee |
Posted - Sep 01 2007 : 6:58:55 PM
I think that sounds like a great plan Ayako! I hope your new barn is a better fit!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
| UrbanChick |
Posted - Aug 31 2007 : 3:34:43 PM
I'm sure I'll leave on good terms. I have a new job anyway so that will make a good excuse instead of saying that I'm going to a new barn that is closer. I spoke with the ranch owner and he said by all means I can bring my saddle. He just wanted to make sure the instructor knew not to put it on narrow horses or that might make them sore. He was actually warning the instructor not me. I spoke with him and the instructor today on a dual line and they were very nice and will help me with whatever questions I might have. I did have concern because she placed me on a "hot" horse that she knew was too much for me to handle, the horse took off on a gallop when I loosened the rein and squeezed my calves. I grabbed the pommel and held on with my left while yanking as hard as I could with my right hand. She finally stopped but it was a scary few seconds. The instructor told me, "sorry this horse is even too hard for some of our trail guides to use, but I wanted you to see how a gaited horse moves, I didn't think she would take off on you like that." After that I just wanted off the horse and back on my old slow lesson horse. So that kind of turned me off on this instructor, she seems a little too relaxed about my safety and how I want to learn. So I think I will just let them know I'm going to start my new job soon and need to find a closer barn so I can get as much practice as possible. I even thought of getting her a little gift to say thanks for her lessons. I think that will end things on good terms when the rest of my 5 lessons are up.
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 31 2007 : 2:37:54 PM
Jonni-
I am not an expert by any means, but western is much more relaxed and you kindof rock with the horse's motion as opposed to posting. I guess the best way I would describe it would be similar to sitting the trot in an english saddle. But that might be wrong information as I have had very little formal training in western. Most of my horseback riding lessons have been English.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Aug 31 2007 : 12:49:12 PM
Ok, so this is in the same vein...
I rode last week with a friend of my dh's. I'm used to riding on an english saddle, but she only had western, and I really don't like to bounce up and down on the horses kidneys, so I post--she laughed at me, "posting on a western saddle?" How else DO you ride in a western? I've not had much experience there.
"She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian. |
| goneriding |
Posted - Aug 31 2007 : 04:51:08 AM
I tried to post last nite and I kept getting disconnected so will try again.
Try the new barn but be sure to leave the old barn on good terms. I look for people who have practical experience and not just have gone to clinics or read books only for their experince. Example is I once worked for a Nat'l known halter breeder and he bought his way into the industry and didn't really know that much and it was a nightmare working for him. He's a big name in the QH Journal still but doens't know much but can talk a good game. So if you want to really learn, make sure your trainer/instructor has real 'saddle' time (meaning polishing the saddle seat and have miles to prove it AND has actually learned something). A good instructor/trainer will admit they don't know everything. If they do know everything, watch out. There is a saying..."The more you are around horses, the less you know". There is too much to know about horses and the more you're into them, the more info that opens up and you keep learning.
Anyway, good luck on finding the right instructor and sounds like you're on the right track!!
Winona :-)
Don't sweat the small stuff...
http://goneridingagain.bravehost.com
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| Alee |
Posted - Aug 30 2007 : 8:10:23 PM
There are certainly things that you can learn that are specific to western riding, but mostly it is a pretty laid back style of riding.
If you like the close contact with the horse, certainly English is the way to go. You _have_ to have good balance and you have a greater contact with the horse through both reins and seat.
You are a consumer and you wouldn't keep eating at a restraunt that didn't meet your needs just because that was the first one you walked into. The next time you ate out you would pick a different one. So I think if you want to change you should. :)
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
