Adult riders face special challenges, especially if they did not have the benefit of riding regularly as children. No muscle memory for them! No flexible, malleable little limbs! I started taking lessons when I was 12. Hats off to those folks who first sat on a horse well after the teen years. This video is authored by such a rider -- bless her heart!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Riding as an adult: The real story
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First: I want to let you know that I always enjoy reading your blog though this is the first time I think I've ever commented.
ReplyDeleteSecondly: What a lovely way for her to commemorate her journey!
Finally: On a more practical note I would really love to encourage anyone and everyone---whether just starting out or starting up again after a long break---to take lunge-line lessons until your balance, muscle tone, and confidence are at a level where you can carry yourself in balance with the horse. This serves two purposes: 1. makes it easier for you to learn by not having to worry about steering/braking the horse and 2. makes it so much easier on the horse if they don't have someone hanging on their mouth in addition to the bouncing and bumping of the rest of the body.
Wow--sad/funny, (lots of wincing)--wow, poor horse(s). That poor gal needs some time on the longe line and without stirrups, or both...who's letting her jump, when she can't even balance without yanking?? Yikes--at least she has a good attitude...
ReplyDeleteThis was so me!! Well, kind of still is! In my mind, I am a lot more graceful, but in real life... well, my muscle is still trying to remember! I wish I would have done what Dragon Down suggested and took lunge line lessons. Maybe I still could! :)
ReplyDeleteI will agree with DD on all counts -- it is a lifesaver to both rider (safety) and horse (pain avoidance) for the ride to have some basic body control. Of course, it all depends on the quality of instruction.
ReplyDeleteI can absolutely relate to the woman in the video! I took my first lesson 18 months ago at 52 years of age! I loved it so much, I got my own horse.
ReplyDelete@Dragon's Down - when I called for lessons, no one recommended taking lunge-line lessons first. I didn't learn (actually I am still learning) how to lunge until I got my own horse. I think it would have been a good for me.
http://wolfie-whatwasithinking.blogspot.com/
While I agree that some lessons on the longe would be great, not all instructors are competent enough or blessed with an appropriate horse to make it possible. Also, it is sometimes impossible to get an adult to ride on the longe, period, because they think they will be seen as incompetent, chicken, or whatever. So instead they look incompetent, unsafe and foolish!
ReplyDeleteI routinely incorporate lunge line lesson for all students! And never put reins attached to a bit (in a horse's mouth)into the hands of a beginner. My students, adults and children, start out with a bitless bridle until they have balance and independent hands. (For some it takes a long time!!) All 13 or my lesson horses are my own "babies" and I can't stand to see anyone pulling and jerking on their mouths! Drives me NUTS!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I can relate...I started riding later in life, and I appreciate this woman's video journey (but it really pained me to see the horse's mouth being jerked around - he was obviously very uncomfortable)
Oh man, I relate... thanks for posting this. As someone who DID ride as a kid, and quit for 20 years, and now is getting back to it... I was never great at coordination but now, it's gone, gone, gone. I want to take dressage lessons but I dread it too. Dredging up memories of all those stirrup-less lessons on the lunge... horrors!
ReplyDeleteBless the patience and kindness of a good lesson horse...worth its weight in platinum.
ReplyDeleteHey, even when I was young I rode like that at first. I've seen a few kids get on for the first time and just become "one" with the horse, but not me! I was about 14 and bounced around like a sack of potatoes for months. It is not an easy sport to master, no matter what people think.
I'm not sure I have ever been flexible. I started riding at age 7 but stopped around age 14.
ReplyDeleteStarted again at 37 and man was it tough! My brain had retained a lot of things, but my muscles? They just kept saying, "Hahaha lady, I don't THINK so".
The best thing I ever did for my seat and balance was to ditch the saddle and ride bareback - I was amazed at the huge amount of improvement when I eventually put that saddle back on. Funny thing was, I'd only ditched the saddle because of time constraints (just grab a bridle and GO). The improvements to my seat were an unexpected benny :o)
Great video - I love that lady; she's one tenacious rider (electric fence incident? OUCH!)
ReplyDeleteMy two cents on learning balance and strength were the ole' posting without stirrups bit. We started with just a few times around the arena, then it was serpentines and circles, then some of my entire hour long lessons were stirrup less. OUCH, but I had some strong legs and much better balance and dexterity because of it.
I cannot believe that teacher let that lady canter before she had a confirmed seat. I don't blame that first lesson horse for attacking people. And letting that lady go over little jumps with an unconfirmed seat. :-( I've said it before and I'll say it again...It never ceases to amaze me what horses do for us.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post! I love this blog. :) I can totally relate to this woman...you feel so out of control, and so aggravated when you can't get it right! I've been taking regular lessons for a year (I'm 29), and just started the lunge line. It was scary at first, but so glad I'm doing it now....it's really helped my balance, and my hands are much quieter than they were.
ReplyDeleteGot my first horse when I was 29 and she was two. Started riding her a year later. Couldn't afford lessons for a few years after that. Took a year of "flat" lessons before beginning the jump lessons I had dreamed of since childhood. We learned the over-fence business together.
ReplyDeletePosting without stirrups, holding the post with and without stirrups, and longe-line lessons are all useful means to improve balance in the saddle.
My current boarding stable has a mostly all-adult clientele -- we commiserate over the difficulties of training "seasoned" muscles and tendons for new jobs. Definitely not a pursuit for sissies. But persistence and a willingness to keep working on it pay off.
And a patient, kind horse is priceless!
My dream has always been and still is to take riding lessons, but I have never really had the chance. When the children took riding lessons on ponies a year ago I did everything I could without actually riding (I am too big for these small horses); learned how to brush and saddle (sorry, I am uncertain of the correct English words here; I did this in Sweden) etc and remove it afterward. And then I ran along side to make sure that my then four year old daughter did not fall off the horse.
ReplyDeleteI have a grest deal of respect and fear of horses as well as admiration for people who ride well and who also teach riding well.
I don't know if I will ever dare fullfill my dream. Time is against me. My muscles are not getting better!
I really like your blog!
Best wishes
Anna
My dream has always been and still is to take riding lessons, but I have never really had the chance. When the children took riding lessons on ponies a year ago I did everything I could without actually riding (I am too big for these small horses); learned how to brush and saddle (sorry, I am uncertain of the correct English words here; I did this in Sweden) etc and remove it afterward. And then I ran along side to make sure that my then four year old daughter did not fall off the horse.
ReplyDeleteI have a grest deal of respect and fear of horses as well as admiration for people who ride well and who also teach riding well.
I don't know if I will ever dare fullfill my dream. Time is against me. My muscles are not getting better!
I really like your blog!
Best wishes
Anna
I didn't start riding until college. I rode all the time and even rode for Iowa State on their equestrian team. We moved to Florida and I started riding with the most patient trainer in the world. She taught me so much in equitation, I can't even tell you. I then got pregnat, fat, more pregnant and more fat. I'm back at it and determined to get back into the show ring. I now live in Washington state and have a patient trainer, and more importantly... the most patient horse on the planet. Bella and I are starting this pesky riding thing together, again. My "lofty" goal is crossrails at a show by summer! :)
ReplyDeleteI admire the woman in the video. She's like me! :) (without the fat part) She's got it in her head... it just takes time to get it through the body. I see promise and talent in there, she's gonna do it!
Thanks for the uplifting video!
All I have to say is I hope no one ever tapes me. At least not for another year. :)
ReplyDelete