Moving from riding school to loan horse - help!!

You've made a huge leap from an older riding school pony to a privately owned horse who's presumably younger, more responsive & doing less work. Would the owner let you have a few lessons on him so you can learn how to ride him in a safe environment? It's hard to say much without seeing you together but I wonder if he's got a much bigger movement than the school pony & that's making you lose your balance, get tense & maybe give him mixed signals about what you want to do - no-one's fault but something only you can deal with.

Good luck, it shouldn't be an insurmountable problem if you get some help.

 

Yes that's a good idea as carthorse says if you can have some lessons on him. I was over whelmed when I first got Storm because she was very very different from the rs cobs. But I had up to three lessons a week on her at first which helped me such a lot.

 

You have cantered before though right, I am not reading that never any as haven't ever?

Private horses are different from the riding school. Mostly because they are not just following the horse in front.
You have to ride him and tell him what you want and when all the time, rather than being told trot on and the horse probably did because it's said.
You might be feeling overwhelmed because you had people around you before and now you're on your own? Can you hack out with someone sensible?

You probably wouldn't get mine off the yard. Not because you can't ride but because she will have done her any chance we're going this way or that way, she will go out but you will know it's not her first or second thought!

 

Everyone who takes a step towards ownership feels anxious.
When I bought my first I felt oh my goodness what have I just done. So don't panic.
Get some lessons, talk to the owner maybe she/ he can help lunge you.
Take your time and enjoy.

 

I can see you have already had some great advice, but I will echo that is is normal to feel overwhelmed. After I got Harvey it was several months before I stopped driving home from the stables worrying whether I had done everything I needed to