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Moving from riding school to loan horse - help!!

Discussion in 'Confidence Club' started by Dazzle, Apr 7, 2018.

  1. Dazzle

    Dazzle New Member

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    Hi everyone, I've been having riding lessons for 2 years and mostly riding the most beautiful 24 year old pony. I'd reached the point where I felt I was a confident and fairly competant rider. I was frustrated with the riding school hacks - always just a walk/plod and never any cantering so I started looking for a part loan. I now have a gorgeous gelding in a fantastically friendly yard with amazing riding straight out onto the moor. However, I'm finding it all very stressful and am wondering if I've done the right thing, whether I'm actually ready? My loan horse is so very different to anything I've ridden before, he is very wilful, hard to get going but once you do, almost impossible to stop! I feel like I can't ride at all when I'm on him, his trot is ridiculously fast & bouncy, I'm all over the place, out of rhythm, losing stirrups, it's embarressing. I haven't dared attempt a canter yet. Please tell me this is the norm for moving from riding school to non riding school. I miss my favourite riding school pony!!! When I rode him it was like we were one being, so attuned and I trusted him explicitly. I know it will take time to get to know the new horse and that I need to be more assertive with him. Does anyone have any tips please?
     
    #1 Dazzle, Apr 7, 2018
  2. carthorse

    carthorse Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
    #2 carthorse, Apr 7, 2018
    Dazzle, Trewsers and Kite_Rider like this.
  3. Trewsers

    Trewsers Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
    #3 Trewsers, Apr 7, 2018
    carthorse and Dazzle like this.

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  5. newforest

    newforest Why have grain, when you can have yummy grain

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    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!
     
    #4 newforest, Apr 7, 2018
  6. Dazzle

    Dazzle New Member

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    I've cantered lots and love it! My friends and I have hired horses and cantered on the moor several times, not cantering enough in RS hacks was my main motivation for getting a loan horse. I meant I haven't cantered on him.

    I'm hoping it's just teething problems and working with him in the school rather than riding out will help my confidence. I'll look into a private instructor as that sounds like a great idea.
     
    #5 Dazzle, Apr 7, 2018
  7. newforest

    newforest Why have grain, when you can have yummy grain

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    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.
     
    #6 newforest, Apr 7, 2018
  8. GaryB

    GaryB Well-Known Member

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    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 :)
     
    #7 GaryB, Apr 12, 2018
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