Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Beginning rider riding variety of horses

From:

Dear Jessica, I have been taking riding lessons for almost two months now and I have a question about my lessons. I have heard that to be a good rider you should ride a lot of different horses. So I always ask for a different horse at my lesson, and the teacher doesn't seem very happy about that. She wants me to ride the same horse. I have been insisting so I can ride different horses. What do you think?

Hi -- you're right, when you have been riding for a long time it will be important for you to ride different horses. Right now, though, while you are just beginning to learn to ride, it would help you more if you rode the same horse at every lesson.

Here's why: when you are just learning how to sit and move with the horse and signal him to stop, start, and turn, it's easy for you to track your progress if you ride the same horse every week.

If the horse is very slow to respond at your first lesson, and becomes quicker to respond and more attentive at successive lessons, you will know that the difference is YOU -- that you are sitting better, following his motion better, and making your signals more clearly.

If, on the other hand, you ride Trigger this week and Sam next week and Prince the week after that, you won't know whether you are improving, staying at the same level, or going backwards! You might think that you are riding better because Sam responds more quickly than Trigger did. . . but perhaps Sam is just a more sensitive horse. . .

Stay with the horse your instructor suggests you ride, at least for a few months. Then talk to your instructor and ask whet horse you will be riding next -- you'll probably find that there is a plan. Instructors generally have a plan for each student.

Good luck with your riding!

Jessica

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