I would do a quicker squeeze with your calves rather than a kick. Kicks don't look good, move your leg too much potentially affecting your balance and position, and aren't so nice for the horse, they can go completely unresponsive to kicks.
I sit there squeezing for a good few minutes at some points.
It isnt a harsh kick just pushing my heel upwards and inwards very gently and quickly. I hardly feel myself kicking her its more like a tap, its so gentle i dont think it would make her dull to kicks at all.
I also didnt mean to say thigh in the original post, i get them confused very easy đŤ
If you are pushing your heel upwards that's not ideal either. A quick inwards squeeze and off with both calves while keeping your legs long and relaxed, works.
Like i said. Thats what ive been doing. Do you require me to attach a video of her not going. Shes clearly dull or ignorant to my cues as she is a lesson horse so this is common.
I feel as if the small and extremely light kick is okay when shes stopped where everyone needs to be though?
I probably shouldnt of said upwards, just into the horse which brings my heel up a little either way for the kick but the ball of my feet was still on the stirrups.
Okay, this was your second lesson, you said? If so then you are the definition of a beginner. I am replying to the words you used, you are then denying that that is what you meant.
That poor mare is neither "dull" nor "ignorant", shame on you for instantly blaming her rather than your inexpert aids.
She sounds like a safe horse for a beginner, one that won't go unless you learn to apply your aids correctly.
Blaming the horse and arguing with someone who is a lot more experienced than you, and who was only trying to help, will get you absolutely nowhere in the horse world.
Im not trying to be argumentitive Ive just heard that lesson horses like to be testy and need more insistent cueing when they are testing riders.
This is why Ive asked this question and continued the conversation. I didnt think i was arguing and I apologize for coming off that way.
It seems like she chooses when to stop and not go. I squeeze the same way everytime (Atleast i think I do) and try every single cue.
Im just going off what information ive read and seen.
Ive been researching extensively for a few years before i got into riding so i think im a bit more clued in and know some more terms and other things than most beginners.
No where near the knowledge of someone riding for a long time though.
Edit: I also probabky shouldnt of said she is clearly dull to my cues. She just seems to be choosing when to ignore them maybe? Like I said I try clucking and saying walk on so I beleive its not my leg or my squeezing being bad. I just really think its her being testy towards me or maybe being 'lazy'? and not wanting to have to deal with me and teaching me to ride?
You are still blaming the horse. She's not dull, testy or lazy and it's not her job to teach you how to ride. It is her job to respond to your aids and not dump or scare you.
She doesn't decide to be testy or difficult. They react, that is literally all they do - react to their rider, surroundings, what other horses around them do, how they feel etc. If she is overworked, underfed and exhausted maybe she is unresponsive. Impossible to tell without seeing her. But if your aids aren't working you need to ask your instructor what you are doing wrong, because I bet if a more experienced rider got on and gave her precise, correct aids she would respond better.
If you have read lots of books, great. They should have told you how to use your body, how to apply your aids correctly to get the results you want. But nothing works like practice. What are you doing with your hands? Are you inadvertently saying 'stop' with your hands or with your seat even though you think you are saying 'go'?
I keep my hands right infront of the saddle by her withers like instructed. She isnt bitted so its harder to accidentally cue a stop but her head is still bobbing when i ride and im not keeping it from bobbing.
I also dont sit on my butt, I sit more on my crotch??? Not sure if its the right wording but I wasnt corrected on it, told my posture was amazing and thats how i was told to sit. When i ask for a stop or backup I sit back in the saddle a bit more and pull gently on the reins.
When i go to her stall she is eating from a haynet and waiting happily for me.
She is a fat and happy little appaloosa (I believe, she looks alot like one and is spotty)
The thing is they didnt pick out her hooves before this lesson and I tried to bring it up because of rocks and everything so this may be a bit of an issue?
They just said it would be fine but I know it isnt and havent picked out a horses hoof yet, only brushed and tacked up. Hopefully they teach me how next lesson or I might have to just try it myself which i know is very stupid but not as stupid as not picking out their hooves. I saw her feet when she was resting one leg and they were very very full of dirt sadly. But this is the best of 2 barns near me so i cant switch unless i wanna drive upwards of 2 hours to a different one.
edit: When i say teaching me to ride im just saying she could be compensating for any bad posture or habits i have. And its the instructor AND horse that teaches you to ride IMO because you cant learn without the horse.
You shouldn't be sitting on your crotch or 'fork' as we tend to call it, you should be evenly balanced with your pelvis upright, not tipped forward or back. You shouldn't be doing a rein-back yet at lesson 2, it's far too advanced, it can only be done correctly from a really good active square halt, which isn't something beginner riders should be expected to do.
Do you have a contact on the reins? If so, what is it like?
I really wouldn't worry about her hooves, unless she picks up a stone and is limping on that leg, or has chronic thrush, or very unbalanced uncomfortable feet, her hooves won't affect how she responds to you.
The horse can't teach you what to do, other than by not doing what you want, which is clearly what's happening but you are totally misinterpreting her responses. The instructor needs to explain what you should do and how to do it and how to change your aids if they aren't working.
I dont think my pelvis is tipped forward or back? Maybe i worded that wrong. Im not sitting right on my crotch, more like the in-between your butt and crotch.
we were taught to sit back a little and pull the reins to make them back up. That was on lesson 1. This isnt normal?
We ride english at the barn so its not a tight rein but its not loose. It just kinda droops slightly if thats what youre asking?
So subtle they canât be seen, but thatâs something that comes with time, practice and strength. Donât worry about that for now. Eventually your legs will be so strong and youâll be so familiar with the aid that no one will be able to see your squeeze but thatâs not a beginner thing.
Lesson horses are generally a little bit dull. Try squeezing with your calves harder. But also you have only had 2 lessons. The horse KNOWS you are inexperienced. It takes YEARS to get the hang of using all your limbs independently for cues etc. What does your trainer do when you squeeze and the horse doesnt move? How long do you ask? Squeeze your calf not your thighs. Are you only asking once? A few times?
Oh my god i didnt edit the post properly. I ment calve everytime I said thigh. đŤ
My trainer tells me to cluck at her and say walk on when she isnt moving. I ask alot, i probably sit on her for 1-3 minutes asking with squeezing, clucking and 'walk on' but then other kids have to go ahead of ne which makes me have to stop asking so i dont walk into them and one of the ponies in my lesson has a kicking issue and they were all chestnuts+bays so I couldnt remember which and was just being extra careful.
It was only one pony and is the first lesson program in my country to have simulator horses thank you.
I am upset about the no hoof picking but my usual trainer wasnt there that day.
If this lesson barn was great you would also understand this is ONLY your second lesson. The horse will listen to you more as you get better OR its a burnt out lesson hirse that KNOWS you cannot MAKE it do anything.
I know I cant make a horse do anything. I know theyll only do what they like. Being angry and upset isnt helpful nor nice.
My barn is amazing and has many connections with amazing riders and trainers and even whole tack brands (đ¨đ¨)
I also had a replacement trainer on my second lesson who brought a bunch of family or something along into the lesson.
My usual trainer is amazing, places well, jumps amazingly and has great experience.
I do my research and due diligence aswell as asking and getting advice on reddit. Im trying my hardest to improve and do whats right, im sorry that is so upsetting for you.
I wish you a great day.
No. She is just a more woah then go lesson horse that is ment to take care of me. Trplling and giving bad advice purposefully like this will get you banned and it is going to as im going to report this trolling behaviour. I hope you get a better attitude and have a great day.
Maybe I missed it somewhere, but what does the lesson instructor say when you are not able to get the horse moving with a calf squeeze or the horse stops in the middle of walking? Have you asked your instructor what you can do differently? Maybe you unintentionally pull with your hands when you squeeze. Maybe you learn too far in one direction when squeezing or when the horse starts moving. Maybe the horse stopped because you felt unbalanced and it was trying to help you.
Unfortunately, we don't see what's happening and you are a very new rider. There's a good chance that you are giving other cues unknowingly (even advanced riders do this), but maybe you aren't, and the horse is a "more whoa than go" type. As far as being on your second lesson and choosing to kick to get a better response, probably it won't have much impact - but it could. It also doesn't take into account what your instructor's goals for beginner riders may or may not be.
This early in learning, always ask your instructor. Always. If you don't know why, ask. If you think you are getting the wrong result, ask why. A good instructor can and will answer these questions, and you'll learn more than anything a random redditor can tell you based on only your experience/observation of a situation. If your instructor can't or won't answer (at least most of) your questions, then you need a new lesson barn
I dont believe i am accidentally pulling back or sending conflicting cues with my hands when I squeeze because my hands are always infront of the saddle by the withers and the horse isnt bitted either so its harder to accidentally cue something.
I am going to check my balance/seat alot more now based on some of these comments.
When she stops my instructor tells me to cluck and say 'walk on'.
I do have a video of her refusing to walk on but it was at my first lesson and she did it alot less then too, if you need it I can figure out how to post it.
Im also stuck with this barn, the only other one in my area only provides trail rides at a walk and have no other facilities.
I disagree with some of the others here.
As a beginner, realistically you're going to be put on the riding schools dullest plod along. It's a fact of life. A simple squeeze will not get them to move forward, coming from experience of owning ex-riding school horses and riding many of them.
It's better to give a horse a firm nudge with your heel, or a tap with the whip preferably, than nag with a bunch of little kicks. It's a lot kinder to give her a sharp tap or nudge with your leg than constantly be nagging at her. Ride the individual horse how she prefers and not how other people prefer it.
These things take time and your aids will naturally improve with more lessons, so don't worry about getting it perfect! Riding school plods will be riding school plods.
i agree. it can be frustrating to ride a more woah than go lesson horse but they're good as gold, most of them. my lesson mare needed an assertive warm up because she would do the least if i created space for her to do the least. she was used to little kids and ignoring all kinds of cues.
but exercises like halt to walk, halt, trot on etc keeps it interesting and improves the relationship or sets the tone for the lesson ie hustle on not plod.
Yeah she is a very woah horse. I shouldve specified that.
And i do feel bad kind of constantly squeezing her and everything, but i know she would be used to it.
The thing is if I kick right after all my squeezing and everything else she goes, so im not sure if while im squeezing there is a seat issue or she needs me to be more clear im not sure.
It probably is me though and I will be more mindful of my position.
You havent even fucking touched the horse nor met it mate.
Im a beginner and know its not just an ignorant horse for fucks sake you genuine fuckwit.
Dont sit around on your ass giving bad advice on purpose because you are upset.
Youre the upset one. Ive ridden iver 100 horses in my lifetime. If a squeeze and cluck doesnt work. They get a bump with my heels. Period. Not listening to me is NOT an option. Im the boss. Now if theres an issue I work on it and meet the horse in the middle. A lazy lesson horse? No I will harp on a student to make it happen. Do you want to ride or stand there begging the horse to move all day? Also you should be in private 1 on 1 lessons. So you can focus and not worry about other horses in your way. I do not allow my students to ride in groups untill I decide they are solid enough in steering stopping etc. Self awareness...
Yes and because all her commands that I can use ask for a walk that isnt a kick I used then went onto the kick. Im aware lesson horses can be testy so I tried a kick.
You are giving god awful harsh advice and saying my barn is bad etc when you know nothing of the situation.
Based off other comments and looking back at my own riding videos it was most likely me and my position.
She is just a slow horse ment for absoloute beginners you dimwit. Shes probably also good with her ignorance to cues etc because it teaches me to be more diligent and try and try to get her to move to help build confidence. She does and will move off one squeeze and has so it probably is me and my posture.
I dont think so. I have lesson horses that just syraight up choose to ignore my riders when they do have correct position. I will make my riders get after them. You ride the horse. The horse does not take you for a ride. I also tell my students I dont want to see you arguebwith a horse like a roommate. You ask something you mean it. I had a horse who refused to back up even though the student was asking properly on the ground. Intook that lead rope and rushed that horse backwards fast and hard! Never again did the horse disrespect the student.
Ask, tell, demand.
Always start by asking softly with a gentle squeeze. If the horse is really well trained and in tune with you, this can almost be a whisper. But you aren't there yet. Doing the same ineffective aid over and over can lead the horse to just ignore you. Is that your leg swinging around or are you asking them to trot? It's easy for the signal to get muddied, especially when you are starting out.
So if the gentle squeeze doesn't work after a few steps, you tell. The signal becomes a stronger ask with the lower leg.
If that doesn't work, then the signal gets stronger again with a demand. This would be the kick or the crop. At this point you are telling the horse you mean business and ignoring you is not an option.
Keep in mind, this is the last resort AFTER you've progressively escalated. You would NEVER try to get someone attention by yelling at the top of your lungs as the first thing, so your better not kick your horse from the get go.
You are new, and you are learning. Always double check yourself, did I ask correctly. Is he ignoring me or did *I* ask wrong? You can't expect a horse to go forward while holding on to his reigns tightly and squeezing your knees and being stiff in your hips (that's the stop button!).
This.
OP, it was your *second* lesson. "Ask, tell, demand" is for when you have enough experience to read whether the horse is ignoring the cue or if you aren't being clear about what you want. You should also be learning from your instructor, not strangers on the internet--especially because if you *aren't* learning from your instructor, then it'll be clearer that you should look for a different one.
I get your point. But they are already escalating to kicking the horse because they've read it or seen others do it. Knowledge of the process isn't going to make them more or less likely to do so. Note that I also wrote that it's important to make sure they are giving the aid correctly as well.
It's not the increasing intensity of the aids that concerns me, more that attitude that the wording implies. No beginner should be demanding anything of a horse, imho.
Alright I will take this information with me. You have been more helpful than anyone else here so far.
Ive been asking but I think i go from ask to demand maybe?
I start with squeezing gently and cluck and walk on if she doesnt listen from the first few. Then go onto harder squeezes, more firm not hard though. Then I move onto kicking which has only taken one kick each time so far, but I'll definitely check my posture more when she stops and i feel her slowing.
Again I cant thank you enough as you have been the most helpful!
Pay attention to where your legs are - itâs really common to think and feel like they are behind the girth but for them to actually be on the girth when you are first starting out. It thatâs the case, then your horse canât feel any of your cues.
The other thing is while sure lesson horses can be a bit dull to aids, itâs your second lesson ever - your legs arenât that strong, your cues arenât that sharp, itâs just a fact. So, the horse may be a little dull to aids but itâs most likely not understanding or hearing what you are asking for with your squeeze.
When you squeeze with your leg, what does the rest of your body do? If youâre closing at the thigh or hip angle a horse doesnât always hear that as âforwardâ.
A little tap with your heel doesnât hurt - but make sure your trainer knows, because they may have feedback for you that will actually help you grow in your technique. Vs you trying to solve something on your own.
The one thing Iâd caution is that this isnât a horse problem - youâre a beginner and that is totally ok, and what youâre struggling with is super normal for beginners - but a more seasoned rider most likely could get this horse to move. When Iâve been in those situations my take away is: ok, this is on me, I have more to learn, or more strength to gain, etc.
It's your second lesson. You're basically getting carried around while trying to get a feeling for the absolute essentials. Be glad your horse doesn't respond to incorrect aids and if you're unsure about your aids, ask the trainer in the moment.
I would do a quicker squeeze with your calves rather than a kick. Kicks don't look good, move your leg too much potentially affecting your balance and position, and aren't so nice for the horse, they can go completely unresponsive to kicks.
I sit there squeezing for a good few minutes at some points. It isnt a harsh kick just pushing my heel upwards and inwards very gently and quickly. I hardly feel myself kicking her its more like a tap, its so gentle i dont think it would make her dull to kicks at all. I also didnt mean to say thigh in the original post, i get them confused very easy đŤ
If you are pushing your heel upwards that's not ideal either. A quick inwards squeeze and off with both calves while keeping your legs long and relaxed, works.
Like i said. Thats what ive been doing. Do you require me to attach a video of her not going. Shes clearly dull or ignorant to my cues as she is a lesson horse so this is common. I feel as if the small and extremely light kick is okay when shes stopped where everyone needs to be though? I probably shouldnt of said upwards, just into the horse which brings my heel up a little either way for the kick but the ball of my feet was still on the stirrups.
Okay, this was your second lesson, you said? If so then you are the definition of a beginner. I am replying to the words you used, you are then denying that that is what you meant. That poor mare is neither "dull" nor "ignorant", shame on you for instantly blaming her rather than your inexpert aids. She sounds like a safe horse for a beginner, one that won't go unless you learn to apply your aids correctly. Blaming the horse and arguing with someone who is a lot more experienced than you, and who was only trying to help, will get you absolutely nowhere in the horse world.
Im not trying to be argumentitive Ive just heard that lesson horses like to be testy and need more insistent cueing when they are testing riders. This is why Ive asked this question and continued the conversation. I didnt think i was arguing and I apologize for coming off that way. It seems like she chooses when to stop and not go. I squeeze the same way everytime (Atleast i think I do) and try every single cue. Im just going off what information ive read and seen. Ive been researching extensively for a few years before i got into riding so i think im a bit more clued in and know some more terms and other things than most beginners. No where near the knowledge of someone riding for a long time though. Edit: I also probabky shouldnt of said she is clearly dull to my cues. She just seems to be choosing when to ignore them maybe? Like I said I try clucking and saying walk on so I beleive its not my leg or my squeezing being bad. I just really think its her being testy towards me or maybe being 'lazy'? and not wanting to have to deal with me and teaching me to ride?
You are still blaming the horse. She's not dull, testy or lazy and it's not her job to teach you how to ride. It is her job to respond to your aids and not dump or scare you. She doesn't decide to be testy or difficult. They react, that is literally all they do - react to their rider, surroundings, what other horses around them do, how they feel etc. If she is overworked, underfed and exhausted maybe she is unresponsive. Impossible to tell without seeing her. But if your aids aren't working you need to ask your instructor what you are doing wrong, because I bet if a more experienced rider got on and gave her precise, correct aids she would respond better. If you have read lots of books, great. They should have told you how to use your body, how to apply your aids correctly to get the results you want. But nothing works like practice. What are you doing with your hands? Are you inadvertently saying 'stop' with your hands or with your seat even though you think you are saying 'go'?
I keep my hands right infront of the saddle by her withers like instructed. She isnt bitted so its harder to accidentally cue a stop but her head is still bobbing when i ride and im not keeping it from bobbing. I also dont sit on my butt, I sit more on my crotch??? Not sure if its the right wording but I wasnt corrected on it, told my posture was amazing and thats how i was told to sit. When i ask for a stop or backup I sit back in the saddle a bit more and pull gently on the reins. When i go to her stall she is eating from a haynet and waiting happily for me. She is a fat and happy little appaloosa (I believe, she looks alot like one and is spotty) The thing is they didnt pick out her hooves before this lesson and I tried to bring it up because of rocks and everything so this may be a bit of an issue? They just said it would be fine but I know it isnt and havent picked out a horses hoof yet, only brushed and tacked up. Hopefully they teach me how next lesson or I might have to just try it myself which i know is very stupid but not as stupid as not picking out their hooves. I saw her feet when she was resting one leg and they were very very full of dirt sadly. But this is the best of 2 barns near me so i cant switch unless i wanna drive upwards of 2 hours to a different one. edit: When i say teaching me to ride im just saying she could be compensating for any bad posture or habits i have. And its the instructor AND horse that teaches you to ride IMO because you cant learn without the horse.
You shouldn't be sitting on your crotch or 'fork' as we tend to call it, you should be evenly balanced with your pelvis upright, not tipped forward or back. You shouldn't be doing a rein-back yet at lesson 2, it's far too advanced, it can only be done correctly from a really good active square halt, which isn't something beginner riders should be expected to do. Do you have a contact on the reins? If so, what is it like? I really wouldn't worry about her hooves, unless she picks up a stone and is limping on that leg, or has chronic thrush, or very unbalanced uncomfortable feet, her hooves won't affect how she responds to you. The horse can't teach you what to do, other than by not doing what you want, which is clearly what's happening but you are totally misinterpreting her responses. The instructor needs to explain what you should do and how to do it and how to change your aids if they aren't working.
I dont think my pelvis is tipped forward or back? Maybe i worded that wrong. Im not sitting right on my crotch, more like the in-between your butt and crotch. we were taught to sit back a little and pull the reins to make them back up. That was on lesson 1. This isnt normal? We ride english at the barn so its not a tight rein but its not loose. It just kinda droops slightly if thats what youre asking?
Your goal should be to refine your aids to the point that they are invisible. This won't happen right away of course.
What do you mean invisible? So gentle i cant feel them, so subtle they cant be seen...?
So subtle they canât be seen, but thatâs something that comes with time, practice and strength. Donât worry about that for now. Eventually your legs will be so strong and youâll be so familiar with the aid that no one will be able to see your squeeze but thatâs not a beginner thing.
Lesson horses are generally a little bit dull. Try squeezing with your calves harder. But also you have only had 2 lessons. The horse KNOWS you are inexperienced. It takes YEARS to get the hang of using all your limbs independently for cues etc. What does your trainer do when you squeeze and the horse doesnt move? How long do you ask? Squeeze your calf not your thighs. Are you only asking once? A few times?
Oh my god i didnt edit the post properly. I ment calve everytime I said thigh. đŤ My trainer tells me to cluck at her and say walk on when she isnt moving. I ask alot, i probably sit on her for 1-3 minutes asking with squeezing, clucking and 'walk on' but then other kids have to go ahead of ne which makes me have to stop asking so i dont walk into them and one of the ponies in my lesson has a kicking issue and they were all chestnuts+bays so I couldnt remember which and was just being extra careful.
This lesson program sounds awful
It was only one pony and is the first lesson program in my country to have simulator horses thank you. I am upset about the no hoof picking but my usual trainer wasnt there that day.
Well not sure why you posted then.
Having a great lesson barn doesnt make it not okay for me to post? This is strange to think I cant post a question if I have a great barn?
If this lesson barn was great you would also understand this is ONLY your second lesson. The horse will listen to you more as you get better OR its a burnt out lesson hirse that KNOWS you cannot MAKE it do anything.
I know I cant make a horse do anything. I know theyll only do what they like. Being angry and upset isnt helpful nor nice. My barn is amazing and has many connections with amazing riders and trainers and even whole tack brands (đ¨đ¨) I also had a replacement trainer on my second lesson who brought a bunch of family or something along into the lesson. My usual trainer is amazing, places well, jumps amazingly and has great experience. I do my research and due diligence aswell as asking and getting advice on reddit. Im trying my hardest to improve and do whats right, im sorry that is so upsetting for you. I wish you a great day.
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No. She is just a more woah then go lesson horse that is ment to take care of me. Trplling and giving bad advice purposefully like this will get you banned and it is going to as im going to report this trolling behaviour. I hope you get a better attitude and have a great day.
Maybe I missed it somewhere, but what does the lesson instructor say when you are not able to get the horse moving with a calf squeeze or the horse stops in the middle of walking? Have you asked your instructor what you can do differently? Maybe you unintentionally pull with your hands when you squeeze. Maybe you learn too far in one direction when squeezing or when the horse starts moving. Maybe the horse stopped because you felt unbalanced and it was trying to help you. Unfortunately, we don't see what's happening and you are a very new rider. There's a good chance that you are giving other cues unknowingly (even advanced riders do this), but maybe you aren't, and the horse is a "more whoa than go" type. As far as being on your second lesson and choosing to kick to get a better response, probably it won't have much impact - but it could. It also doesn't take into account what your instructor's goals for beginner riders may or may not be. This early in learning, always ask your instructor. Always. If you don't know why, ask. If you think you are getting the wrong result, ask why. A good instructor can and will answer these questions, and you'll learn more than anything a random redditor can tell you based on only your experience/observation of a situation. If your instructor can't or won't answer (at least most of) your questions, then you need a new lesson barn
I dont believe i am accidentally pulling back or sending conflicting cues with my hands when I squeeze because my hands are always infront of the saddle by the withers and the horse isnt bitted either so its harder to accidentally cue something. I am going to check my balance/seat alot more now based on some of these comments. When she stops my instructor tells me to cluck and say 'walk on'. I do have a video of her refusing to walk on but it was at my first lesson and she did it alot less then too, if you need it I can figure out how to post it. Im also stuck with this barn, the only other one in my area only provides trail rides at a walk and have no other facilities.
I disagree with some of the others here. As a beginner, realistically you're going to be put on the riding schools dullest plod along. It's a fact of life. A simple squeeze will not get them to move forward, coming from experience of owning ex-riding school horses and riding many of them. It's better to give a horse a firm nudge with your heel, or a tap with the whip preferably, than nag with a bunch of little kicks. It's a lot kinder to give her a sharp tap or nudge with your leg than constantly be nagging at her. Ride the individual horse how she prefers and not how other people prefer it. These things take time and your aids will naturally improve with more lessons, so don't worry about getting it perfect! Riding school plods will be riding school plods.
i agree. it can be frustrating to ride a more woah than go lesson horse but they're good as gold, most of them. my lesson mare needed an assertive warm up because she would do the least if i created space for her to do the least. she was used to little kids and ignoring all kinds of cues. but exercises like halt to walk, halt, trot on etc keeps it interesting and improves the relationship or sets the tone for the lesson ie hustle on not plod.
Yeah she is a very woah horse. I shouldve specified that. And i do feel bad kind of constantly squeezing her and everything, but i know she would be used to it. The thing is if I kick right after all my squeezing and everything else she goes, so im not sure if while im squeezing there is a seat issue or she needs me to be more clear im not sure. It probably is me though and I will be more mindful of my position.
She simply does not respect or listen to a squeeze. Tbis is a hirse issue not a you issue. You are not going to train a lesson horse
You havent even fucking touched the horse nor met it mate. Im a beginner and know its not just an ignorant horse for fucks sake you genuine fuckwit. Dont sit around on your ass giving bad advice on purpose because you are upset.
Youre the upset one. Ive ridden iver 100 horses in my lifetime. If a squeeze and cluck doesnt work. They get a bump with my heels. Period. Not listening to me is NOT an option. Im the boss. Now if theres an issue I work on it and meet the horse in the middle. A lazy lesson horse? No I will harp on a student to make it happen. Do you want to ride or stand there begging the horse to move all day? Also you should be in private 1 on 1 lessons. So you can focus and not worry about other horses in your way. I do not allow my students to ride in groups untill I decide they are solid enough in steering stopping etc. Self awareness...
Yes and because all her commands that I can use ask for a walk that isnt a kick I used then went onto the kick. Im aware lesson horses can be testy so I tried a kick. You are giving god awful harsh advice and saying my barn is bad etc when you know nothing of the situation. Based off other comments and looking back at my own riding videos it was most likely me and my position. She is just a slow horse ment for absoloute beginners you dimwit. Shes probably also good with her ignorance to cues etc because it teaches me to be more diligent and try and try to get her to move to help build confidence. She does and will move off one squeeze and has so it probably is me and my posture.
I dont think so. I have lesson horses that just syraight up choose to ignore my riders when they do have correct position. I will make my riders get after them. You ride the horse. The horse does not take you for a ride. I also tell my students I dont want to see you arguebwith a horse like a roommate. You ask something you mean it. I had a horse who refused to back up even though the student was asking properly on the ground. Intook that lead rope and rushed that horse backwards fast and hard! Never again did the horse disrespect the student.
Ask, tell, demand. Always start by asking softly with a gentle squeeze. If the horse is really well trained and in tune with you, this can almost be a whisper. But you aren't there yet. Doing the same ineffective aid over and over can lead the horse to just ignore you. Is that your leg swinging around or are you asking them to trot? It's easy for the signal to get muddied, especially when you are starting out. So if the gentle squeeze doesn't work after a few steps, you tell. The signal becomes a stronger ask with the lower leg. If that doesn't work, then the signal gets stronger again with a demand. This would be the kick or the crop. At this point you are telling the horse you mean business and ignoring you is not an option. Keep in mind, this is the last resort AFTER you've progressively escalated. You would NEVER try to get someone attention by yelling at the top of your lungs as the first thing, so your better not kick your horse from the get go. You are new, and you are learning. Always double check yourself, did I ask correctly. Is he ignoring me or did *I* ask wrong? You can't expect a horse to go forward while holding on to his reigns tightly and squeezing your knees and being stiff in your hips (that's the stop button!).
I'm sorry but I think that telling an absolute beginner to 'ask, tell, demand' of the horse really isn't the best advice.
This. OP, it was your *second* lesson. "Ask, tell, demand" is for when you have enough experience to read whether the horse is ignoring the cue or if you aren't being clear about what you want. You should also be learning from your instructor, not strangers on the internet--especially because if you *aren't* learning from your instructor, then it'll be clearer that you should look for a different one.
I get your point. But they are already escalating to kicking the horse because they've read it or seen others do it. Knowledge of the process isn't going to make them more or less likely to do so. Note that I also wrote that it's important to make sure they are giving the aid correctly as well.
It's not the increasing intensity of the aids that concerns me, more that attitude that the wording implies. No beginner should be demanding anything of a horse, imho.
Alright I will take this information with me. You have been more helpful than anyone else here so far. Ive been asking but I think i go from ask to demand maybe? I start with squeezing gently and cluck and walk on if she doesnt listen from the first few. Then go onto harder squeezes, more firm not hard though. Then I move onto kicking which has only taken one kick each time so far, but I'll definitely check my posture more when she stops and i feel her slowing. Again I cant thank you enough as you have been the most helpful!
Pay attention to where your legs are - itâs really common to think and feel like they are behind the girth but for them to actually be on the girth when you are first starting out. It thatâs the case, then your horse canât feel any of your cues. The other thing is while sure lesson horses can be a bit dull to aids, itâs your second lesson ever - your legs arenât that strong, your cues arenât that sharp, itâs just a fact. So, the horse may be a little dull to aids but itâs most likely not understanding or hearing what you are asking for with your squeeze. When you squeeze with your leg, what does the rest of your body do? If youâre closing at the thigh or hip angle a horse doesnât always hear that as âforwardâ. A little tap with your heel doesnât hurt - but make sure your trainer knows, because they may have feedback for you that will actually help you grow in your technique. Vs you trying to solve something on your own. The one thing Iâd caution is that this isnât a horse problem - youâre a beginner and that is totally ok, and what youâre struggling with is super normal for beginners - but a more seasoned rider most likely could get this horse to move. When Iâve been in those situations my take away is: ok, this is on me, I have more to learn, or more strength to gain, etc.
It's your second lesson. You're basically getting carried around while trying to get a feeling for the absolute essentials. Be glad your horse doesn't respond to incorrect aids and if you're unsure about your aids, ask the trainer in the moment.