Help with my riding???

Question

I'm starting horse management at college soon, so i was just wondering, as i know that at the start before my riding is asses ed i will be put on the slow "riding" school kind of ponies.

I'm used to more sensitive horses, i'm very very good with handling horses that get upset easily, and maybe don't like jumping. I usually manage to give them the confidence and enjoy themselves.

I am a strong rider for my height and size, but i'm worried because i'm not too good with the riding school horses that are really slow and do not listen to your leg??? They seem to take advantage of me, they either will not go, and no matter what i do they just will not listen. Or i get a large cobby type of horse (which i am not used to as i usually ride TB's and warmbloods and so on...) and it just seems to pretend i'm not even riding it. Once i had a 16hh cob and he just charged through the jumps and kept cantering around for ages, i couldn't do anything to stop him. All though i stayed calm, it took a while to bring him back to walk.

I'm not a bad rider, just could do with some more help on the horses that are not as sensitive? Thanks :)

Answer 1

If you end up with a dead to everything cobby type then remember that no matter how much to pull constantly to stop they will pull harder and how much to squeeze to go they will tense against you.  The way with these horses is to wake them up,  you need to kick, kick, kick, kick,kik to go like a thelwell rider and you need to pull give pull give pull give to stop them lots and lots of naggy movements not constant pressure of any kind.  Anyway make the best of what you are given as everyone else will be given the same ones.  The instructors are there to help you and not hinder you.  Go and enjoy it and don't get in a rip as that always looks bad a smile and a humble joke goes a lot further, good luck!

Answer 2

Don't just use your leg, make sure you look where you want to go, because if you don't the horse won't know where to go. Make sure you say "Canter", "Trot" or "Walk", whatever you need to say. Say it calmly

and make sure it's loud enough for your horse to hear. Use a crop. They help too. Or while your riding, take the reins in one hand and use the extra rein to give a sharp smack on the shoulders, one side then the other, right after another.

I really hope this helps, it didn't work the first FEW times, just maybe the first lesson if you use it the whole time when needed. it should work maybe the next lesson, or the one after that. It will work, trust me. I did it a few times and after that my pony would just feel me grab both reins in one hand and she would do what she was supposed to do. But don't do that, follow through AND smack, even if your horse starts to behave once you put the reins in one hand. These work for me, and good luck, I hope they work the same for you too!

Answer 3

practise on these horses. go down to a riding school and get put on one. not all riding school horses are like this though.

Answer 4

Try a set of dull spurs if the horse is not listening to your legs.  Try your legs FIRST.  If he does not respond, immediately follow up with a nudge with the spurs.

Answer 5

I had a giggle when I read your question - I own a cobby horse just like the type you describe. You really need to get it across to the horse that you are in charge and they must listen!! I know, easier said than done. But it can be done by making your commands strong and give an input that says "I want you to do it NOW" - forceful yet controlled.

I use 'dummy' spurs to  reduce the 'kick, kick, kick' effect - plus, with my ploddy horse, I give the command and then wait a few seconds and if he doesn't respond then I use a 'flapper' on the end on my reins to say - "NOW" to him. I don't have an issue with him now because he knows I mean what I ask but he still tries to put it over other riders.

My suggestion is to go for a longer ride on these type horses and use that opportunity to make them listen to you - they will remember when it comes time to ride them in the more formal lessons in the areana