As the title says!! I am so excited and beyond grateful for the opportunities I have to be able to start my adult amateur career after a super long break from riding. That being said, I want to push myself to really learn so I want to share the journey with others learning or wanting to learn, or those that don't mind sharing helpful tips. I especially want this to reach other adults that are thinking about getting into/back into riding that also had a fear it is too late. It's not, trust me, and it's so worth it!!

I'll start with a little backstory: I stopped riding after a fall took my confidence. Then some financial problems and I had to sell my old mare. After a while (like ~6 yrs), I realized I couldn't get away from horses (whether photography or other), and really wanted to ride again. So here I am!

I am currently learning with a hunter jumper barn about an hour drive from my home (it really isn't that bad *cry*). I got to ride the sweetest gelding named Zach the other day for my first lesson and everything came flooding back at once. I did have this weird surge of emotions, whether general nervousness or excitement I'm not sure, but he really did help calm that when we got going. At the moment it is just walk/trot while I relearn my skills and get used to riding again.

Pros: My instructor did say I still have a really good seat! She said I seem solid and confident in that aspect, even if I don't feel it in my mind. She reassured me I didn't have bad habits per se, but I do have a a problem with my toes
Cons: I used to have an issue when riding before of keeping my leg back too much when riding (I think that was just a weird saddle), but my instructor didn't see that. She said it moves a smidge in the trot which is to be expected from so long away. She suggested rolling more on my back pockets. Thus, what I thought was a habit with putting my leg back was actually just me reacting in what I felt was a way to stay balanced which puts me more on my toes and puts my heel up, which looks like it moves my leg back if that makes sense?? It didn't feel like I had to do that this time so I guess it isn't a habit. ALSO! Breathing in the trot! Any tips on remembering to keep my breathing in rhythm with it to avoid losing my breath as bad? Any tips on making my sitting trot smoother?

At the moment I am riding in a western saddle to start as that's what I used to ride normally, but I am definitely interested in moving to the hunter/jumpers and am curious how I could go about bringing it up if anyone has tips.

My next lesson is Thursday so I'll be back to update then!! - Thorn

Centura stable said:

I used to forget to breathe in the canter when I was getting my confidence back, maybe ask your instructor to remind you to breathe while trooting? But congratulations on getting back into the sport!

Elephant Walk Stable said:

Congradulations on getting back in it! Coming from a hunter jumper, I know the struggle. I had the same little set back with my leg like you have. What I have learned though, is go into your lesson knowing in the back of your mind that your leg needs to be perfect. BUT, dont over think about your leg. The more you overthink, the more tense you will become, your foot starts to ride up and you then open up a whole new set of worms. A big problem of mine is needing to relax. And, Im not an instructor, but one who has been yelled at by one MANY times about these issues is, dont fight the movement of the horse. Yes, your legs going to move, your legs going to change positions, but dont hyperfocus on your leg. Becasue your going to be to stuck on your leg than trying to have a good lesson. Does that make sense? Also, with the breathing in the trot, the more you hold your breath, the tenser your horse is going to be. Just like your leg, just relax and everything will fall into place. Its easier said than done, I know. But the more you keep at it the better it will be. Breathe with the rythym of your horse. When I first warm up my horse, half of my warmup is all troting. What helps with me is when you post, the split second of release your horse has when you sit, BREATHE! This is a huge tip that I have learned from, inside and out of the show ring. Being relaxed is going to help you in the long run. English and western riding, lesson ring and show ring. Again, I know, its easier said than done. And I am not an instructor, but these few tips has always inproved my riding. I hope this helps, and HUGE congradulations getting back into it!!

Thornwood Manor said:

I'm back!! Yesterday morning I had my second lesson with this barn, still loving it. This lesson was a bit rougher than the first. The horse I am now riding is old and slow. He has a really rough, super bouncy trot that I struggled to sit. So while focusing on my leg staying in the right position to keep pressure so he'll keep moving, I would forget to watch his head so he didn't try to get zig zaggy on our line haha. And vise versa! If I remembered to watch the position if my hands for steering I would struggle to keep my leg on. It was definitely rewarding though! I feel I am relearning so much from the basics like what muscles I'm using (I can definitely feel the burn in my calves and thighs) to the more intricate things like the placement of my leg, heel, etc.

We are going to try a different saddle, one that is a smidge bigger, ro see if it helps me feel more comfortable when trying to open up my hip bone and stretch my leg down better to the proper way. And we did try a little bit of two-point/posting type workouts (which I definitely need to work on 😅) a lot of steering to practice staying upright and looking in the turns as well.

Also!! Super excited to say that she is open to me switching to English at some point in the future once she thinks I can really carry myself and get my muscles/positing back to a strong point to be stable in it :)