Riding Question

Videoing would be a huge help- to you as much as anything.
How much do you weigh and how big is the horse??
Without seeing, just a wild guess, I would say you upper body is probably stiff and swings forward as the horse moves out of a walk, causing weight to come down on his forehand. If he is sensitive it would not take much. It is similar to what happens when the shafts are set too low on a harness horse- some can take the shafts virtually round their ankles, others, an inch can be all it takes- the horse can still pull the cart but is unbalanced and uncomfortable. IT is also possible that the horse remembers you, and automatically responds, even when you are not actually doing what he fears- he is anticipating the problem.
You need to practise relaxing your upper body completely- closing your eyes will help but may I suggest a lunge line??
I do holistic training, so, until the ride will trust the horse with no reins and eyes shut, they do not get to ride off the lunge!!
As you mount up, relax into the saddle and just sit there for a while, then gently, reins slack, get the horse to walk forward- use you legs firmly but sparingly, and do not check his head at all.
The problem with teaching people for money is that you are on the clock, and the important thing becomes to teach the person. The horses needs go out the window.
It is nice to see both pupil and teacher worrying, not about what the horse is doing wrong (as so often happens in a lesson barn) but what the rider is doing to cause it.

Thanks, I'll definitely try that.

Cactus (the horse in my avatar) is really sensitive, which is the reason my instructor gave for putting me on him. He's not forgiving at all when you make mistakes, so you need to ride "correctly." I would be willing to bet that you're right and I am somewhat tense. I'm not riding again until Thursday, but I'll let you know if I can make any progress. I will be taking my camera and see if my instructor would be able to film me.

I also agree with the whole "teaching for money" thing. My instructor mentioned how, when she started, she had all new students in private lessons, but so many people drop out so quickly that she couldn't make it work financially. Just taking lessons in winter here you'll be astounded how many no-call no-shows there are. People just disappear... almost creepy. It is nice that she is pretty concerned about her horses. Us students are usually the first to get yelled at for doing something wrong and rightly so.

Thanks again for the advice! I'll check about the lunge line since we've done some of that before. If people keep not showing up I may end up with a private lesson anyway...

UPDATE: I had a riding lesson last night, but I didn't get Cactus again. Turns out he's been developing a lot of bad habits from having students ride him so he's being "re-educated."

That being said, I am absolutely in love with the horse I was scheduled to ride and I sort of don't want to go back to Cactus. I don't know if that makes me a bad person or something, but Sydney was amazing. His trot was less comfortable, but his canter was probably the most amazing thing I've ever experienced. I think we worked together better, but I might be biased now. I found it a lot easier to change gaits, especially to slower ones, than with Cactus.

I did take the suggestions seriously and I am working at being a little more relaxed. I know I get tense, especially when I get tired or nervous, and that probably makes me get off-balance or irritates the horse. One thing my instructor pointed out is that I didn't drive the horse forward enough with my legs and when I paid attention to that I wasn't having any more low head problems on Sydney. When I ride Cactus again, since its inevitable, I will have to see if we've working out our issues.

Also, last night was my first "jumping" lesson. Yay! I hadn't been nervous until yesterday when I had aaaaall day to think about it. It was just low crossrails, but still. I don't do well if I am given time to think about everything that could go wrong. Anyway, the first time was pretty sloppy and Sydney was having second thoughts about me, but the second time around I figured it out enough that my instructor actually sounded happy.

Anyway, I'm still excited and concerned I may be addicted. My next lesson is Tuesday (I'm doing twice weekly) and I just got switched to another jumping lesson instead of flat since my instructor felt it wouldn't be beneficial (they're all group lessons.)

UPDATE 2: Sunday morning I had the opportunity to ride Cactus again and work on the lunge line, which was a HUGE help. I can honestly say that I feel the working on the lunge line helps me the most out of everything we do. It was all no reins and no stirrups so I had to concentrate a lot on my seat, which was fantastic. I recommend it to everyone. :)

Anyway, after improving my seat his head popped right up to the correct position, so I'm sure that was at least part of the problem. :) By the end of the lesson we had a gorgeous trot going on - both sitting and rising. Yay! Who knew that your pelvic angle could affect a horse so much?

Do instructors no longer teach stirrupless/reinless classes? That was the norm when I was taking lessons (and not on lunge line either...nothing like 15 riders on 15 horses with no reins or stirrups to give you an idea of what control the seat and legs can give).

Diane

I actually had that very discussion tonight with my instructor! How weird. I've never seen any place in either central of northeastern Ohio that did lessons that way, but I obviously haven't checked everywhere, just places within reasonable driving distance. Everywhere just does the blah, here's a horse, please don't get killed and we'll sort of teach you what to do.

My instructor said that she started all of her lessons without reins/stirrups for about 12 years before giving up. I guess you many people drifted in and out of lessons and never took it very seriously and she got sick of being super poor. She switched to group lessons for all beginners and then if the person sticks around and seems serious she tries to push them into private lessons (no reins/stirrups/some lunge line) and backtracks a bit to fix anything that needs fixed and then goes from there. That way the "cream rises to the top" and she can spend her time on people that aren't going to disappear after a few months. I think she also said that she'd prefer to do no stirrups and reins for at least 6 months before moving on but.... Ohioans aren't all that reliable I guess.

Hopefully if all goes well I'll continue with public lessons once per week and move to a private lessons once per week. Luckily they offer a free ride to just get riding time and work on small things if you volunteer to help the super beginners get their horses ready before lessons which is what I might be doing soon, too. Hopefully three hours a week will help me get better faster!