Learn to ride a horse - well

Now I am taking exclusivly hunt seat lessons from a great teacher. She’s very patient but firm and I’m learning so much. The barn where I take lessons specifically added on to the indoor arena so that she could have her own stalls and space for tack. I take lessons with a friend. Had a lesson today and focused on posting. I took lessons for about six months then my instructor left the barn. I then took a few lessons with another instructor but he decided to work with more experienced riders. Then I waited until last fall and tried again with someone else—that didn’t work out. She was an inexperienced teacher. So now I’m taking lessons at the first barn I started at. I’ve taken four lessons and am thinking of leasing a horse.

This is so much fun. I rode the English saddle this week and cantered around the areana. Never had so much fun. I wish I would have done this when I was young!! I’m not sure if I ever will get to the point when I can really jump but it’s my goal. Along with roping calves in a Western show!

I’m still taking lessons and actually learning to ride fairly well if I say so myself! My school horse, J.J., and I are in love—he is so gentle and intuitive. I’m still learning to ride the diagonal. My stamina is increasing; my confidence has grown. I am learning to canter and I love it. My husband wants to go to Durango, Colorado next year. I’m going to propose visiting a ranch and he can take his motorcycle and I can ride horses.

I had another lesson tonight. I did some “barrel racing”—actually not racing more like running over the barrel.

I can’t believe how sore I am just from riding an hour on Monday. My legs from my calves-all the way through my butt-hurts so bad. I can’t wait until next week.

I’ve been using a modified western saddle that is used primarily in barrel racing-its smaller design is used to keep you closer to the barrel. The stirrups are smaller but still stiff. Today I used an English hunt seat saddle with leather stirrups-english stirrups flop for me because I’m not used to the need to really push your heels down when posting the trot so sometimes my heels will go back and i’ll lean over the front of the horse. Any way-practiced over and over, made me poop out. I did get to trot over baby logs while doing the 2 point position over the horse. It was fun!

I’ve been taking riding lessons for about 3 months, once a week. I’m still at the trotting phase. I’m learning to “post the diagonal.” I am amazed at how hard it is to learn to ride “properly”. How strong your core muscles must be to balance correctly. I love it and someday I want to learn to jump.