At 22:21:42 on 05.12.10, xSpiritx wrote:
My stables is mainly a show jumping stables and so in classes we have jumping exercises the only thing is... I dont find it that appealing, in fact I'd go so far as to say I HATE IT! Ive never fallen off and most of the others in my class have at least fallen off a couple of times; in fact yesterday when I was riding in my lesson the horse I had pelted over a small jump and I lost my balance but never ACTUALLY fell off. I seem to always manage to stay on no matter what. Also I am a very sensitive rider so I'm quite good a defining paces like say if a horse goes off on the wrong leg into canter I can feel the difference and I absolutely love dressage! I am actually more of a dressage person then a show jumper it seems =/ Only for the time I'm riding at my stables I'd like to know if there is any way I could make myself a little bit more enthusiastic about jumping? When I trot over the poles doesn't matter what horse I have, even a heavy headed horse, I will make them pick their feet up around to their chest. Dressage honestly seems more appealing to me but its required of me to learn jumping no matter how reluctant I am so PLEASE HELP!! I dont know whats stopping me from enjoying a good old jump, even the safest of horse/pony?!

At 05:24:14 on 06.12.10, bazz94 wrote:
It seems to me that you've just got a different taste in riding- like music... some people enjoy hard core rock where as others prefer the classical side. Maybe 'shop' around for different stables/ instructors/ schools that might include dressage a lot more, or at least has a balance. You might just be bored of jumping, cause you can do it. You sound like an impressive rider and don't feel bad about not falling off.. when the time comes it'll come, just don't go and MAKE yourself fall. You could also have a look at trying all different activities on horse back. Maybe voice to your instructor to ask for something else other than jumping, maybe other kids are feeling the same but no ones told the instructor so he/ she feels that everyone's happy with it.

At 20:54:40 on 06.12.10, xSpiritx wrote:
Okay thanks! I'll say something to my instructor this saturday but i'll talk to the rest of the girls in my class to see if its alright with them and to see if they feel the same way. I dont really wanna fall off but I know the more ii progress the bigger the horses ii will get thus the bigger the fall which is probably making me stay in my seat even more even when ii loose my balance or loose my stirrups =) Unfortunately my stables is the closest to me, literally across the park from my house, and all the other stables nearby have incompetent instructors; my sister used to ride at all the other stables within a 10 mile radius before finding that the one I am at is the best one! We have different classes depending on how we progress which means different instructors, meaning different teaching methods, my old instructor was HORRIBLE... she didn't like me and I COULD TELL, often I refuse to use the whip unless the horse is being lazy, stubborn or down-right rude -already knowing what all the horses are like- she would sometimes tell me to use my whip on a horse that would bolt with the slightest raise of a hand just cause they wasn't going fast enough. The instructor I have now is a-lot better! He tries to keep us busy and constantly aware so every so often he will hold a lesson out in the field but he has a military approach when it comes to teaching which can be tiresome and he does favor jumping so he uses poles a-lot... might have to kick him out of his habit this weekend ;D