At 00:36:55 on 03.02.12, phinx400 wrote:
I have a problem and I need help. My last riding lesson was with a sub because my trainer was away. It was an "off" day and I did horrid. I was jumping really bad and had somewhat of a fever. My horse and I kept running out of one fence (ind you I just started ridding) and I must have taken 30 tries to get over the fence. My riding instructor called me a wreck at ridding and now I am letting this get to my head. Am I really a wreck at riding? Can't I ride to have fun? Or dear instructor do I just ride to get a pretty blue ribbon? Im not even sure I want to ride anymore. That instructor made me cry and was very heavy on the "sarcasm. I feel sick posting this, but do I ever want to ride! Im just lost right now. Help?

At 11:56:09 on 03.02.12, NMH wrote:
This cries out as BAD TEACHING!! I feel gutted for you as you needed advice that worked for you- teaching should NEVER consist of insults & you or someone on your behalf should complain-sounds as if the sub was actually frustrated at not being able to communicate well enough to help you & resorted to relieving her feelings by destructive & untrue harsh words. So sorry. Jumping should be easy safe & fun for starters with a horse who will do it for you reliably so you can concentrate on position etc

At 16:31:17 on 03.02.12, OffTheTrack wrote:
Nobody is a wreck at riding. Trust me, anyone can learn :) she should never say that to you. There are also some dozy horses out there who have learnt that they can get away with running out- but it's the school's responsibility to give you a horse that will do as you ask while you start learning. NEVER accept treatment like that again, you are the customer and you should be treat with respect, that riding instructor earns her living teaching, so if she wants to have money, she needs to do her job nicely and properly. I say that if you get another awkward horse, or another nasty instructor, complain about the instructor or ask for another horse. If they are customer focused (as they should be) they will do as you ask. If not, you find somewhere that will treat you properly. I am so sorry that you had to go through this, it's not fair. But THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR RIDING- DON'T BLAME YOURSELF!!!!! You WILL be a good rider, you CAN be a good rider, the learning process is partly about you, but it's partly about the horse and a lot about the teaching. This isn't your fault, please keep us updated, I want a happy ending as much as you do!! P.S this is my brother on Polly, he enjoys riding because he has a lovely teacher- like you deserve xxxx

At 20:17:55 on 03.02.12, JaymeeLS wrote:
I don't think you really want to stop. You've said yourself you were having an off day, not to mention had a bit of a fever. You know yourself you don't normally ride like that, but that still doesn't excuse the attitude of the 'instructor'. More to the point, it was just a sub too! I'd say make a complaint against them, but you'd need to take into consideration what type of establishment they are whether the managers would take offence and be funny about it, or whether they're a 'customer's always right' kind of place. If it was the first, then you'd need to think about if there's anywhere else you could ride! Instructors are meant to instruct not criticize -unless constructively anyway. This is just one bad experience with a sub, think about all the other times you've enjoyed! :) x

At 01:22:50 on 04.02.12, horse luva 4 eva wrote:
I think you should start on a horse that knows how to jump and will listen to your aids and you can just worry about your position. With your horse running out and stuff all you can do is just practice over and over again until your horse gets it right and when your horse does praise him/her. Don't forget to end the jumping on a good note! I to agree you should put in a complaint about that instructor and stick to the other instructors that are nice. Enjoy your riding!

At 05:40:28 on 04.02.12, phinx400 wrote:
Thanks, I feeling better with all of your kind words. I had another lesson with a different instructor and I fel really good because she felt so nice! We only trot jumped, not even a canter but I am building up my confidence. I really needed those words because I feel as if I can't tell anyone because I am the only one who has bad things to say about this instructor. Apparently she was a judge, wich makes me feel worse cause she must have known what she was doing. I know many of you suggested to find a different horse but I cant! I love Horse (yes Horse is his name) and there aren't much of a pick to start with. I feel like me and him grow together and we still can! Oh, your are absolutely right, JaymeeLS I don't want to stop! I love ridding and just because some rude instructor had an off day too doesn't mean I can be her victim. I will keep riding and show her!!!

At 10:16:53 on 04.02.12, OffTheTrack wrote:
Well done, you show her ;) I'm glad to hear your spirits are back up- but if it happens again, don't tolerate it! xxx

At 15:43:38 on 04.02.12, Flicka wrote:
Yep glad to hear you've got your fighting spirit back-don't let her comments get you down, just forget about them now. You know it was an off day (I did a jumping clinic when I wasn't feeling well the other day and it really affected my riding) but she shouldn't have put you down like that anyway. A good trainer will try and encourage you and build your confidence and skills with exercises that are right for you and your horse on that day even in a group lesson. Having 30 refusals at a fence isn't good for you or your horse's confidence so she should have changed the game plan. And just because a lot of other people rate an instructor doesn't always mean they're good-I've had lessons with trainers who other people think are fantastic and I was really disappointed. Have fun :)

At 19:10:43 on 13.02.12, phinx400 wrote:
Well thank god I got my normal instructor back last week. I have to rise to the occasion (as my mother says) or rather ride to the occasion because the others are much more experienced. Our instructor is the "mean" one but is most defiantly more friendly that the sub. I was nervous to jump on friday because I had not jumped cince the lesson with the sub and I was sure to run out. I only did 2 (on separate jumps) and I jump pretty hight too. Well thanks for your kind words, I really needed it.

At 15:18:20 on 14.02.12, amylouise95 wrote:
I have hardly any confidence with jumping at all. I have only jumped one horse at a decent height and that was only because the horses jump felt as if it wasn't jumping big at all. Saying that on my horse and other horses once I'm used to the way the horse jumps I start to enjoy it but then once the jump gets bigger I get nervous which makes the horse stop or run out and then I've lost my confidence again.. As easy as that :( I need help with my confidence!! OH and my jumping position is also really bad, even on the horse I have confidence on, I just can't do it!:(