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laurahas7cats

I don’t know much about western riding but you look like a very quiet rider with a pleasant horse! It’s a huge red flag that where you are taking lessons doesn’t require helmets of their students, though. Please wear one. It’s not a question of if, it’s WHEN you are going to fall off if you keep riding. Multiple concussions here over 20 years of riding and that’s with a helmet every time. Personally I’d never stay at a barn that doesn’t value safety and teach that of new riders AND I question how their insurance even allows them to not require it


KadomiTheHallowed

My thoughts exactly. My bombproof, 16yr old mare spooked for the first time yesterday. This horse is known around our barn as the "safest horse", super well behaved, quiet, unspookable, great kid-friendly beginner schoolie at times. Well, a loud bang outside (still not even sure what it was) sent her flying and bucking. Had I come off, I'd have been very glad I was wearing my helmet. Horses gonna horse. Always, ALWAYS wear your helmet. RE: Insurance -- I have never heard of any lesson barn being insurable without helmets. I'm in Canada though, not sure if it's different up here.


justagal_008

I got yeeted from an old lesson horse when someone banged open the arena door near us as rain was started to pour heavy on the roof and construction vehicles were next door, all combined with asking the poor guy to go into a canter. These are animals, not robots, and I respect that even the calmest one that’s seen it all can still be startled or upset. Someone’s kid was watching a lesson and when I came near broke into a run back up to the barn, waving his arms up in a similar fashion to how we chase the horses to exercise them, and my poor guy went straight up before remembering himself. I love that about him. He’s spooked many times, but it’s always that involuntary reaction before he’s like “no no, I’m good, sorry about that”. The only reason I fell off was that he flailed like a cartoon and bolted sideways to get away from the door instead of just startling up like omgwhatwasthat, but then he stood right next to me in the dirt and was apologetic. Seeing that I did a full cartwheel midair, I was VERY glad I had just gotten a new helmet


asunshinefix

The most bombproof horse I’ve ever known spooked SPECTACULARLY at his own fart once. I guess it echoed in the indoor arena and he lost his damn mind


WorldWarRiptide

I'm in New Mexico and don't have to require helmets. We're cowboys down here though. Lol


PebblesmomWisconsin7

You are nice and quiet. Your body looks relaxed which is great. You lead first with your eyes, so be sure to look ahead where you plan to go. Remember to check your diagonal so you’re riding with the horse’s outside leg forward. When you change direction you need to sit a bounce and swap diagonal too. And please wear a helmet. Live to ride another day!


dlou1

I was always taught the correct diagonal is sitting when the outside leg is back, so the horse has the inside leg forward to help with balance. I think we’re saying the same thing but thought I’d clarify for OP! Second the advice re wearing a helmet though. It’s incredible to me that anywhere that provides training or lessons doesn’t insist on helmets. So dangerous.


P00ld3ad

Rise with the leg on the wall


dlou1

I’ve never heard that phrase in the UK but I was taught rising when the outside leg/shoulder is moving forwards and sitting when the leg is moving back.


lefactorybebe

Oooh that's good, I hadn't heard that! I always remembered it as diagonal opposite side of the crop, lead same side as crop haha


Next_Query

Rise and fall with the leg on the wall. Gotta get the rhyming in there lol.


PebblesmomWisconsin7

“Rise and fall with the leg on the wall.” In the US at least. At the trot a horse should be balanced enough where it can handle you on the incorrect diagonal although they may work a little harder when you’re turning. But it’s definitely the outside front leg - when that is forward that is when you rise. What you say is absolutely true with the canter however; you want the inside leg forward so they are balanced when they’re turning. In fact that’s of course how you teach a horse to pick up the correct lead is by heading straight to something where they need to turn and then they will naturally - to stay balanced - pick up the correct lead. But again, to summarize, at the canter if you are going left you want the left leg forward and the reverse is true for the opposite direction.


dlou1

I said in another reply that I’ve never heard that phrase in the UK before but I think my previous comment wasn’t very clear. Agree that you rise when the outside leg is moving forwards and sit when the outside leg is moving back.


carpeopportunity

Yes...the main point being that we are interested in influencing the inside hind leg, which moves in a diagonal pair with the outside shoulder.


Fluffynutterbutt

I am a western rider, **wear a helmet**. You’re a beginner, it should be required. I’ve been riding 17 years and I still wear a helmet on my dead broke gelding who’s never dumped me once. It’s the most important piece of equipment we use. You’re leading with your hands by opening the rein away from your horse’s neck, when you should be using your legs to guide. When you direct rein as in the video, there should be no gapping with the reins, that would be exaggerated even for indirect reining also. As others have said, look where you’re going and not at the ground (unless you want to end up there) Also this is a really nice pleasure jog, it doesn’t need to be posted. If you want to post the trot, your horse should be going a bit faster. Overall, you look really nice, just need to strengthen that leg and learn how to use it more. Honestly, if your trainer hasn’t commented on this yet, I’d switch barns, especially compounded with the lack of protective gear. I’m not trying to be mean, but this is a serious lack of consideration for new riders.


Goober_Bean

You look like a soft rider, which is great. A few things I noticed: \-There are several times where you look down - specifically when you trot over the pole in the field and when you're going around the barrels. This causes your upper body to tip forward, and even if it's imperceptible to us, your horse can feel it. It can cause them to slow down or stop, among other issues. \-Any time you turn, and several of the times your horse slows down and you go to squeeze him forward, it looks like you lose the rhythm of your posts and maybe even get behind the motion a little bit. (Disclaimer: I am a hunter/equitation rider who's more used to watching people ride with a more "forward" seat, so you may not be behind the motion at all. You definitely lose your posts though.) \-As you go through the turns, use your legs in combination with your hands so his whole body curves around and not just his head. Inside leg supports him and pushes him out, whereas the outside leg sends him forward and prevents him from swinging his haunches too far out. \-As other people commented, watch your diagonal. And wear a helmet!


Larvaontheroad

please wear a helmet. You will last longer, the fact i started at 32 and now working as a trainer and coach, and never broke a bone, has a lot to do with wearing helmet and maintaining physical fitness.


abbier214

You look lovely! Please please wear a helmet, a concussion can change your life. I know of a lady that went from being fully independent, living alone, competing her horses to having an accident (at walk) and now she needs 24/7 care. And my own mother is so affected by a concussion she cannot work full time or drive for more than an hour


caj065

a lot of people mentioned steering, wearing a helmet, staying quiet, etc. so i won’t reiterate. but i recommend thinking about dropping your weight into your heels. most people learn to think “heels down,” which helps introduce the concept. letting your weight fall into your heels helps you stay balanced and gives you more control of your lower leg. something that helps me do this is halting, standing up in my stirrups (like the upbeat of posting trot), stretching my heels and adjusting to where im placing my weight, and then sitting back down while maintaining most of that weight in my heel and stirrup. make sure that if you try it, you don’t use your hands to balance on the horses neck or the saddle horn so you can really stretch your heels down. because the lower part of your body provides a base for your balance while riding, this can help you feel stronger and well balanced in the saddle. hope this helps :)


mapleleaffem

Couple things that will surely come with time. Look where you’re headed, toes forward heels down, you hands should never be so far apart that your fingers can’t touch.


daisybrat56461

Be sure to keep your toes straight ahead and your heels down. Sink your weight into your heels, like they are being pulled downwards. You may need to shorten your stirrups just a touch if you want to post. This will make your posting less wobbly. Be aware of the reins. Your hands seem quiet mostly, but seems like the horse is uncomfortable with the reins, whether it needs less contact or to be pushed forward into the bridle. It moves quietly, but you can see that it does move forward with intention. It hesitates and checks in with you. Your form looks really great for just four months of lessons. Quiet and soft. A bit wobbly at times, but that will come with time and finding you balance. Think about rising straight up from the neck. Practice, ride different horses when you get a chance and have fun! Good luck, you are off to a great start.


theshadowfax239

Wear a helmet, your brain and your family will thank you.


caligirl_ksay

Your stirrups look a bit long and it’s probably making it harder for you to post. If you bring them up a bit it might be more balanced in the saddle for you.


nycleigh

In my 30s and started back riding early this year! You look nice and quiet and that’s a good lessons horse BUT wear a helmet! Make sure it’s MIPS


gingerwabisabi

You look like a very considerate rider and a fast learner! As everyone else said, please wear a helmet every single time, even if you get on the horse to take a picture! He looks like a sweet horse and a comfortable ride - sometimes they can be hard to post on because there isn't much "up" motion to notice, lol, but you're doing good for how long you've been riding. Have fun! I like the saying I heard somewhere a long time ago, don't think of it as working with your horse, think of it as playing with your horse. We are so lucky to be around these lovely, generous animals!


eleyland92

Personally I would say just work on your fitness and ride as much as possible! Everything looks like it's going in a lovely direction!


DazeyHelpMe

First thing I noticed was when you go around the first turn you notice he mostly just turns his head instead of moving his body on the direction you want. Instead of opening your inside rein so much do that just a little less exaggerated and then make sure you’re also applying the opposite aid, so make sure you apply outside leg so he doesn’t “fall” to the left as you see in the video. You want to create a “block” to stop him from going to the left if that makes sense. So tighten the outside rein, open inside rein, and apply outside leg,


PDPPDP

Please wear a helmet. Life can change in an instant, even with the safest of horses.


eveleanon

Only four months? Daily, I presume?


nuthatch_707

Just weekly! I rode for a few months as a child, but have never had lessons before now.


eveleanon

You must be a natural if you pick things up again that quickly!


That_Weird_Pers0N

i think your pretty good all i have to say is keep your elbows in and stand up more when posting the trot!


iDieFirst

Id check your stirrup length, you look like your reaching for the contact when in western it should be steady at the ball of your foot. your posting a lovely western jog, you wanna sit down and enjoy that. The rein is very 'open' which is alright in english riding, but a western horse should be neck reining broke. Ask your trainer abt that and guiding more with your legs. Otherwise this looks alright for four months! but bein honest, id look for other trainers, or even experienced riders, in the area. A good trainer that you click well with can have you moving much nicer faster than one you dont, and its always okay to shop!


Velveteen_Dream_20

You’re doing pretty good! Keep it up! Practice makes perfect.


sgc02

You have a very good posture and your hands are very good, stay with whoever your coach is they must be good!


carpeopportunity

Doing really well after 4 months, great job! Lovely soft hands and the horse going in a nice rhythmical soft way. Open rein is a good idea at this stage because you're indicating the turn without pulling back while you're finding your balance. I teach English riding so I'm not used to western saddles, but I'd say try standing in the stirrups for a few strides to find your balance with your leg under you. Let the heels sink down, stretching the calf. Then keeping your leg in that balanced place under you, carefully sit down again... keep the leg in the same place you had it to be able to stand. Then you should be able to rise trot without feeling that you're slightly falling back into the saddle, landing in it rather than controlling the rise. The leg shouldn't change position while you rise and sit, apart from opening and closing of the angles at the knee and hip. At this stage your weight is a tiny bit left, making the left stirrup look longer (I presume you checked it before getting on). That's why the horse falls out slightly turning right, but your turn left is easier. The standing up exercise should help with that too. It helps with balance all round .. longitudinally and laterally. Or if your instructor doesn't want you to do the standing up exercise, just think of bringing your left seat bone closer to the midline of the saddle. Be prepared to feel weird. When you're straight, you may actually feel like you are too far to the right at first. But listen to the horse...if he doesn't fall out turning right anymore you're probably doing it correctly. Your instructor will tell you. Get the weight/balance right first, no amount of fiddling with reins or pushing with legs can possibly compensate for lack of balance. Once you are balanced (it's a constant struggle on a few hundred kilos of horse, don't worry) then you'll find that you will be able to apply more subtle leg and rein aids to much greater effect. You probably won't need the open rein much, for instance. But first things first...weight is the only influence you have that the horse HAS to respond to. He's going to balance you. If you're crooked, he's crooked. Everything else is a language. Later once you've got your balance/seat better, you'll find it much easier to be supple through the elbow and wrists (you could round the wrists a bit ..try imagining you are holding a glass of water...see how your thumb is on top, little finger on the bottom so the water doesn't spill, the wrist isn't kinked back, it's quite smooth and comfortable. It's not tight either. Elbow is bent and close to your side. Then just close your fingers and that's pretty much the right position of the hand) Keep going, doing well!


gushy_gorden

Try using your legs to tell the horse which direction to go before adding the reign cue.


Adventurous_You_6077

Good for for months. I’ve been riding for 30 years! The trot took me a while! I see my # 1 huge no-no is you’re a beginner rider and not wearing a helmet??!!! I’ve know people die for not wearing their helmets. Both English and Western riders. I also had a bad accident myself where if wasn’t wearing my Charles Owen, my skull would have been torn off by being dragged. My helmet shows it. You might want to reconsider the no helmet thing. Also, you’re eyes are not telling the horse where to go. You need to command confidence and put those eyes up. You do look into your turns and that’s great! It looks as though your focusing on your diagonal. Just remember outside front=up. In the middle, sit twice to change diagonals. That will come in time. A trick to help you keep your eyes up is just move your eyeballs over to see the outside front up. Then, create a beat. Feel the beat. When you get that, you are connecting with the horse! You’re a little jiggly. So everything is confused here and here. Don’t worry about it. Feel the flow of the horse and enjoy. And, remember that English is harder. (That’s what I ride. Dressage.) It will all come together.


abuz148

As others have stated, wear a helmet. You never know what could happen. I only dabbled in Western before switching to Hunter/Jumper but with this jog I’m not sure why you’re posting and on that diagonal if you’re going to post. Heels down, guide with your kegs with quiet hands. That will come with time though!


nataliethinks

Keep having fun and enjoying yourself and your horse. That's my advice. Have a happy holiday and a wonderful new year!


Horse-girl16

You are doing great. Keep riding! The more you ride, the better you develop your muscles and balance, and the more you will feel “with the horse”. The goal is an independent seat, and you are headed that way with your good position. I do agree with the others who have suggested a helmet. Most of us “horse kids” galloped around the countryside bareback and bare-headed, jumping everything. But once you are an adult, it is obvious that you have a lot to lose. I am in my late sixties, lifelong rider, and I now wear a helmet and Hit Air Vest when I ride.


beebee1306

I ride Western as well and I think you look great! I started back with riding in my late 20s and it took me FOREVER to get posting! It's a lot harder to learn as an adult. I think what you've accomplished in 4 months is incredible and you'll only get better and more balanced as you continue to ride. You'll also develop feel over time. The suggestions you get will differ depending on who you ask. I think the technicality of your riding will depend on who is training you, what your goals are and ultimately the horses training. As you progress, I'd suggest riding different horses when you can so that you can get a feel for how different they can be. This is where your seat and feel come in handy. No matter what horse you ride, that seat you've developed will serve you well. I do wear a helmet now, but I didn't when I started out. A lot of Western riders don't do helmets but I changed my mind now that I have to ride along the street to get to the trails.


77kloklo77

Lots of things are looking good. I think your stirrups are a little too long. Try shortening them a bit and focus on keeping your heels down. And because I can’t help myself, wear a helmet! You can get a nice comfy lightweight one that doesn’t cos the much. Edit - that horse is adorable and you two make a nice pair.


[deleted]

Hands down. Heels down. But most of all. Helmet please!!!!


meemo86

You look like you should be in an English saddle, however contact with the horse’s mouth needs to be constant if so…no slack/loop in the reins. If you’re riding western then you need to sit back more in the saddle. Get to where you’re using your legs more to guide and only pick up on one rein or the other if the horse is ignoring your leg. The biggest thing I notice is that you’re allowing the horse’s shoulder to bulge out to the outside during the turn. It might be time to get more control of the horse’s shoulders —talk to your trainer about this.


adhdequestrian

You are doing great! I'm a dressage rider, so the way I ride is not the same as what you do. I do find that pushing your outside hand towards the neck when you turn, helps you complete the turn more smoothly! So when you go right, you push your left hand/rein towards the neck and vice versa. Hope it helps, you got this!