I have been riding for over ten years and been riding dressage for about six of those years.
However… for the past three or so months I have been having alot of trouble with forward moving horses. It started when I was on one of my intrusctors (spelling?) new horses which is very well trained in dressage, but very large strided and forward moving. Anyway, she flipped out on me once and reared and I fell off and since then lost all my confidence on her. When I rode her again, about two weeks after that i just couldnt ride her and now I have got it into my ehad that I cant ride any forward moving horse (even though I hate to admit it).
The problem starts with my shoulders. They are always tense and I cannot relaxed them and then I get so focus on them I get lost in the lesson and almost ride into the back of another horse, then from there it gets worse. My postion gets so out of whack (weight on wrong side, inside hip not forward) and I hang on the gob, which many of these forward moving horses hate and then they just speed up, and yeah. You get the picture, the cycle keeps going, until I finally lose the plot.
I also find it I am scared of putting on my leg. Everytime I put it on the horses rush from underneath me and cause I try to keep up, I lose everything.
So yeah.
I know my problem and have been trying to fix it (along with instructor’s help), but I feel like I’m never progessing along, unless im on the sluggish horses (which I ride brillant all the time) lol.
So.. any tips or help?
dressage horses are supposed to be forward. If you are only doing good on a sluggish horse than you are not doing good. You need to get that sluggish horse moving. So when you ride a forward horse just think to yourself " well this is less work for me, I dont have to use constant leg to get this horse moving". I am really tense and stiff too ( I have a medical condition) and I find that when I really think about loosening up I get stiffer. Just concentrate on riding and looking where you are going and just picture your belly like jelly.
I would start working on my balance. Learning to relax, and learn to breathe. Your horse can pick up on any nervousness, and the more you are nervous the more the Horse will not trust you.
Rearing is very bad. When we come across rearing, remember to go forward with the horse. Leaning forward, even hanging on the mane and his neck.
There are many ways to learn better balance.
Please. Take this up with your instructor and have him put you on a more quite horse. Like a bomb proof. A horse that is also kept inside a inside Arena all day can also be up setting to the Horse. Kept in a box stall, with a high feeding diet.
Can you try Trail riding for a change? To build back your confidence?
There are many exercises to help you in balance.
But balance is what your instructor could start working with his students, as the one instructor wrote on here. I would try his/her exercises.
try having your instuctor lunge the horse with you on him/her. another thing to do is ask your instructor for some private time and just walk the horses, when you get more comfortable, go to a trot, and eventually a canter.
You sound like an amazing rider, so all you have to do is just relax and think positive.
I have had a lot of students that have the same problem. It is hard to convince your self that you can handle this. But i’m sure it doesn’t start with your shoulders I believe it starts with your breathing. You start to shallow breathing even going to almost hyperventilating. short quick breaths,( which in turn) cause horse to tense and speed up. Try talking or singing to your self softly. Like row row row you boat. or hickory dickory dock the mouse ran up the clock. etc. you can count like 1,2,3,4 over and over while walking, then 1,2 1,2 while trotting. Understand the faster you breath the faster your horse . slow your body down. slow your breathing down. and think my body needs to be more like jello not cement. And practice many transitions. like walk 10 steps stop then walk 10 etc. then trot 10 walk 5 then change it up. then when you canter canter 10 then walk 10 then canter 15 then walk or trot 10 etc. All my students that were very nervous because something like what had happened to you happened to them. You also need your instructor to show you how to do a pulley rein stop and or a one rein stop. so you will know what ever happens in the future you will be able to stop your horse. Good luck. I have helped over 100 some students with this problem.
deffinatly time in the ring doing some private lessons would do you the world of good. it sure did help me out when i had ur problem (not so bad tho). now i own and arab X and a stockhorse gelding. you’ll get there just dont give up. horse riding is and amazing thing! just give it your best and you’ll get there soon. just believe in yourself!
good luck
if you can get some alone ring time when you wont disturb anyone else, let the horse go a little and practice bringing him back in. Learning to get him back under control will teach you how to control him from the start and not be afraid of his power. He has no where to go, take your time.
I suggest that you get your instructor to longe you for a few lessons on one of the forward moving horses. Keeping the horse on the circle will limit how fast they can really go and it will give you an opportunity to re-acclimate to the sensation and concentrate on your seat. With no reins, your shoulder should have to reason to be tense. When you are feeling better with the movement, then you can have the reins back.