Tell me your riding weakness! [Archive]

RolyPolyPony

Oct. 20, 2009, 02:03 PM

Ok, I know that we're not supposed to dwell on our weaknesses, but I think it might help me to see that most everyone has something they're not entirely perfect in doing! I'm an adult rerider, and I've only been back to riding for a couple of month, so I shouldn't feel so discouraged at my weaknesses, but I do! I think that knowing other people out there struggle too might help me not get so discouraged that I'm not perfect (hahah!) by now :)

For me right now, my main issues are 1) getting my heels down and my weight in them and 2)keeping my leg back - it likes to shoot fwd.

How about you? What do you struggle with?

ChocoMare

Oct. 20, 2009, 02:04 PM

-Weak right leg.
-Sitting properly to cue for canter from trot.

:sigh:

analise

Oct. 20, 2009, 02:23 PM

Go Fish

Oct. 20, 2009, 02:26 PM

I have some damage to my spine and neck, so when I get tired, I tend to ride hunched over. My leg is terrific, though!

I rode cutting horses for years. I tend to want to chuck reins to the horse when it's soft. My trainer is constantly telling me to shorten my reins.

Chardavej

Oct. 20, 2009, 02:40 PM

Oh man do you have time for all my issues? All I can say I have saints for horses, all three of them. LOL!

Fat, old, gimpy, weeble wooble with a weak knee, overweight and terrible posture. I like to ride though, and ride in a Western, English (although not in English "style", if that makes sense) and bareback. Love to canter and gallop, but still, old, fat and overweight. LOL!

I guess, seriously, my main issues with myself is I find myself LEANING forward, and my legs aren't as quiet as I would like them to be, and I post like crap. I can get it for a few strides then WTH, I don't know what happens. So I try not to trot, just walk, canter and sometimes gallop.

I do like to think I have semi-quiet, light hands though, I don't like being in their mouth at all. Although with Nate's energy sometimes it's all I can do to hold him back. Stefffic rode him the other day in a French link snaffle, she said it might as well be a piece of string in his mouth. "I thought he was a QUIET laid back old man!!!" she shouted laughing, I told her, well, 98% of time he is, this must be one of those 2% times.

Catalina

Oct. 20, 2009, 02:41 PM

My right hand and arm want to do all the work and let my left arm and hand just relax and chill out. Not good in dressage when it becomes inside leg to right hand in both directions :rolleyes:. I am slowly getting better, but it has taken FOUR years to get to this point :eek:. Bad, bad, really ingrained habit.

oharabear

Oct. 20, 2009, 02:45 PM

My fingers like to open on the reins so I end up really only holding them with my thumbs.

My leg moves more than I'd like.

Riding the canter is easy, transitioning into it sucks. At least it does when you're me. ;)

Analise stole mine! :lol: Seriously, I caught myself riding my STB last night with open fingers. :eek:

My leg tends to slip forward in 2-pt. I don't even notice it until my trainer starts hollering at me.

And I have the darndest time with getting horses into their right canter leads. Once there, we're fine. It's the transitions that suck. And mostly to the right. :confused:

pAin't_Misbehavin'

Oct. 20, 2009, 03:03 PM

How do y'all have legs that slip forward? Mine's always slipping backward. :sigh:

Oh, well, as a result, I never have trouble with canter transitions. Except when I'm actually asking for canter on purpose.:uhoh:

catknsn

Oct. 20, 2009, 03:07 PM

Leaning forward. I've always had an issue with that. It has been somewhat amazingly improved by an visualization my trainer gave me that is too naughty to post here. Figure it out. ;)

paintlady

Oct. 20, 2009, 03:07 PM

I tend to be "heavier" on my left side. I had my saddle fitter out recently and she even noticed that my mare was slightly sore right around where my left seat bone would rest - and I didn't even tell her about my trainer getting after me about that side!

I also tend to forget that I can move my elbows past the sides of my body.

StefffiC

Oct. 20, 2009, 04:21 PM

I have major confidence issues at the canter on strange horses, sometimes on my own horses. In the arena I'm fine, but even friend's trusty, quiet (or not so quiet ;) ) trail horses I'm a nervous wreck at the canter for a ride or two. My two worst fears are coming off, getting drug and/or stepped on by people behind me and the horse rearing and flipping over on me. So, I get upset, get in their mouths, the horse gets upset... Most of the time I can grab mane and tell myself I'll be okay... and believe it.

I have a bad tendency to put my left hand flat, drop my left shoulder, and sometimes i lean forward in galloping position.

I do like to think I have semi-quiet, light hands though, I don't like being in their mouth at all. Although with Nate's energy sometimes it's all I can do to hold him back. Stefffic rode him the other day in a French link snaffle, she said it might as well be a piece of string in his mouth. "I thought he was a QUIET laid back old man!!!" she shouted laughing, I told her, well, 98% of time he is, this must be one of those 2% times.

He was just keeping up with my horse, I'm sure it's Runner's fault ;) I love Naters, and I felt very safe on him, despite the lack of stopping power there for a bit. Dusty is awesome, and I feel safe on him. Outside of those two... Since I sold Shogun I don't have a 'safe' horse. 99% of the time Star's safe, but the other 1%... And Runner's safe, but I can't relax on him like I could Sho.

ExJumper

Oct. 20, 2009, 04:32 PM

I tip and I jump ahead. :-(

equest

Oct. 20, 2009, 05:07 PM

A weak left leg / difficulty keeping weight in my left heel.

gladys

Oct. 20, 2009, 05:16 PM

I fiddle too much and give my horse 1000's of unintentional aids. Fortunately, he is a saint.

myvanya

Oct. 20, 2009, 05:24 PM

I have a negative confidence level (no really...I have jumped up to 4'9" on a good day and can barely get over a cross rail on a bad day. Not kidding at all. It seems to have very little to do with my actual riding...)

And I jump ahead. I have made far more progress in fixing the jumping ahead issue than I have the confidence issue but I still do it sometimes.

I have horses that are saints and would jump the moon and are saints...I am not the world's worst rider(not the world's best either but hey) so really I should be able to be confident over fences...but I'm not. Darn it.

sid

Oct. 20, 2009, 05:39 PM

"Dwelling" on a weakness, IMO, is counterproductive as that has negative mental connotations. As we know, the "mental" aspect of riding has a lot to do with effective riding... dwelling on the our own weakness or the horse's weakness should be addressed proactively, not negatively. Not good for rider or horse, IME.

That said, working to offset and tailor make one's work to compensate and/or correct that weakness (whether it be for the horse or the human), is the way to go.

Often it takes "baby steps" to get the understanding and a program that works for you and your horse...an individualist approach, for sure.

If you can find top-knotch teacher/trainer who can hone into your weakness and will give you you "homework"...whether it is for your horse's weakness or your own...that is the best ;):yes:.

If you don't have that kind of access, then take care of your own deemed weakness first. That will allow you to better feel and deal with your horse's weakness. Unless you have an old schoolie, many horses will not respond the way you WISH they would unless you take care of your own first.

Also remember, no rider, no horse is ever PERFECT every single ride..;)

KateKat

Oct. 20, 2009, 05:51 PM

argh, how much time do you have? LOL. Lets see...looking down over jumps, drawing a blank after fences (as in oh crap where do I go from here), thinking strategically and logically while riding (since oftentimes I'm more focused on just staying on the durned thing) and my stupid left heel! Always wants to creep up. Oh also, when I first ask for the canter for some reason my elbows like to get stiff so I don't follow the motion very well. My instructor was always yelling at me about it. However, one thing I'm consistently complimented on is my eq and I never have had an issue with piano hands! (gotta think of some positives)

Those are my most glaring, happens every time I ride faults. However, the way I look at it is that riding is a learning process, like every other skill. You will never NOT have a weakness, you just have to learn how to deal with them and make the best out of what you've got!

Cloverbarley

Oct. 20, 2009, 05:55 PM

I was an eventer for many many years, however nowadays I tend to do much more of the western "cowboy type" riding (working cattle and all :)). I found this quirky little piece which stereotypes us all - http://everything2.com/user/tentative/writeups/Equestrian+Stereotypes

I think it's fairly accurate of my riding - flaws and all :lol:.

Tiffany01

Oct. 20, 2009, 05:59 PM

My legs and keeping my heels down.

PolarPony

Oct. 20, 2009, 06:03 PM

I have the WORST problem with not having my reins short enough, or my hands not far enough in front of me. Or my leg is either too far forward or too far back. :(

Risk-Averse Rider

Oct. 20, 2009, 06:04 PM

Being a candy-ass weenie.

Renn/aissance

Oct. 20, 2009, 06:15 PM

I override the inside leg and rein and I give my horse too many treats. ;)

sublimequine

Oct. 20, 2009, 06:21 PM

I tighten up at the canter depart, specifically through my hips and lower back. I also hunch occasionally when I'm riding lazily... I didn't realize that one until I saw pics and I was slouching like no other! :lol:

shakeytails

Oct. 20, 2009, 06:37 PM

Asking correctly for a canter departure- I tend to lean forward and/or look down. The leaning forward comes from riding green horses or horses that have a quick canter take-off. I have no idea where the looking down crap comes from, I'm perfectly capable of determining correct leads by feel. I also tend to let reins slip through my fingers so I end up constantly having to shorten them.

catknsn

Oct. 20, 2009, 06:38 PM

Being a candy-ass weenie.

That should be its own clique. :D

eclipse

Oct. 20, 2009, 06:38 PM

I tip at the long distance (sigh, it never works) and lean forward when I ride (even though I KNOW I should sit up!)

Oh yeah....and I like to hang on my right rein.....sigh.....there's probably more but I don't want to write them down right now!! LOL

FlashGordon

Oct. 20, 2009, 06:47 PM

I stick my head out over my center sometimes. I never quite mastered the half seat and am much happier sitting a canter, or doing this odd thing that fits somewhere between 2 point and 3 point.

My right leg is now much weaker than my left and that is a huge PITA. My left side used to be worse. So now they both just kinda suck.... :lol:

Mimi La Rue

Oct. 20, 2009, 06:55 PM

Oh boy, are you ready for this?

I used to think I was a pretty good rider and was fairly confident for the most part, but lately not so much. :( I too am a re-rider and bought my current horse last April. My major weakness is being out of shape. My current horse is a typical lazy warmblood. I have owned forward TB's in the past. I feel like I do not have the strength to keep my horse going. I need to take lots of breaks in-between and when I am riding alone (no trainer), I sometimes (ok a lot!) finish up quickly because I am so exhausted.

In order to get him going I have picked up a lot of bad habits (my trainer tells me so). I seem to use any way possible to get him going -- heels instead of calves and my legs are very unstable now. My old trainer used to always compliment me on my steady leg, but this was when riding forward horses. Also I seem to pump with my seat, especially at the trot, in hopes it gets him going forward. It doesn't though, I am just being too hard on his back. Trainer says I am working harder than him, which I believe because I am usually exhausted after a ride and covered in sweat. Trainer also has been pointing out that at the canter in a half seat (trainer always wants me in a half seat), I seem to fight it and not go with the flow. Not sure where I picked that up but hearing that really discouraged me. I don't even notice that I am doing it since I haven’t visually witnessed it, so it's hard for me to fix. In my mind I have invisioned I am this fat chick (gained a lot of weight the past year) flopping around on his back. On my own I always sit the canter. It just seems so much easier for me.

So yeah that is basically it in a nutshell and all of this was pretty much brought to my attention in my last lesson. I was very dissapointed in myself to hear how horrible (so *I* thought) of a rider I am. I unfortunuately can only take a lesson every other week or so and really feel kind of hopeless.

There is another trainer at my barn that older aldults seem to ride with, my current trainer is all young fit girls that can ride for hours, so I have been meaning to talk to them about how much a lesson would be. They do group lessons too, so I’m hoping the lesson costs wouldn’t be as much as I am having to pay now, so maybe I could take more lessons on a regular basis.
Sorry for the novel!

cnvh

Oct. 20, 2009, 07:23 PM

Forgive me COTHers, for I have sinned...

1. Can't seem to get my right shoulder back-- it's always forward when it shouldn't be.
2. I jump ahead.
3. I look down.

Those are the worst. I'm pretty capable overall, but with #2 and #3 it's a wonder I don't get myself killed some days...

RolyPolyPony

Oct. 20, 2009, 07:47 PM

That should be its own clique. :D

Count me in! ;)

Thanks to all those who have shared! While I do agree that dwelling on weaknesses can be counterproductive, I do think it helps to know that everyone has issues! At least it helps my perfectionist self to know that even people I think are amazing riders have their own issues!

THANK YOU! :)

RolyPolyPony

Oct. 20, 2009, 07:49 PM

Mimi La Rue - aww, thanks for sharing all of that. Good luck w/ talking to the other trainer. I think that a lot of it does come down to being happy w/ your trainer and their teaching style. Good luck!!

tpup

Oct. 20, 2009, 07:58 PM

I have obviously been trained my entire life like a racehorse - tracking LEFT. Tracking right at anything beyond the walk feels completely foreign and HARD to me. It's nuts - it just feels SO unnatural. Doesn't matter what I do. I can rollerblade, ice skate "tracking left", make sharp turns, spins, going left - I can do anything, beautifully :lol: But ask me to canter tracking right and I'd rather poke my eyes out.

Just took my son ice skating...and was completely ANNOYED that we HAD to go left - for TWO hours. (When I was little and went rollerskating, sometimes we had to change directions, seriously, LOL - what happened to that?? I remember the little old ladies at the roller rink saying, "Change direction!") But ice skating, I wanted to practice going RIGHT but it wasn't allowed....everyone whizzing around to the left...sigh. So I am doing more and more to the right riding, to get over this hurdle. It's getting better, but going right feels so unnatural. (would love any advice!!) We're working hard on it, but major one-sided rider here!!

Oh and...I also tip forward.

Crosswinds Rescue

Oct. 20, 2009, 10:04 PM

Roly,
I have a variety of things I struggle with, but my worst is that what I thikn is "sitting up straight" is actually about 25% of the way forward into 2-point. Sitting "upright" feels like i'm going to teeter over backward. My whole body adjusts to balance myself in this 'natural' position that obviously is anything but natural. It's osmething i try to work on every time I ride. interestingly, having gone to a slightly longer stirrup makes it harder for me to sit improperly and so is helping me fix it.

My biggest weakness all around, though, is that I am too eager to hear criticism as ridicule and take everything personal. If i'm not careful about it, I waste all my energies trying to defend myself and getting upset and getting rigid, instead of hearing that someone is giving me another set of eyes and helping me to get better....that's true in my work life as much as my riding life, sadly. Logically, I WANT people's input and to know how to do bettr....but, emotionally, everything feels like an attack unless I am careful to truly be open and to not start doubting myself immediately.

AMC

drmgncolor

Oct. 20, 2009, 10:17 PM

in no particular order:

I round my shoulders (in my defense on this one, I hate sticking my big boobs out.)
I tip forward.
My toes turn out.
I tend have piano hands and have to remind myself to close my fingers.
My arms resemble chicken wings and actually find it uncomfortable to keep my elbows by my side.
I drop my left hand.
I look down.
I am heavier with my right hand than with my left.
I have a difficult time sitting the trot with stirrups. Drop them... no problem.
I have a tendency to pinch with my knees, reminiscent of my saddleseat days.
I can't tell my diagonal with out eyeballing it.
I frustrate easily.

I am also a candy ass weenie and it's not about jump heights, etc. I can hunter pace, cross country with the best of them. Ain't skeered. However, put me in a closed arena with bystanders and on lookers and all of a sudden I want to puke.

:lol: Honestly, I could go on... really. It's amazing my mare of 13 years hasn't run off to join the circus.

ClassAction

Oct. 20, 2009, 11:26 PM

Being a candy-ass weenie.

Count me in!

I also "puppy-dog" my wrists because I let my reins get too long because they've slipped through my open fingers. Compound errors! Then I hunch my shoulders and stop riding and start sitting and plucking going "what do I do? what do I do?"

Oh yes.

SkipChange

Oct. 20, 2009, 11:44 PM

I feel like my weaknesses constantly change. For months dear WB was significantly easier to turn right, left turns were a mess and I couldn't see a spot off the left turn to save my life. Now it's reversed! Not as severe this time though.

My biggest weakness is probably lead changes as my name suggests :lol: I CAN do them it's just a matter of having a horse that properly understands my cues. Alas it is a continuous battle, he's just a lazy bum with his back end. I have gotten a lot better at asking for the lead in the air, we've got about a 75% success rate with that as long as I remember which direction to turn.

My eq had improved but homeboy jumped me loose half a dozen times today. He is SUCH a saint. If I have one bad miss on course it just keeps getting worse and I have a hard time shaking it. Luckily homeboy is as honest as the day is long and doesn't have the heart to refuse :D I think he's probably worth 3x what I paid at the moment. :yes:

I am also guilty of the apparently common long reins...I bridge my reins when I'm going around a course and it helps SO much, really helps keep my hands level and contact even. Good thing I ride jumpers, can't imagine what a hunter judge would think of that style ;)

Sacred_Petra

Oct. 21, 2009, 01:37 AM

I am a candy-ass weenie over fences. I'm getting better, but there are days when it's all I can do to trot over a pile of poles. No clue why, just started panicing over fences one day.:confused: I am also a candy-ass weenie about flying lead changes. My last horse bucked hard every time I asked for a lead change, and now I'm scared to death that every horse will.

I used to be really bad about pulling my heels up to use my leg, but riding western with a pair of big ol' western spurs has helped that!:winkgrin:

I tend to "english" horses when I ride western. It feels really strange to me to be riding around in a snaffle bit on a long rein

I also perch instead of getting my butt down in the saddle. You'd think I would learn, since perching tends to be uncomfortable, but no, sitting deep in the saddle is still my mortal enemy.

Ya know, I actually feel a bit better having gotten those out in the open, and I'm glad to see that other people have issues too. I feel like less of a dork now.

ReSomething

Oct. 21, 2009, 02:21 AM

I fiddle too much and give my horse 1000's of unintentional aids. Fortunately, he is a saint.

This actually pretty much sums it up for me, though fiddle implies a level of control and I am not sure I even have that.

ReSomething

Oct. 21, 2009, 02:30 AM

Being a candy-ass weenie.

Nah, I'm a sorry ass weenie. I think it means I try harder and mess up worse. Great, huh?

JumpWithPanache

Oct. 21, 2009, 09:37 AM

The big things I've been working on, now that I'm working with a coach again, are these:
1) Bringing my left leg forward a hair and right leg back a hair, darn back injury
2) Stretching into my left heel, darn ankle injury
3) Bringing my left elbow back to my side and straightening my wrist, right arm is fine
4) Looking up while flatting

I'm lopsided... what can I say?

jeano

Oct. 21, 2009, 10:14 AM

Fat, old, gimpy, weeble wooble with a weak knee, overweight and terrible posture. I like to ride though, and ride in a Western, English (although not in English "style", if that makes sense) and bareback. Love to canter and gallop, but still, old, fat and overweight. LOL!

Are you sure you're not me?

Rubyfree

Oct. 21, 2009, 10:21 AM

You mean weaknesses more specific than "I suck"?
I used to have an impeccable leg, and my hands were all over the place and terrible. I spent two years fixing my hands, and now my leg is gone. :rolleyes:
I have also developed what I call a 'hunter seat' (No offense intended!)- I post forward, like in a half seat. So not desirable for a dressage rider/ wannabe eventer.
Maresy seems to know what I'm trying to say to her and always tries hard to do what I'm fumblingly asking. The other horses I ride- not so much. They don't like me as much as she does.

Chardavej

Oct. 21, 2009, 12:44 PM

Are you sure you're not me?

Sister? Is that....you?

I was adopted, so if you're a busted up, old, wrinkled, overweight, underbalanced but energetic wanna-be cowgirl, we could be sisters maybe?

I should make that my signature line: "I'm a busted up, old, wrinkled, overweight, underbalanced but energetic wanna-be cowgirl!"

HenryisBlaisin'

Oct. 21, 2009, 01:22 PM

I need to tighten my lower leg. I know that the best way to do this is to ride without stirrups. The problem is, I have a serious riding-without-stirrups phobia.

I have no idea WHY. I fell off my mare once doing this (I was a beginner and she had the trot from HELL) but landed on soft grasss and was not hurt. But I'm completely petrified to drop the irons at anything faster than a walk. Working on a lunge with my trainer would be great-if my horse knew how to lunge. So...I need to tighten my lower leg.

LuvMyTB

Oct. 21, 2009, 01:39 PM

My weaknesses are routinely detailed on my blog, so that the whole world can chastise me if they so desire. :lol: But I can do the Reader's Digest version here.

1. Weak in both legs--my previous mare was hotttt and needed no leg whatsoever. Current greenie needs to learn leg aids and we are struggling because my leg aids suck!
2. Right leg is a hair too forward, toe out a hair too much.
3. Can't sit the trot with stirrups. Well, I can, but I look like an @sshole!
4. Stamina. My mare required no work other than holding her back. My gelding makes me work my butt off every time I ride; lessons are killer. I am getting old, LOL.
5. Took 5 years off from jumping and am now starting greenie over fences. Cannot ride a gymnastic to save my life. I can ride to the first fence, but then land and become brain-dead. *sigh* Pathetic.
6. I am DEATHLY AFRAID to ride outside of an arena. Little walks around the farm are my absolute limit. Trail rides are my worst nightmare.

The good news? Despite of all my shortcomings, my greenie is lovely and is going along quite well regardless of my f-ups. :D

Gray Horse H/J

Oct. 21, 2009, 01:48 PM

I cannot for the life of me keep my fingers closed on the reins. It's been an issue for me for years. You'd think I'd catch on when I lose the reins if my horse trips, but nope. :no: My leg is not as strong as I would like. It used to be, but I definitely don't ride as much as I did 4 or 5 years ago. I used to be a bad fidgeter, but I've made a conscience effort every time I ride to just let my poor horse be, and it's gotten a million times better. :)

These are just on the flat. I haven't jumped in a good year and a half. I want to start lessons back up and when I do (in a couple months, hopefully) I'm sure I'll have a whole mess of issues. When I WAS jumping, my biggest issue was picking. I always felt like I needed a quieter distance. Pick pick pick. I'm sure that'll be back with a vengeance when I start jumping again. :rolleyes:

StefffiC

Oct. 21, 2009, 02:01 PM

Working on a lunge with my trainer would be great-if my horse knew how to lunge. So...I need to tighten my lower leg.

Do you want to borrow my longe pony? :D

I had an instructor that made me do no stirrups/no reins, eyes closed on the longe at all gaits. Torture pure and simple!

Luvthespots

Oct. 22, 2009, 11:15 PM

Everything. I have nothing inherent that helps me with riding. I struggle with coordinating aids, sitting balanced (left/right and forward/back), judging distances, confidence, overthinking and being a weenie. I have a friend that used to come to some of my lessons and shows that I rode in. He would always say that he didn't understand how I rode because I don't have an athletic bone in my body. He also used to say that I looked like I was working really hard to do things that other riders made look easy. (Great friend, huh?)

I make a point of staying in lessons to minimize bad habits creeping back in after I fix them and only riding kind and tolerant horses.

The only thing that keeps me going (or gets me restarted when I back off) is that I love riding and being around horses and when I don't ride I miss it. Sigh.