Re: My First Lesson

On Mar 31, 7:44 am, Jim Casey <sea...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I started riding in 1975. It was common practice to put beginners in a
western saddle for the first few rides even if they wanted ride English.


- Jim

When I started riding lessons (hunt seat) in 1958, it was common
practice to begin from a leadline, with the instructor riding right
next to you. Leadline lessons continued until some comfort level with
balance and posting trot was achieved, along with proven ability to
stop and steer. It took however long it took. For me, at 9, it took
six lessons (and yes, I was appalled to discover I was NOT the natural
I thought I would be after years of "playing horses"!). Then one went
into a large group walk/trot lesson. Head to tail, up, down, up,
down. I was in walk/trot for a year before graduating to a walk/trot/
canter class. Another year before I was allowed to do a semi-private
jumping lessons. I loved every nano-second of it, as it was the only
time I got to ride.

When I was able to get back to riding in my 20s, I discovered I had a
noteworthy seat, so there is something to be said for such a
methodical approach. Can you imagine such a thing today?


.

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