10 Easy Lessons

It happened to me again today.  I had a beginner adult ask about riding lessons, which is good, but then want to know how long and how many lessons it will take to learn how to ride.  No way can I answer those questions.  Very few people can learn to ride a horse 10 easy lessons.

To begin, everyone learns at their own pace and there is no way that I can make someone learn how to ride.  It takes both physical and mental ability to make riding a horse happen.  Take for instance, balance.  I haven't figured out a way yet to teach someone balance.  Just like learning to ride a bike that balance has to come from within a persons own body.  

Strength is also something that takes time to achieve.  Some students come to me with very little physical strength.  It takes time to build those muscle groups that will help a rider achieve a safe, effective position.

Finally, it takes practice to be able to ride a horse.  There are so many people who think that you practice playing a musical instrument or playing a sport, but they don't think that riding a horse is something that should be practiced.  Maybe it's because everyone thinks a rider sits on a horse and so they think that doesn't take practice, but that is far from true.  

For most people, if I could get up on the horse and ride for them it would be so much easier, but I can't do that.  I had to learn the long, slow way and it wasn't easy, but I'm so glad I did.  And, I'm still learning.  Learning to ride a horse has never been something most people can do in 10 easy lessons.