Should I keep leasing this horse? I feel like I'm not improving on him

[jenniii]

I started leasing a horse 2 months ago, and he feels so difficult to ride. For example, it's hard for me to do even a leg yield on him (he doesn't move off my leg) so me and my coach have been working on that for 2 months already. The thing is, I feel like I don't improve that much riding him.
I ride at another lesson barn with great horses and it feels soooo much easier to ride them. Unfortunately, I will have to stop going to that barn in the future because it's winter. When I'm at the lesson barn, I feel like I ride so well and feel much more confident, but when I ride my lease, it's like all my skills are gone. For example, I've started jumping small cross rails at the lesson barn with no problem, but can't even keep inside bend or maintain a canter on my lease. I tried a leg yield on the lesson horse and was surprised by how easily I was able to do it. The next day, I struggled doing a leg yield (again) on the lease horse. It's frustrating every time I ride him, and I haven't been progressing as much from the lessons on him. It also doesn't help that he's really lazy and stubborn, and he has many bad habits (pulling reins when he doesn't want to work, etc) But I have noticed that his past leasers can canter, jump him with no problem. I know it's not just the horse, but my problem too, but it's frustrating and damaging my confidence.
Would it be detrimental to continue leasing this horse and taking lessons on him? Will I develop bad habits? I currently can't find any other horses to ride, so he is the only option. If I stop leasing him, I'll have to stop riding until I go back to the lesson barn in the summer.

 

[Jessey]

You say previous leasers could do the things you would like to do, have you had someone (perhaps a trainer) try with him now? it could be that something has changed with him since he did those things easily?

Lesson horses tend to be picked for their willing nature, very often people are very surprised and feel less capable when they switch to riding a privately owned horse, they aren't always as willing, often don't get as much work, and may not have been asked for that specific move in a long time, aren't used to different cues from different riders etc. etc.

There's 2 paths, stick learning on the more difficult horse (as long as he is not dangerous) as you will really learn how to ride effectively because he obviously isn't going to do things unless asked exactly right, or don't and look for something more biddable that you can progress faster on but may not teach you to be as effective of a rider. Realistically the person to ask is the trainer giving you lessons on the lease horse, as they have seen you together and will be able to give a more informed opinion.

 

[jenniii]

You say previous leasers could do the things you would like to do, have you had someone (perhaps a trainer) try with him now? it could be that something has changed with him since he did those things easily?

Lesson horses tend to be picked for their willing nature, very often people are very surprised and feel less capable when they switch to riding a privately owned horse, they aren't always as willing, often don't get as much work, and may not have been asked for that specific move in a long time, aren't used to different cues from different riders etc. etc.

There's 2 paths, stick learning on the more difficult horse (as long as he is not dangerous) as you will really learn how to ride effectively because he obviously isn't going to do things unless asked exactly right, or don't and look for something more biddable that you can progress faster on but may not teach you to be as effective of a rider. Realistically the person to ask is the trainer giving you lessons on the lease horse, as they have seen you together and will be able to give a more informed opinion.

Thanks for the advice! I will stick with this horse a little bit longer and see how it goes. Will it be okay that he has never been schooled before? My coach says when I’m doing lessons with her I’m helping with “schooling” the horse.

 

[Skib]

I have been in this position. For family reasons OH and I had to visit a relative who lived some distance away but not far from a specialist dressage yard which offered lessons on warm blood dressage horses. I took the opportunity to have 8 weekly lessons.
One had only to think the move and the horse responded. Two things made this possible, First the horse knew the cue. Secondly it was physically able to carry out the move.
But at the same time from a local yard I was hacking my all time favourite horse who (partly due to previous injury) did no dressage at all and was not used in the school.
When you are having lessons you are certainly schooling the horse as you RI say, but you are also limited till the horse builds up the muscles to be abe to go into that gait and gradually to sustain it for longer and longer. On some horses, achieving this level of dressage fitness is not realistic, either because of their build or their past history.

 

[Jessey]

Thanks for the advice! I will stick with this horse a little bit longer and see how it goes. Will it be okay that he has never been schooled before? My coach says when I’m doing lessons with her I’m helping with “schooling” the horse.

It doesn't matter that he's never been schooled before, but this likely means he has never learnt what the cues you are giving him mean, so he doesn't know the answer to the question. As such you can't expect him to react the same as the horses who have been taught this.

In schooling him, you are going to have to teach him what you are asking for which is very challenging when you are just learning for yourself as you could well be teaching him an incorrect cue without even knowing it, not on purpose of course but if you aren't 100% certain yourself yet, there is that chance.

 

[PotBelliedPig]

It sounds as if you have been riding for a while & are not a complete beginner. In your limited circumstances I would take this as an opportunity to learn a new skill. A good rider can school and improve a horse. Ask the coach to teach you this over the winter. You might need to go back to some more basic lessons as it sounds like the horse is at a lower level than the ones at the other barn. It's just a stop-gap & will keep you fit while you wait for spring. You are unlikely to get bad habits if you are already fairly well established in what you are doing.

 

[carthorse]

I'd view it as I was learning different skills and becoming more effective. But if you aren't getting any pleasure from it then look for something else, above all else it's meant to be fun and something to look forward to.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

Buddy was capable of doing a decent dressage test and is in the Sylvia Loch book The Classical Seat. Sadly I don't have that and have no ambitions in that area, but he forgives me and goes western now just to please. On the other hand, I used to be pretty good at x country and can go over terrain and routes some riders would not fancy. Horses for courses. A vet friend was given a sit on one of Emile Faure's dressage horses and as she said the horse was wasted on her as it was so brilliant. I guess you find fun where you can. My friend and I used to ride at same place, she could do dressage, but couldn't hold the horse out hacking, it over took me every time and thankfully i could hold mine. I rode it hacking and found it a dawdle, dead easy never took off with me but i had confidence and she had technique....

 

[Skib]

I currently can't find any other horses to ride, so he is the only option. If I stop leasing him, I'll have to stop riding until I go back to the lesson barn in the summer.

I guess another question is whether you want to ride through the winter? I am a winter rider. And I didnt do at all well when Covid lock down in the UK prevented me riding for a whole year.