Novice- best way to learn

[peacoat]

I'm a novice and have had about 5 lessons so far. I'm about to take up cantering in the next lesson or so - so really a baby at all this.

I'm just wondering if weekly lessons is really the best way to learn to become accomplished at riding and horse care. It feels lengthy and expensive. Could I be considering something else alongside for added experience etc?

Sounds like you are progressing the right way. Are you having private lessons or in a group? Have you considered going on novice hacks as well as lessons in the school. As long as you tell them you want to walk and trot that may give you more confidence and get used to riding in different situations.

I have private lessons. I went on one private hack which was great. Maybe I should go on more hacks for practice - thanks.

I rode as a child but had never had proper lessons just used to go on hacks and ride friends horses.
I decided in my mid thirties to learn properly and at first had one private lesson a week, now approaching mid fifties and still having my lessons and enjoying them
My instructor had me cantering fairly quickly (probably came easier as I had ridden before) and I used to really enjoy my one to one lessons. Once I felt more confident I used to do an extra lesson in a group which was great fun, apart from making some new friends it was good to see other people ride.
You sound like you are doing ok and its good to go on a hack now and then too, my riding improved massively once I started riding a friends horse out for her, was always a nervous nelly but having to deal with all sort of situations on my own gave my confidence a massive boost.

Take it steady and don't push yourself to much just go with the flow!
Sounds like you are doing well.

I do agree with as much hacking as you can get alongside lessons - its the best way to learn the 'horses way' imo and its invaluable for learning a bit of road safety if you can eventually!
Plus is adds variety and you can't beat a countryside view between a horses ears

Group lessons are good too every now and again, watching is a huge part of learning a new skill :)

Yes I agree with Bonkey. Try and get on a group lesson with similar people and keep going on hacks. You sound like you're doing well.

Don't feel pushed into cantering before you feel established in trot. Lots of RS push students too quickly for fear of boring them but it is soooooo important to get the basics right from the start - it is very difficult to undo them once they have developed.

If you go on Heather Moffatt's website she has a fantastic book - Enlightened Equitation. She is offering it FOC at the mo with you just paying P&P. Her teaching revolutionised how I ride :)

I think time consuming and expensive pretty much sums up anything to do with horses!! Be patient you've only had 5 lessons! The truth is with riding is that you never stop learning, you can always improve, and I've been riding 25 years. It helps if you think of it like ballet, you can learn the basic moves but to dance with any real grace takes time and practice. To me being an accomplished rider is being able to work a horse correctly to the best of it's ability. Easier said than done as no two horses ride the same way way.

Your doing the right thing with the private lessons so carry on with them. Do not skip the basics the best thing you can do is improving your balance to work on getting your seat independent from your hands. Lunge lessons are brilliant for this. Take away the reins and learn to balance yourself without worrying about where the horse is going I did this with my novice husband and it made a marked improvement. Also go easy on yourself building up the muscles and core strength fitness to ride effectively takes time too. Other exercise in between lessons if you don't already will help with stamina, pilates is good for core strength.