Well first of all, we never stop learning.

This is a question I’m asked often, yet it is a hard question to answer.

Everyone learns in their own time.  Some people are naturals, and some take a little longer.

My normal comment is “Well, it all depends.”  Well that’s an answer for you.  But when you think about it, it’s the only thing you can respond with.

It depends on:

• How quickly you pick things up?
•  What type of learning process do you need.  For example – Do you learn by watching, reading, hands on, having things explained to you, and sometimes it’s a combination.
• How coordinated are you.  (Sometimes I can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.  Hand to eye contact isn’t happening for me either.)
• What discipline are you interested in?  Walking around and sitting on a horse, being able to stop, start, and turn your horse while following others, or do you want something more?
• If you want to compete in a specific event, well that will take more time.

I had a student come to me, several years ago, at the beginning of her senior year in High School.  She explained to me, that for her senior project she wanted to become an Open Jumper.  She had to have video’s weekly of her progress, and be done by March.  She’d never been on a horse before.  Of course my eyes bulged, my jaw dropped, but I never discourage anyone from trying.  Was that a realistic goal, no way, but I’m always up for a challenge.  She worked really hard riding once a week, and by march she was going over foot and a half jumps safely.  She was happy with that, and I was thrilled.  She ended up with a fabulous grade.  She’s in her last year of college and has come back and ridden, but she’s moved on to Sky Diving.

So when someone asks me how long, I ask them what they are looking to accomplish?  Then I’ll tell them that it depends on how often, and how hard they work at it.  But this does come with a side comment, it all depends on your natural ability.  Some people are naturals, but most people struggle.  I, myself, struggled, but it didn’t stop me from learning and accomplishing everything I had hoped for.  It doesn’t stop you from becoming great at your goals, it just takes a little longer to get there.  Most people really have to work at it, very few are born to it.

You must always remember that you can accomplish your goal.  Unlike golf, the more you practice, the faster you will learn, and the better you will be.  Every one I know who has studied riding becomes proficient at it.  I watch people like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, and just shake my head.  These are people who practice eight hours a day, seven days a week, and still mess up.  If we rode eight hours a day, seven days a week, we’d be very good.  Yes, we are working with an animal who may have their own agenda, but until you’ve worked with a stupid little white ball, you haven’t tried anything.  I’ll take learning to ride, any day over learning how to play golf.  My golf instructor, God Bless Him, has more patience than anyone I know.  Remember me, can’t walk and chew gum?  Yup, I’m taking up golf, kind of.  There are so many variables, and my aging body just doesn’t have the flexibility that it needs, but as with riding, I’m not giving up.

So if someone asks you how long it will take to learn how to ride, just smile and nod, throw the ball back in their court and say, that will all depend on you.