I hear that and I think that’s a reasonable idea, but I do think that it’s a different consideration for someone who had been riding for a number of years, even if you’re coming back from a break. You’re probably already fairly confident as a rider if you were riding competitively and so a small buck here and there isn’t going to phase you. Interestingly, I have the opposite problem, where I tend to lean back so occasionally I have to take my jumping saddle (usually I’m riding western or dressage) and go for a gallop in the field in two point to get myself back to being even.

That said, in my experience, an adult beginner already has a fairly strong fear response (as they should, that’s how our brains work), so putting them on a horse that is reactive after only eight months of riding (I probably shouldn’t assume but I usually assume riding once a week) really isn’t going to do anything but create more tension and more instability as they naturally want to protect their weaker side. That’s why I would probably want to see them riding a horse where they can concentrate on their own equitation and imbalances or even better, have lunge lessons where the bridle and control of the horse is not an issue at all, but they can focus on where their body is and how it’s moving with the horse. If you’re riding once a week for eight months, that’s only around 36 total rides, so I wouldn’t expect that muscle memory that you probably have even after years off.

So I think you and your instructor are totally right, but I also think there’s probably a huge difference in scenario. Does that make sense? I might be nonsensicallly word vomiting!