Am I the only one? Instructors

[Sugar Plum]

I will confess to knowing my limitations and that I have a horse for the pleasure of it first, achieving anything, second. What I struggle with is finding an instructor who is content to just start with the basics (and stay there for as long as needed), even though you can 'ride' and not assume just because you can 'ride' you understand the wherewithal of it all. Perhaps my learning style differs so much from everyone else that I am on my own. I tend to take what I have been taught and mull it over for as long as it takes while I try to work through it with my horse. I am talking about snippets here - opening your inside rein on the circle, leading with your pelvis in the canter etc. Some might think that it is a waste of money if you aren't progressing significantly, commensurate with the number of hours of lessons you have had. For me, I just want to become what my horse needs and perhaps achieve something along the way.
Am I alone out there? Do others just want non-judgemental lessons where it doesn't matter if you just keep going through the same thing until it clicks then take a step up to the next platform? I have had many different instructors trying to find the one that 'gets' my horse and I and have gone from one that imparted very little to another where I felt I was so far down the food chain of riding I was wasting their time to others where I have taken snippets of what they have taught me and developed it on from there. This excludes, of course, the times when my horse and I figure things out on our own.

 

[Equi]

Everyone learns at their own pace. There are instructors out there (mine included) who are happy to do it but some are slightly more up themselves in that they like to show just how much they know by throwing everything but the sink at any riders. I’m not a competitive person and I ride for the enjoyment, I have like minded people around me and my lessons would absolutely be classified as a competent beginner lesson and I’ve been riding for 30+ years but I do that because that’s what I like. Some days I feel like doing a bit more, so I ask and get it. Some days I fancy not doing much at all and it’s not been unknown for instructor to tell me to hop off the horse and do some equine yoga instead. She actually told me she enjoyed that lesson a lot because it made her think about her craft and what she can teach without a horse.

 

[Marigold4]

I have similar limitations and have found a lovely instructor (at last!). I have been riding and owned horses for years but lack the basics to progress in dressage as I didn't have lessons when I started. I have tried a number of instructors but found it difficult to find one that a) was able to explain principles clearly b) would give us time to get the hang of it and c) has a sense of humour, is positive and understands my horse. I have found one! Don't give up. Keep searching. The right instructor is out there somewhere, although I would say that a younger instructor is unlikely to have the patience. Look for one who has been teaching for many years.

 

[Tarragon]

I agree! I have the added complication that I need an instructor who is prepared to see past a lady in her 60's who wants to really ride the basics well (think classic French riding school) riding a 13hh pony

 

[MereChristmas]

I struggled for years because I couldn’t understand what instructors meant.
an example
One said ‘ use your lower leg ‘. I did so. After much effort on my part using my calf it transpired that the instructor meant ‘ heel ‘!
I have now found 2 instructors who I understand and they seem to understand me.
My regret is that it has taken over 60 years to happen.

Those who read or contribute to the 10,000 thread will already know of this.

 

[stormox]

I have instructed many people, and have found it hard to keep at the 'basics' if the client shows no sign of wanting to progress to the next level.
I feel I must be boring to them and also think they should at least try the next level as this will probably improve what they are currently doing.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I will confess to knowing my limitations and that I have a horse for the pleasure of it first, achieving anything, second. What I struggle with is finding an instructor who is content to just start with the basics (and stay there for as long as needed), even though you can 'ride' and not assume just because you can 'ride' you understand the wherewithal of it all. Perhaps my learning style differs so much from everyone else that I am on my own. I tend to take what I have been taught and mull it over for as long as it takes while I try to work through it with my horse. I am talking about snippets here - opening your inside rein on the circle, leading with your pelvis in the canter etc. Some might think that it is a waste of money if you aren't progressing significantly, commensurate with the number of hours of lessons you have had. For me, I just want to become what my horse needs and perhaps achieve something along the way.
Am I alone out there? Do others just want non-judgemental lessons where it doesn't matter if you just keep going through the same thing until it clicks then take a step up to the next platform? I have had many different instructors trying to find the one that 'gets' my horse and I and have gone from one that imparted very little to another where I felt I was so far down the food chain of riding I was wasting their time to others where I have taken snippets of what they have taught me and developed it on from there. This excludes, of course, the times when my horse and I figure things out on our own.

One of my favourite instructors once said that good horsemanship is like watching paint dry. Perhaps in this age of instant gratification, some instructors feel like they constantly need to be getting 'results' for their clients. I'm on the same wavelength as you and like to do things more slowly and thoughtfully.

 

[View]

Oh my, I enjoy working with riders who aren’t always pushing to do more. I share in their joy when they look at videos of the partnership a year ago and now. There is so much you can do with basics, making tiny, incremental changes and really embedding them, that make such a difference.

 

[Kunoichi73]

I had a group lesson a while back and our instructor asked what we wanted to do. I piped up with 'work on my position and balance'. It was one of the best lessons we'd had in a while and several people thanked me for the suggestion afterwards. Instructor now does more lessons like that for us

I'm not too fussed about jumping and sometimes the younger instructors seem to think that's what everyone wants to do. It's probably because a lot of the time they're teaching kids (I'm a riding school rider). I'd rather work on no stirrup stuff and would be as happy staying in walk and trot to do som

 

[Lois Lame]

I found a person who would have been a really good teacher for me, but I was too hopeless in getting myself organised - well, let's be totally truthful - I was too damn chicken to get my act together and organise a lesson and get on with it.

I felt really in sinc with her, as though we 'got' each other. She had been a school teacher before she became a riding instructor. I met her through writing for her at a dressage competition. She had patience, knowledge, wisdom, blah blah. She was the sort who didn't waffle on, but said what was relevant, then gave time for the listener to take in, absorb, and to ask questions.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Finding the right fit instructor can be really difficult..I will often watch instructors before trying them myself because I find the hardest thing is leaping into lessons with someone..then finding out you don’t see things in the same way. They have planned in your extra income into their bank and automatically say same time next week and it’s difficult to stop using someone when they are regularly on the yard/you have mutual friends etc.

 

[Abacus]

Another bugbear is the 'celebrity' instructors - not naming names - generally top level pros in whichever discipline, who charge a lot for lessons (often irregular or one-offs) and don't get to know the horse and rider, and aren't always the best teachers. I am sure there are great exceptions but I have seen a few of these types who don't create slow long-term change for the better. Perhaps it's also driven by the ordinary rider liking to say 'I'm going for a lesson with Mr Famous or Miss Fabulous tomorrow'. Often they have a clinic with several people who don't know each other, and simply don't have the time to pay proper attention to each combination. They can often be inspirational but not necessarily the best choice for lessons.