An unusual request...

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justjoules

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I defected from horses to rowing when I went to University a few years ago and now the tables have turned again since my rowing coach has asked me to teach him to ride. Does anyone based around the Guildford area have a suitable horse that could be used this Summer to teach a novice rider the basics of riding? I have ridden for 4 years myself and have loaned horses so can provide references etc. I would also be interested in riding the horse and getting back into regular lessons etc and back to hacking. I was thinking a share or loan option would be best but wondered if anyone had any other ideas!?

I am based in Guildford but willing to travel up to 20 mins.

Thanks for any help or ideas.
 
I think you will struggle to find anyone who will hand over their prized and loved horse to someone to teach an adult, the mere thought of an unbalanced adult bouncing about on my horses back fills me with dread. Most people have backs checked, saddles checked to make sure everything is just so. Very much doubt they will risk it really. Then comes the problem of insurance, if you haven't any qualifications I doubt you will get correct insurance to cover you, pupil, horse.
Probably best if you want to ride and teach someone that you buy a horse.
 
Sorry to be blunt but do you have any insurance? What if this guy has an accident under your instruction? Why would you ever want to put yourself in such a situation and why would you think that riding experience is equivalent to taking on responsibility for teaching someone a potentially really dangerous sport?

As for finding a horse I would assume that any owner who allowed a loan on these terms was bonkers.

Get back into riding, get a nice loan for yourself, have fun and refer the guy to a reputable riding school.
 
Booboos said:
Sorry to be blunt but do you have any insurance? What if this guy has an accident under your instruction? Why would you ever want to put yourself in such a situation and why would you think that riding experience is equivalent to taking on responsibility for teaching someone a potentially really dangerous sport?

As for finding a horse I would assume that any owner who allowed a loan on these terms was bonkers.

Get back into riding, get a nice loan for yourself, have fun and refer the guy to a reputable riding school.
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Well said m'duck :)
 
Sorry to be blunt, but I don't think 4 years riding experience qualifies you to teach, unless it was at a teaching establishment, with qualifications at the end of it (which doesn't sound to have been the case). You certainly need insurance, and I'm not sure you'll get it.
 
i suggest you refer your coach to a proper BHS riding school.

Anyone can sit someone on a horse and show them how to make it go, but it takes experience and qualifications to actually teach someone to RIDE. Four years riding is nothing.
 
Hey hey, lets not get nasty!

This person could have been riding 5 horses a day for 4 years, thats probably the same amount of riding as ive done in he last 15 years.

I dont see a problem with someone trying to get a friend to the, i can trot properly stage without having to jump through hoops, give the guys a break! Thats why i suggested a place that would also have qualified supervision.

And, i know far too many unqualified people teaching who have only minor BHS certificates as they need teaching hours to progress, and believe me, most of them are pants!

As far as insurance is concerned, every rider mounts a horse at their own risk and you should never forget that! Every horse has the ability to buck, rear, spook, bite, kick or roll, even if has never ever done anything like that before.
 
I'm new here (random place for a first post :p), but I thought I'd throw in my thoughts.

I agree with those who have said point your coach in the direction of a proper riding school with qualified instructors if he really wants to get into riding.

I've only just started properly riding since January and to get back into it I had a woman from the yard just up the road from us to teach me the basics and she was absolutely fantastic at that and really helped me get my confidence back in the saddle after a nasty experience a few years back. I think it did help that she was teaching me on her own horse who she knew really well.
Unfortunately, now that I'm moving on from the basics and I'm on my own horse, who she doesn't know, she seems a bit more unsure. I'll still have a half an hour lesson with her every other week, but that's mostly because she's a lot of fun to be with and I can practice what my other instructor (a qualified one who I have in the weeks in between) has taught me.
I get more confidence practicing when I have someone in the arena who is able to help should anything go wrong, even if she's not qualified.

So really what I'm saying is that if you CAN find a horse to borrow (which could be harder than you'd think) it'll either have to be a complete schoolmaster or you'll have to take the time to know the horse's quirks. And then I'd suggest just teach your coach the basics and then if he take a real interest guide him in the direction of a riding school.
 
Sorry giveitago but you are living in cloud cuckoo land!

If someone provides their services as a riding instructor then they owe their client a duty of care. If they breach that duty then they could be found liable in negligence. Ad such they could be sued for many thousands of pounds.

Insurance is essential, it would be utterly irresponsible to introduce someone to a dangerous sport without suitable training and insurance.
 
giveitago said:
As far as insurance is concerned, every rider mounts a horse at their own risk and you should never forget that! Every horse has the ability to buck, rear, spook, bite, kick or roll, even if has never ever done anything like that before.
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While this may be your personal view, I think you will find the law takes a completely different approach to duty of care, negligence and liability for injury to third parties.

I don't think anyone is being nasty here. If the friend were to go to a proper riding school, fall off one of their horses and get seriously injured at least the insurance would make sure he could have the medical care and support needed. Qualifications and insurance are there to protect both instructors and clients (even if premiums are cripplingly high sometimes and health and safety requirements are restrictive).
 
School horses may look like the dregs of the equine work in a lot of cases, but they are worth their weight in gold. They are there to do a job, to teach people to ride with the minimum of fuss and as safely as possible. Most really good school horses love their job and play the riders as they see fit. So if someone wants to learn to ride then a school is the best place for them, with horses that are used to the task and a teacher with experience,insurance and facilities to match.
Although I commend the fact you'd like to help your friend and the willingness to bring someone new into our lovely hobby I do thing it would be better for him to start right. Then you can find a horse to loan and enjoy your time riding yourself.
Riding IS a risk sport, yes. But we need to keep those risks down to a minimum when we can so's not to spoil it for all of us. Regulations and guidelines are there for a reason, not just in relation to horses either.
 
The best thing the op could do to help her friend is vet some local riding schools for him, go along as moral support for his first few lessons and help him get hold of suitable kit.
 
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