Back on the saddle, do I stick with lessons?!

[Sarah-C86]

Good afternoon, I am asking for some advice/general guidance on riding.

I am 39, grew up riding and always owned horses, but when I left home to go to uni I stopped…for 20 years. I have just started again and it’s so wonderful to be back in the saddle. However… riding stables have their uses, but how far can I realistically go doing ground work for 2 hours a month (at £50 a go it’s a lot). The horses I ride are lovely and have been schooled well, but I never feel like I’m achieving much.

I can’t commit to a loan, and I can’t keep booking lessons really…it just doesn’t seem sustainable. The stables I ride at do offer part time loans, and I could look into these, but I wondered what people do in this situation? I often look through Preloved to see if someone needs some additional help with their horse but it seems risky?

Any advice?!

 

[mariew]

Lots of people are struggling at the moment so you may well find a share to hack out form the cost of shoes. Especially if you can help with chores and be relatively reliable

 

[Cloball]

You just have to get stuck in the part loan/ shares. There are plenty out there and you will meet some lovely people and horses but you have to make sure you are comfortable with the horse and the set up and be prepared to politely decline. Be absolutely honest with your abilities.

 

[smolmaus]

Risk is involved I suppose, you don't know the horse is sane or the person is sane. Taking on a RS loan is likely safer, more structured.

If the issue is that you don't feel like you're achieving anything, this might be more a question of expectations and something to discuss with your instructor. A loan will have you doing more care and maybe more riding in terms of hours but your riding won't necessarily progress without still doing lessons on the loan horse. You may even go a bit backwards if you end up with a loan horse that isn't so nicely schooled as those you've been riding.