Benefits of a pro rider on a not so pro horse?

[Lilly-Mayspookatbags]

Currently considering my options of getting a freelance rider to then become instructor.

Ive got an awkward mare who has potential but needs guidance. She needs a lot of support in schooling which I can’t give her due to my fitness and experience . I’m wanting to progress but we are very much stuck at not achieving the basics.

Is it bad to pay someone to do the hard part? Or is the hard part keeping it up?

What are peoples experiences? Key thing is it will need to be a good match for me and her. Most likely once a week with me lunging and hacking the other days.

 

[sassandbells]

No a bad idea at all, in fact quite a sensible one!

I had a pro turned instructor for one of my mares that was tricky and I’d completely lost my nerve. She initially did all the riding, and then we slowly moved to a combination of her riding and giving me a lesson, and then just to me riding alone and with her giving lessons. Genuinely don’t think we would be where we are today without it!

I think the key is finding someone who has a similar ethos to you & someone who really wants to help you progress. I had to go through a few different people before I found someone I felt would really benefit me and my mare as a team, and didn’t want to just come and ride the horse and go.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I don't think there's anything wrong with recognising your limitations and doing the best for your horse.

It's normal to pay a professional to start a horse under saddle for those of us who don't have the necessary experience or competence, to do it well. Why would it be any different for later in the horse's education?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think it’s a great idea.

 

[Cherryblossom]

I’ve done exactly this. My mare was a bit anxious and shut down after an injury and I was a bit anxious having experienced her broncing when injured. Pro rides her once a week, and in the space of 6 months she’s become a confident happy horse, and she and I are out competing and having a blast. I had someone criticise me for having the pro take her to her firsts- XC schooling, SJ competition and 2 phase, but that has meant she and I are happy to crack on the next time, so why wouldn’t I? As we progress, I’m using the pro for stepping up a class and in between for schooling and sometimes just hacking, as I’m very short on time!!

 

[Red-1]

My last horse had a pro take her to some SJ shows. It was the surprising pleasure in watching her do her jumping and get better that won it for me, I loved being the owner. I would watch her jump one day then take her to dressage the next, or a clinic, or hacking or whatever. She gained every which way.

 

[millitiger]

Sounds like a great idea to me.

There will always be the people proudly commenting who paid 50p for their horse and produced it, in a bog field, with no professional help.
However I think if you can afford it and find someone whose ethos aligns with yours and understands your plans, it makes the whole process much more enjoyable for you AND your horse.

 

[Cortez]

That's what professionals are FOR.

 

[Lilly-Mayspookatbags]

No a bad idea at all, in fact quite a sensible one!

I had a pro turned instructor for one of my mares that was tricky and I’d completely lost my nerve. She initially did all the riding, and then we slowly moved to a combination of her riding and giving me a lesson, and then just to me riding alone and with her giving lessons. Genuinely don’t think we would be where we are today without it!

I think the key is finding someone who has a similar ethos to you & someone who really wants to help you progress. I had to go through a few different people before I found someone I felt would really benefit me and my mare as a team, and didn’t want to just come and ride the horse and go.

How long did the pro ride for and how often? Just trying to work out how deep my pockets need to be for how long!

 

[Dave's Mam]

I think it's great to get someone on that really knows what they're doing & can give you guidance on how to maintain the progress.
For example, I was wary of jumping Dave, as I was unsure if it was his thing, but having seen someone else jump him, I know he likes it & that gives me more confidence.
I also have my instructor ride him.

 

[SadKen]

Great idea.

My instructor rode my previous mare a few times whilst I recovered from injury. It was great to see, because my instructor worked her properly, and I saw what she could do when ridden effectively. ‘Come quick! Morpheus is fighting Neo!’.

 

[blitznbobs]

I get a pro to start my youngsters now — you dont bounce as well as you get older

 

[sassandbells]

How long did the pro ride for and how often? Just trying to work out how deep my pockets need to be for how long!

It wasn’t cheap they did 3 days a week ridden for the first 6 weeks (and 2 days groundwork for the first two weeks), then 2 days a week ridden and 1 lesson with me riding for the next six weeks, then 2 lessons a week for another 6 weeks. Now down to 1 lesson a week and a pretty sad looking bank account this was after numerous veterinary interventions and we had a lot of behaviours to undo so opted to do as much as possible and keep it consistent & I couldn’t face doing it myself!

ETA - you might not need to do as much as we did, definitely worth finding a trainer and having them assess the horse with you panicking too much about cost! My other mare was green and being schooled by a pro once a week worked wonders. Best of luck!

 

[Bernster]

Absolutely! I’ve always tended to have quite regular lessons but, when I first got Finnegan, at just turned 5yo from Ireland, he was green and needed bringing on. I got my ins to school him once a week and I had weekly lessons. It worked do well I kept it going for years because, as he and I improved, she then schooled him on to the next stage for me! She trains him in a way that works for how I ride so it works really well. I’ve kept it going with bertie as we also needed help in the early stages even though he’s older and more established. It’s every other week now so I get to practice stuff in the meantime, and because of price rises, I had to budget!

 

[Lois Lame]

Currently considering my options of getting a freelance rider to then become instructor.

Ive got an awkward mare who has potential but needs guidance. She needs a lot of support in schooling which I can’t give her due to my fitness and experience . I’m wanting to progress but we are very much stuck at not achieving the basics.

Is it bad to pay someone to do the hard part? Or is the hard part keeping it up?

What are peoples experiences? Key thing is it will need to be a good match for me and her. Most likely once a week with me lunging and hacking the other days.

I think it's a great idea.

The plan of doing things oneself is because it's a challenge, exciting, rewarding. I say this as someone who hasn't done it but always has wanted to start from scratch, preferably from something I bred. Maybe in my next lifetime.

(I must stop saying 'in my next lifetime'. People are starting to think I believe I'll get one.)

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

Fab idea!

My lad went away for 5 weeks backing with a pro, I've had him home for near on 2yrs just hacking & the odd lesson etc. He's now gone to a pro for a few weeks schooling to get the basics nailed & him working properly. I'll go for a few lessons now in his last 2 weeks.

I'm not good enough & also due to shift work, the consistency to get all that nailed down, which I'm fully aware of.

The idea being now he's had a few solid weeks of consistency so I can then pick him up ready for camp, and get going over summer.

 

[littleshetland]

Novice riders on novice horses is 'the blind leading the blind' really. Absolutely get a professional in, the horse gets a clear idea of what's expected of it, and the novice rider gets a clear idea of how to get started.

 

[maya2008]

Absolutely the right thing to do - you just need to pick a rider with the experience you need and get them to produce for your needs. For example, I have backed and produced everything my husband has ever had. I consciously make him something that can think for itself, that can look after its rider and feels confident enough in its own mind and its surroundings that it is novice suitable. He takes over when they are ready, and that’s that more or less. I bring my own on quite differently - I have different needs as a rider and often choose a different type of pony. I want mine super sensitive to the aids, I like a bit of spark, we prepare for comps and I do not need them to give me confidence.

Look carefully - ask to see what they have done before, gauge their level of knowledge and experience at producing what you need, and dealing with the quirks you would like to fix. When they are done, they should be able to hand over to you with no huge ongoing training needs beyond what someone would usually have.

 

[LEC]

I absolutely hate it when people say oh it might take you longer but you get there in the end. Why have the crashes and loss of confidence in the first place? Why not produce a happy horse who understands the questions asked? There is no shame in getting professional help. I am fairly competent but still get a tonne of professionals involved if I have hit a roadblock. I then also pick up new tools and learn in the process. Win, win.

 

[sbloom]

I would want to be massively sure that I liked their approach, their feel etc etc and there are few out there I would trust. If you can find someone then definitely not a bad idea but a horse who's difficult to school will nearly always improve with the right groundwork to help them balance and straighten, likely working on their thoracic sling and posture. So many schooling issues go back to these basics and doing this will improve your connection with your horse and your fitness (though to begin with almost static work can often be the best, relaxation and connection).