Can anyone recommend a good way/place for an adult beginner to start?

[gemmafrancis]

Hi All

Can anyone recommend a good way for an adult (25) to get into riding and horses? I starting having lessons about a year ago but had a bad experience when testing out a horse for share and it knocked my confidence. Up until then I really enjoyed it. Haven't had a lesson for about six months now and want to start from scratch as though I have never ridden before.

It seems to be really hard for an adult to start out, seems so easy if you have learnt from when you were a child!

I live in Hertfordshire, close to Ware/Stevenage if anyone can recommend either someone with a horse who can teach me, or a good riding school etc. Any ideas/comments are welcome!

 

[Nailed]

Go to a riding school. You dont need to start from scratch. You need to regain confidence. tell them this. its the only way you will get over this. I ocme across as very confident but bac in 2002 I had a period where i was TERRRIFIED to ride, and understand. But going back to being on the lead rein wont help.

Lou x

 

[Natch]

Another vote for riding school, and let them know if you are interested in learning about horse care and the bits out of the saddle too: many may let you help out before/after your ride to learn more.

 

[Dubsie]

I've just got back on after 25 years (as my daughter rides a lot), and I'd second go to a riding school. I'd also visit more than one as your confidence has been knocked, and see if you can talk to the instructors, meet some horses and watch some lessons, then go with the one you think will suit you best. No point going with someone you don't get on with/style of teaching isn't compatible to your way of learning/ horses you don't particularly like the look of.
I'd also agree helping out with horses will make you more confident with them overall, which in turn will make it easier for you in the saddle.
As you've already some riding skills, I'd suggest perhaps gentle walk/trot off road hacking to start with on a nice kind sort of horse is a good way to get back into it without too much pressure, and much easier and more fun than going round and round a school, the scenery will be more relaxing too - that's what I found anyway was more nervous/worried in the school than out on the track.

 

[Bens_Mum]

I used to live in Herts years ago and I learned at Contessa http://www.contessa-riding.co.uk/ they were very professional and doesn't look like alot has changed. Some of the ponies I rode 17 years ago are still on their site. Why not give them a ring?

 

[hollykb]

I would second Dubsie on go to a few schools and watch some lessons. I have been riding for years but stopped having lessons when I was 16 and had just been hacking. I wanted to start doing a few local shows so thought I should have some lessons to avoid looking incompetent at the show! I signed up for private lessons at a school that was recommended by a friend but couldn't get the instructor she suggested. The one I had was a real slave driver! She gave me a million things to think about at once and just shouted at me if I got it wrong! 'Heels down! Hands up! Sit up!' as I bounced round at a rather fast trot coz if I slowed down I got 'Keep going forward!' I'm not particularly fit and I was knackered after 10 minutes but too embarassed to say. Got off at the end feeling like my legs would never carry me again and like my whole life of riding had taught me nothing! After recovering and some reassurance from friends I realised the instructor wasn't for me, went back for a lesson with the recommended one and she was great. Understood my lack of fitness, talked to me about what I struggled with and we did one or two things each lesson. Anyway, back to the point, if confidence is a problem then be careful choosing your instructor, it will make all the difference

 

[justjoules]

Another vote for a riding school. Am in Letchworth and have ridden at Courtlands in Todds Green and Chibley Farm in Shillington. There is also a riding school at Hooks (oaks) cross in Welwyn area.

 

[gemmafrancis]

Thanks for the tips everyone, I've found them really helpful! I have to say that I also found that the instructors weren't really for me when I was learning before and I thought it was just me but glad that other people have had similar thoughts. The one I learnt with first was good and I felt I got off to a good start and felt really confident but he talked way too much about everything other than riding and I felt I wasn't getting the most out of my £35 half hour lesson! The second one made me so nervous because she was really jumpy and would screech if one horse got too close to another in a group lesson which in turn would make everyone else jumpy, which of course goes down the rein! I spoke to a nice lady from Hooks Cross near Ware/Stevenage yesterday so I think I will go there and watch a couple of lessons and see what I think. I did think about Contessa but they don't offer hacking. I still haven't been on a proper hack, the first one I went on was when my confidence got destroyed so I need to get past this! It's so hard when you feel like people are constantly laughing at the way you ride or making comments, it does nothing for the self esteem!