Competing without lessons???!!

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el_Snowflakes

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Hi all,

Just wondered if any of you go out competing without having lessons? I havent had a lesson in ages and have a show in a few weeks :p However, i have been reading up (mainly horsey mags!) and practicing lots!
 
It depends on the horse, and how much work you've put into it I would say. How many competitions you've done on the horse etc. and what level of competition it is, obviously if its FEI or something, I'd suggest that a lesson or two might help :p, but if it's just a local show on a horse you know like the back of your hand, I'd say you could wing it.
Sometimes we didn't have lessons through winter but still went to a few winter shows, and they used to turn out ok :) but I always knew the horse I was on :)
 
Depends what level - I regularly compete unaff sj, xc, showing, dr (prelim, occasional novices). The biggest I've done is county showing, but mostly local - though I have aspirations to bigger things with Fergs in time.

Other than one lesson at an RS to perve over an instuctor my mate thought was hot, and a jumping clinic where I got into a "disagreement" with the instructor, I've never had a lesson of any sort since I got Fergs. Before him, I think I had two (bad) dr lessons when I was 18ish, maybe 4-5 jumping lessons when I was 15ish and some lessons when I first got J at 12 :o

I really need to find a decent instructor come spring :eek:
 
its just an unaffiliated show. I have only ever jumped away from home once (& it was with my mare) and we got a second ;) dont really have money to spend on lessons so maybe we will just wing it again :)
 
I don't have time for lessons generally, other that at RC rallies once a month. I do know that when I have dressage lessons I do far better and can get placed. With sj it doesn't seem to make much difference as horse is a bit of a schoolmaster in that - he just takes me round. I guess if you want to win then lessons are necessary, if you are going for fun and experience it doesn't matter.
 
I'd rather spend my £ on lessons than competing, that way when we do get out and compete I feel we do ourselves justice! If I didn't have such a bloomin' brilliant instructor I might not feel the same though!
 
Amy567 said:
obviously if its FEI or something, I'd suggest that a lesson or two might help :p, QUOTE]

He he, this is where we probably go wrong then! Over the years I've had the very occassional SJ lesson but last year I had perhaps 3 lessons the entire year. Didnt have any flatwork ones or anything else! I'd love to get more lessons but money-wise, I'd rather spend it on competing as I can't have both! We seem to get by fine (although our dressage scores could be better!), but then I'm very lucky to have a very honest, good horse!
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I have very few lessons :o Have had 1 flatwork lesson on the 2 ponies over the 6 years I've had them, no jumping lessons. Then about 7 flat on my 5YO as he's my first horse and v different and over 3 hands bigger, and 1 jump lesson. Only really have driving lessons at clinics at most 2 times a year.
 
I no longer have lessons as i cant afford them

I think i will be able to in summer when im buying less hay!!! (almost £100 a month at the moment)!....

But im going to a dressage in march and one in april too!!

so no - i dont think you *need* lesson to go to competitions - just depends how high up the placings you want to go!!!

personally id like to be placed (placed not win)! just going out i love the buzz :)
 
Having a lesson is NEVER going to guarantee you to win at a competition no matter how good/bad you think you are! You will ride how you ride and what the horse does depends on his mood at that particular time.

Lessons are good to have if you can afford them or you need a confidence boost for you or the horse. I can't remember when I last had a lesson as it was so many years ago now, but I do compete during the summer.

Go and have fun, thats the main thing.
 
I don't think I ever have more lessons in a year than I can count on one hand, which is necessarily something to be proud of! :o

Planning on trying to have one a month this year to help in the rehab of my horse so he doesn't get PSD again. :) Not had one yet though! :D
 
And indeed, having no lessons is no guarentee you won't win or be placed. Fergs has a lovely collection of reds ;)
 
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