Do riders undervalue training?

[Kunoichi73]

I don’t currently train with anyone because I’m working within my comfort zone without any real expectations of my horses other than making / keeping them pleasant and balanced / supple to ride. Technically I was at a training event last weekend, but as the training was mostly about not hitting your horse in the face with a sword / looking at the javelin target when lobbing it in that general direction, I’m not counting it in this context.

That sounds really interesting. If you don't mind me asking, who was that with?

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

This is an interesting thread, people have made so many good points.

It's taken me a few years to work out I hate XC clinics. I'm fine with a group of friends just going and hiring a XC venue but something about a group lesson doesn't work for me. I need the adrenaline of a competition to get me going across a XC course. Having said that, if Lucinda was teaching nearby I'd go, or Ros or someone although I'd probably feel I wasn't good enough.

I had a zoom lesson with Jonty in lockdown. It was great fun and something to look forward to when everything else was shite. I hope you get to have your lesson.

 

[JFTDWS]

That sounds really interesting. If you don't mind me asking, who was that with?

Friends! Or, to put it more accurately, I’m part of a living history group who sometimes get together and engage in cavalry activities / skill at arms games.

 

[Kunoichi73]

Awesome. Sounds like great fun!

 

[BronsonNutter]

In the spirit of this thread I have booked to have a dressage lesson with an olympian tomorrow, on a small fat connemara...

I've never been a big fan of group clinics with previous horses as they have generally been a bit mentally difficult to 'get' in one session (used to take little TB to one 5* eventers clinics, but only as a private lesson, and only ever as first one of the day because said rider said he was 'too complex to teach after lunch'!) but this little guy is much more straightforward so can possibly do a bit more group-wise and still be worthwhile

 

[Caol Ila]

I'm more paranoid than ever about inflicting people on my horses, or myself. I had a terrible experience with a classical dressage instructor, which I have written about on here. But horse issues aside, I struggle with any trainer that gives you a barrage of things to fix with your position, all at once. I can only process so much information. If you are telling me, "Ride a 10m circle, then a figure of 8, then leg yield, sit up, put your left leg more forward, sit on your right seatbone, turn your toe out, bend him more, he's on his forehand, more bend!" Then my answer is, "Gaaaaaah!!"

I found another trainer who I think suits me much better. She gives instructions/corrections in manageable bites and understands the horse, to boot. I've had her out for two lessons with Hermosa. She is fairly local so can come on ad hoc timing, when I feel like we need eyes on the ground with something, rather than a regular thing. Hermosa can filter out the trainers I do want from the ones I don't want because she is only trained to the bosal at the minute. I'm not necessarily looking for an expert on that piece of equipment (though that would be nice), but someone who is open minded enough to work with it.

I've sent Joe Midgley a cheeky email today, asking if he can enfold a Glasgow visit on one of his trips to Scotland. Getting to Kinross for a two day clinic is basically impossible logistically, but if he can pop by my yard, I could get a few people together. I'm sure I saw a photo of him somewhere riding in a bosal.

 

[humblepie]

I think a major thing is to have the confidence to say no I don’t want to do that even to a well known trainer if you feel it isn’t for you or your horse.

 

[toppedoff]

I don’t currently train with anyone because I’m working within my comfort zone without any real expectations of my horses other than making / keeping them pleasant and balanced / supple to ride. Technically I was at a training event last weekend, but as the training was mostly about not hitting your horse in the face with a sword / looking at the javelin target when lobbing it in that general direction, I’m not counting it in this context. I’m fairly selective about who I go to for actual horse training - I’d rather not train than use someone I’m not sure of.

In the past, I’ve had some very good one off lessons with 5* / GP / classical riders, and others which were a waste of time and effort. They’re always more of a risk than more training with your regular coach. From what I’ve seen on social media, Jonty does a lot of clinics in that general area, so he doesn’t have the novelty value of a visiting coach from abroad or a trainer who rarely runs open clinics.

I’ve also paid to spectate at a lot of clinics (classical dressage mostly) and ridden in front of an audience at a few. I’m not someone who is very comfortable riding in front of people but I accepted it as part and parcel of getting the coaching I wanted at that time, and it was a good thing to have done. It’s something I’d like to see more of in the UK - I think it would help to raise standards and reduce some of the lazy / careless coaching that sometimes happens in the privacy of a one-on-one / small group setting.

how much did you pay to spectate? was it reduced or same as for a ridden client?

 

[Ample Prosecco]

. Hermosa can filter out the trainers I do want from the ones I don't want because she is only trained to the bosal at the minute. I'm not necessarily looking for an expert on that piece of equipment (though that would be nice), but someone who is open minded enough to work with it.

I've sent Joe Midgley a cheeky email today, asking if he can enfold a Glasgow visit on one of his trips to Scotland. Getting to Kinross for a two day clinic is basically impossible logistically, but if he can pop by my yard, I could get a few people together. I'm sure I saw a photo of him somewhere riding in a bosal.

Joe usually starts horses in a snaffle then moves to a hackamore (Western hackamore, with a bosal, not mechanical one). Remy - of the 'Baby to Bridlehorse' series, skipped the snaffle because of a problem with his tongue. So yes, Joe rides his main horse in a bosal.

 

[Carrottom]

I did a Tik Maynard camp a few years ago and there were paying spectators. As far as I recall, no real issue was made of it. I am not aware that any of the riders were bothered by it. I think spectators found it very interesting/useful. The US based trainers coming over here for clinics always have paying spectators. Brannaman spent more time explaining things to spectators than he did talking to riders! On the other hand, Joe Midgley comes to our yard every few weeks for 1:1 lessons. A few people have asked the riders if they are happy to be watched and they generally say no. Which is a real shame as everyone brings him a different issue, so you see such a range when you watch. So maybe the key is - don't ask! Just make it clear on booking that there are spectators. So riders don't overthink it.

Maybe having paying spectators could reduce the cost to the riders. That might make it more acceptable.

 

[JFTDWS]

how much did you pay to spectate? was it reduced or same as for a ridden client?

Given that open ridden spaces with some of those trainers ran up to around £200 per hour, it’s highly unlikely people would pay that for spectator spaces. Spectators usually paid something in the £20-40 bracket. This was a number of years ago though.

 

[Caol Ila]

Joe usually starts horses in a snaffle then moves to a hackamore (Western hackamore, with a bosal, not mechanical one). Remy - of the 'Baby to Bridlehorse' series, skipped the snaffle because of a problem with his tongue. So yes, Joe rides his main horse in a bosal.

I knew I wasn’t crazy thinking I’d seen a photo of him riding in one. Would be sweet if I could get him to the yard. Not many people in the UK know their way around the hackamore.

Hermosa is going really well in it.