Duration of lessons?

alsxx

alsxx

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 January 2006
Messages
3,223
Location
Moved to Devon!
Visit site
Sorry if this sounds like a daft question, but do people find its better to have shorter lessons (say half an hour) or longer ones (hour)? Just interested to hear people's opinions really...
 
Depends on what you are doing - e.g. SJ or flat, level you are working at, how much chatting you do during the lesson,
wink.gif
age/maturity/fitness of horse...

I have 1 hour lessons but it takes an hour to box to my instructor's yard, so it would be silly to do any less.

I think 45 mins is often enough for flat, but if you do a mix of flat and SJ then an hour works out quite well IMO.
smile.gif
 
I've always had hour long lessons - before at riding stables in a group and for last 5 years privately with my own horse (usually fortnightly). Depending on what we are doing or trying to learn/achieve, an hour can sometimes feel like a long time if quite full on as if hard work I tire before the horse does but sometimes when we're on a roll and all going well it just flies by.
 
I prefer a longer private lesson, though I'm definitely knackered afterwards!

It takes a while to warm mine up so I do this before the lesson if I can, then we have plenty to practice, hence longer lessons
 
I'm just trying to work out what would be best for us, have an hour booked on saturday but she doesn't do any less. Used to find I got a lot out of my lessons with her on my other horse (she's a BE accredited trainer and fab, plus I would like to eventually go BE), but I'm just conscious about over-doing it with my new one, plus he's not hugely fit and I think he will find it hard work (not to mention me!). Will be just flatwork.

I'm going to also try out another instructor who does 30 min sessions, wondering about maybe doing 1 hour once a month, with 2 half hour sessions if it works out with this other instructor.
 
Mmmmmm that's a good question, i've just booked a lesson (first with new neddy, I've had him 3 months
crazy.gif
), I don't think it would be worth her while coming out to me for half an hour.
I think the more you progress, the longer lessons are more beneficial.
I am wondering what my legs are going to feel like after an hour though, I've only really done hacking and light schooling on him.
frown.gif

I might keep her talking for half an hour before i get on
grin.gif
 
I try to be ready 15 mins early so I can warm up a little on my own before we start, then 45 mins is usually plenty (for me if not for him!). Occasionally have an hour but don't seem to achieve any more (this is flatwork by the way)!
 
When I had lessons they were booked for a hour if I got good work sometimes cut short because she'd worked so well but if she was a horror bag we'd go over till we got a good point to finish on..SJ one to one would only do about 40 mins give or take above comment again
smile.gif
 
SJ lessons always used to book for an hour, if pony was behaving could be over in 20 minutes.
HOWEVER on one memorable afternoon was out there for 2 hours on mine, still couldn't get it right so was told to put it in a stable after washing off (thinking phew finished at this point), only to find trainer had tacked up one of his for me to get on for another hour or so, then back on my pony til I got it right... I think that was a personal record and it ended up being a 4 and a 1/2 hour lesson.... but we got it right in the end!
So for me private one-to-one's are as long as necessary - always want to finish on a good note whenever that's reached
grin.gif
 
Can you not share a lesson with one other person? at the school where my son keeps Penny you can have 30 min private, 45 min semi private i e 2 or 3 riders of similar abilities or a 1 hour group of 4 or more riders( normaly about 6) It makes it more enjoyable to watch how others ride and my 11yr old son often picks up free tips and ideas from watching while he waits his turn, Granted Penny is a dream to ride even though she is a chestnut TB!!!!!
 
Tell the instructor that your horse is not very fit, then she should give him more rests between the more intense work. If he gets tired tell her and if you feel he has done enough stop before he gets to the point where he can't finish on a good note even if it is less than an hour - dressage for this amount of time is hard on the muscles for a horse that is not conditioned for it, just like overdoing it in the gym!
 
if the instructors not far from you and it wont cost a fortune to get to you for her i cant see why she wouldnt do half an hour if you explained about your horse and just to start with. Most instructors do half hour assesments to start and really she should be to assess you both
 
I book an hour of my instructor's time. We tend to chat as I warm up about what we've been doing since the last lesson and what issues we've had, this helps her to plan the lesson.

We then work for about 45 mins and then have a de-brief as we walk to cool off. We use this time to chat about the lesson and plan my schooling sessions and what I can do on my own to work through any problems we've encountered and what we need to work on. She gives me exercises and a schooling plan. We then have a good horse gossip and catch up!

She's been teaching me for a few years now through various horses and this is what works for us.
 
I have 45 min on my 5 yr old. He ends to start to get bored and starts to be naughty if any longer. We try to mix flat work pole work and staff to keep him interested -he has got an attention prob tho!!
 
I like having an hour long one - plenty of time to warm up, and means you've more time to chat while you ride, which is a good time to get tips for your own schooling time and general horse advice from the instructor.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top