Frequency of lessons for novice horse owner and price of instruction on RS horse vs with same instructor on own horse kept at RS

[jkitten]

Once someone has attained a 'competent novice' standard of riding, i.e. can walk, trot, canter, pop small jumps and deal with minor upsets like spooks reasonably reliably, but is still far from an experienced rider, how often should they still be having lessons? Once a week? More? Less?

Would you expect a different pricing structure for lessons on riding school horse vs own horse, when it's the same instructor and facilities being used? The horse would be kept on livery at the yard which also houses the riding school (the riding school and livery yard are separate legal entities, but with the same owner, facilities, yard management, groom etc). Would it matter if horse was on working livery, as opposed to part livery? And if so, would the owner lessons with the riding school instructor come out of the hours the horse is contracted to the RS?

Sorry for the multiple edits, kept thinking of things!

 

[mini_b]

I still think weekly lessons no matter your skill level (if you can afford them then definitely!)
I’ll maybe have 2 lessons in a week to work on something that my horse and I find difficult then I feel more competent to be rehearsing with him in my own.

basically as many lessons as you can reasonably afford if you want to improve.

where I used to have lessons many moons ago, there was a reduction if you rode your own horse. I can’t remember but it wasn’t a huge amount.

if your horse was on working livery, I would expect to have lessons out of contracted hours unless there was a particularly quiet time that you could sort by prior arrangement.

If on part livery, you should be able to schedule a lesson that suits you just as a RS client would, just whatever fits around you and your instructor.

 

[wren123]

I'd expect to pay less for lessons on my own horse.
Ideally I'd say lessons once a week but fortnightly would be fine if no problems.
I wouldn't want my horse on working livery. With regard to lessons coming out of owners allocation of time with horse, I suppose it depends if you're paying full whack it shouldn't come out of your riding time, but if you're paying reduced rate then it should come out of your time.
But this should all be made clear when you enter into this arrangement and you either agree or not.

 

[jkitten]

Thank you both!

Re working livery, I must admit it's not my favourite part of the scenario, but it's a (very) small RS and both instructors are extremely competent and focussed on good/safe/kind horsemanship above all else. I'm currently taking lessons there on a working livery horse, he is a lovely little chap and my instructor spent time telling me about his personality and how he needs to be ridden due to a physical oddity he has.

Basically it's something I need to think about carefully and discuss very clear rules with the owner, but I do think it could work.

 

[Winters100]

I cannot comment on the cost, but I think the frequency of the lessons depend upon what you want to achieve and what horse you have purchased.

If you just want to hack and potter around the school, and you have bought a horse that is a good fit for your existing skills, then lessons can be whatever frequency suits you. If you want to improve then they need to be more often. I don't personally find that a lesson once a week does anything for me. I prefer to ride alone and, when I have the time and the inclination, to do a month or so with much more intensive training 5 to 6 times a week.

If you are a first time buyer do be careful to know exactly what you are buying, and to know exactly what the agreement is regarding livery.

Good luck!

 

[Vodkagirly]

I wish all first time buyers would budget for weekly lessons. When I was on a large livery yard i saw so many problems that regular lessons would of avoided but instead they built up in to big issues. I'm sure in most cases horse and rider would of been happier if they had invested in lessons not pretty saddlecloths in the long run

 

[Red-1]

If the horse was already on working livery or in the riding school when you bought, then I would be happy to continue this through the winter for sure. That way his routine would be kept up while you settle into horse ownership. If t is a new horse, then it could still work, but I would only do it until spring when you will be better acquainted with the horse and likely to do more. I wouldn't buy one NEEDING the working livery though, as it may not work out for a new horse.

It sounds like you trust the yard and instructors, but I would still go in with a critical eye to make sure you don't end up funding them with no benefit. It could well work well if they are good, the horse gets to settle in whilst on a regular workload, you have help as you settle into ownership.

I would be careful of the arrangement though, tie it all in, in writing, as to hours, who can ride, max effort n a day, jumping, who pays insurance, vets fees, etc etc. There is a riding school somewhere that has an awfully prohibitive arrangement. The owners can't take the horse off the yard for anything other than a brief hack. You may wish to do RC or similar, go to came etc. So make sure you aren't tied in.

I guess a lot depends on your financial situation. Lessons weekly would be great to start, but isn't what most people do. I think the cost could be the same, as you will likely be on a private lesson, exclusive use of the school, plus the instructor will probably have to be sharper as they won't know the horse.

Good luck!!!

 

[ycbm]

Would it matter if horse was on working livery, as opposed to part livery? And if so, would the owner lessons with the riding school instructor come out of the hours the horse is contracted to the RS?

If you ride your own horse in a lesson in a riding school I would expect a price reduction.

If the horse is on working livery at the riding school, and they are contracted to have it for, say, ten hours a week and your lesson is one of those ten hours, then I would not expect a price reduction.

If your lesson is an eleventh hour, then I would expect a price reduction.

 

[Goldenstar]

If you ride your own horse in a lesson in a riding school I would expect a price reduction.

If the horse is on working livery at the riding school, and they are contracted to have it for, say, ten hours a week and your lesson is one of those ten hours, then I would not expect a price reduction.

If your lesson is an eleventh hour, then I would expect a price reduction.

When I was on a training yard with working livery’s the working livery’s got one lesson a week FOC and if they rode again they paid the full price for that lesson .
the horse where used three hours a day six days a week .

 

[mossycup]

I have at least 6 lessons a month - 4 group and 2 private. I can't comment on working livery but as many lessons as you can afford is the best idea

 

[Gingerwitch]

I have been stabbed at a couple of places that had working livery and they did the horses no favours at all. Owners believed that needy did 1x jump, 5 x flat school intermediate 10 x pole advanced and 3 x 2 hour hacks a week...It was more like 10x jump, 6 x 2 hour hacks and used on everything from beginners to advanced. Horse was never ridden by owner as she would come up and he was shattered, she lasted 2 months and found he had been left with a saddle (not his) on when he was on a day off. I learnt quite a few swear words that day. I also got given the heads up that just because your horse was private it did not mean they would not just borrow him or her. So at a suggestion I arrived at the local gallops to find Gingerwitch leading the charge so to speak ... yard owner was livid as I was supposed to be working on secondment in Estonia,but had flew in for a friends wedding. We moved the next day.