Going back to a riding school?

Hazkirbo

Hazkirbo

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Has anyone gone back to a riding school for some lessons even though you own your own horse?
My horse is very green (not got any of the basics at 9) so all my riding is focused on improving him. Whilst teaching him I feel like my own riding has slipped and I didn't know if it'd be worth having few lessons at a RS to work on myself, without the worry of 'oh no my horse has fallen out, come off the contact, not bending'. I'm just so focused on correcting him I don't feel I'm riding 'properly'. Has anyone done this? If so did you think it helped?
 
I tried this a while ago when I felt like I wasn't riding great but didn't have an appropriate horse for a rider only focused lesson. For me a RS, or maybe just the one I chose, didn't work. The horses just took too much to get going properly and it just didn't work out as to what I wanted. If I was to want the same kind of thing again I'd try and find someone who does lessons on a top school matter or similar.
 
Yes, when I wanted to do my BHSII I went to a couple of training centres/riding schools even though I had my own horses and worked training youngsters. I needed to brush up on correctly motivating the wily old type.


At Snainton in Scarborough, however, I found that some of their riding school horses included Charlotte's old dressage horses, and an intermediate eventer recovering from a tendon pull that was there for a year to do increasing but safe work. They were dog slow for novicey people, but when I got on and pressed the buttons I had my first clean changes, piaffe and passage and half a canter pirouette!

So, I would say to chose the centre and maybe look at training centres rather than the local riding school that is primarily aimed at kids. Although... Your local one may well have a proper schoolmaster - never know if you don't ask.
 
I am doing this this weekend! My dressage marks have slipped recently and I'm sure it's down to me riding less effectively and I have also started to tip forward. I livery at my RS so I know she has a good range of horses that will help me. Just make sure you research the centre you're using.
You could also look into a few mechanical horse sessions
 
I went back to riding school after I’d had my horse pts and moved back to Sussex. I had one lesson but clearly none of the horses were schooled and the aids I mostly heard screamed by the instructors were “kick”. I realised then that I would be learning nothing there.

However, I did love to do the long hacks in the park and on the beach on uncomplicated school horses so that’s what I did for about 6 - 8 months before buying another horse.
 
Yes every time my confidence has waned thru a nasty accident etc I’ve had a few lessons on an Uber sane riding school horse ... I tend to ride nutters so it’s nice to be reminded that there are sane horses in the world
 
Yes, me. I was going back into horses after a long break and was ridiculously nervous. I went for a couple of 1:1 sessions with a BHSI at a RS about an hour away (Berriewood). The horse had just finished an RDA session, and I though 'Ah, there's a waste of money, it'll be a plod'. He wasn't, and those sessions completely revived my nerve, my mojo and my seat.

I could do with going again. I have a horse now, and she's lovely but a bit creaky so shouldn't do too much in the school. I need a refresher on a horse which can do more than walk in straight lines, which is all my mare is supposed to be doing at the moment.

You are never too old to learn, but it must be the right RS, horse and trainer.
 
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We have a fantastic training centre near here where you can have excellent instruction on horses that will be out competing the next day, 2 miles away is the riding school where it’s rather nose to tail, you just need to research and find what you need
 
Yes, I am lucky enough to have an amazing freelance instructor who has let me have lessons on her amazingly well schooled horse while mine is on box rest. The lessons are tough, but I always feel that I've learned loads. It's great to just be able to focus on my riding and my position rather than trying to bring on a green horse at the same time. I'd say go for it, if you can find the right type of school master/mistress that is going to help you improve.
 
yes, a few times. When I got my first horse he was quite green, so I had a number of schoolmaster lessons. More recently I went to a local BHS RS to boost my confidence-there's a great instructor there who understands that sometimes I just need to be told to get on with it. They have some nice horses-horses I wouldnt necessarily choose for my self like some big Appy crosses-so its good to ride something very different. Hacking is good there as well.
 
Yes, I went to Talland and went back on the lunge as had come off when I didn't think I should have and it left a hole in my riding that I couldn't close off. They soon found the problem and put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
 
A number of years ago, I had a very nasty fall jumping six weeks before taking my stage 2. I wasn’t able to jump for about 5 weeks as I’d wrecked my back, and then a week before the exam I tried a jumping lesson on my friends horse and realised my confidence was shattered. In a panic about having to do the exam and jump unknown horses around a course, I booked a jumping lesson at the venue three days before the exam and asked them to get me over some stage 3 size fences (I decided if I was forced to jump bigger, I’d be ok over stage 2 size)
Top marks to the instructor, they arranged two horses for me in the lesson and had me jumping down a grid of stage 3 size fences by the end. I felt my old jumping confidence retun, even after I ended up sitting on one horses ears after it refused one fence rather last minute. I’ll never forget the instructor barking- “Don’t you dare even think about falling off!”- haha!

I sailed through the exam.

So yes, it can very helpful!
 
Yes I’m york/Harrogate/Leeds area (I’m 20 mins from all of them). I was looking at Harrogate riding centre but if anyone has any suggestions that’d be great!
 
Yes.
I found it to be really useful.
My main horse is straightforward however not always forward of the leg so I've had lessons on her to work on getting her responsive.
I started having lessons on other horses as I found I had no confidence on my other horse and we worked on improving the horse (useful exercises to transfer to my horse) as well as lots of work on me as a rider. My riding improved heaps.

As soon as I can afford lessons I'll be right back down there.
 
Archangel said:
Yes, I went to Talland and went back on the lunge as had come off when I didn't think I should have and it left a hole in my riding that I couldn't close off. They soon found the problem and put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
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Talland is my local too. I went there once and it was really good.
 
I do - next week I'm having a session on a mechanical horse, and there is a good yard I go to for lunge lessons to work on my position without stirrups and without having to worry that the horse is going to jump sideways if it's windy/there's a cat mousing in the bushes/something is flappy etc.
 
I got bought a voucher for 6 lessons at my request when I was backing my mare a few years ago and was having a confidence wobble. First 5 were great. Dressage schoolmaster and an instructor who really got me working. Then instructor got injured and number 6 was with someone who was very much about pulling on the mouth to get an outline so I didn't go back.

I need more, just need to find the right place whilst my mare is in rehab from her latest lameness issue.
 
blitznbobs said:
Yes every time my confidence has waned thru a nasty accident etc I’ve had a few lessons on an Uber sane riding school horse ... I tend to ride nutters so it’s nice to be reminded that there are sane horses in the world
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All th riding school horses I rode were nutters! Seriously how they put kids on some of those I don't know! One I was absolutely terrified of and would physically shake when I got on her. It was a bad riding school though
 
It very much depends on the RS. You need somewhere that trains for BHS exams or similar, so actually has horses that receive some schooling occasionally. Ask around locally.
 
Yes, I am doing now whilst between horses and having had a real confidence knock from my last horse. I chose the school carefully and went on personal recommendation. After having sessions on a mechanical horse I moved to a real horse. I have the pleasure of riding one of the best schooled horses I have ever sat on: a stunning Spanish horse, and I have learnt more riding him this month than I have done for years. He comes with an exceptionally sympathetic and patient instructor. Easily one of the best decisions ever made.
 
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