Help - I've never tried to teach anyone before

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Puddock

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A friend of mine who had a few lessons about thirteen years ago has expressed an interest in learning to ride again. I've explained that she needs to seek out lessons with a reputable instructor (most likely to be mine), but she wants to try to get a bit of a "feel" for it again/find out whether she still enjoys it before investing the money. My instructor also usually has a waiting list. So, fair enough, I said she could ride mine a few times before she decides.

Now, although he's a big wb, he's also 19 and perfectly safe in the school for a novice. The thing is, the poor girl doesn't seem to remember much from her previous lessons and although he's good with novices, it seems he may not be quite so good with people starting basically from scratch :o He was fine on the leadrein, but as soon as I let him off to allow her to practice walking and halting on her own, he decided to keep coming to visit me in the middle of the school. He wasn't confused - I made sure she was asking him to stay on the track correctly. I think it's partly that at his age he knows every trick in the book and will try it on in a kind of "make me" manner. He'd never do anything "bad" as such, he was just wandering around not really paying attention to her. I don't want to give her a stick or anything yet to re-inforce her leg aids, as I don't feel she's ready.

So, what should I do? Try a couple of lunge sessions with her before she has a lesson with my instructor? So that way she can just work on her seat and practice balance through transitions etc? He's good on the lunge, but I've never lunged a rider before and normally use a bridle and two lines. Never even had a lunge lesson myself :o What should my set-up be for having a rider on board?

Sorry it's so long - Haribo Tangfastics for all who got through it :D
 
Definitely the lunge lesson route!!
Sometimes people who use to ride are worse at re-training than someone who has never ridden!!

You don't have to do much on the lunge, but at least you have control of the horse, and she can practice the aids for walking, halting etc.
 
Honestly, just tell her to wait for a lesson on a horse used to beginners and the instructor, it could do more harm than good her trying to learn on a horse that is not geared up for a novice rider. What you do as a more advanced rider in terms of aids is very different to how beginners start out - for a start, they usually don't have the strength in their legs nor the weight/seat aids that more experienced riders use without even thinking about them.

And please don't lunge her - if you don't know what you are doing lunging with a rider on board, it isn't a good idea to try and learn yourself with a total novice on board. Whe instructors learn to give lunge lessons, they have experienced riders on board so if they do make a mistake, the rider has enough control and balance to not hit the deck. It also won't really help your friend learn about the aids either.
 
Thanks guys.

Emma, I see what you mean. I'm trying to avoid giving her any instruction as such, as I don't feel I'm qualified. I just wanted to let her have a pootle round on a safe horse in a safe environment to help her decide whether she wants to start lessons again (unfortunately, my instructor's great, but very expensive, and there are no decent riding schools in the area).

I've explained that she will find my boy much easier after some proper lessons on one of instructor's horses. Perhaps I'll do another session with her, keeping her on the lead rein. She was really keen after last night, so I'll maybe get her doing some groundwork with him as well.
 
Have to agree with everything Emma said. Plus, your horsey isn't getting any younger and someone banging about on his back isn't going to do him much good. Mine is about 20 now and I am quite cautious about what she does as I want her to last as long as possible.
It's not being mean but if the girl hasn't remembered very much from her lessons before, then she could hurt his, back, teeth, mouth etc.
 
Agree with the advice above re lunge lessons - they are quite tricky even if you have done it before - trying to coordinate lunge line/whip, horse, rider and talk at the same time... ;)

However,if you want to do something, can you take her out for an off road hack anywhere? Ideally with another horse so that would allow her to find her balance (and enjoy it :D) I think many people find balance the hardest thing to establish on a horse, and if the horse is trundling along - in a straightish line- at a steady pace without you having to steer/kick it on etc, it's easier to concentrate on balance.

If your horse will follow another one happily or ride/lead then that would be perfect. Otherwise I would be inclined to suggest she gets some 'proper' ;) tuition.
 
I would strongly agree with Emma. I appreciate you are trying to help your friend but the potential for someone getting hurt here can't be underestimated. There really is no other sensible option than getting some lessons. However high the cost of learning to ride one lesson is not going to break the bank and if she really cannot afford one lesson what is the long term plan anyway?
 
Thanks chestnuttymare. I wouldn't do anything to put him (or my friend) at risk. Last night we did walking and halting only and I don't expect to do any more than that with her. The lunge idea was literally just to take away any steering issues. My friend is very small and light and the one thing that I did pick up on was that she seems to have good balance and naturally light hands. I just think she's struggling a bit to remember the technical stuff. As I said, I think I will let her have another sit on keeping her on a leadrein and then let her decide.
 
Milliepops that's a good idea, I'll take her for a little walk around the yard and surrounding area on the leadrein with me on foot. He'd be fine for ride and lead, but unfortuntately there's nothing sensible enough for me to borrow to lead from!

Booboos - I've made the title of the thread rather misleading, haven't I? Sorry. I'm not intending to give my friend lessons or anything similar, just a plod round in walk, and having asked everyone here, she will stay on a leadrein. My horse is safe and unlikely to spook (although I am completely aware that there is always a risk), so I don't feel I am more likely to bring anyone to harm than in a lesson situation.

It's not that she can't afford lessons, she is simply deciding whether she wants to take up riding or not again. I get the feeling that the riding school she went to as a teenager was far from being a good one, hence her uncertainty. :(

We don't have a good riding school near us and private lessons with my instructor (who fortunately has a few lovely lesson horses), will be quite expensive. She'll also have to do things like invest in her own hat before she starts lessons, as my ri tends not to teach complete beginners(but will hopefully make an exception) these days so doesn't keep any to hand. Luckily mine fits her so she can use that when having a sit on my boy.
 
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