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gemmafrancis

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17 July 2009
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Anyone willing to teach me? I want to get in to horses but I have no idea how to get used to being around them and learn all there is to know if I have no one to teach me. All the riding schools only have this kind of thing for kids and I'm 25! I have tried asking! I live near Ware in Hertfordshire if anyone can help! Thought I'd be cheeky and ask! Have done a few lessons in the past but not really got past beginners canter. Starting back at private lessons next month, had a bit of a confidence knock but really wanting to get back into it now! Just need to build my confidence up around horses :-) x
 
Hello and welcome
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Do you have transport? Can you get to local riding club shows and just get the feel of the horsey environment?
 
Yep I drive but you know when you just feel a bit out of place? I am a non-riding member of Foresters Riding Club but haven't yet had the opportunity to do anything. I need to be a bit more "hands on" e.g. jobs around the yard etc. I sometimes help my friend muck out her horse etc but he's quite a feisty youngster so can't really do much without her, plus I am a bit nervous round horses at the moment. My other friend has a horse but she's fiercly protective over him and I feel like she thinks I won't do it properly.
 
I had the same problem for my daughter who is 14, she didn't want to learn lead rein with loads of 5 yr old children. I would of taught her but i am not an instructor and felt it best she learn from a proffesional, at least the fundamentals. She is having to have private lessons. Once a fortnight that way it doesn't work out too expensive.
 
Can you not ask the riding school if on one of there quiter days you can be shown the basics, e.g grooming, tacking up, mucking out etc maybe an hour or so and come to an agreement over a price. I have no idea if they would do it but it's gotta be worth asking? Then you can offer to help out with jobs around the yard, get chatting to the older liveries etc if any at the yard.
 
One of my friends who has not ridden for a long time has picked it up again. She's learning in SW London which I know isn't where you are, but she's gone to a place where they have a mechanical horse and that has really helped her. Now personally, until she told me about it, I would have laughed about all this as she isn't allowed to ride the real thing until she could do the right thing on the machine. BUT she's regained her position etc without jabbing some poor riding school horse in the mouth etc so maybe that's a good thing. Anyway, worth a try if you can find somewhere in your local area that does something similar. Good luck!!
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How about finding a riding school that does BHS stage 1 training? I did it last year in East London and it takes you through all the basics. It was a 12 week course on Tuesday evenings and you could do either the riding or the care, or both. They were obviously keen for everyone to pass so would let you go and help out around the yard. It's a good way to get to know people too, I've made quite a few new horsey friends!

I know Trent Park in North London (Herts border I think) does it. Here's the info on the BHS site, obviously you can just do a course without the exam too
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http://www.bhs.org.uk/content/Ods-More.asp?id=1800&pg=Education&spg=Information&area=2
 
If you can make it over to Stansted airport you can play with mine, I have a horse and two ponies all very well mannered (well, usually!). Pm me if thats any help.
Also Hallingbury Hall aren't too far from you and they do BHS tuition.
 
If you are a member of the Riding Club why don't you volunteer to help at their shows RC's are always in desperate need of help and that way you will get to know like minded people.
 
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