horse owners and lessons! and the importance of a good instructor!

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showpony

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Interested in other peoples thoughts. Now this is aimed at novice riders! Why the heck do people think that once they own a horse they no longer need lessons? Know of a good few people with this mentality and it makes no sence to me! I've a youngster and yes I can ride BUT I've doubled lessons to ensure we are on the right track! Also am lucky to have a fab instructor whom doesn't sugarcoat things and got a lovely text from her earlier re my hard work and determination out of the blue, she wants me to succeed but is tough with me which is what I need! Too many novice riders these days thinking " tally ho off we go" and don't think they have anything to learn once they buy a horse!
 
I suppose it completely depends on what your aims are.

Presuming you're at the stage to carry on happily on your own doing the level you're capable of, then no reason why you have to keep on having lessons, if you all want is fun on your horse at home doing what you're capable of.

If you have goals, or want to keep fine tuned to never pick up bad habits, then obviously, keep at lessons to get where you want to go.

I know plenty of people who happy hack and school just fine, maybe do the odd fun ride or local show for a day out with their horse...there's no 'essential' need' for lessons as such really.

However, equally know people who have things they want to strive for, or certain level they want to achieve, to which lessons are more important in that case.

I'm not saying you stop learning, far from it as even the top have lessons, but it's just your priorities and aims really. :)
 
Maybe some people don't want endless lessons in the school going round in circles and just want to go out hacking and enjoy their horse! ...maybe the horse enjoys this more too!

Just a thought.
 
i can understand not wanting to have lesson every week... but i agree with showp..we all pick up bad habits, what ever stage we are at and this can have serious implications on the way of going of our horse even if you just go hacking. does a 'novice' (depending on what we mean by novice) rider truly understand the way of going of the horse...or even how to care for it?
its a bit like owning a car (i think..with a little more care involved). as a first time car owner you wouldnt just buy a car and take it on the road....you have lessons to learn how to drive! so why buy a horse and just expect to know how to ride it...or even care for this horse...without instruction?
 
It depends what you mean by novice. Could mean someone who has only had lessons at a riding school and doesn't really know or understand horses, in which case i agree, or it could mean a pleasure rider who has no desire to compete or improve.

As long as the horse is well looked after and happy/healthy does it matter?
 
I don't think of myself as a novice rider, but I still get an instructor in every few weeks to keep myself from allowing the worst of my bad habits to gain a foothold.

Perhaps some people don't realise that when you have left the riding school and bought your own there are those kind of options to becoming a better rider?
 
I agree with ChristmasSparkles.

I have lessons once a week, try to have a lesson with my instructor on one of her horses at least once a month, have got her to give me lessons in things like groundwork and lunging effectively when necessary, and also got her to do a bit of schooling with my neddy when we hit the odd brick wall.

There are plenty of happy hackers on my yard who don't have the same aims as me, and if they don't want lessons (and don't need them for what they do and where they want to get to) why should they?

On the other hand again, one fellow livery is a happy hacker but has lessons to boost her confidence.

There are all sorts of reasons to have lessons, and all sorts of reasons to choose not to. It all depends what you want out of riding :)
 
Theocat said:
There are all sorts of reasons to have lessons, and all sorts of reasons to choose not to. It all depends what you want out of riding :)
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And how it affects your horse. I went to a riding club sj show last weekend, and I cannot tell you how disgusted I was with the standard of riding and treatment of the horses. I bet the horses wish the riders would spend their money on lessons rather than entry fees :(
 
I've ridden since I was five and had lessons from time to time on my ponies and horses. Now, 47 years later I've just started taking lessons again with my 6 year old welsh cob whom I have owned since a foal. I felt that I wasn't doing him justice and we had our first lesson this week, Oooh, I hurt now!!
 
My highly-competitive days are long gone now (though we still do the odd show just to amuse ourselves)

I'm the wrong side of 50 and have been riding (and had lessons) since I was a tacker.

I have lessons regularly because I think there is nothing nicer than hacking out and about on a well-schooled horse - and to do that you have to keep on top of your bad habits - and regular sessions with a good instructor is the best way to do that.
 
I think that whatever level we ride at that we owe it to our horses to do it properly. Sadly it's not what I'm experiencing. Right now I'm seeing a youngster newly backed getting totally confused about what's being asked if him and quickly undoing what little training he'd received because his owner has been riding forever and does not see the need to take lessons. :( he's the sweetest little chap too.
 
TrasaM said:
I think that whatever level we ride at that we owe it to our horses to do it properly. Sadly it's not what I'm experiencing. Right now I'm seeing a youngster newly backed getting totally confused about what's being asked if him and quickly undoing what little training he'd received because his owner has been riding forever and does not see the need to take lessons. :( he's the sweetest little chap too.
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I watched a 3 year old pony being beaten round the sj course last week and the rider being cheered for getting over (or in some cases through) all the jumps - 18 of them in total. Made me feel physically sick, and the organisers (rc) would do nothing about it.
 
Rowreach said:
I watched a 3 year old pony being beaten round the sj course last week and the rider being cheered for getting over (or in some cases through) all the jumps - 18 of them in total. Made me feel physically sick, and the organisers (rc) would do nothing about it.
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I just don't understand why anyone thinks that this type of behaviour is ok. the fact that it is sanctioned and approved of at this level is disgraceful. I don't even know why I should be surprised as I was being taught to ride like this too but refused to accept that it was right.

It's actually beginning to be a problem for me as all I can see is how the horse is being made to suffer from the ignorance and ineptitude of it's rider. And it's not as if the main culprits are total beginners. That I can forgive. But so often it is so called competent riders who should know better.

Sorry if this sounds a bit ranty..did I say that it really upsets me :) :-/
 
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