How many riders is too many in a school?

[cantharella]

I need your opinion.

I’ve been having private lessons at a local riding school for over 2 years, can walk/trot/canter, jump small cross poles. My school is rather large and busy, very focused on Pony Club and children parties etc., which is of course understandable. However, this means that most of the time I end up having my so-called private lessons in an arena filled with other riders. Take last week for example: in a 60x20 area one half was taken by a kids group lesson (8 riders), on the other half I had my 'private' lessons, sharing the space with 3 other private lessons, kids of different abilities, one was a 4 year old on lead rein. This is pretty much standard situation, I’ve had some better lessons, but I also had worse.

My question is - is this normal? Is it okay to cram so many riders into the school? I feel rather stressed riding in such chaos, can’t ride properly constantly looking out for other riders. I personally think it’s dangerous, but my instructors seem to think I should just suck it up. It is so chaotic, especially with a few private lessons sharing the space, because there’s no coordination between the riders, people change the rein constantly, you never know which direction they are going to go, instructors walking around without looking. Being an adult and on the biggest horse I feel I should be extra careful and watch out for the little ones, which means I end up not getting much out of my lesson. I used to be able to come during the week when it wasn’t so busy, but have started a new job recently and can only do weekends now. Recently my lessons feel like I wasted time & money. I really want to get better at riding but it’s hard to do any riding in a crowded area, with riders of different ages and abilities going in every direction. I know horse riding is a high risk sport, but I feel my riding school has a very lax approach to safety. I often wonder why the parents of those small children are not concerned seeing an adult on a 600kg animal cantering around their little ones.

What do you think - am I just being an entitled Karen? I’m not expecting a whole place to myself, but I feel a private lesson should be a bit better. I was thinking about finding a new school, but maybe it’s the same everywhere. I’m not too into horsey world, so don’t really know what’s normal.

 

[Gloi]

I'd be looking for somewhere else. The parents of the children likely have no idea of the dangers.
Good practice for when you have to ride in a warm up arena though

 

[Burnttoast]

It would depend on horses, riders and space. In your situation I would not be happy though - the activities and participants you describe in the same smallish space doesn't seem reasonable for various reasons, inc safety, value for money, learning experience. I used to have private lessons in an 18x30m school and there would often be one or two other riders in there but they were professionals and were expected to keep out of the way (and they had the ability to do so). When I started working at the same yard I was in turn expected to give way to clients.

 

[Skib]

My first year lessons were like that. I was 61. One of the mothers there with a small beginner child happened to be a colleague of our daughter's and she told our daughter that she didnt like the way I was being treated. I moved riding schools and then moved once more.

 

[ester]

I can't actually envision having 8 ponies in a 30x20 area. They must form a complete circle.

 

[Lady Jane]

I'd look for soewhere else. May I ask what they charge?

 

[cantharella]

I'd look for soewhere else. May I ask what they charge?

It’s £50 for 45 minutes.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

No that's not normal everywhere. It's not a guarantee of course but I've had private lessons across a range of riding schools and the vast majority of the time I have had arena to myself. Maybe one other horse occasionally. Certainly not a group lesson. And absolutely not a group lesson plus other private lessons! I would struggle to hear and concentrate. Not a great set up for learning (or enjoyment actually).

 

[Kunoichi73]

I do private and group lessons at my RS. If it's a private lesson, I might share the school with another private or a semi private lesson but the school would be divided in half so the lessons wouldn't mix. If it's a group lesson, then there are no other lessons in the school at the same time.

 

[tristars]

Can't see how you.can relax enough to ride properly, and ride forwards how you need to while focusing .

 

[HopOnTrot]

I was really frustrated when I paid for a private lesson and one other horse was in there.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I wouldn't mind having the school split in half with my private lesson on one side and a private or group on the other, assuming it was a 60x30, but your situation sounds nuts and I'd be really aggreived. I don't know how you can hear/focus let alone try and keep others safe. There is making money out of prime slots, which is why I wouldn't mind the above, but this is taking the P big time.

 

[Red-1]

I used to have lessons with Jane Bartle-Wilson at her base. I was somewhat surprised to be sharing the dressage arena with sheep, another lesson with Christopher Bartle taking it, someone else using the arena as a schooling area, a show jumping lesson next door and then someone doing a XC practice jumped into the arena down some steps and out again. There were many other people using the SJ and XC areas in the same field.

It was many years ago and £93 a lesson.

However, it was great to keep focus and get my horse to concentrate on me. I ended up enjoying the experience.

Your arena sounds very much more cramped than even that! No, I think I would tell the centre that you are not enjoying the experience. Maybe there is a less busy time of day you could have a lesson? Or, I would go elsewhere.

 

[Breather]

That's a crowed arena!
Is it a BHS approved RS?

 

[cantharella]

That's a crowed arena!
Is it a BHS approved RS?

Yes, it is BHS approved Seems like I might need to find a better school.

 

[Breather]

I would inform the BHS of your experiences if I were you. What you've described is seriously poor practice.

 

[Goldenstar]

No that’s not acceptable
You could have three private lessons going in a school of that size and perhaps a couple of horses being worked by riders .
But that’s for riders at a good standard .

 

[KatieDM]

No, I’d be disappointed and frustrated about that, especially at the price you’re paying. Sharing with another lesson with a large arena split in half - MAYBE acceptable sometimes. But you’re paying for a private lesson.

 

[Parrotperson]

if you're having a private lesson it should be just that. If the arena is split in two and you have enough space fair enough but for there to be other riders in your half is a nonsense. You should ask for a discount if this carries on. Your "private" lesson should be discounted by the amount of other lessons going on in your half. Find somewhere else and make sure it you get what you're paying for.

(PS YOu're not in Gloucestershire by any chance? )

 

[Fire sign]

No I wouldn’t expect that many lessons going on at the same time and would look for a better riding school … ideally one with more than one arena so that they don’t have to cram everyone in together … I would say though when I was having a private 45 minute lesson at a BHS approved centre it was £81 … so a bit more than you are currently paying and a large indoor school all to myself

 

[Bobthecob15]

I know a few of the professional riders often have other horses in the arena when people are having private lessons, considering they are charging over £80 an hour that would really get on my nerves if it was me!!

Where in the country are you? Perhaps we can help suggest somewhere else?

That does sound ridiculous I certainly wouldn’t entertain that!! I’m also amazed the kids parents are ok with that too, sounds like the riding school are putting profit over safety!

 

[cantharella]

Thank you all for your input. I didn’t even realise I was such a muppet for putting up with this

I might as well name & shame, the school in question is Mount Mascal in Bexley (London).

 

[Surbie]

That is way too many in a school, plus instructors and people leading. I'm surprised that passes on a risk assessment/H&S grounds, let alone you being able to make any kind of progress with your riding.

I'm not near your area, but I would be surprised if there weren't better options.

 

[Londonkatt]

Ha I rode at mount mascal a few times about 20 years ago - sounds like it hadn’t changed a bit!

 

[meggymoo]

Wow! I wouldn’t be putting up with that. When I last had lessons, which admittedly must be 10 years ago now, it was £20 for a 30 minute private lesson. No one else could use the arena during that time, just the one person having the lesson. I don’t know how much group lessons were but it was a max of 6 pupils. When there were no lessons and YO was not using it herself, we were all free to use the arena as we wished, but again, max of 6. That was never comfortable as there was always one who charged round and round at full tilt, regardless of anyone else, hence me always getting up at the crack of sparrowfart to make sure I had the arena to myself. Iirc yo used to say something about invalidating insurance if there were more.

 

[Breather]

Thank you all for your input. I didn’t even realise I was such a muppet for putting up with this

I might as well name & shame, the school in question is Mount Mascal in Bexley (London).

Good on you for naming them.

 

[Debsflo1]

No that's not normal or safe.

 

[eggs]

For me a private lesson means that I am the only person the instructor is teaching at that time not that I am the only person in the school. However having said that what you are describing sounds chaotic and not conducive to being able to learn if not actually dangerous.

 

[Titchy Pony]

For a 60x20 school I would expect :

• No more than 8 riders at a competition warm up (SJ or dressage)
• Up to 10 - 12 in a drill ride type lesson (so everyone moving in same direction or in sync)
• possibly divide arena in two with either a private lesson on each side or a group lesson of no more than 6 (small!) horses a side
• depending on number of riders in the school, another independent rider (staff or livery) riding in the school wouldn't bother me

Basically, a grand maximum of 12 horses if all under the control of one person on the ground, no more than two people giving instructions to their group or individual lesson in separate spaces, and possibly an extra rider or two not in the lesson on a well behaved horse and giving way to the lesson riders.

The set up you describe, OP, is a recipe for disaster and no one can learn in those conditions.