How much? Schooling Session Question

express_75

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Hi

Im having schooling problems with my mare & have been thinking about selling her & getting an older, well schooled, been there done it type to learn from. I've just been asked by a girl at the yard if i would like her to school my horse 4-5 times a week while i hack her etc.

I haven't got a clue how much (if i went ahead) i should give her? I pay £30 per week livery as it is. How long would this take? My mare is only 5 & a Section D..

I don't know what to do for the best.
 

alsxx

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Have you had lessons on her at all? I would always rather have lessons myself than get someone else to school them for me.

Someone at our yard helps our another livery by schooling her horse - she pays her £10 a session - not sure how long for. Girl that does the schooling has ridden up to Novice level BD.
 

Baileysno1

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When I sold Ryu I was based at the same yard as my trainer, I paid her to school him / hack him before he went (I was emigrating) She's an AI has evented to advance level and buys and sells to subsidise her income as an event groom. I paid £40 a week, I advertised him after 1 week and she dealt with the vetting and the sale for 10% he sold via H&H instantly so only paid for 2 weeks schooling in the end. It went very smoothly and I would definately do it again.
 

AmyMay

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Is this person going to do a good job, or is she someone who just thinks she can school your horse??

Personally I'd do it yourself - with a good instructor. You can do it - it's just difficult that's all.

Have short lessons, with little goals - rather than hour long lessons where you feel you are not achieving anything.
 

Christmas Crumpet

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I hate to say this but seeing as your horse is only 5 isn't schooling her 4 - 5 times a week a bit much?

I only say this because I've got a 7 yr old TB who came out of racing 4 months ago and I am reschooling him. The last week has been a pain with lessons being rearranged etc and he's been schooled 4 nights out of 7. Last night he'd just had enough and we didn't get very far at all. I know he was bored and fed up so he is now going to have a week off schooling and go out for rides every day instead.

Just a thought - maybe try and give your girl a bit more fun and reduce the schooling. Perhaps try one lesson a week and one session of schooling and see what happens there.
 

AmyMay

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[ QUOTE ]
I hate to say this but seeing as your horse is only 5 isn't schooling her 4 - 5 times a week a bit much?

Just a thought - maybe try and give your girl a bit more fun and reduce the schooling

[/ QUOTE ]
And agree 100% with this. A lot of what you want to teach can be done out on a hack anyway.....
 

Rowreach

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I take horses for schooling, but part of the arrangement is that the owner comes for lessons on the horse - there is very little point in me being able to ride it if they can't
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Like others have said though, she is only 5, and it's possible that whatever the issues are, she just needs a bit of time and variety.

As to cost, I charge between £10 and £20 a session, depending on what I do and how long it takes me. If this girl is good enough, and if you think that you and your horse will benefit in the long run, then fine, but I would recommend you have lessons on your horse as well. Good luck!
smile.gif
 

Christmas Crumpet

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Totally agree Amy May about a lot of what you want to teach you can do on a hack.

Thinking about what I did out exercising this morning - walk/trot, trot/walk, trot/canter, canter/trot transitions, leg yielding, bit of shoulder in, rein back (doing gates!!), had a good gallop and jumped a post and rails and it was all fun and the horse didn't even realise he was doing school work on a fun ride (nor did I until I wrote it down - just do it as a matter of course!!).

Now that my horse is working in a good outline I insist he walks and trots in one unless he is having time out ambling and I'm sure we achieve more practising what we've learnt out for a ride than we do going round and round in circles schooling.
 

AmyMay

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[ QUOTE ]
rein back (doing gates!!),

[/ QUOTE ]
Also good for turn on the forehand.....

And of course there's the old half halt as well
smile.gif
 

meesa1

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Express_75 you mustn't give up, imo if you've lost confidence in the school during lessons you need a new instructor. I was in exactly the same boat a few months ago and was ready for giving everything up but i didn't & now i am SO glad. Our turning point has come from a change in bit and i have to strongly agree with Guildford - more hacking, less schooling (i now have a much happier & willing to please horse). I certainly agree that 4-5 times schooling per week is too much, any horse, but especially a youngster, needs to enjoy its work and be interested in order for you to make progress. On of my instructors is a 4* eventer & she strongly believes jumping also has a positive affect on a horse's flatwork as well as vice versa. In summary (to stop my babble)
1. don't give up
2. get a new, experienced instructor & explain exactly how you feel (I got mine from the BD/BE website & although expensive, they are amazing!)
3. Vary your horse's programme of work - make things interesting for you both.
Hope things work out
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