Saying that, I have trained with a top trainer, Jenny Ward (once only) and she only charged me £35 and I sat on a horse of hers, longeing! I learned a lot from her.
I have also trained with another top trainer, list 2 judge, high level rider, and paid a fair bit, but felt I learned loads less.
I think you can get a lot from a lower level/lower priced person, you just need to "click" with them
To me training with a 'top' name doesn't necessarily mean anything to me, it's all about the quality of the training and from experience I don't always feel the top riders give that. I happily pay £35 to my instructor as I feel I get good training and excellent service.
She used to compete at a high level of dressage but since loosing her top horse she has completely stopped competing and now only trains, I doubt any of you would even know her name!
I would probably pay even more should the need ever arise, but might have to cut down the frequency.
I used to pay £45 for a monthly SJ lesson that was very beneficial.
Ben_and_Jerrys - I agree whole heartedly with your comment. What I am trying to gather is whether those who do pay a lot for their lessons think they are worth what they spend, and for those who do not, what would they be preapred to spend if they could have anyone
I pay £28 for 45mins with my regular trainer Keith Robertson and always get so much from it, he's helped me massively with all the horses I ride. Have just started going to Anna R-D once a month, she charges £50 for 45mins and is also worth every penny!
Last time I had a lesson with Spencer I paid 50 for 45 minutes and it was very beneficial. My regular trainer pays less but he goes to Spenny more frequently and usually takes a couple of horses at a time. Generally I find I learn as much from Nick who charges me 130 per week for full livery, training the horse and I get about 4/5 lessons a week for that which is exceptionally good value. Sometimes I do find it very helpful to have Spen take a look though as he follows the same methods as Nick but another pair of eyes and all that...
I get free lessons as he owns my horse! It also gives him chance to see how his horse is progressing. He evented at 4* many years ago so I get his experience for free. I think he normally charges about £30 per hour.
A top eventer rides my sister's horse weekly for £20 for about 45 mins which I think is very reasonable. She normally charges £30 per hour but as we're regulars it's cheaper.
How much I'm willing to pay depends on how well I bond with the trainer and how much I get out of the lessons.
i saw an instructor advertising and they were £65 for 40mins ...this is too much for me!!!! i cant remember who it was either...i think a dressage rider!
I pay £45 and it's worth every penny, my trainer only comes over once every 5-6 weeks, which suits me as it gives me plenty of time to establish what i've learnt before the next lesson. I get so much out of each session that i would pay more if i had to.
Well my dressage instructor is £10 for 30mins but we always run over to near an hour. Although she is a bit of an unknown as she only teaches a few of us along side her full time job she was previously national novice champion before they split to open/restricted and has ridden at advanced level. would happily pay twice as much (if could afford it) as she is excellent and there is no doubt Fleur has improved hugely since I started having lessons with her.
I have though in the past had lessons with a few 'top' names. I had a private lesson with Jane Bartle Wilson which was £65 for 50 mins about 6 years ago but she was excellent, was on a schoolmaster as well (ex 4* eventer!) and learnt more about my seat/weight in that lesson they I did in years.
Others include £40 for an hour about 8 or 9 years ago with a fairly well respected dressage rider which I thought were completly useless and I didn't learn a thing and just ended up with a very tense pony, needless to say despite my mum thinking I should have more I said no thankyou as a waste of money!
I pay £30 p/h with a NZ eventer who comes to me. I love all my lessons and come away feeling like we've taken a step forward. I would pay up to £60 for a top name but would want to get value for money rather than just the brag factor
Well I've *hopefully* just booked a lesson with a famous french Baucherist which is going to set me back £100 but, by all accounts, it'll be worth every penny for the opportunity to train with a classical master.
Normally I'd go to a maximum of £50 for 45mins with someone fab
I'd rather spend more on infrequent brilliance than less on frequent averagness!!
now thats something i am inpressed by. i didnt know there was such a thing. could you tell me who this is (PM if you like). The words of Baucher should be mandatory reading for all those who aspire to greatness along with one or two others of the great masters.
I would pay £50 tops with someone I rated if it was regular. Dont think I would go more than that as my instructor is £25 and fantastic, I can have 2 lessons instead. I might be persuaded to pay more for a one off.