How to prepare for a lesson with Olympic rider

[Mary3050]

Hi Guys,

Asking for a friend .
She has got the chance to go for a lesson with an Olympic rider ! She very excited but she feels like she need to prepare. She asked me what to do I said I would treat it like my normal lessons .

Should she warm the horse up before hand ?
Should she have specific areas to work on ?
I suggested getting her mum to video for her , so she can play it back ?
Also is it cheeky to ask if they can have a photo together ?

Is there anything else she should do ? I think she would like to be able to get a slot with this rider every 6 weeks . But they are very highly in demand she only has this lesson as she know the person who usually has it is on holiday !

Any advice or suggestions?

 

[TheMule]

The most useful thing you can do is to ask if it’s ok to come a bit early and watch the lesson before IMO. It always surprises me how people just rock up, do their bit and go straight home- you'll get a chance to learn the system and their habits by watching other lessons. If that’s not possible, do a search on Youtube to see if there are lesson clips from others?

 

[teapot]

First thing is to forget they're an Olympic rider - they are just a human who's been sucessful at their job at the end of the day. What makes them so good is the basics, the leaving no stone unturned etc, and depending on who it is, be prepared for the chance of some slightly straighter talking

Agree with Mule re watching lesson before if there is one. If it's a one off lesson, a small warm up, ie leg stretch off box may be a good idea, but any decent coach (and results don't automatically equal that ) would want to see warm up as it may be of benefit to the horse and rider combo

 

[Vodkagirly]

I've been lucky enough to have lessons with a few Olympic riders, I tend to get them as Christmas presents go early so your not rushed and watch as much as you can.
Don't over think it, they have all been lovely and despite me being a novice rider, they have given great advice. One recognised me in a warm up a few weeks later and helped again.
Tell you friend to enjoy, and go and video for her

 

[flat3]

.... One recognised me in a warm up a few weeks later and helped again.

That's so nice

ETA, sounds like I'm being sarcastic, but I'm not!

 

[Jules111]

In my experience I think it would be good to really think about what you/your friend wants to improve. Think about what she/he wants to come away with a better understanding off. Really think about making the most of the lesson and using it to your advantage. So many people want to "impress" the Olympic (or any other high profile) rider when actually they are unlikely to come away thinking their Olympic position is in jeopardy . You have a chance to get what you want, think about what that is, really focus on the problems your having you'd like help with and try your best to explain what you want from them. You're paying them (probably a considerable amount) so get the most for your money!

 

[Lois Lame]

I think she would like to be able to get a slot with this rider every 6 weeks . But they are very highly in demand she only has this lesson as she know the person who usually has it is on holiday !

Perhaps suggest that she not think about future lessons with this person until she's had this lesson. What if they don't click?

I hope it goes really well and they DO click.

 

[still standing]

About watching other riders - it would be polite to ask first if this is allowed. People who are having lessons at any level and who may be working on trying to sort out a problem, may not like having an audience if they are struggling with a particular movement.
Put yourself in that rider's place and your friend just might herself or himself feel they would not like an audience. I'm not a high level rider but in a reverse situation, I was once advised to be careful about who was watching, in case it was a judge who just might subsequently remember my difficulty and be watching that movement more closely in a test.