If I wanted to try and get a lesson on a Dressage Schoolmaster...

Perfect_Pirouette

Perfect_Pirouette

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 February 2009
Messages
4,437
Visit site
......Within about a 3-3.5 hour drive of Norfolk, does anyone know anywhere?

I got some money for xmas and thought it might be nice to keep it and then in the new year add to it and try and go somewhere for a day or 2's training on one?

I think it'd be a really good experience for me and (hopefully) I'd learn a lot.

Does anyone know if there is anywhere that it would be possible to do this?
 
LOL :D

I'm SURE I've heard of people doing this, going to somewhere and having a couple of days training on schoolmasters. Think it's quite expensive (few hundred quid) but you get taught by very good trainers, and obviously on very good horses. I'd LOVE IT, it'd make my life lol :D
 
I used to work at Pine Lodge on Saturdays so used to get free rides in exchange.

It's great and you get a lot out of it but obviously they're Lustianos and it's classical equitation, which I am not knocking AT ALL as it's fabulous and you'll get A LOT out of it! But I'm really thinking ex GP dressage horses, powerful warmbloods etc, basically the type of horse that I have never been able to ride before and will just never be able to afford to buy!
 
I used to have regular schoolmaster lessons on Laura Fry's former GP horse, which sounds exactly what you're looking for and probably less than a 3-hr drive from Norfolk (Hull area), but this was several years ago and I assume that horse will be retired now, not sure if she has something else? There *must* be somebody else closer to you.
 
May be a tad too far for you (probably 3.5hr), but Talland is worth a try (Cirencester, Glos). They've got some fantastic schoolmasters and you cant get much better than the coaches there (if you want to spend the money Pammy Hutton is fantastic). You can easily find a place to stay overnight here too if needs be - I'd recommend if you're coming from Norfolk!
 
Contessa Riding Centre do what you're looking for. They are in Herts so probably not too far. I took my mare there for a clinic and rode some medium trained horses in other lessons- they had far more advanced horses than that available but it was more expensive and my level of riding at the time was such that I was benefiting sufficiently from the horses that I was riding, without needing to pay for anything more advanced, if you see what I mean :).
http://www.contessa-riding.co.uk/
 
I've also had some lessons at Contessa.

They will require you to have an assessment lesson. From there, they can teach on anything up to ex gp horses depending on the assessment.

Lots of the horses do all the lateral movements and changes.
 
Thank you everyone, I will look into all these options. If I have to travel further I don't really mind, just will mean staying in a hotel or something.

To be fair, it doesn't have to be GP horse lol, I very much doubt whether my riding would quite be upto that ;) but just a really, really well schooled WB that can do some lateral movements etc would be nice!
 
I know not everyone on here is a fan of Oldencraig, but I used to have schoolmaster lessons there (with their lowest level of instructors) and whilst they're no where near as classical as other places my riding did improve hugly and their horses did know there stuff.

Other recommendations (not sure how long a drive they'd be for you:

Turville Valley Stud in South Oxfordshire - their classically trained horses are a pleasure to ride, teach you loads and their instructors are fab!

Dovecote Stables - in Worcestershire (not far from Dulwich). Heard about this place on here and treated myself to 6lessons there for my birthday (after moving too far away from Turville). Had an amazing time - got to ride piaffe and passage for my first time and learnt so many little things which made a huge difference to my riding! Only wish it was nearer me and could afford to go there every month!
 
dressage_diva said:
I know not everyone on here is a fan of Oldencraig, but I used to have schoolmaster lessons there (with their lowest level of instructors) and whilst they're no where near as classical as other places my riding did improve hugly and their horses did know there stuff
Click to expand...

Just out of interest, why aren't people a fan of Oldencraig and what do you mean by no where near as classical as other places?
 
I have heard and read that, unless one is already a very good dressage rider, lessons with the more advanced instructors are not so pleasant.

I have no idea as to the ratio of happy lingers to unhappy linters, etc., but if you do a search on here you should find some threads on the subject.
 
I would try Pine Lodge, as already suggested here. The Lusitano is a wonderful horse and Sue and Holly are great and very experienced.
You will have the opportunity to do all the movements you want and more. You could even try some Working Equitation (Holly has represented GB on a number of occasions in Europe, videos available on You Tube)!
Enjoy :)
 
MrsMozartletoe said:
I have heard and read that, unless one is already a very good dressage rider, lessons with the more advanced instructors are not so pleasant.

I have no idea as to the ratio of happy lingers to unhappy linters, etc., but if you do a search on here you should find some threads on the subject.
Click to expand...

Sorry! I should have checked before pressing Submit! Second paragraph, first line should read 'punters' :rolleyes:
 
SummerxStarsx said:
Just out of interest, why aren't people a fan of Oldencraig and what do you mean by no where near as classical as other places?
Click to expand...

Let's just say they use quite a lot of gadgets (side reins/draw reins on their horses) which obviously aren't to everyone's cup of tea. Indeed the first few times they may insist the horse wears draw reins when you ride them until they see what level of riding you're at (though this depends on their horse).

I've never had lessons with any of their top instructors (though my friend did have lessons with Vicki regularly), but I did find that their younger "low-level" instructors were very good and refreshing (often with a more classical slant). I think you also need to be clear with them what you want out of it etc - they often get people go for one off lessons (who just want to say they've ridden a GP horse) and also some people who are quite novicey but have loads and loads of money (I've seen people learning to ride there on their GP horses!), indeed quite a few WAGs and celebs are often around the yard! So make sure that you know what you want to achieve and that they do too and I'm sure you'll have a lovely experience there. I haven't been since 2009, but I used to go weekly for schoolmaster lessons when I was based in London and my riding improved hugely!
 
Oh and just to add, I wouldn't say I'm an advanced dressage rider (I knew basic lateral work, but hadn't ever ridden more advance stuff or proper changes) but would agree somewhat with MrsMozart's comments - the top tier of instructors there are probably more appropriate if you're already riding at a similar level to them or having lessons on your own horse. Like I said, the lower-level instructors are best (I used to have Janice and Kelly but I think they're now both working elsewhere).
 
I have rthis prob and am also in norfolk. there is nowehere decent to go nd have lessons on decent horses apart from walk trot and canter do a bit of leg yeild etc and thats it. i wanted to be stretched in my riding. I got a two days workth of lessons at talland from ym OH and 1 day dressage and 1 day x-c ountry with Jerry sinot. Jerry was great but too wet top do cross country so we stayed ih the school and shared it with brian huttons lesson and they ended up watching us. i pad for an advanced dressage schoolmaster for my dressage and got a girl who teaches the BYRD team and she was good but the horse had an old injury so could not be ridden in trot and i didnt know this until i got on it and it was late being brought for the lesson anyway. nice but a bit of a dissapointment. There were lots of women there who clearly didnt have to work, brought a different horse sveral times a week for a lesson, rode o.k but largely happy schoolers and had HUGE lorries with 1 horse in.
 
Well I had a recent lesson there at OEC on a schoolmaster with Laura. Did have side reins, worked me sufficiently hard that on getting back into my car - I steamed up the windows! Didnt notice any footballers wives but as I dont like football that's not suprising! For me it was by different to ride a forward going schoolmaster after riding a baby horse for so long. Just stay away from the tack shop......far too tempting! Really enjoyed myself..

Oldencraig is near j5 off the m25. So sort of near Gatwick. If you look for Lingfield racecourse it's quite close to that.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top