In your opinion, what is ONE thing you would teach a beginner

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Fools Motto

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Has to be something practical, (not just 'don't walk behind a horse). Doesn't even have to involve physically riding, - although if you think it is the right answer, then do so. Suitable for a person older than 14.
I taught a lovely young lady earlier, and was VERY surprised at what she knew/didn't know...


Said person is not a young child, and is keen to learn, but although been to riding school for 6 months, once every week, has a mountain of ''simple'' things to learn... and to me, some VERY basic things are missing..
* putting on and taking off a headcollar
* checking stirrups and girth before mounting.
* knowing ANY parts of the tack (apart from girth and reins)
* understanding the command 'change the rein'

I can understand that the RS is busy, and tacking up/untacking by a novice isn't always possible, but over 6 months, this should be touched upon, if only briefly?

I'm going to give her another lesson tomorrow, and hoping she remembers a few new things from today. Bless her!
 
For an absolute beginner I'd say how to lead your horse safely in full tack. As the lessons progress then checking girth/adjusting stirrups and learning about the tack. With most riding schools you pay to learn to ride and the basics of the equipment you use should be covered. X
 
Understanding how the bit works in the horses mouth and how unpleasant it is for the horse when the reins are yanked .

Also how the degree of tension in the rider affects the horse so BREATHE and Relax
 
I teach A few children ..from beginners to school teams level .. First thing I say to all new riders is horses /ponies r not play toys or machines they r living animals .. So no screaming , running , shouting , hitting or upsetting the horses In anyway .. If they want to mess about then go to a park not the stables ;) and what I say goes .. :) after safety is sorted then the fun can begin :p .. All my kids have great fun , I teach them to check tack , tack up , lead the pony, pick feet out and many other things aswell as riding ..as we all know there r many more things to do with horses then riding .. In the holidays they have had extra one on one pony days with me .. They have poo picked , checked the fencing , cleaned the troughs , shaped the muck heap , swept , mucked out , before laying a finger on the pony ..I give them a rosette at the end of the day :) and they LOVE it !! I always tell them a fact about the pony .. Like how often the pony has shoes ..and the next week I ask them to see if they remembered :) and to be fair they are normally spot on :)
 
I knew an eleven year old ho had difficulty understanding that a horse is NOT a dog. She needed gently reminding how to fuss the appropriately and which areas can be sensitive ie don't gab the tail and ding it like a bell :/
 
few people get handed things on silver platters...

those that do dont know how lucky they are

those that dont put in alot of effort but are unlikely to make it to where they want......
 
TandD said:
few people get handed things on silver platters...

those that do dont know how lucky they are

those that dont put in alot of effort but are unlikely to make it to where they want......
Click to expand...

I don't think I've heard anything more depressing than this way of thinking...

How about anything is possible with hard work, dedication and a little bit of luck?

What I'd teach tho is 'a horse is an animal not a machine - ride the horse you have that day, not the one you had yesterday nor the one he /she maybe tomorrow.'
 
How to move a horse about effectively. I.e how to lead but also how to make them move backwards and over, and the effect being able to move them about has on their respect for you.
 
blitznbobs said:
I don't think I've heard anything more depressing than this way of thinking...

How about anything is possible with hard work, dedication and a little bit of luck?
Click to expand...

i would like to believe this....done the hard work (still doing it)...have the dedication....guess im missing the luck :/
i find having a pesimistic outlook makes everything good/nice/lucky etc even more of a good suprise..... and i like that suprise...if i expected it that 'good thing' wouldnt be enjoyable.
so yes it is depressing but i find to many people think they can make the top with no hard work...... and even with that hard work there is very little guarantee that you will make it!
 
how not to approach a horse on its blind spot how not to get feet trod on never lead a horse close behind another horse never walk infront of a horse allways at shoulder.
 
I was nearly 30 before someone taught me if you sit crooked, which to you may feel straight the horse will go crooked. I had spent 20 years reading books, having lunge lessons etc but simple biomechanics had never been explained.
 
How to balance without using reins. No matter how old you are you can still benefit from superman arms / aeroplane arms / double rising in trot / etc until you learn not to swing off the horse's back teeth.

When I learned to ride, you weren't allowed reins AT ALL until you proved you could balance properly without them.
 
How to balance without using reins. No matter how old you are you can still benefit from superman arms / aeroplane arms / double rising in trot / etc until you learn not to swing off the horse's back teeth.

When I learned to ride, you weren't allowed reins AT ALL until you proved you could balance properly without them.
 
I think being optimistic makes you a happier person inside, my mum is a pessimist and she is miserable to be around. Re others if they are not prepared to put in hard work to achieve what they want that is their problem, not yours. With hard work/effort you will always achieve something, if you set goals in steps and work till you achieve, one then another, you always feel like getting somewhere, and you have to learn to enjoy the small wins, the journey along the way. Life is too short to spend it miserable. :)




TandD said:
i would like to believe this....done the hard work (still doing it)...have the dedication....guess im missing the luck :/
i find having a pesimistic outlook makes everything good/nice/lucky etc even more of a good suprise..... and i like that suprise...if i expected it that 'good thing' wouldnt be enjoyable.
so yes it is depressing but i find to many people think they can make the top with no hard work...... and even with that hard work there is very little guarantee that you will make it!
Click to expand...
 
At no point does loosing your temper with a horse- ridden or on the ground works in any way.
Absolutely hate seeing people get ****** with a horse inevitably making the problem worse.
 
What I wish I knew when I was starting out - the principles of pressure and release and advance and retreat. Has completely changed my way of handling for the better.
 
That horses are animals, so probably if we are talking riding school beginner I would make them poo pick for that horse, groom, handle, feed etc. to realise it is an animal that takes a lot of care and not just a machine to be used when you want to ride.
 
Taught my Ex to ride. I must have gone on and on about not yanking the reins, be careful with hands and to use voice more etc. That when horse DID take off with him, he leant forwards, didn't pull but whispered to her to stop.... (didn't work!)
 
To go get some decent lessons.

A friend of someone at my yard is looking to buy. She's had a 30+ year break from riding (and even then I doubt she had many lessons) and has decided now is the perfect time to buy. She couldn't get the horse she was riding into trot the other week, and when she finally did, she couldn't do riding trot. I don't understand why she isn't investing in some lessons for a good few months first.

So I'd reach not to run before you can walk!
 
* putting on and taking off a headcollar
* checking stirrups and girth before mounting.
* knowing ANY parts of the tack (apart from girth and reins)
* understanding the command 'change the rein'
Click to expand...

I would not be so critical of either the rider or the school.
I had my firsrt riding lessons at a highly regarded BHS RS and in my first six months learned only the second on your list. In fact most of my 30 minute lessons were taken up by my efforts to adjust my own stirrups and tighten girth. A waste of precious saddle time.
The mystifying horsey terminology of changing reins, and bewildering straps in the tack are daunting distraction when a non horsey person encounters a living horse for the first time.
Leave out the riddles and requirments which are such a barrier - and concentrate on the essentials - how to lead out to the lesson, how to balance on a horse's back, how to feel the movement of the horse from the saddle, how to communicate with soft cues. My OH learned to ride at a classical yard. He started age 67 with no athletic aptitude, loves canter. Is still a regular weekly rider.
I doubt if he knows any of the above.
 
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