Instructor always changing lesson times.

BBH

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Once we can all understand but what would you do if it keeps happening ? Friend took pm off work and went for a regular lesson at instructors house where she keeps her horse. The lesson was booked for two and she arrived at half one to get tacked up etc and there was already a lesson in progress. This lesson didn't finish until twenty past two and then another person turned up and the instructor said to my friend he'd teach her after this new arrival.

She finally got in the arena at twenty to four.

This is the third time in a month she has been messed about and I just wondered if this is normal.
 
No very abnormal!

we once had a double booking on a saturday morning, -riding clubs fault really, so we were actually gatecrashing but my instructor was v good, and we all went in together which worked quite well cos she knew mine and mums horses were well behaved so it gave the other one (a youngster) an excellent opportunity to experience having other horses around him while working.

However if the other people weren't happy about this we would have gone home
 
not normal at all. i would have expected a text/phone call to ask me whether i would be ok with a time change, and i would have expected plenty of notice as well!

perhaps she should have a word
 
I usually have the opposite problem! People booking a lesson for, say, 2pm, then arriving at five past, spending the next 10 minutes chatting/tacking up, then start the lesson, then need to stop to remove layers of clothing, then wonder why at 3pm I say right that'll do for today
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...

... and then they want to do a post-mortem of the lesson for the next 20 mins!
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No, IMHO that's plain rude!!! I had one trainer cancel twice when my horse was loaded & about to leave home, then another time he texted a message to my house phone & didn't bother checking I'd got it - 90 mile round trip for nothing, no apology & end of trainer as far as I was concerned.

Then someone else, also a long way away, used to carry on chatting to the previous lesson while I was walking around - 5 mins, maybe 10 is allowable - but 40???? And once cancelled & no-one told me.

Maybe if she wants to carry on with this person, she should politely mention that to help her plan her day, the trainer could ring her if the lesson is to be delayed by more than 10 minutes?
 
Yes you are right I think he should text to say he's running late but to me he seems to think he's something special and he's doing her a favour by teaching at all
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If it was me I'd leave there are plenty of more organised trainers.
 
I don't mind as I have lessons on my own arena and normally leave a whole day free for my lesson anyway, but if I had booked a venue and was travelling to the lesson I would expect them to let me know if they were going to be more than 5 mins late.
 
Completely separate from whatever your friend is learning from this person, it's very bad for her self esteem to be made to feel that she's not of the slightest importance to the trainer. There are sooooo many trainers out there - I'm sure she could find one that values her custom & cares about her & her progress!
 
I completly agree don't persist with a trainer who is rude or acts as if they are doing you a favour. I had 2 years worth of lessons with oner instructor she didnt like me or my horse but I was recommended her so persisted. No great progress was achieved and so eventually I swapped, and hey presto things started to improve dramatically.

Remenber just like at school you had favourite teachers who could inspire you the same goes for instructors. There are loads out there so try a few.
 
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