Is it better to

[stangs]

a) Have riding lessons somewhere with decent horses (i.e. somewhere where the horses can do basic lateral work) but the instruction encourages less-than-ideal habits and isn’t particularly good at correcting your equitation? (Goes without saying the lessons aren't cheap either)

b) Keep looking for a place to get regular lessons at, meaning minimal and sporadic opportunities to ride, though attempting to keep up some fitness working out instead

In short, is it better to spend less time in the saddle but not be permitted to pick up bad habits or spend more time in the saddle but at risk of developing habits you'll have to unlearn later?

 

[milliepops]

why can you not ride at 1 but keep searching for a better place?

that's what i would do. and use reflection and self study to try and improve during your time at 1.

 

[stangs]

why can you not ride at 1 but keep searching for a better place?

that's what i would do. and use reflection and self study to try and improve during your time at 1.

Only have time to go for a lesson somewhere once a week atm, so if I was riding at this yard, I wouldn't have time to try any other places.

 

[milliepops]

oh. from your OP it sounded like that was the only riding you would have until somewhere else was found. in that case i'd keep trying different places, if there are options already. hopefully at some point you'll strike gold.

 

[Tiddlypom]

What less-than-ideal habits does the current RS encourage? Ditto in what way does it not correct your equitation? Is there a theme? Can you switch to a different instructor at the current RS?

I'd rather have fewer but better lessons if possible.

 

[teapot]

Ooo tricky because in my Venn diagram of lessons, horses and coaching overlap!

As TP says, are there other coaches available, perhaps more senior?

 

[stangs]

I was encouraged to drive with my seat, and lots of hip movement to get lateral movement, which I’m loath to do. One of my issues with my equitation atm is that one of my heels has started to rise, so I asked instructor to tell me off anytime that happened, but it was never reported on even though I was definitely doing it. I don’t know if it’s possible to switch to another instructor; they don’t have different lesson prices for different seniority instructor as some places do, so I doubt it.

 

[AmyMay]

You do have to use your seat when riding.

Is it possible that you were being corrected on other issues aside from your rogue heal at the time? And instructor didn’t want to throw too much instruction to you at one time?

 

[Cob Life]

You do have to use your seat when riding.

Is it possible that you were being corrected on other issues aside from your rogue heal at the time? And instructor didn’t want to throw too much instruction to you at one time?

This!
my instructor very quickly figured out too much instruction at once breaks my brain, so if my hands and heels are wrong, she’ll remind me of one and that usually triggers me to check the rest of my body and I can tell and fix it myself.

 

[ponynutz]

This!
my instructor very quickly figured out too much instruction at once breaks my brain, so if my hands and heels are wrong, she’ll remind me of one and that usually triggers me to check the rest of my body and I can tell and fix it myself.

This for me also! I used to get a little summary at the end of the lesson for things my instructor didn't have time to tell me lest my brain break.

Also you do have to drive with your seat to a certain extent as is much better than driving with your legs and gets a better movement with your horse (same way turning your hips and shoulders as well as a half halt down one rein is better for turning than just opening your arm). As long as your not being encouraged to do it too harshly but this is something you could correct in self-study (i.e. practice sitting on a chair or such until you find a driving seat that is comfortable for you but would still get the job done).

If you're still not happy though and there are other issues you haven't mentioned then definitely find someplace else! I would also suggest that riding less often but being happy with your riding and progress when you do is far more important.

 

[Lois Lame]

If I liked the horses but not the instructor (for whatever reason, for example if I just didn't gel with him or her, or if I didn't have faith in what I was being told to do) I'd try another instructor at the same place.

 

[piebaldproblems]

If you’d enjoyed your riding lesson, you wouldn’t have made this thread. If the lessons are expensive, you need to be enjoying them. So it’s b) for me.

 

[stangs]

You do have to use your seat when riding.

Agreed that the seat is important, but I think there's a distinct difference between using the seat and really pushing/driving with the seat, the later of which hollows the horse.

If you’d enjoyed your riding lesson, you wouldn’t have made this thread. If the lessons are expensive, you need to be enjoying them. So it’s b) for me.

Yes, I think you're right. Back to the drawing board it is.

 

[clinkerbuilt]

Agreed that the seat is important, but I think there's a distinct difference between using the seat and really pushing/driving with the seat, the later of which hollows the horse.


Yes, I think you're right. Back to the drawing board it is.

I've chosen to persist with a variety, for riding fitness, in hopes of calibrating the different feedbacks and experiences. I'd rather do that than not. But I do minimise the time with the instruction that I find too much "drive/kick on" in style.