Is there a demand for... (South West)

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CobLogic

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... an instructor focusing primarily on confidence building in the rider?

So the aim when instructor and rider come together would be for the rider to learn to have fun with their horse once again , with lessons designed to develop the partnership without pressure - even if this means repeated sessions of simply walking or riding out with someone on foot providing guidance?

I realise this may be what many instructors already do, but the thought behind it would be to appeal to those who would not normally seek lessons but would welcome the support.

This is something I have done before but not in this area and it was all through word of mouth rather than advertising officially so I am just trying to understand if there is a demand at all? Those I worked with previously were mainly mum's who had come back to riding after their chilldren had grown and gone to school and they found they had lost their confidence.

Completely willing to be shot down on this as I do not have qualifications just experience.

Thanks in advance for your help :)
 
How funny CobLogic, I was wondering something similar myself only this morning.

Whether there would be a demand for a kind of 'horse buddy' to give that extra pair of hands/moral support/'eyes on the ground' when schooling, etc.

So will watch this thread with interest.
 
Yes! I would say. Although the problem is (sorry to say it) that people will want someone with the piece of paper unfortunately.......

I had an old school-chum who I bumped into unexpectedly and she helped me no end with my cob (elephant's body, pony's brain :)) - getting my confidence back after losing my old boy who was a perfect gent and bombproof with it.

But think TBH that you'll need some instructing qualifications - or something, maybe a natural horsemanship diploma or summat? Sorry am not being snobbish here, but its just the way things are.
 
dorito said:
Whether there would be a demand for a kind of 'horse buddy' to give that extra pair of hands/moral support/'eyes on the ground' when schooling, etc.
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Dorito - that's a perfect way of describing it :-) Unfortunately it does look as though a qualification would be needed or perhaps continuing the word of mouth method.

Thanks MiJodsR2BlinkinTite and fuggly for your replies :-) I can totally understand the need for a qualification - I wonder if a 'first session free' would give someone the chance to have their skills proven?
 
Sprig said:
I am sure there is a demand but probably not enough to just do that - would need another income stream as well.
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A valid point Sprig! I am currently in full time employment so could perhaps run this alongside. I was just thinking this through as it's been on my mind for a while. Perhaps I won't hand my notice in just yet... :)
 
I'm in the South West and with a non horsey husband and a horsey but getting elderly mother I would love a helping/confidence giving hand when I lose my way or need some help! Experience, common sense and ability to read a horses needs would be far more important to me than any piece of paper saying you've done an exam! :-)
 
I would love someone like you! I didn't start riding until I was 40 and lack confidence in my own ability. I don't want an instructor to teach me in the school, me and my lad are happy hackers. My boy doesn't like hacking alone and I don't have the confidence to work him through it by myself. I would love an instructor to come out with me on foot and help my confidence and therefore help his confidence. Whereabouts in the SW are you OP?
 
My instructor is brilliant at doing just what you're talking about- following a complete loss of confidence she got me back on board, schooling and hacking out again.... she is absolutely fantastic, walks out with me on hacks, does just what I need her to do in the school... BUT... she's qualified and very much in demand, so getting a 'quick, I need help with my confidence' short notice lesson with her is not only difficult at times in terms of her being booked up (I book my regular fortnightly flatwork lesson with her two months at a time in advance!) but is also expensive as she obviously (and quite rightly!) charges RI rates.

Where I'm going with this is.... if you were less expensive than a lesson with my RI and potentially available within a couple of days of my feeling I needed someone to give me a 'confidence helping hand' then I'd definitely be interested in your service.... and funnily enough I'm south of Bristol... ;)
 
Thanks Liath, that is a very helpful perspective! I guess some market research in local instructor prices would be worth doing and like you say, set the price down from those to reflect the lack of qualifications.

Just one quick question, do you book your instructor for evenings and weekends or do you ride during the day?
 
CobLogic said:
Thanks Liath, that is a very helpful perspective! I guess some market research in local instructor prices would be worth doing and like you say, set the price down from those to reflect the lack of qualifications.

Just one quick question, do you book your instructor for evenings and weekends or do you ride during the day?
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Early mornings, middle of the day, late afternoons, early evenings... whenever she can fit me in around my work shifts! I'm a nurse so 'weekends' are an alien concept to me... as are 'regular hours'!

Glad my perspective was helpful, and good luck!
 
My instructor did this with me as she slowly pieced my confidence back together and held my hand through an awful lot of ups and downs over the last four years. I actually hacked in traffic, on my own, yesterday on my four year old pony and I had a fantastic time. But I was lucky as she is staff at the yard I am liveried on and it was a sheer fluke that I found her. I think what you are offering is a great service, even if all you do is walk next to some one, ready to grab the reins if they start to unravel. Pitching yourself exactly the way you described is perfect but if I was back in this situation I would also want some one to tell me things straight, espeically if I was beating my head against the wall with an unsuitable animal. So many nervous people carry on because they feel guilty about selling and they need an OK from a professional often to do the right thing for themselves and the animal. Not that this was true in my case, just saying! Best of luck, whatever you decide to do.
 
I am so gratefull to you all for your responses - you've helped me to really understand and develop my idea. I'm going to stick with the F/T job whilst investigating insurance costs and see what happens :-)

indiat - congrats on riding out your 4 year old, what a great feeling!
 
CobLogic said:
Thanks MiJodsR2BlinkinTite and fuggly for your replies :-) I can totally understand the need for a qualification - I wonder if a 'first session free' would give someone the chance to have their skills proven?
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Mmmmm, maybe....... BUT all you need is for something to go badly wrong/t!ts up - and someone gets @ssy and sues you, and if you've got no insurance you're gonna be hung up to dry. And you won't get insurance without a piece of paper. Sorry, just being practical. I'm a teacher (not horsey - in the fitness industry) and I've got to have professional indemnity before I stand up and teach...... its just not worth it to do it without insurance coz you may depend something WILL go wrong, and horses being horses, that usually means BADLY wrong.
 
I would love to have someone like you to help me - shame you are not a bit closer.

I am really struggling with my riding now, because of serious joint problems, and to have someone to encourage me in a more informal way than in a formal lesson, to have someone walk out with me, or hack out with me, to help me achieve the best I can, just to have someone to help boost my confidence on a bad day .... I would so love that.

Think you should move to the New Forest, you would have a full time job helping me! :D

Good Luck with your idea, there are lots of people desperate for your help I am sure.
 
I looked into something like this a couple of years ago when I lost my confidence following a fall. Ideally wanted something like this Hacking with Confidence course: http://effectivehorsemanship.wordpress.com/confidence-coaching-and-courses/ but in South West. In the end I changed to a different (more expensive) RI and she was able to help me. I'm down near Ilminster.
 
CobLogic said:
I am so gratefull to you all for your responses - you've helped me to really understand and develop my idea. I'm going to stick with the F/T job whilst investigating insurance costs and see what happens :-)

indiat - congrats on riding out your 4 year old, what a great feeling!
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Thank you! We did it again today and I was much more confident and he was completly chilled. I feel like a proper rider again, rather than hamstrung with fear, with the sport getting smaller and smaller for me. It helps having the right animal though, I am very lucky my little boy is a dude. :D
 
Thanks once again all, for your help - you've given me lots to think about!! :)

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite - what you say makes a lot of sense and is real food for thought. A valuable reality check! I appreciate your honesty.

Sprout - thanks for the encouragement. You sound like exactly the sort of person I want to work with. I do hope you find someone local to work alongside you - it is a shame we aren't nearer.

laura_nash - thanks for the link - that's really helpful!

indiat - it definately helps with the right horse - but well done you for persevering :)
 
Sounds wonderfull and you would be just what I needed if you were a bit closer. I fanyone knows of anyone who does this sort of thing near Cheltenham area please let me know!
 
I actually do exactly this in Somerset with the AI qualification as well - am a freelance instructor specialising in nervous riders. I absolutely love it, it is incredibly rewarding.

There is definitely a market for it, you have to get your name out there and get a reputation. A lot of it is about understanding pyschology of both horse and rider - endlessly fascinating.
 
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