Lesson advice - what would you do

[teapot]

Hopefully in the new year I'm going to start having regular lessons again - stopped in September as haven't been well.

Big problem is cost. Yard I'm at - groups are £21 and privates are £40 during the week.

Now much as I would love to have a private every week - I just can't afford it. Can't really afford to have a group evey week either, plus the group I would join (rode with them in summer, is at a really awkward time)

So would you go for say a group lesson every other week so twice a month or a private every 3 weeks?

Changing RS is kinda out of the question. Where I am is the best yard in the area - other RS have reputations for reasons. There is one on my bus route but it doesn't have anything over 15hh and is primarily for beginners. And there are a couple of others which I wouldn't touch with a barge pole.

So yeah - advice; what would you guys do?; any other suggestions?

 

[GTs]

Every 2 weeks - the more you ride the better. I would also try a riding holiday per year too.

 

[clipclop]

Weeell, if it were me I would go for the private lesson every 3 weeks.
My experience of group lessons has been you don't get enough attention for your money.
If it doesn't get offered, ask your instructor for "homework" to do for the next 3 weeks before your next lesson.
I would go for quality over quantity.
However everyone is different and a lot of people like being part of a group and find the "one on one" lessons too strenuous.
I can't wait to get back to lessons again. Hopefully another month if all goes well.

 

[henryhorn]

Definitely the Private system, a good instructor can give you enough to work on to keep you going between lessons.

 

[rach1984horse]

I agree with the other comments. Private lessons with a good instructor would maybe get you more out of them.

Sorry I don't know if you have your own horse, but if you don't then maybe seeing if there is someone local that you can share with for a couple of days a week would get you hours in the saddle.

 

[teapot]

thanks guys - I've kinda been spoilt in that I've had privates more than I've had groups. Don't get me wrong, the group I joined with in the summer was fab, really enjoyed it. But I seem to get so much more out of privates especially jumping wise.

Sadly not got anything to ride outside of the yard at the mo & there seems to be a distinct lack of sharers down here as R of L would tell you.

I was contemplating asking one of the liveries if she needed any help as tend to ride her boy a lot anyway. Might be worth it possibly?

The yard does do a loaning scheme but cost involved is far over a student budget

 

[Super_Kat]

Private every three weeks without a dount!

 

[WeeBrown]

How many are in group lesson?

I have a group lesson every week and a semi-private with husband when they can fit me in (not as often as I'd like but about 1 a month). If groups are small - about 4 people - then maybe group to begin with for first few months and do a private to work on things picked up by group sessions. We have a different horse every week so can see how others ride the horses. We also work on a new thing every week and I then use the things I was struggling with in my semi-privates. Like you I'm finding the lack of practise during the week an issue and am now looking for my own horse.

Would it be possible to have semi-privates if group lessons are big? I definately agree with the sticking with good riding school. I hunted for years to find one as good as present one.

 

[Cheesey2983]

The private lesson without a doubt, one on one with your trainer is in comparison to about 5 group lessons. even if they only have 4 horses in the lesson instructor has only got one set of eyes

make sure u get a good instructor for the money so many are just good at directing traffic in fairness, especially in group lessons, there main aim is to stop ya all from colliding let alone being able to teach

 

[GinaB]

£40?! That's rough. My private is £20, supposed to be 3/4 of an hour tends to run to an hour. Get plenty done. £17 for a group lesson (I don't do them at all), not sure of numbers though.

 

[spotty_pony]

Group lesson every other week.

That way there won't be so much pressure on you and you can get a lesson more often. You can learn from the others mistakes too. x

 

[Tempi]

definately private lesson as much as you can afford, like HH said it will give you enough to work on inbetween lessons.

 

[burtie]

As you don't have anything to ride other than at lessons I'd go for a group every other week. If you are only riding once every 3 weeks this will limit how much you can progress anyway as riding fitness is something very difficult to maintain when not actually riding.

 

[teapot]

Thanks guys - I'm kinda stuck between a rock & a hard place.

groups are maximum of 6, but it's more likely to be 4. Yard group lessons are normally done in open order - can't remember the last "follow person in front" type thing. And if I rode with the sunday group - I'd be definately getting one of the 3 senior instructors - all very good.

Semi private is an option, but with 2 people - it's £30 each and then I've got to find someone who we'd both work together with. Might be worth an ask though. With 3 people it goes down to £26 each.

Yard dont do work for rides anymore, stopped about 3 months after I started working there, so that's out.