Lesson Report :D

[SaddlePsych'D]

Lesson 1 of 2 this week Today at new RS and Friday at usual RS.

First time at new RS so an 'assessment' lesson. I wanted to try a new place to get a bit more variety of horses to ride and to ride something bigger than 14.2/3 for a bit of a change (not that I don't love the horses I usually ride of course!) - certainly got my wish with a tall, chunky chestnut mare. We worked on transitions, leg yielding, and some no stirrups work (which I really like doing, is that weird?). Definitely a different sensation sitting on a much bigger horse, I could probably have ridden more positively but we had some really nice trot at the end and in fairness I think it takes me a couple of rides at least to gauge what 'gears' there are while I get to know the horse and get my confidence with them!

Came away feeling a bit 'meh' though, not sure what that's about - loved the horse, nice arena to ride in, instructor was good. Maybe felt we could have done a bit more though as last assessment lesson I had (at usual RS) felt really thorough and we got quite a bit done in the same amount of time. Slightly 'impersonal' vibe maybe? It was a bit 'just book in with whoever' both for this lesson when I emailed to ask and afterwards today when I enquired about booking the next one. I think it's so important to 'click' with an instructor and have them get to know you as then you get so much more out of each lesson. Also thought more feedback would have been good, including telling me what my assessed grading was as I'd have been interested in what they felt the overall picture of my riding was and where improvements need to be made.

Part of it might also be me feeling a bit 'aimless' in my riding at the moment; share didn't work out (although have a couple of potential others to ride starting in the next couple of weeks), half an hour a week 'saddle time' doesn't feel enough, and I'm realising I don't really have any clear goals for my riding (partly because I don't know what I can work towards).

So not sure about rebooking, they have several instructors so could try another and see how that works. In the meantime looking forward to Friday for next lesson

 

[ArklePig]

I was a bit 'glass slipper' with finding an instructor. I would just have an honest chat with the manager or whoever you book with, and ask if you find an instructor you gel with would you be able to keep the same one on an ongoing basis? I think it's really important to have continuity of instructor or a lot of time gets wasted.

I suspect your meh feeling is down to maybe being a bit 'over' riding schools in general? I know I was the same, I thought if I'd to go around the same arena one more time as the extent of my riding I was going to scream.

Being aimless doesn't help either, my pre lockdown instructor decided we were going to trial different things til I found different stuff, so once I'd re established the basics we did a couple of dressage lessons, a couple of jump lessons and lots of flat work. Could you maybe reframe it like that? Don't think you need a specific aim, just think of it as re trying different stuff-that's an aim in itself.

Good luck and let us know how it all goes.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Yes 'glass slipper' is definitely how it is for me. I'm like it with the horses too I think - just love that sense of things clicking into place!

Your points are so helpful and I think you might be right. It's not that I think I don't need lessons, I definitely do! Now I've realised I've not totally lost my nerve it's like I'm so ready to get going again - it's probably impatience! Going from 2-4 hours riding a week to 30 mins adds to the 'not enough' sensation too.

Love the idea of mixing things up and trying new things out as a goal in itself!

 

[JackFrost]

You should feel positive about what you achieved, given it was a new place, new instructor, new horse.
Riding schools get so many clients through so yes, it may feel a bit impersonal to begin with. Like all things, it doesn't all happen at once and you build good experiences from foundations.
On the point of them assessing you, it might be they'd like to see you on a range of horses, and perhaps the one you had was their reliable schoolmaster.
I'd say, book more lessons at the new place, try out different horses and different instructors.
One of the best things about RSs is riding lots of different horses. If you feel you don't have clear goals at the moment, challenge yourself to ride ALL their horses well, not just the ones you click with. That will really test you as a rider.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I think you ticked a good number of boxes at this new to you RS. I'd be inclined to return and try a different instructor but ensure you ask for a few minutes at the end of the session to get feedback of the overall picture and info on things to work on.
Well done for trying a new one ?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

You should feel positive about what you achieved, given it was a new place, new instructor, new horse.
Riding schools get so many clients through so yes, it may feel a bit impersonal to begin with. Like all things, it doesn't all happen at once and you build good experiences from foundations.
On the point of them assessing you, it might be they'd like to see you on a range of horses, and perhaps the one you had was their reliable schoolmaster.
I'd say, book more lessons at the new place, try out different horses and different instructors.
One of the best things about RSs is riding lots of different horses. If you feel you don't have clear goals at the moment, challenge yourself to ride ALL their horses well, not just the ones you click with. That will really test you as a rider.

Thank you, yes these are some good points. I think the idea is they do an assessment session then 'grade' you so that you can then book in at that level from there on - I guess they can up/down grade you if needed later on.

I like your point about riding lots of different horses, I am so guilty of just searching for 'The One' (or two, maybe three )

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I think you ticked a good number of boxes at this new to you RS. I'd be inclined to return and try a different instructor but ensure you ask for a few minutes at the end of the session to get feedback of the overall picture and info on things to work on.
Well done for trying a new one ?

Thank you, I'm pleased I went and after reading these responses am now definitely thinking to go again.

The other big thing for me was no nerves! A brief 'oh wow it's high up here!' on mounting (I wanted taller, I definitely got it! ) but then just cracked on.

 

[Wishfilly]

I would give it a few lessons before writing them off- as others have said, riding schools get a lot of people through the doors and professional but impersonal isn't the worst first impression to make!

Well done for riding a bigger horse and not feeling nervous about it!

 

[j1ffy]

It sounds very successful to me! I do think it takes a while to get a 'personal' touch at a bigger RS - it's worth trying a few instructors and having more lessons to see how they are once you're a 'regular'.

It's great to read reports of you loving riding again too!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

It sounds very successful to me! I do think it takes a while to get a 'personal' touch at a bigger RS - it's worth trying a few instructors and having more lessons to see how they are once you're a 'regular'.

It's great to read reports of you loving riding again too!

I think that's probably what it is, I've got used to being at a small RS - one arena, a few instructors - whereas this one is much bigger (a few arenas, several instructors, lots of horses). The variety of horses is what I was after though so guess that makes sense!

Definitely loving being back though. Huge relief as was starting to think I'm not cut out for riding at all/too nervous as was really starting to struggle with share horse and last pre-lockdown RS lesson I cried a bit when asked if I wanted to canter as I felt so useless (but also did a few strides on each rein anyway)!