Lessons / Training Where do you find it?

[GinaGeo]

I used to be a member of a fab riding club who were always organising brilliant clinics at exciting places with good trainers. Unfortunately, this Riding Club is no longer running and the one I enjoyed instead isn’t running things I’m interested in joining in with. Or it’s all mid-week which rules it out as work like me to be working - not playing ponies ?

Before that I was in Pony Club and had access to brilliant coaches. But I’m too old for that these days and can’t sneak in the youth training anymore ?

I am now struggling ? Have a young horse that isn’t quite ready to go out properly yet in competition, and the group clinic environment is what he needs now really. It’ll put him out of his comfort zone, but not send him into an irretrievable brain fart.

But there doesn’t seem to be much going on ? Or at least with people I want a lesson from. Or I’m looking in the wrong places.

I’ve thought about a camp, but can’t find anything going on.

Where do you look?

We’re Notts/Derbyshire territory in case anyone has helpful suggestions!

Mostly after XC / water training clinic stuff, but jumping would be good to. I’m picky about dressage trainers, but am currently without a regular one, so would look at that too.

Thank you for suggestions ?

 

[Ali27]

You should do a Somerford camp! I do the camp plus ones! I think Derby College hold clinics!

 

[Maryann]

A friend of mine had a young horse and wanted affordable training. She joined a local riding club and started organising group lessons and it worked for her. A word of warning though, she ended up being chairman for several years.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Did you get to know many people in the now defunct RC? Might be worth recultivating friendships to get a couple of likeminded people to join you going xc or meeting for a shared arena hire or lesson. .
Ask at venues who does training sessions or clinics?
Round here there are various clinics from dressage to xc etc, often listed on the venue's page.
Check out local Equestrian Facebook groups, ask on there too.

 

[milliepops]

I found a good local group clinic that i have taken a few green horses to on FB, the trainer also does some training with the BD regions so I figured she would be someone who would be worth going to. I've done flatwork and polework with her but she does jumping too, it's just not what i wanted. so i would look on FB, and also check the names of more "advanced" training and stalk them to see if they do more low key clinics that they may advertise elsewhere.

SJ/XC venues near me advertise clinics with visiting trainers on FB round here.

For more long term stuff i found my trainer by watching friend's lessons, and I have also dipped into BD regional training occasionally as you can just go once without any commitment if you don't get on.

 

[GinaGeo]

Thanks all. ?

You should do a Somerford camp! I do the camp plus ones! I think Derby College hold clinics!

Where do they advertise? Because I must be being dense ? I’ve looked on the Somerford Website and can’t make much sense out of it ?

A friend of mine had a young horse and wanted affordable training. She joined a local riding club and started organising group lessons and it worked for her. A word of warning though, she ended up being chairman for several years.

If I had the time I absolutely would. That and organising courses is the day job. I’m not sure I can face it at home too ?. I would do it to get my favoured dressage trainer back up here from deepest darkest Devon though ?

I found a good local group clinic that i have taken a few green horses to on FB, the trainer also does some training with the BD regions so I figured she would be someone who would be worth going to. I've done flatwork and polework with her but she does jumping too, it's just not what i wanted. so i would look on FB, and also check the names of more "advanced" training and stalk them to see if they do more low key clinics that they may advertise elsewhere.

That is my other niggle - the horse isn’t always straightforward - and the wrong approach wouldn’t end well. I am happy to walk out if I’m not happy, or just do my own thing. I know some of the people I’ve trained with previously, who I liked for that horse, have the potential to be too confrontational for this one.

I will have a to do some more digging!

 

[GinaGeo]

Did you get to know many people in the now defunct RC? Might be worth recultivating friendships to get a couple of likeminded people to join you going xc or meeting for a shared arena hire or lesson. .
Ask at venues who does training sessions or clinics?
Round here there are various clinics from dressage to xc etc, often listed on the venue's page.
Check out local Equestrian Facebook groups, ask on there too.

I did. And that is a good shout. We weren’t a big club, but it was very friendly. I will put some feelers out ?

With it being the summer holidays now the the local venues seem to be aiming things more at children. (I’m basically too late this year ?)

 

[milliepops]

That is my other niggle - the horse isn’t always straightforward - and the wrong approach wouldn’t end well. I am happy to walk out if I’m not happy, or just do my own thing. I know some of the people I’ve trained with previously, who I liked for that horse, have the potential to be too confrontational for this one.

I will have a to do some more digging!

I have a super quirky horse, I've left mid way through lessons with her before and she's one I mostly take to test riding clinics now if I want external input other than from my regular trainer but she did some random group polework clinics, they're a good way in with limited potential to upset the applecart I feel.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I did. And that is a good shout. We weren’t a big club, but it was very friendly. I will put some feelers out ?

With it being the summer holidays now the the local venues seem to be aiming things more at children. (I’m basically too late this year ?)

Both our local (to me) RCs dont appear to have much training in July and August, usually its because people are tied up with school holidays, one holidays etc etc.
Main one resumes again in September for monthly clinics tho.
I've taken B Fuzzy to a few clinics when we were getting going, mostly to get her working with others, some coaches I really didnt get on with, so just kept my gob shut, and used the time for B and not me....
Good luck x

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Even if the riding club has a lot of midweek stuff, if it’s the stuff you’re more interested in, could you see who is the instructor is and see if they ever do clinics elsewhere? That’s how I found some of mine. Looked up who the instructors were on the website and then stalked the instructors FB page ?

 

[Ample Prosecco]

If Somerford is close enough to get to then you will be spoilt for choice. Many local trainers run regular clinics and plenty of world class trainers run occasional ones. Trainers tend to post their clinics on their own Fb pages. There’s too much going on for Somerford to list clinics on their main site so it’s best to contact trainers direct. Then there are the camps for intensive training over 2-3 days. Those are listed on the website with organiser details.

You may also be near Eland Lodge? Or Beaver Hall? Eland has regular clinics in all disciplines , Beaver in SJ and dressage.

Plus I organise a lot of clinic at the yard where I am livery. I want lessons so I invite trainers I want! Most trainers will travel to any yard if you can get 4-5 other riders along for 1:1s or more for groups. I invited Nicola Wilson pre Covid and she was happy to come along for 10+ riders in groups of 3. Which wasn’t hard for me for someone of that calibre. So if you have facilities at home I’d suggest going DIY.

 

[Roxylola]

Camps wise at somerford, there's - clinics and camps north west, yh Equestrian, camp plus, aspire. There might be others I've missed.
I'm pretty sure eland do camps which would be nearer for you maybe.
Andrew Heffernan and Maddy Moffet are both good trainers with Facebook pages who announce when they are running dates at somerford.
Id be tempted to ring the office of places like somerford, eland etc and ask what they have coming up

 

[GinaGeo]

Thanks guys - Eland is fab for clinics and Somerford would be doable for camps.

Understanding how it all works is a big help!

I’ve missed all of Eland’s camps - so I’d need to look elsewhere for those ? But Somerford sounds like it will fit the brief ?

I will have a good hunt about in the morning with these new leads! My googling hadn’t turned much up - you’re all far more helpful!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Eland events page lists their in house trainers mainly I think. There are other trainers and again it’s the Fb pages you need. Off the top of my head; Somerford has regular clinics with Maddy Moffett, David Llewelyn, Tyler Cassells, Andy Heffernan. @photo_jo can probably list more as she photographs a lot of clinics. Eland has Ann Hunter, Mark Cramb, Richard Seals. Beaver has a lot of dressage clinics.

 

[VRIN]

Kelsall seem to be starting more camps and clinics now