lessons with multiple instructors??

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MissMincePie&Brandy

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Some of you who might have read any of my previous posts might have gathered that my TB (ex-racer) is a very good boy at home, is super to hack, but is scary to take out to shows.

... I need to seriously start going out a lot in the trailer to desensitise him, but I've come to the conclusion it's probably best for me and other competitors if I don't do this at busy shows & events.

So, my thinking is that I will book lessons at different venues every week. Then we'll be going out, in a controlled and safe environment and he'll soon get the message that travelling and going out is all ok, and if anything, is a bit boring (hopefully).

There are about 8 venues nearby where I can take him for lessons, although all of them would mean I have to use their resident instructor/s. I can afford to do this once a week.

So...my question is; would it be 'sensible' and 'productive' to have lessons with a different person every week? I know there isn't going to be any continuity, and I'm not sure if I should tell the instructors what I'm doing, as they would probably disapprove! But my priority is to get my boy used to going out and working sensibly at as many different places as possible.

What do you think?
 
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I'd just ask if it was possible to come for a one-off lesson (there isn't much point explaining is there?!) and I wouldn't see a problem with it - might be interesting to see the different points of view! :) Seems like a good plan
 
I don't think that it would do any harm. From the sounds of it you will be just working on settling him and getting him calm when away.

You will be able to choose which instructor you go to for lessons in the future...

Regarding shows, could you just take him and walk around with a calm stablemate - without doing classes - until he calms down? We do this with our youngster - when I'm eventing my mare, the youngster comes too, stands on the box watching, then goes for a ride when the competing mare has finished. At first his eyes were on stalks, now he's like "yeah its a marquee, so what?" He's seen tradestands, bunting etc. I've even walked him rount the dressge arena when the comp had finished - so he's seen boards and flowers etc. He's going to have a shock this year when he has to compete himself!
 
Well, I have tried just taking him out and walking round the car parks and warm up rings at low key events, but a 17.2 TB capriole style bronking round the car park sometimes rubs the other competitors up the wrong way :o which is why I've come to the conclusion that It would be more responsible of me to privately hire other peoples arena's to get him used to going out and working sensibly, but I have to have to have lessons with their instructors to do this. I'm not worried about doing this. In fact if he plays up it will be better for me, but I just hope I don’t get too much conflicting advice as I know how differently some people work.

He's and ex national hunt racehorse, and at home he is a well mannered darling, hacking; he is the most bombproof horse I have ever known - he's the only horse on our yard who will happily walk past the glass & bottle recycling lorries when they are pouring bottles in! But, if we go out in the trailer to a show, he turns into a lunatic, and not the horse I know from home. He thinks it’s a race meeting. I have videos of his racing days and he was one of those horses who played up and was difficult to handle before the race started.

I love him all the same, but if we could just conquer this he will be perfect.
 
I would be completely honest and tell the instructors what you are doing.....You will be paying at the end of the day....you aren't asking them to do you a favour!

Can you go and hack from anywhere else too??
 
There is the riding club show in September I can hack to. I did it last year. There are a few dressage classes which our riding club holds which I have hacked to too. He's definitely better, but does lose concentration once he's there.
 
Or try finding a very quiet "clear round day" type event, these tend to have less people and be less stressful while still having enough going on to get them used to it.
 
QR - I think this is a good idea. If it was me, I would expain the situation, chose about 4 or 5 instructors/venues, and each time I go tell them what I done in the last last with the other instructor and that way each instructor will know what the other has worked on with you.
If I was the instructor, it wouldn't bother me TBH. If you choose 4 instructors, then you would see each one at least once a month. Remember too many cooks and all that!
 
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