Loan OR lessons ?

[Cakey Face]

Hi i'm new, this is my first post however i'm always reading posts.
So at the moment i'm in a position where I part loan a lovely pony and being able to afford a private lesson each week at at riding school. Bad news is that's set to change for financial reasons. Soon i'm only going to be able to afford one of these options. I'm really not sure what to do as i love having the regular riding with my loan pony but also get so much confidence from my lessons. I still have so much to learn as i'm an older person returning to riding after a long break.
I know a lot of people's opinions are that regardless of how many lessons you have on a well schooled horse when you eventually get your own its completely different. Id like to hear your opinions as i'm unsure about what to do and what id benefit mostly from.

Bit more info...
Loan Pony is great. Forward going, safe on the roads and has boosted my confidence. Not the type of pony id take into an open space though.
Love lessons too, really interested in learning dressage. Enjoy schooling and flatwork. I owned a pony as a teenager and used to compete etc BUT i'm no way near confident as i used to be.

Thanks in advance

 

[hnmisty]

If you kept the loan pony would you be able to afford a lesson every 3 or 4 weeks? That would be the idea situation IMO!

As I kept my ponies at home and didn't have an arena, 99% of my lessons weren't on my own, and riding different things still is something I'd really recommend. I had a friend who had a "sit pretty and point at the jump" type of horse, but she'd be totally incapable of riding some of the nutters I have sat on!

If you are enjoying lessons so much, maybe giving up the loan pony might be the best option, however it would be a shame to give up a pony you really like...

Have you thought about ways to reduce the cost of having the loan pony eg cheaper yard, diy/part instead of full livery?

 

[Cakey Face]

Thank you, you have given some excellent advice and things to think about. unfortunately i cant move the pony as I only part loan so owner would def want to keep there. Like you said i do agree its good to keep riding different ponies and not just well behaved schooled ones. Maybe to have the lessons less regular would be an option, as i would miss her and the option of just being able to go out for a ride when you feel like it! At least i could have more lessons in summer when my livery bill gets cheaper.

 

[hnmisty]

You sound like you've got your head screwed on properly, so I reckon keep the loan pony and just get lessons on a regular but less frequent basis

The only alternative I can think of whereby you can keep both is to ask the owner if you could do one day less a week?

Anyway, welcome!

Ps- group lessons are usually cheaper than private (unless you are having long private lessons), would you be able/willing to have group lessons? Could you have lessons on the loan at the yard? That is usually a cheaper way, especially if there is already an instructor on the yard. You could always alternate between lesson on loan pony and lesson on RS horse.

 

[Cakey Face]

That's a good idea to maybe reduce it by a day. Group lessons would also be an option and so would lessons at the yard during the summer (as no indoor school). Thanks , its not looking so drastic now.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

OK OP so I think you have to ask yourself this: what would you miss most - your loan pony? or lessons??

Sounds like you're really fond of your loan pony and are doing OK - although you're perhaps lacking a bit of confidence in open spaces; a fairly common problem!!!

Just a thought: but is there someone around who's a good rider or even an instructor/ess, who could maybe hack out with you on their horse and give you a "hacking lesson" as it were? Particularly with your issue of perhaps faster work in open country. I say this because this is what I've done in the past, my trainer boxed hers over to my yard, and we did a "training hack" together - which was invaluable in that it addressed some hacking issues with me/my horse away from the school environment, plus gave me confidence doing faster work in open space.

Just an idea.........???

Is there a local Riding Club you could join? They should have clinics/workshops and stuff that you could join in with and it wouldn't cost you a packet???

 

[dodgers89]

I loan a horse and therefore can no longer afford lessons but I have a great friend who has been riding since she was tiny and has done some schooling and she's happy to give me lessons. I'm lucky enough that we have a school on the farm where I live (not where the horse is stables but I can't have everything!) Although we haven't done any lessons yet she is happy to. We used to hack out together as well and she gave me great advice about posture, seat etc but sadly one of my horses died so for now I have to go solo. Out of curiosity, how much do you pay per lesson?

 

[Morag4]

If I were in your position I would keep the loan and see if you can take either, as others have mentioned, a lesson be it private or group every few weeks if you can financially manage to.

 

[NicandLiv]

I would say loan. I've never been to a riding school, I loaned a very well schooled 18 year old mare. And I learned as I went along. I own a horse now and I have just started taking lessons weekly because she's a bit of witch

 

[skully]

I would say keep loaning, that's what I did when I was in a situation similar to yours and I've never regretted it because I've got such a bond with him and giving him up would've killed me! However is there anyone you could trade favours with another horsey person to sit and watch you ride for half an hour or so every week? I've found even having my mum (who has no clue about horses) watch me occasionally does wonders for my riding because she can see what I can't. Push your boundaries with your loan horse, do things which will boost your confidence and perhaps just have the odd private lesson when you've get the spare cash? That's what I'd do anyway.