Part sharing or stick to lessons to improve riding?

[Irishdiamond]

It's only recently I've suddenly became serious about riding and want to progress up the levels. I'm totally baffled on whats the best way to do this. I've been offered to part loan a horse but it got me thinking that Maybe staying in a riding school lessons/privates would benefit me more. As with lessons I will be riding a variety of horses and also be riding in a place with great facilities. Plus the horses I'll be on will be the ones in my BHS exams. Its too expensive to part loan AND take lessons so its really one or the other.

How have you HH members progressed as riders?? specifically those restarting as adults. I started looking for a loan horse after I realized I'd spent over 100£ on 4 lessons a month equaling to 3.5 hours in the saddle! which is insane but the flip side of a loan horse is learning to ride one horse then maybe struggling on a different horse. I'm looking to work my way up to Bhs stage 2 and the dream is to get a job on a yard.

The yard I ride at currently has an indoor so small that its started giving me anxiety when I have to canter as I ride the biggest horse in the school which makes corners very scary. I had considered loaning her but feel in a yard with limited facilities there is only so far you can progress.

Major brain fog and can't seem to think clearly on whats the best option.

 

[Shay]

If it is really an "either / or" then you would probably be better sticking with lessons given your goal to progress through the BHS. But the choice might not be as stark as you think.

Private lessons on your own horse and usually much cheaper than lessons at an RS. And you don't have to have a lesson every time you ride - once a week or once a fortnight is fine. If you are continuing your training for BHS then you will have to continue with some lessons at the exam center to be sure that you are familiar with all the horses you might have to ride and are doing things the way the BHS likes. But a lot of progressing as a rider is also hours in the saddle and you can get more hours, and more experience often, with a share or loan.

You don't say how much you are being asked to pay for the loan; but you might find a share locally more economical. Shares are sometimes available in exchange for chores or for a minimal fee. However be sure that the horse you get is really suitable for you as privately owned horses can be much sharper and less predictable than RS horses.

If you want a job on a yard you should really plan to go beyond stage 2; or get an apprenticeship so you can progress and work at the same time. A lot of teens have their stage 2, and even their stage 3 so the competition to get a place can be harder - but the as an adult you also have a greater knowledge of what you want to do with your life and so a greater likelihood of sticking with it I should think.