Paying someone to school - worth it?

joolie

joolie

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I'm mulling over whether to pay someone to school my mare a couple of times a month. We are out competing at prelim, working novice - I'm a self confessed happy hacker who's enjoying some dressage! We are having weekly lessons and are progressing but I wonder if having someone more experienced in to work on the things I struggle with may help us both (lateral work in particular) as I am learning as I go along with her the same. Sometimes I feel like its the blind leading the blind!!

Any thoughts appreciated, pros/cons etc. TIA :)
 
I think if you do it you need to have lessons from the same professional so you are taught how to achieve the same results. In this case worthwhile as long as the professional is good at teaching and schooling.
 
It's definitely easier to learn to do new movements on a horse that knows what it's doing.

It depends what you want to achieve - it could be argued that you would get more satisfaction doing it together, and having achieved it all by yourself.

It also depends on who you would get in to do the schooling - it would have to be someone who worked on the same lines as yourself and your instructor, otherwise you wouldn't be achieving much.

As a rider who gets called in to school for owners, I would also suggest that a couple of times a month wouldn't be a lot of use in trying to establish new work - weekly would get you further.

Best of luck whatever you decide
 
I would definitely suggest having the same person who teaches you to school your horse if possible as it's much easier for them to understand the horse and what they need to focus on when they are teaching you as well as schooling the horse. I would say though that really it would be better if they were doing it more than a couple of times per month as it needs to be quite a regular thing to see any major results, particularly if you aren't replicating what they are schooling in the meantime between them riding your horse.
 
Yes it is helpful if you feel you need it & you get the right person for your horse. If I was you & you get lessons then the obvious 1 would be to ask your instructor to do. She will then know exactly how to teach you to ride the horse the way she has taught it.
 
Thanks all for the input! Unfortunately due to injury my instructor isn't offering a schooling service any more as this would be the logical step.

The other slightly awkward set up is that she runs the yard we are at...The lessons are enjoyable and generally progressive. I'm not against trying someone else, I guess I would just need to man up a bit and explain the reasons why! Above novice I will feel a bit out of my comfort zone I guess, my lateral knowledge is pretty much non existent (although the mediums are coming on a treat). Sometimes my horse will have a bit of a strop as well when not getting something new so it'd be good to have someone more experienced to ride her through it! Decisions.....
 
My trainer used to ride my young horse 3 days a week for me for the first few months. Now I have a lesson once a fortnight and she rides the opposite weeks. Its great if you can sit and watch too as you'll learn a lot if your trainer is good. Mine always makes horses go amazingly and they go lovely when you get on after.
 
I would find an instructor that can ride you horse at the beginning of the lesson, then you can jump on so that you know what you should be feeling iykwim.

Its a shame your current instructor can't ride anymore.

Do you have transport? I would take your horse to a different instructor, and continue with both instructors until such a time that you might need to move on again :)
 
Could definitely be worth getting some in to school your mare but it would need to be just a few times a month. It is much easier to learn how to ride a movement on a horse who already knows how to do it. Word of mouth recommendation is usually best - your instructor may be able to recommend someone.
 
Definitely worth it, on the few occasions I've had a pro school my horse its been amazing to see, I get a 'proud mummy' moment seeing someone who knows what they are doing riding him - he looked fabulous and felt like a different horse for a while afterwards. Unfortunately I cant afford to do it regularly and I do think our progress has suffered as a result. I also have the issue where my usual instructor has also seen him at his worst and is understandably reluctant to ride him (after all, if shes injured she can't work), so while she would if I asked (and has ridden him in the past), I dont want to put her in an awkward position!
 
Thanks all for the input. Lots of food for thought! Transport is a work in progress at the mo, my OH and dad can tow, I need to take my test at some point soon (or put towards saving some pennies for a single horse trailer).

I'm not sure how regularly I can afford really, tricky one as I really want her/us to progress but this comes at cost and I'm always saying I need to spend less! Suppose I could turn weekly lessons to fortnightly and have her schooled once a week instead but again this may not be enough. Hmm!
 
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