Private Instructor & riding school

[Elopi]

I want to ask what are peoples opinions on doing lessons at a riding school as well as taking lessons with a private instructor on your own horse?
Due to my confidence being knocked after a few accidents, I’ve decided to return back to a riding school once a week. I’m also being taught at my yard by a private instructor on my loan pony. I feel like I’m making so much progress and I’m enjoying being able to ride different horses. My mum asked me today if it confuses me being taught in 2 different ways and I don’t think it does, I feel like I’m taking both instructors advice on board and overall becoming a better rider.

Thoughts..?

 

[teddypops]

Sounds like it’s working for you so that’s great! The more horses you ride, the better your riding is as you learn to deal with different problems etc.

 

[teapot]

Far more common than you think

 

[mini_b]

If you think it’s doing you good - keep it up.

I have 2 go to instructors (both on my own horse) and they are both very different, I take things from both lessons to get the best out of my horse. Think that’s what learning is about.
They both don’t ride my horse every day, they see a snapshot of the horse and i on the day... I use what I have learned from both of them and apply it to my ride.

 

[AdorableAlice]

The more safe horses you have opportunity to ride the more your confidence will grow. The teaching of basic aids, balance etc should be the same across all instructors. Enjoy your lessons.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We all ride different horses differently, so your different RIs are only teaching you the best way to ride the horse on the day. A broad experience of riding as many horses as possible is bound to be good for your confidence.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I kept my RS lessons going regularly when I had a share horse (who I mostly hacked anyway but did also have some lessons on). I now ride at 2 different RS and overall I think it's helpful - variety of horses, different environment, and instructors who see different things to help me work on. I don't like changing horses every lesson but usually they keep me on the same one for at least a few lessons in a row to get a bit of consistency which helps

 

[18hhOlls&Me]

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it! I understand you are building up your confidence so a RS seems to be a good idea at the moment, and as Pearlsinger said the more different horses you ride the better. But just so I can understand, is the horse on the livery yard yours on share, or could that be an option in the future? Does it belong to the instructor and you pay for the use of the horse as well as tuition? In my opinion it really depends what you want to do and how much confidence building you need and what level you were at before? If you’ve paid your dues riding different ponies at RS’s in the past and are just using those lessons as a safe way to move onwards and upwards psychologically, then eventually I would imagine you would want to move past the riding school and maybe instead use the money for a one or two day a week share with lessons from your private instructor on the livery yard. Maybe ask her if she knows anything that might be suitable in a few months. RS’s are great but have certain traits from being ‘institutionalised’; to build a good riding foundation with a privately owned horse could be a great way to go once when you are fully ready, which it sounds like you are moving towards very well. Put it this way- doing both is great, but once you are feeling confident again I would say you will go further with your riding at a private/livery yard on a horse or pony that you can work with every time so you can feel the progress you are making. Additionally you will
be participating in yard duties like mucking out, cleaning tack and really being immersed in your horse/ponies wellbeing rather than just turning up and hopping on. Whatever you decide best of luck- in no time you will
be cantering out on a hack, doing a dressage test maybe, even try some XC! And remember the main thing is to enjoy!

 

[Skib]

About lessons - I learned to ride as an adult, and rode twice a week, taking lessons at one yard and hacking from another.
As one goes further one may look for specialist lessons at a specialist riding centre, say for jumping or dressage. It isnt like going to a regular school You can chop and change and I found it salutary to discover there are a variety of views on how to ride almost anything.

However, it is pointless to spend money going to a trainer whom you deeply disagree. You are not going to pay for arguments, you want to learn from your lessons.

About your falls - Everyone falls off while learning but you say you fell several times. I always found it worth working out why I fell. What was it that caused your falls? What were you doing? Was it the behaviour of another horse? Was it in a school or out hacking?

I would myself be wary about loaning a horse from which I regularly fell. Both my shares have been safe, well trained horses.

 

[Elopi]

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it! I understand you are building up your confidence so a RS seems to be a good idea at the moment, and as Pearlsinger said the more different horses you ride the better. But just so I can understand, is the horse on the livery yard yours on share, or could that be an option in the future? Does it belong to the instructor and you pay for the use of the horse as well as tuition? In my opinion it really depends what you want to do and how much confidence building you need and what level you were at before? If you’ve paid your dues riding different ponies at RS’s in the past and are just using those lessons as a safe way to move onwards and upwards psychologically, then eventually I would imagine you would want to move past the riding school and maybe instead use the money for a one or two day a week share with lessons from your private instructor on the livery yard. Maybe ask her if she knows anything that might be suitable in a few months. RS’s are great but have certain traits from being ‘institutionalised’; to build a good riding foundation with a privately owned horse could be a great way to go once when you are fully ready, which it sounds like you are moving towards very well. Put it this way- doing both is great, but once you are feeling confident again I would say you will go further with your riding at a private/livery yard on a horse or pony that you can work with every time so you can feel the progress you are making. Additionally you will
be participating in yard duties like mucking out, cleaning tack and really being immersed in your horse/ponies wellbeing rather than just turning up and hopping on. Whatever you decide best of luck- in no time you will
be cantering out on a hack, doing a dressage test maybe, even try some XC! And remember the main thing is to enjoy!

I part loan a horse at the moment, and then other days I ride at a riding school ?

 

[Elopi]

About lessons - I learned to ride as an adult, and rode twice a week, taking lessons at one yard and hacking from another.
As one goes further one may look for specialist lessons at a specialist riding centre, say for jumping or dressage. It isnt like going to a regular school You can chop and change and I found it salutary to discover there are a variety of views on how to ride almost anything.

However, it is pointless to spend money going to a trainer whom you deeply disagree. You are not going to pay for arguments, you want to learn from your lessons.

About your falls - Everyone falls off while learning but you say you fell several times. I always found it worth working out why I fell. What was it that caused your falls? What were you doing? Was it the behaviour of another horse? Was it in a school or out hacking?

I would myself be wary about loaning a horse from which I regularly fell. Both my shares have been safe, well trained horses.

Regarding my last post I now have a different horse on loan, which is more suitable.