Private lessons, Pony Club centre or branches?

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Sauerkraut

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Hi everyone,

first of all a big thanks to this great forum. So many good tips and stories on here which makes "horsey" life so much easier and enjoyable.

I have a few questions regarding my kids. They are 4 and 5 years old and both just started riding. We have a pony for them to enjoy too. Jamie, my older boy started some riding lessons in a school before the summer holidays. Now I am wondering what to do after the hols.

Should I get an instructor out to the yard for them to have lessons on their own pony (I am on a very small yard with just 2 horses I ride, a few neighbour horses with a potetnial instructor if she takes it up again) and our pony. Do I go back to the riding school (Pony club centre) and have them both on lessons or should I join a local pony club branch?

Would they have lessons through a branch or is it more for someone already able to ride to join the Rallies, camps and so on? I am originally from Germany (so apologies for any grammar and spelling mistakes ;) ) and we hadn't got Pony Clubs when I was young. So haven't got a clue where to start, lol.

Thanks for replies.
 
For my 7 year old I have found that around 20 mins is all that she needs in a lesson, anymore and she gets bored... we are just about to join our local pony club more for friends that she can build her confidence with as I am also on a small (adult) yard.
As we have our own pony (or two!) I have a friend who used to teach who gives her occasional lessons, these consist mainly of 'round the world', 'scissors', 'thread the needle', mounting and dismounting and walk, trot and halt transitions :D
 
Have a look at the timetable and plan that both the pony club centre at the riding school, and the local pony club branch have, and see what they will be able to do. Very difficult to advise, as I know the PC centres locally do different amounts of stuff, and the PC branches do different things too, and there is such a vast difference between riding schools and what they offer!

Lessons at home will be easiest for you, and I'm sure the instructor could do half an hour with each child which at that age would be plenty. There is one disadvantage if the pony lends itself to being cheeky and that is that some ponies can giv e children bad habits - my daughter rode a SecA that alwasys put head down to get rider off after jumps which meant she rode over jumps very stiffly expecting it! So she alternated lessons on her pony and RS lessons, so ti didn't become too much of a bad habit.

The RS will probably have age/ability appropriate lsssons weekly or fortnightly, most RS take from 4 years. Some PC Centres do only take kids of a minimum age and of a certain ability, so you may find this rules out your kids. However the benefit of lessons/PC at the RS are a) they could probably have lessons at the same time if they're of a similar ability b) they get to ride a variety of ponies which gives them more all round riding ability and c) you don't have to turf out with the trailer/lorry for every time they ride (which you would to go to a PC branch).

PC branches do vary in what they offer. Our PC offers plenty for lead rein and just off lead rein despite only having 50-60 members in total, but for the littlest members they only have 45 mins or so max at the rallies, and a few fun events eg Easter, Halloween Christmas, and a mini camp. PC training lessons work out (for us) about half the price of RS lessons - incl fuel to get there and we are 31 miles round trip. Other branches don't do as much and some do a lot more. Generally there are 2 or 3 training sessions a month, more if training for a team. So you could fit PC rallies in with lessons at home.

Hope that's helpful.
 
As a riding instructor I would always recommend anyone learning to ride at a good riding school - more variety of ponies - other like minded kids enjoying their pony. Allows rider to have fun with less pressure - individual lessons can be very tiring for little people. We used to have small groups of riders from about 4yrs on and they would work on position, holding reins, steering and learning to rise to the trot. Plenty of time was doing exercises for confidence - round the world etc and also games that encouraged balance and confidence.

There will be plenty of time for them to have private lessons when they are older and can concentrate more.
 
lilaclomax said:
For my 7 year old I have found that around 20 mins is all that she needs in a lesson, anymore and she gets bored... we are just about to join our local pony club more for friends that she can build her confidence with as I am also on a small (adult) yard.
As we have our own pony (or two!) I have a friend who used to teach who gives her occasional lessons, these consist mainly of 'round the world', 'scissors', 'thread the needle', mounting and dismounting and walk, trot and halt transitions :D
Click to expand...

Yes lilaclomax, the riding lessons in our school start with 30 minutes lessons too and I can see it's more then enough for my son so far. They have a fun way of teaching and they are just 2 together atm. My daughter will join them after the school hols. So not really a place to make lots of friends so far. One PC is around their school area and quite a few kids from school are members. Hoping to get lots of "horsey" friends for them through the Club. I think I will investigate a bit more after the hols.

I think it has got advantages and disadvantages riding your own pony in lessons or many different ones from RS. Like Dubsie said they would have both riding lessons at the same time at the riding school and don't need to wait their turn. But I bet we will end up buying a second pony in the near future :D

Thanks everyone for all your comments so far, really appreciate it.
 
Why not join your local pony club branch and then top up as required. So get a lesson on your own pony with a freelance if they need help with an issue specific to their pony or a lesson on a school pony if that would help. The pony club branch will offer more than just riding lessons, depending upon the club there will be competitions, outings, camp etc.

I wouldn't suggest a pony club centre, these are more aimed at children without their own pony, so they can hire a school pony for ridden activities but a lot of what they will do is things like learning pony care in a group with a few ponies to demonstrate.
 
I would go for the "real" pony club rather than the riding school version, which is great for kids without ponies, but if they have one, a real rally is better by far. I would go down to your local pony club, and speak to them/see how many lead rein riders they have. We always have several, and they have a great time learning in a group. The trouble is, only one child would be able to ride at each rally if they have one pony bewteen them.

As the season is halfway through, if I were in your position, I would try and get them on a group lessons at a local RS over the winter, and then just go out for hacks on their own pony, so that they can take turns. That way they will learn the basics over the winter, then you can see how keen they are, and then think of getting another pony at the end of winter to do pony club properly next year.
 
Pony club, then top up as required. Pony club is best the earlier you join-just ring them first and check if they do have little ones in the club/cater for them as some might have more kids at a different age levels. They will make lifelong friends in PC
 
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