Riding Club level rider - lessons with Olympic eventer?

Some top riders have good coaching techniques, have made the effort to learn how to teach (it's not always a natural skill), are not there just to big up their egos and genuinely want to pass on their skills and experience.
But one top dressage rider once told me that they considered the 'middle aged, middle class and mediocre' women as cash cows. Boring to teach but keep coming back with their cheque books.
You'll soon find out which one your trainer is.
 
daffy44 said:
Teaching is such a personal thing, one persons amazing lesson, is someone elses nightmare! The best advice I can give is if at all possible, watch a lesson before you decide, its the most useful thing you can do.
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^^ this. I love watching lessons with new people - i have a good idea of the kind of teaching I need and like, so this is pretty essential for me :)

FWIW I trained on an irregularly-regular basis with Matt Ryan when I was eventing - started at BE100 level and continued from there. I got a huge amount out of it and found him to be an excellent trainer who gave me the push I needed :)
 
nato said:
Additionally, I find they are obsessive about smaller details - I spent most of my lesson getting killed for my leg position and rein length!

***Maybe that's why some people don't find them valuable - they expect to be getting revolutionary ideas, but in reality these people are just very successful because they nailed the basics, and do so obsessively.***

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This!!

Some people expect immediate results and short cuts. The majority got good by doing the right thing repeatedly. I'm sure there's a more succinct way to say that!

In regards to the OP I'd say go for it, you won't know unless you try. If you like how she rides and can go with an open mind then there's the potential to gain a lot. Someone on here had their horse with her for a while and used to post regular updates - she only had good things to say and I'm sure she had lessons with her too (horse was really big and maybe called vinnie?)
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As with any level of instructor a lot is going to depend on whether their teaching style suits you. I have one friend who if she likes an instructor, there is a high probability that I will hate them. It doesn't mean they aren't good instructors just that we need very different approaches.
 
Don't know unless you try! :)

I think you will always get more out of a private lesson than a clinic no matter which top level rider it is.

My instructor competes at 4* level now but he's taught me for years way before he was at that level. He's a fantastic teacher & I wouldn't go anywhere else tbh

I think once you find the right person stick with them, it doesn't matter what level they are at if they can get the best out of you & your horse, that's the important thing :)
 
I have trained with two Olympic-level eventers, but not regularly.

One, I would go back to - the clinic was a bit too small for us to learn much but she gave some good pointers, and was open to different ways to do things.
The other, I'm not so sure. I learned some things, but didn't really click with him and I didn't end the lessons feeling full of confidence (a big issue for me). My usual xc instructor (who is my dressage instructor too) makes me feel like we could successfully jump the moon, so I stick to lessons with him!

Is there an opportunity to watch her teaching beforehand? TBH, I'd go and see how you feel :)
 
I have had a XC lesson with Paul Tapner and he was absolutely brilliant. I had a naughty pony and he was very refreshing in the way he didn't just write him off but offered different ways of dealing with his behaviour and different ways of schooling to help avoid the naughtiness
 
Thanks for all your replies - circumstances mean it is very easy for me to watch a few lessons, but I have decided to bite the bullet, be brave and ask :) It will be regular lessons rather than a one-off, which I am hoping with be better for me + horse - once I have got the little darling re-shod and hopefully sound again of course..... sigh..... :D :D
 
Lévrier;13210276 said:
Has anyone had regular lessons with an Olympic level eventer when they themselves have been a Riding Club level rider who has aspirations only to go BE90 at most? Just curious how you found the experience :)
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I haven't had lessons with an Olympic rider, but my regular trainer competed internationally at GP level and I was struggling with prelim when I started having lessons with her. 18 months on and we were starting medium - so definitely worth it for me. Ultimately it will depend on whether you click with her teaching style or not - and to be honest the only way to find out is to have a few lessons. My first couple of lessons with my trainer didn't go as well as I would have liked, but I am so glad that I went back for the 3rd lesson - it's (mostly!!) been on the up since then! ;)
xx
 
Lévrier;13210384 said:
Vittoria Pannizon
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My friend attended a clinic with her (organised by the riding club in preparation for the BRC last year!). I went with her to take photos/videos etc.

She is 100% used to teaching riding club - she had the group jumping a small grid with no reins and got them to dismount via somersault!

The feedback from the group was all very positive and my friend certainly picked up a few tips.

Same friend has also had lessons (private and clinics) with Paul Tapner, Nick Gauntlett and Harry Meade. All very good trainers and I have learned loads from just watching! I want to enter some myself but want to stop being such a sissy first lol.
 
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I've recently started training with Mike Eilberg.

I'm not on a fancy horse and I'm not an outstanding rider. He makes the most brilliant observations about me and Fig.

Our lessons so far have been basics basics basics. It's brilliant! He's really working on fine tuning the little things that are holding us back. Has made a huge difference already and I really enjoy them.
 
Although I have no experience of this, I have found from what has been said here and by others that those who have lessons as clinics in a group may not learn as much as those who have one on one, but that it just the same as any other instructor, but you probably notice it less with standard instructors as their teaching skills may be higher and may make you feel involved in a group session even if you don't learn anything.
 
Templebar said:
Although I have no experience of this, I have found from what has been said here and by others that those who have lessons as clinics in a group may not learn as much as those who have one on one, but that it just the same as any other instructor, but you probably notice it less with standard instructors as their teaching skills may be higher and may make you feel involved in a group session even if you don't learn anything.
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One to ones I find I better
 
OP, I am a very grassroots rider, competing at 80 and potentially 90. I had a few lessons with Vittoria last season, before she moved yards. She is absolutely FANTASTIC one of the best instructors I've ever used. She pushed me but never too far, it was fun and interesting and she made me do things I didn't think I could. I recommend her 110% Shes excellent
 
Vittoria is just down the road from me and is really lovely. She is very genuine and has a really nice way of explaining things. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Her new home/yard is great too if you ever go there for a lesson (10min from my house) great views and a really peaceful set up.
 
Wow it is amazing how small the world is - Shadowboy i am lucky enough to be a livery on her yard, I have been here for years previously (including living on site for 2.5 years) so it is amazing to be back :) I shall PM you as you must be local xx
 
I had a XC lesson with Andrew Heffernan last year, one of the best lessons I've ever had and would go back in a flash. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but I thought he was superb. Both me and horse got loads out of that 45 min (1-2-1) session. He really made me think about how I was riding XC, why the horse did certain things (what was I doing to create the situation), lots of work on my position. I also had a clinic with Ben Hobday (not Olympic I know but still 4*) which was good but I got more out of AH's session. In fairness though, for the latter I'd got a year's extra experience under my belt and it was a 1-2-1 session which I think you're always going to get more out of. I found the AH session more challenging because he was continually making me analyse how I planned to ride fences then analyse how it had gone. I want to go back up to him again and have a SJ lesson and XC session in a day but it's finding the time!
 
I used to have my horse on an ex Olympic eventer's yard (I dont event btw). He would come out and give me an improptu lesson sometimes and this man really is a truly gifted instructor. As someone said earlier, he doesnt do things by the book, rather by generations of experience passed down through the family. He would see things that I still cant work out how he would see (even where my eyeballs were, if I was focussing on something my horse 'might' spook at). He kept it all so very simple and his ethos was (is) that as riders we shouldnt interfere with the horse and have a negative impact on its way of going. His teachings will be with me forever and I would learn more from him with a 10 min chat on the driveway without a horse that I would in a couple of hours with a standard instructor. Sadly no longer on that yard but my time there was invaluable.
I am not sure being an 'Olympic Eventer' really has much to do with it. I prefer generations of experience coupled with a gift for teaching and sharing their knowledge. Good instructors make 'the penny drop', uncomplicate things and will nurture your relationship with your horse. Its just so hard finding the right instructor as we are all so individual.
 
Lévrier;13214927 said:
I'm not a member of any club :) I have tried the whole riding club scene and didn't really enjoy it, which is a shame as there are loads of clubs around here
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Apologies, I thought you said the lesson was organised by the RC, my bad!
 
A group of friends and I had a SJ & XC lesson with Owen Moore the other day. He was really great! interested in you and the horse, took on board concerns about things, but gently and calmly pushed us to jump bigger/ do more technical things than we have for done for 7 years. will def have a more lessons with him. Also had lessons with Nick Gauntlett who is very happy teaching lower level too.
 
I've been lucky enough to have several lessons and clinics with olympic eventer Sandra Donnelly, and she is just fantastic. So I'd say try it, if you can. Mainly, you just know you're getting someone who really knows their stuff to share some of their wisdom and insights with you :)
 
Lévrier;13215022 said:
No worries - although Forest of Dean Riding Club did arrange lessons with Vittoria almost as soon as she moved here :)
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I'll keep an eye out when I move over in August as I'll be looking for a new instructor *eep*

Ps if you have any information about the Monmouth area horse scene I'd be grateful as have no idea where I'm going to be keeping the horse or what's around the area!
 
chestnut cob said:
I had a XC lesson with Andrew Heffernan last year, one of the best lessons I've ever had and would go back in a flash. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but I thought he was superb. Both me and horse got loads out of that 45 min (1-2-1) session. He really made me think about how I was riding XC, why the horse did certain things (what was I doing to create the situation), lots of work on my position. I also had a clinic with Ben Hobday (not Olympic I know but still 4*) which was good but I got more out of AH's session. In fairness though, for the latter I'd got a year's extra experience under my belt and it was a 1-2-1 session which I think you're always going to get more out of. I found the AH session more challenging because he was continually making me analyse how I planned to ride fences then analyse how it had gone. I want to go back up to him again and have a SJ lesson and XC session in a day but it's finding the time!
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^^^^^^^^^Exactly this, Andrew Heffernan is a fantastic instructor
 
Vittoria is a fantastic teacher, strikes the balance between pushing you out of your comfort zone and challenging your horse without overfacing either of you. 100% recommend.
 
Lévrier;13210384 said:
Vittoria Pannizon
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V is absolutely fabulous - I couldn't recommend her more. I am not a great or experienced rider and had fab lessons with her, I've also got friends who send their horses to her for schooling. She's got a no messing attitude but is lovely and a very good teacher. I can't recommend her enough and once I have a more amenable beast I will use her as my main instructor.
 
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