Riding Hat & Lesson Advice

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PinkTulips

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Well i posted earlier about buying my first riding hat well i opted for the Charles Owen Fiona Hat as it was the most comfortable.

While having my fitting I was talking to the lady and she was asking about what lessons i do and where so i told her i do 1hour private every week. so she asked if i didn't mind but how much i pay i told her £30 a hour then she recommended i looked into maybe doing a group lesson every week and one or two private per month and it works out less if i do this with one private and £20 more if i do two private but me and hubby were thinking ok i get more hours in the saddle for my money but will i learn as much in group lessons as i do in privates? any recommendations on this i would appreciate

thanks in advance x
 
Group lessons provide less one on one time obviously than privates do but you do get to hear and see what other people are getting criticised and praised for, and can use them as an example. Also you get to see other perhaps more difficult horses out and see how the riders handle them, which I always find beneficial before I ride different horses. But like I said you don't get as much one on one time, fewer mistakes will be picked up on and you could end up held back by your group. I personally like group lessons for the reasons above and that I can relax and have more fun in this setting.

Maybe try that set up for a month and see how you like it?
 
Depends on the group - If there are only one or two other people, it's fine, otherwise you find you do a lot of standing around, and the instructor's attention isn't really on you.

Also going on rides (pay for hacking or trekking) is good for learning, as it improves your seat and general responses, and is often cheaper than one on one tuition :)
 
Generally speaking you will progress quicker in private lessons as the instructor can focus soley on you.

I would establish the basics W, T & C independatly in privates and then discuss with your instrucutor if they have any suitable groups for you to join. Try an opt for one which is not too large and had people of a similar standard and age. Have a few group lessons and see how you get on. You may enjoy the group lessons and form a bond with the others or you may feel you are getting no where. Then you can decide whats best.

i think the idea of a mixture sounds good, but go with what you find is best onces youve tried all the options.
 
Saw your other thread, so glad to hear you've got a great hat, professionally fitted 80) I really like the straps on the Fiona hat!

I went through this same dilemma a while ago: my PhD funding ran out and I was trying to justify private lessons to myself (£30 private, £15 group). I then had a group lesson as it turned out, because my RI had to cancel my private one and didn't have another slot free. It absolutely made my mind up for me - it is definitely worth the private lesson! The lesson didn't challenge me at all, and in fact I never even got to canter in the end because the 16hh beauty I was on was hyper, and RI didn't want the little ponies upset. I now only ride in group lessons when it's free, which I sometimes get given when a lazy pony has had a poor rider and needs to have a proper workout! You do NOT get the full riding time in my experience in a group lesson - not only can the instructor not focus on you all of the time, often you have to wait while other people do things. I never spend time still in a private lesson, unless I'm scanning a jump course!

My advice is to try a group lesson: I'm sure it'll make your mind up for you one way or another. I think group lessons can be great if you're paired with people on the same level (I was at my last school where I never rode privately), but otherwise your riding can be slow to develop if you're better than them, or your confidence can be shaken be being put in with much more advanced riders.

ETA: when I'm at the yard I hang around and watch a few group lessons when I can. Other people's mistakes and strengths can be great to learn from and to think about... but I'm not wasting my own valuable lesson time doing it I have to say! lol.
 
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well i have a lesson in the morning so im going to speak with my RI then about it.

I'v just spoken to my mum on the phone and she said why not speak to her about maybe even dropping my lessons to do either 3 lessons and a beginners hack once a month or even alternates. Mum used to ride years ago for many moons and did this as she wasn't a huge fan of spending to much time in the school :) xx
 
Well I have a weekly group lesson and a semi private lesson fortnightly. A semi private is perfect for me, plenty of attention but still someone else to watch and interact with. I don't get any more out of a private lesson because you just don't need 100% of the instructors attention all the time. Group lessons aren't really as productive but they are pretty good. Any good riding school should match you to s group of similar abilities. There is no need to be standing around, the whole group should be doing something. At the level I ride we work in open order and do our own thing but share the instructor. At a lower level there still shouldn't be standing around, my nephew is just off the lead rein and his group never stand around waiting.
 
I would recommend a good mix and match of everything, as in their own way they will test you: group lessons, hacks, a shared lesson with one more same-level, private lessons.

I agree with some of the other comments, in that group lessons can, if too large and not good a mix, lead to a lot of standing about, or endless turns in "cantering round the school to the back of the ride" scenario etc! Despite this, I think they can be a very good way of learning from comments given to others as PonyIAmNotFood said, but best if a small group of similar ability riders. The other thing about group lessons is that often you will not be given the same horse to ride every time, which IMO is good for learning.

Also, you may make like-minded friends you can ask to share a semi-private lesson with, in a group lesson, to share costs.

Vixen Van Debz also makes a very good point re watching other's lessons! This can be very valuable, if you have time to turn up early and watch the lesson before, or stay late and watch the lesson after :-)

ETA Charliepony said that hacking improves your seat and general responses, which I agree with!
 
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