Riding lessons or Riding holiday?

Sleepeeze_dad

Sleepeeze_dad

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The above title may seem a little strange but bear with me...

I'm at an impasse. I suppose a few of us have hit it where you've been riding for several months, things are going great then all of a sudden you hit a brick wall. It's frustrating for me but more so for my horse, who is a little green but not overly and that's what really gets to me. I don't want him frustrated and unhappy etc...

Soooo... do I go for a week long course to see what it is I need to sort out and get put on the right road to resolving? This would obviously give me alot more time in the saddle, or do I just get a good local instructor and try and find time twice a week to have lessons?

If the former, where did you go and what did you get out of it?
 
Personally I would go along the path of finding a good instructor that you can build up a relationship with, one that will know you, your habits, dreams and where you are at, will also then know your horse, work out a plan of action and be there when things go wrong or even better be on the end of the phone when things go brilliantly and your screaming in deranged fashion beacause you have just managed something small for the first time! nothing better ! To find this amazing instructor you may have to survive several lessons from others but you will know the one when he / she walks into the school with you. A good instructor is worth their weight in gold ! then when everything is back on track ... save up and go and enjoy a fantastic holiday with your horse !
Good Luck !
 
Tend to agree with Abina but sometimes you are chosing between two right or good things. I am sure you would gain something positive from either choice.
 
If you want to build a relationship of trust, why not try a trail riding holiday with your horse. There is a company in Hay on Wye who will tailor a holiday for you. Or you could take some time off work, get the map and a sandwich & off you go. You will have ups & downs but you will know your horse a lot better at the end and it will stimulate him. Good luck whichever option you choose.
 
i would definitely go for the lessons, regular lessons make all the difference, being a student i only usually have time/money for a lesson now and then but i LOVE them :D and wish i could have them more often. now if i could go on a holiday with her that would be amazing but no replacement for lessons IMHO :)
 
DaffyAppy said:
If you want to build a relationship of trust, why not try a trail riding holiday with your horse. There is a company in Hay on Wye who will tailor a holiday for you. Or you could take some time off work, get the map and a sandwich & off you go. You will have ups & downs but you will know your horse a lot better at the end and it will stimulate him. Good luck whichever option you choose.
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Sounds a great answer. Whatever you ultimately want to do with your horse, you need to know him well, very well.
A holiday like this is a great start to team building .
I did this (or something similar) many years ago before there were any organised holidays like this.
Just me and my horse took off into new horizons .lol
The trust and bond between my horse and I ,was strengthened immensely,
and we were only out enjoying ourselves all day (everyday).
...... but that worked for me. Am sure you will find, deep down, what will work for you.
Wishing you every success with whatever you decide.
Teg :)
 
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As youve only been riding for a few months, and your horse is green, I would do a combination of both. Go on a riding holiday on a well schooled experienced horse. It will improve your confidence, and ability. Purely through time in the saddle. Then go home and find a good instructor to carry on the good work with your horse.

Be patient. Some of us have been sitting on that brick wall for years!
 
Thanks for all your replies. Given me a few ideas.

I've been riding for nearly 3 years now on several different horses and I've had my guy for about 18 months, so about a years worth of riding on him, taking time off for all the bad weather we've had but I still feel I'm very much a beginner and maybe this is my problem.

So the holiday I was thinking was more a riding instruction kind of intensive thing, getting my skills drilled into me so I'm less likely to forget the basics.

It does seem the instructor idea comes out on top, with maybe the holiday trek with my own horse something to do after we've got over this current hurdle maybe an idea?

So the next question would be to find a damn good instructor in the north wales area - one that can deal with a rider who can get quite wound up if it all keeps going south... So lucky I have a TB who if he was human would cross his arms, stand there tapping his foot and refuse to budge until I'd sorted myself out.
 
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sprite1978 said:
Youve got a great choice of instructors local to north wales. Can you travel or do they need to come to you? Check out Northwales horse directory.
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also check out the BHS site for reg instuctors, BD and BE for accredited instructors - good luck - word of mouth is good - get chatting !
 
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