Riding School Closures what a shame

[JessPickle]

in the last month 2 local riding schools have closed down, literally within the same couple of weeks. The oveflow from them just cannot be catered for! My yard has a large waiting list now, its so awful that all these yards now changing into livery yards for insurance reasons

Jess

 

[tormor]

i agree it is a shame and i think it is a real issue that needs to be adressed in this country

 

[izzyxxx]

we were looking at setting up a trekking centre and we asked around for where the local ones where, we were told that there aren't really that many due to insurance. such a shame!!!

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

the thought of riding becoming a dying hobbie is very sad, mahority of people become interested thanks to riding schools.

 

[JessPickle]

It also seems such a shame that my yard now we literally ahve to almost turn people away! I show them around, but all I can do is add them to an incresingly large waiting list. In the local area there used to be 6/7 riding schools there will now be 4/5

 

[giggles mum]

It's really sad.

and the riding schools that are still around have to be SO H&S conscious....riding lessons can end up boring for kids because the instructors are scrad to do anything "risky".

 

[Breezesbenefactor]

Yep, the nanny state really has hit this sport. I imagine when I'm old I'll be telling my grandchildren that people use to ride horse and expect them to laugh & think I'm lying

 

[giggles mum]

The thing is though (here we go....sorry for thread-hijacking, Jess

) it seems quite isolated to Britain. I go to France regularly and I don't think much has changed in the 7 years or so I've been riding there - they've always been a lot more relaxed than in the UK. What's it like in other countries?

 

[LauraBR]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep, the nanny state really has hit this sport.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think it is the state in this case... it's the greedy people who claim for thousands the second they come off.

What has the goverment to do with it, I'm confused?

 

[Breezesbenefactor]

I bet it is just the same. I think the rule needs to be that folks have to take out their own insurance, and depending on what they do will determine the cost...it'll be the only way the industry will survive

 

[Llwyncwn]

I agree with OP above that its the compensation claims culture doing the damage. In this country a signed disclaimer wont stand up in court, yet it will in America. Shouldnt we follow their example and make disclaimers a legal document?

 

[eahotson]

It is very sad. Something must be done or riding will ecome out of the reach of most people.

 

[Fantasy_World]

I blame all this " have you had an accident in the last ...... that was not your fault...." crap!
When I learned to ride and you fell off it was tough [****]. You got back on ( only thing lost was pride, luckily didn't fall off many times lol) and to hell with anything else.
Now people are always conscious of compensation claims being filed against them.
Fair enough if the riding school was using a horse/pony that had potentially dangerous habits and was being matched to a rider whose skills could not control the animal if it threw a wobbly.
But imo most falls/accidents are caused by horses being just what they are animals and not machines and therefore totally unpredictable. Also there are sadly a few riders out there probably being egged on by over pushy parents who do not have the skills for riding ie they are not a natural rider and are trying to run before they can walk so to speak.
When riders switch from one stable to another and are asked are you a novice, and how long have you been riding etc how the hell do the schools know when people are telling the truth?
They don't until they get on board the horse and then their lack of training and understanding starts to show.
If mistakes are made by a riding school in that situation and a rider who is really a novice is matched with a forward going horse because they said they had been riding ..... no of years etc of course there is a strong possibility an accident may occur.
Sad very sad.
I think horse riding is one of the best sports and pastimes there is for children and without riding schools how would they have the chance to learn? It would just be the privileged few whose parents are well off or could afford horses and had plenty of spare time to teach their kids. ie not working their arses off to pay for every day living and owning horses in the first place.
Riding helps children to become fit and in an ever increasing obese world this is surely a good thing.
I wish schools would consider it an option for children to do when at school. I know when I was at college at 16 we were given the chance to by a lecturer who loved horse riding and on a Wednesday afternoon when you could do sports a few of us jumped at the chance even though we had to pay for it.
Horse riding would be a great option in a school's curriculum imo.
Children learn to care about animals. Horses are very good therapy for them and adults who have problems.
Just look at the success of the RDA and how it improves peoples lives.
It also teaches them discipline. Another area sadly lacking in our schools and children.
Listening to and obeying instructions. How their actions on a horse/pony can have consequences. I.e pull a horse too many times in its mouth, jab it too hard or simply ask too much and the horse will either rear, buck, bolt or dump you on the ground.
A lesson a few kids could do with learning these days that is if you don't respect something or someone you cannot expect the same in return and there will be repercussions for your actions.
Cazx