Riding School - RANT!!!!!.

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Leaveittothediva

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Sorry folks but today I am fed up, I am going to this school for years, and I like it there for the most part, but really feel that I should be moving up a grade,(been told this by outside instructor 2 years ago) not being funny but I have group lessons and often find that beginners are in with us,(and before anyone gets hostile I know they have to start somewhere but I just feel that it is better practice for them to be together) and there then is a lot of fannying about getting horses moving, keeping them on the track, doing a trot circle twice, etc., you get the picture, when you have 7 people in the lesson you begin to lose your sense of humour. But now I find myself being listed for the plod of the yard,(am exhausted by the end of the lesson) and others, who are starting out are getting the livlier horses. am I supposed to read something into this or am I being over sensitive. My OH thinks that I am too soft and if anyone was paying for lessons they would not stand for it. I just find it funny that when I ride horses in England, I am given a responsive very switched on animal to ride, and all the comments that I get about my riding are very good. Maybe when you go to a riding school you have so little time that you expect more from the experience. And please I would hate for anyone to think that I am having a go at beginner riders, all I suppose that I am trying to say is that I should be moving forwards and not stuck at the same old pace all the time. Very Sad and Frustrated :confused:
 
Kaylum said:
I am afraid the answer is private or semi private lessons.
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I agree with this. Perhaps you could get 5 minutes with the instructor and ask about your progress and voice your concerns then.
I think it sounds like they aren't really thinking about what horses match who's ability. maybe also they think you can get the 'plod' shifting and the less able clients can't, therefore freeing up an easier ride for them. I know you are talking about the livlier horses but that doesn't always mean the more difficult ride.
 
chestnuttymare said:
This is what I was thinking when reading your post. It looks more impressive sitting on a lively horse and that your a better rider, than sitting on a lazy horse and getting him to move.

If you feel you aren't progressing and aren't happy being in with beginners, have you spoken to the instructor and been given an explanation as to why your still in this group?
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Hi

I can see your frustration and was wondering a little bit more about how the lesson is structured? is it all horses are in a train and everyone takes it in turns? Is the class for complete beginners and above or do they have walk, trot (sitting and rising) and canter sorted?

I know of one school fairly local to me that has beginners to intermediate/advanced in the same class and rather than the horses being ridden in a train all riders are asked to perform similar tasks but in a free sort of movement where you don't follow another or wait for your turn. There are significant benefits to this method in as much as you are able to work on your own and still watch other peoples difficulties and strengths whilst having to navigate and control your mount around the school.

If the first is the case then I would suggest that you ask to be advanced to the next class, or ask for private/semi private lessons. If the second method of instruction is being used then it may be worth requesting that you would prefer a different horse this/each week as you feel the same ride each week is not helping you develop as much as you would like.

I have had the experience of some very wonderful forward going riding school horses and some exceptionally difficult apparrently dead to the leg horses. Strangely when you find the 'buttons' of the apparrently dead to the leg horses it is more rewarding than the ones that are forward going.

Keep persevering and enjoy it. You could always have a couple of weeks off this riding school and go to another one?
 
I can quite understand your anger. This is very poor organisation by the school. I would be inclined to have a big chat with your school owner/manager and see if there is a better class for you.

When I had my school I had a policy that beginners were only ever put into a beginner class, I graded the classes every 10 weeks and would move riders into groups of similar ability, generally once I got a group of 6 riders of a similar ability and attendence then they stayed in that group for years advancing in ability and as to the horses they could cope with. We started beginner classes every 10 weeks and at the weekend we may have three group lessons going at the same time, luckily we had three arenas - I had over 300 riders a week to cater for.

With the general drop off of riders who decide to have a go at something else and the riders who left to get their own horse/pony this shuffle around worked very well.

To mix experienced and beginners is not fair on either rider, the beginners may get pushed to fast and the more experienced rider will be held back. Neither will get the attention they need.

When I was in the UK the school I taught at had evening classes for the adults and it was really social - we'd often go to the pub after lessons and have a meal and a few drinks. Pub rides were great fun!
 
Hi all, thanks for the replys and I will have a word with the instructor and see how it goes, I had really become fed up with it all to be honest, especially when this is my only access to ride horses, it actually becomes more important that I make the most of this time if that makes sense and I suppose that I was expecting a lot more than what I am being given.
 
How well I understand your problem. Over many years I have had many hundreds of lessons at riding schools, on both their horses and my own horses (after boxing there). I have always been selective re the schools and instructors - but oh so often have found that they have given in to the temptation to make the most money from the most people in one session. Hence the now normal mixed ability class! When I have objected to not getting my money's worth, it has been explained to me that my only option is a "private lesson" - and, indeed, most of my many hundreds of lessons have been private lessons (these days, very expensive). Whilst, of course, I have benefitted from most of the private lessons, I do feel I have missed out from lessons accompanied by riders of similar standard and experience, with us all learning from each other's ability and shortcomings, but such restricted groups are seldom found at riding schools.

You do not mention your level of riding and you hint that you do not normally ride in England. I can only speak of English riding schools. Annoyingly, with group lessons, too often have I found the "instructor" to be working their hours towards BHS AI (practising, with a mixed group of ability, with all following the leading horse ....), him/herself below my own ability, and yet that is the best on offer.

In short, there are very few riding schools/equestrian centres that cater for the intermediate rider, with instruction from a more able and qualified person, without having to make it a private lesson.

Yes, of course, it can be argued that a lesson on a "lazy" horse is instructive - it certainly can be, in the right circumstances. But I agree with the comment that you are probably "dumped" on this horse because a novice in the same group lesson would not even be able to get it out of walk! Somehow, I doubt you feel you have learned much after such a lesson, nor have you enjoyed yourself. (It seems most riding schools have such a horse, which is allocated to the most compliant customer!)

By all means consult your instructor/owner, making clear you do not feel you are progressing in the group lessons you presently attend. Do not be afraid to say that you are happy to ride the "lazy" horse IN TURN with others but not all the time. Mention that having novice (beginner) riders in your group is holding you back (and perhaps others) who are more advanced and want to progress further, faster. The response you get will tell you whether or not you should be looking to ride at another centre.

Best of luck. If in England, based on my own experience, the standard of teaching in riding schools above basic walk, trot and canter and jumping a pole on the ground, is woefully low. (Unless you can afford to pay double the group price and more for private lessons with a higher qualified instructor, who would not demean themselves by teaching a lower-level group class!)
 
Silver Gale - you have had a rough time with finding the right school. Although I owned my own horses I trained and rode at two different schools that both had riders and horses of higher levels.

You need to look through the list of schools and chose the ones that teach riders for BHSII & BHSI as these schools will have riders and horses of a higher level.

I had group lessons until I took my Stage IV and for that I went to a centre that trained riders for that exam.
 
What about sharing a horse. to be honest you have had enough lessons , you can do it on your own!
I agree with others that you should not be in a class where you are unhappy, maybe you could save up for a few months and take a course of five mid week lessons at a place like the Yorkshire Riding Centre, make it a complete break, part of your holiday, I went there and it was so nice to be in a real pro environment, and B&B with Belinda was great
 
So you were told TWO years ago that you ought to move up. I can't believe that your riding is so bad that after at least two years you are in with beginners, they are taking advantage of you, literally taking money for old rope. If they haven't got you past beginners after 2 years they are rubbish instructors & you should move to someone else or if you are a decent rider (which is much more likely after that period) they are taking the mickey you should also move to someone else. The answer as you can see is to to move on.
 
Sounds like a nightmare :(
I've worked in several riding schools, all would have new riders come if for assessments and then placed in a group suitable for their level. Beginners would be in smaller groups till they'd learnt to steer and stop at least.
As for riding the plod, I'd be asking to wear spurs if I was expected to ride it. That's if you're at a level to be able to use them correctly of course.
It does help improve your riding riding different types, but then if you're put on such a horse and then left to it without being taught ways to help get them going, then I can't see how you could possibly improve from that.
If this is the normal way for the riding school you go to to work, then I would be looking to go elsewhere.
 
I would ask to see the instructor riding the 'lazy plod'. If she/he can get him working nicely you're probably in the right group. Sorry if that sounds harsh but half the fun of riding is finding which buttons to push.
 
Vote with your feet hun! Go somewhere else PDQ.

Sounds like they've taken advantage of you for far too long.

Don't know where you are, but it sounds like your riding needs a pep up and doing summinck different. Maybe there's a place near you that does rides in the open country? I think you need to go fast across open country on a good horse - there's nothing like it IME for building up your confidence and giving you a good seat.

Go for it! Ditch the bl@ddy boring riding school and all the poor bored horses there and have yourself some fun hun.
 
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