Riding School Riders?

[glenruby]

I think the point is that most of those on HHO who are deemed to look down on riding school riders have been there done that and realise now ( after years if horse ownership) that they wre nowhere near as good as they thought they were when they rode once a week at a rs. The vast majority of riders who learnt the basics over a couple of years at a rs are better ( or perhaps just more disciplined?) than those who went out and bought a horse with only a few lessons or hacks under their belt and have just muddled along since.
To a large extent, there is a limit to just how far one can progress when riding a seasoned horse once a week. I'm afraid it is only something most people seem able to appreciate once they get their own horse. But still, i believe good riding schools are invaluable.
I know the op's rs and certainly would not be one I would recommend to anyone. On top if that, if their hacks are anything like the op's local hunts il be d*mned. Btw op there us a very popular bloodhound hunt nearby to you - no foxes were ever involved so maybe u could give that a go- tonnes of jumping and square hedges.
Also agree with jtfd and whoever said u can identify an rs rider from their posts.

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Well, we all have to start somewhere.. and it seems that rather a lot did start at an RS.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=507980

 

[kins]

Interesting thread - I started riding when I was 4 (now 19), but as I had non horsey parents I only ever had an RS education.

Riding wise it's true that I only had very basic skills until I got a new instructor a couple of years ago who stretched me a lot more than the others - expected us to warm up/cool down and keep ourselves occupied with schooling indivdually whenever she needed to concentrate on one person in the lessons. Although it was technically a jumping class she also took me back to scratch working on establishing good flatwork (inc some lateral work) before she let me anywhere near a jump. So I think it's perfectly possibly for someone to get a good education at an rs, at least the basics and occasionally a bit beyond, depending on the instructors.

I'm lucky in that I now work on a private yard (was unfeasible to help at RS due to transport isses!), so I can ride my bosses' horses regularly when i'm home from Uni, and I'm learning to get used to schooling by myself rather than having someone shouting instructions - reading a lot of books on schooling exercises helps! I'm wouldn't class myself as anything more than a novice rider, but I enjoy trying to stretch myself, and i'm hoping that over the summer i'll be able to spend a lot more time at work and hopefully get instruction from either my boss or their ex-eventer livery. Perhaps the riding schools I went to didn't give me the skills necessary to enter a 4* event, but they certainly gave me the basic skills, and the drive to make myself a better rider any way I could

 

[PolarSkye]

I'd say she needs to find a better riding school, when i rode at riding schools we were actively encouraged to work in open order and work the horse in ourselves and then discuss what we felt would help improve the horse and work on it from there with the instructor offering help and support.

This was my experience at a RS too . . . and now that I have my own it's exactly how my (freelance) instructors teach me.

 

[TGM]

Riding schools are a great place to start (I learnt at one, sent my daughter to one for a while and my current sharer is straight out of one) BUT having sole care of your own horse/pony does bring a totally different perspective.

At a riding school, if you get things wrong regularly (whether riding or management wise) it has less of a negative effect on the horse because in between the horse will (hopefully) be ridden/managed by others who get it right! Whereas, with your own horse, you have much more responsibility because if you keep getting things wrong then the whole relationship goes into a downwards spiral. Whilst someone might happily ride quirky horses on a regular basis at a riding school, if they were to buy a similar horse on for themselves, they are likely to find the quirks harder to deal with if they are the sole rider, unless they have a lot of good support.

 

[eahotson]

Riding schools are a great place to start (I learnt at one, sent my daughter to one for a while and my current sharer is straight out of one) BUT having sole care of your own horse/pony does bring a totally different perspective.

At a riding school, if you get things wrong regularly (whether riding or management wise) it has less of a negative effect on the horse because in between the horse will (hopefully) be ridden/managed by others who get it right! Whereas, with your own horse, you have much more responsibility because if you keep getting things wrong then the whole relationship goes into a downwards spiral. Whilst someone might happily ride quirky horses on a regular basis at a riding school, if they were to buy a similar horse on for themselves, they are likely to find the quirks harder to deal with if they are the sole rider, unless they have a lot of good support.

I fully agree there.Like the great majority I learned to ride (kind of) in a riding school.What concerns me is that these days many people ride for 2 plus years regularly at a riding school and, forget about schooling etc. they can't steer a horse independently.They can't do a rising trot without useing their reins as suport and can't sit or even do a forward seat canter with some stability in their seat.They are in great danger of falling off at the smallest thing.It can't be nice really for them or the horses they ride.Don't know what the answer is though.Good instructors tend to like to work freelanceand to cost a lot of money.I do think riding school horses/ponies are the unsung heros/heroines of the horse world and I think there should be a big prestigious class or award for the riding school horse/pony of the year.

 

[PaddyMonty]

People seem to be missing the biggest difference between riding at a RS and owning your own...........Time in the saddle!
To become a good (hate that term) rider you need two things, quality instruction and time in the saddle.
RS riders may well get the instruction but just dont get enough time in the saddle. Horse owners may well get the time in saddle but often lack regular quality instruction.
Put the two together and a rider can really start to develop.

 

[Hippona]

I rode at a riding school as a child, until I was about 15, an excellent school with a variety of ponies and horses, some who were the competition ponies of the RS owners children. The quality of instruction was good, as was the qualitiy of the equines. The nature of the care of the horses is a good indicator, with good quality english leather tack and good regular farriery being two of the most obvious.
However it is a steep learning curve when you own your own and it is all down to you. It will be you camping in the stable overnight in a case of colic, it will be you mending the fence in a gale, ensuring that forage, bedding, feed, wormers, foot care is all organised round your full time job, which pays for all the above. There are many hidden time users which you do not know about when you go to an RS

This. Its also knowing what to do when things go wrong.
Its knowing that something actually is going wrong.
Its the total responsiblilty for meeting all of your horses needs....I spend far more time on yard chores, looking after the horses, maintaing the yard and grazing, organising hay/straw deliveries etc etc than I do actually on my horse.
Its making sure your tack fits 'properly- knowing what bit to use and why....its endless.

Its also totally different riding your own horse...on your own....schooling and teaching.....hacking out alone...

I think its a case of insight....after owning horses for a while....of knowing what you don't actually know....

 

[Kat]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that you can gain all the same skills and experiences riding in a riding school. Of course it is going to be different, but it can be a very valuable experience and it can teach you a lot.

I think the frustration on here (and in other sectors of the horse world) is that it is assumed that if you have been riding in a riding school you are a "kick to go pull to stop" rider who can only cope with a brain dead plod and isn't quite sure which end the bridle goes.

An awful lot of private owners have seriously questionable levels of knowledge. I've been shocked (both on here and in real life) to find people who have had horses for years but are missing really quite basic knowledge.

I think that if you are a committed rider with a desire to learn, and a realistic sense of your own limitations then you can get your first horse straight out of a riding school and do just fine and your horse will probably be better off than it would be if it was owned by some of the "I've had horses forever brigade".

I know you can't get all your experience from a riding school but you can get a lot. From my experience in riding schools I know that I am competent to school a horse independantly, to hack out, to jump and to compete in various disciplines. I know I can tack up and untack, groom, catch in or turn out, rug up, clean tack, muck out etc. I can also identify and understand the use of most common tack and equipment. I can identify lameness and trot a horse up. However my experience of vet type issues and dealing with injuries was until I got my own horse theoretical only, likewise my knowledge of feeding was mainly theoretical. I had never clipped a horse, had only lunged a couple of times, and hadn't had to make decisions without back up on certain things. Although my husband was taught to clip and lunge at a riding school, so it is possible. But I knew the extent of my experience and chose a yard with knowledgable staff as a precaution.

I have met people who have owned horses for many years who don't know what basic equipment is or why they would use it. Who can't ride their horse in connection into a contact. Who don't know the first thing about basic lateral work and haven't got a clue about schooling. People who can't identify whether they are rising on the correct diagonal etc.

I'm not saying that it is better to be a horse owner or that it is better to be a riding school client - you can't generalise as everyone is different, all you can say is that the experience you will get is different. What is crucial is a willingness to recognise what you don't know and a desire to learn.

I think the ideal is to gain as much experience as possible in GOOD riding schools before buying your own so that you are as knowledgeable as possible before you are fully responsible for an animal's welfare. It worries me that in being so negative about riding schools and the experience you can gain there it firstly encourages people to buy their own horse before they are ready and secondly it encourages the view that these awful follow the leader kick and pull type lessons are the norm. This means that there is no incentive for those riding schools to improve and the good ones continue to be tarred with the same brush.

What we should be saying to people is that if they aren't learning in a way that enables them to ride private horses properly then they should go and find a proper riding school that will teach them to ride. They are out there, and we should be telling the world about the good ones!

When DH and I were looking for a horse we were often faced with people who heard the words "first horse" and "riding school" and assumed we wouldn't be able to ride. We got lots of very positive comments though once we got on and rode. It is frustrating to have this happen over and over again though and then to come on here and read it again and again.

I can honestly say that I can think of several riders from my lessons in a riding school that I would happily let ride my horse, but considerably less people that I have come across elsewhere!

Anyway when is the lady going to post that runs a riding school and has lots of lovely horses that compete? Is it Charlie something???

Oh and for the record I don't think the OPs riding school sounds like one of the good ones, I think it sounds quite horrifying!

 

[ester]

Oh and for the record I don't think the OPs riding school sounds like one of the good ones, I think it sounds quite horrifying!

Charlie76

Kat I think if you had started this post with your RS experiences the response may have been somewhat different. I reckon as many of the horse riding population started off at RS before getting their own it just means we have the best of both worlds

 

[midi]

I rode a good few years as a kid at a riding school and learnt nothing! it was literally walking around and round, pop a canter and maybe a small jump for years and years.
When I was old enough and less ignorant I realized what a joke it was and gave up riding as I wasn't getting anywhere.

I did start having lessons again few years agos and had an amazing instructor with "proper" horses and 1on1 lessons and I began to learn how to influence the horse to work properly etc, unfortunately the place was forced to be sold on and I've never found anywhere as good since and going by how much riding school lessons are these days its ALOT of money to part with to just get the going round and round type "lesson".

Since then I've only ridden privately owned horses and although I've learnt vast amount, I do feel limited due to my lack of knowledge.

 

[welshies]

I must admit i was pretty cluless really if i think about it! (even though i was only 12) after riding for 7 years and being at a hands on riding school much like you describe doing all the chores as well, the riding scool closed, i tried a few more but didn't like as they were all just turn up jump on the horse ride in a circle for an hour and jump off, so i started 'helping for rides' and i vividly remember the first day she asked me to tie a hay net up and she laughed! I thought i knew a lot but in reality i knew very little really! the next 4 years were my real horse foundations, then the next 12 years of actually owning my own cemented it. I wouldn't say all RS peops are completly cluless but you certainly have a lot to learn, but then we are all still learning, so don't take offense!

 

[Sarah1]

I think one of the main factors is the inability of a lot of rs riders to plan and carry out successful schooling/jumping sessions without being 'taught'. The number of times I have seen people aimlessly wandering around the school with only the occasional change of pace or circle or cantering round and round (and round and round) the school over one or two jumps just for the sake of it. Bit of a giveaway There have been a number of videos on HHO in recent months where the riders have been far too 'passive' and seem unaware of what to do next or how to 'improve' the horse's way of going.

I don't think this is a skill you can learn easily when you only ride once a week and the horse is ridden by a variety of different riders. You don't get the level of 'feel' as when you have your own horse and ride every day

Agreed.

OP it sounds like you are very fortunate to have an oustanding riding school - I think yours is the exception rather than the rule.

The RS where I did BHS wouldn't permit anyone to hack out and I do think that's it's something that needs to be taught as it can be very scary & dangerous if you buy a horse & it's not 100% bombproof!

A friend is currently having lessons ast a very reputable local-ish RS and she's struggling with leg yield, the horses are very lazy and she can't quite get to grips with it. I've offered her, when the fields dry out a bit, big lad for half an hour with our YM (accomplished event rider, excellent at producing horses) as I feel she'll find it much easier. He's more switched on than most RS horses but not silly and 'hopefully' will be much more supple!!!!!!! It should feel like driving a ferrari in comparison to a fiesta!!!!

 

[dunkley]

There are 'riding schools' and 'Riding Schools'.
A good, approved Riding School, with a range of qualified instructors and quality horses and ponies, insurances, and supervision, is worth it's weight in gold. Unfortunately, they do not come cheaply, and therefore there is a niche for yards that loosely term themselves 'riding schools' that can get the good ones a bad name. A huge amount of experience can be gained from a decent school, and a huge amount of damage done by a poor one.
However, nothing can really compare to having your own horse or pony. It is without doubt the responsibility - a bit like taking your first baby home and it dawning on you that there is no midwife on hand for advice, but above all, it is the independance ownership brings. Shall I walk? Shall I trot? Is it safe to canter/gallop/jump? Making the decision to hack out/compete/call the vet. Buying your own horse is only the start. It might be 'perfect' enough to buy, but if you don't build on your foundations of knowledge, keep up with good quality instruction (even for a 'happy hacker' - a well schooled horse is nicer to hack than an a**e ), it won't stay perfect that long. It is probably more accurate to say that you can tell what sort of school someone rides at, that the fact they ride at a school. There are some cracking riders out there who have been through riding schools, but the schools will be reputable, and the names probably known further away from these shores
I can drive a car........have done for more years than I can remember. I have more than one car. I have driven everything from a mini to an HGV. Would I teach someone to drive? In short, No. I would point them in the direction of an approved, respected driving school, with qualified, insured instructors, who really know what they are doing.

 

[PolarSkye]

I think that if you are a committed rider with a desire to learn, and a realistic sense of your own limitations then you can get your first horse straight out of a riding school and do just fine and your horse will probably be better off than it would be if it was owned by some of the "I've had horses forever brigade".

I know you can't get all your experience from a riding school but you can get a lot. From my experience in riding schools I know that I am competent to school a horse independantly, to hack out, to jump and to compete in various disciplines. I know I can tack up and untack, groom, catch in or turn out, rug up, clean tack, muck out etc. I can also identify and understand the use of most common tack and equipment. I can identify lameness and trot a horse up. However my experience of vet type issues and dealing with injuries was until I got my own horse theoretical only, likewise my knowledge of feeding was mainly theoretical. I had never clipped a horse, had only lunged a couple of times, and hadn't had to make decisions without back up on certain things. Although my husband was taught to clip and lunge at a riding school, so it is possible. But I knew the extent of my experience and chose a yard with knowledgable staff as a precaution.

This exactly. I rode (more like tried not to fall off) friends' horses and ponies as a kid and then took up riding lessons in my mid thirties at a very good school. Not only did my instructors attempt to give me a good grounding (position, balance, feel, etc.) in the saddle . . . but I also learned to handle horses - tack up, untack, correct rugging, watering/feeding principles, grooming, basic signs of health/illness, lunging, how to set up a showjumping course, how to bandage, how to administer oral medication, how to take a temperature.

When I bought Kali (after more than 8 years at the riding school), I deliberately chose a yard where I would have tons of support - bringing that first horse "home" is pretty daunting and I knew I needed help. If I hadn't done that then the first time Kal got kicked in the field and the wound needed cleaning (blood pouring from the underside of his jaw!) I think I would have gone to pieces. As it was, I had someone with a steadying hand to remind me to calm down and do what needed to be done.

I must admit I'm a little fed up of the snobbishness here directed at people who learned in a RS. There are good schools and bad schools. Good riders/owners and bad riders/owners. Surely what's important is that we attempt to do the best by our horses (and the horses we sit on/handle even if they're not ours) and that we're willing to accept (and act on) constructive "help" and support.

P

P.S. Oh, and the horse I ended up buying was most definitely more quirky than anything I had sat on before - but with help and guidance (and lots and lots of patience) we have made great progress together.

 

[GinaGeo]

I've just lost my nice long reply for the second time. How infuriating is that!

I will wite a summary because I really cannot be bothered to type it out for the third time!

At riding schools you don't have control of anything.

You don't control or make any decisions regarding:
-Worming
-Diet
-Tack fit
-Dental care
-Farriery
-Exercise Routine
-Best Routine (turnout, stable etc)
-Health Care
-Any need for alternative therapy e.g. Physio, Chiropracter etc
-Sourcing Bedding
-Sourcing Hay
- Whether to/what clip
- What weight rug

The list goes on...

I learnt to ride at a riding school and it taught me the basics well enough. But I didn't learn "feel" until I had my horse. I couldn't teach the horse anything new or improve it's way of going. I didn't have any responsibility for the general well being of the horse's I rode. I used to tack up and muck out at the riding school. But as a horse owner, you have to know whether the saddle you're putting on the horse is a good fit, whether the bit is suitable and whether the bridle fits.

The difference, to me, between a riding school rider and a horse owner, generally, is the level of understanding. A horse owner has to know "why" they do everything. Whereas a a riding school rider just "does" it.

I have nothing against riding school riders. We've all been there. And some do provide a good level base of information. But it is a basis. And if you think you're very good and knowledgable at the riding school, you'll have a real shock when it comes to owning a horse yourself, without an instructor checking everything you do. I did.

 

[Lolo]

I haven't read any snobbiness, simply people saying nothing can come close to having sole responsibility of a horse with no one but yourself to hold accountable when things go wrong to make you learn quickly.

The skills of a rider come from good instruction on a good horse over a long period of time. Talent on it's own is nothing without those things, as you need to develop it properly with the right guidance and in a decent riding school you really can get that more than you potentially could if you had your own horse. If you ride rubbish, you end up rubbish- there are some really good threads in CR where this is discussed in some depth.

On the horsecare front, I do think you learn more from owning. If you spoke to my mum now you'd think she'd been round horses most of her life. She was completely novice to horse owning when we got our first ponies 9 years ago but now is someone who people ask for advice. She's had to deal with laminitus, abscesses, tendon injuries, kicks, colic and some rather more obscure problems. She managed my old horse so well that he was acting like a 5yo when he was 27 despite him being our first horse and being very geriatric! Compare her to some people who've come and gone on our yard straight from a riding school (with the same time frame ofc) and there are lightyears between her and them simply because she's had so much more experience of being the person in charge.

 

[PolarSkye]

I've just lost my nice long reply for the second time. How infuriating is that!

I will wite a summary because I really cannot be bothered to type it out for the third time!

At riding schools you don't have control of anything.

You don't control or make any decisions regarding:
-Worming
-Diet
-Tack fit
-Dental care
-Farriery
-Exercise Routine
-Best Routine (turnout, stable etc)
-Health Care
-Any need for alternative therapy e.g. Physio, Chiropracter etc
-Sourcing Bedding
-Sourcing Hay
- Whether to/what clip
- What weight rug

The list goes on...

Yes, but someone with a curious mind, a tongue in their head and a decent/knowledgeable instructor can ask about those things and learn alot. I did. I was always asking why and how - and always got answers. I didn't just hand my lesson horse back at the end of the lesson, I groomed my horse beforehand and tacked up and untacked him/her - and if my instructor adjusted the tack once I got into the school I asked why and made a mental note, I made him/her comfortable/hosed off or brushed off sweat, rugged appropriately (initially with guidance and then using my own initiative. I would watch my instructor (who was also the yard manager) teach other lessons and could ask her all sorts of questions (without interfering with the lesson - about horse soundness/way of going and remedies (e.g., physio, etc.), about clips and clipping, appropriate tack and bits, etc. I helped prepare and give feeds and learned WHY which horse got which type of feed.

I know I know far more now after two years of ownership than I did after 8 years of being at the RS - but I didn't enter ownership knowing no more than kick and pull. Perhaps I'm taking this too personally, but as I said before, I'm fed up with the blanket attitude some folks have on here to RS riders.

OK - climbing down from my soap box.

P

 

[Sarah1]

Perhaps I'm taking this too personally

I think you probably are - no one is saying RS riders know nothing and by your own admission you know more after just 2 years of ownership than you knew after 8 years in a RS - people are just saying you learn more/learn more quickly when you have your own horse.

It's a bit like saying that you learn to drive after you've passed your test - never a truer word spoken!

 

[PaddyMonty]

I know I know far more now after two years of ownership than I did after 8 years of being at the RS - but I didn't enter ownership knowing no more than kick and pull. Perhaps I'm taking this too personally, but as I said before, I'm fed up with the blanket attitude some folks have on here to RS riders.

OK - climbing down from my soap box.

Thats the point though. I dont think people generally are putting down riders that only have access to RS horses. The issue is the belief by some that they can become well rounded experienced horse people from only riding at a riding school.
Numerous replies on here (including your last one) point to how much more people learn once they get their own despite originally thinking they were experienced.

 

[PolarSkye]

I think you probably are - no one is saying RS riders know nothing and by your own admission you know more after just 2 years of ownership than you knew after 8 years in a RS - people are just saying you learn more/learn more quickly when you have your own horse.

It's a bit like saying that you learn to drive after you've passed your test - never a truer word spoken!

I agree with this . . . thank you for putting it in perspective.

However, I would like someone to explain what they mean by "I can tell a RS rider by their posts" . . . ?

P

 

[PaddyMonty]

IHowever, I would like someone to explain what they mean by "I can tell a RS rider by their posts" . . . ?

Wasn't me who made that statement but I think I know what they mean.
When reading a reply you can often tell if someone is repeating something they've been told or read vs someone who is talking from actual experience.

You know how when you meet other horse people you can tell those that are talking the talk vs those that actually walk the walk.

Not saying the talk is wrong as in many cases its not, just that there are often other ways of dealing with situations with horses that aren't necessarily those that you would be taught in an equine establishment.

 

[Lolo]

I agree with this . . . thank you for putting it in perspective.

However, I would like someone to explain what they mean by "I can tell a RS rider by their posts" . . . ?

P

I usually can because the answers are quite textbook and often a little more naive than someone who's faced issues on their own and dealt with the consequences as the person in charge. They're not wrong, but often don't have the same experience. It's not an insult but an observation. Like you can tell people's ages by their posts usually...

 

[Sarah1]

However, I would like someone to explain what they mean by "I can tell a RS rider by their posts" . . . ?

Not sure TBH - I agree you can usually tell if a person is very young by their posts but I can't tell an experienced RS rider from an actual horse owner most of the time!

Incidentally I know plenty of horse owners that can talk the talk but not walk the walk...! Even some of them sound like their comments are being read from a textbook or are from someone elses mouth...

 

[charlie76]

I find the attitude about riding school riders disgusting to be honest. I run a riding school. We teach our clients how to ride the horse correctly both on the flat and over fences. Granted, there are some that will never be more than average but then thats the case whether you ride school horses or own your own.
We run shows here throughout the year, most of our clients competing on our horses ride far better than the people that come along on their own horses, and a lot of the times our clients beat the outsiders!

Those of you that didn't learn at a riding school, how did you learn or were you fortunate enough to fall out of the womb being an amaing horse person??!!
There are many people that are simply not in a position to be a horse owner, without riding schools where would they learn?

As for the horse care side of things, most of our clients, under supervison( insurance I'm afraid) are encourgaged to be involved with the day to day care of the horses, in fact, a number of our clients have passed their BHS Stage 2 and are aiming for their Stage 3.

I think its unfair to tar all clients and all riding schools with the same brush!

These our our 'riding school clients' on our 'riding school horses:'

As you can see, not all schools are bad!!
I learnt to ride at this riding school when I was a child. I have continued riding there throughout my years and with my only training being from this riding school I have obtained my BHS Senior Coach and Stable Managers qualification with my Senior Equitation exam in May this year.

as from knowing who is from a riding school from the way they post...rubbish! I am actually more shocked by some of the people who post questions that are actually horse owners!

 

[biggingerpony]

I used to work at a riding school, and I think a massive problem with RS's at the moment is insurance, and the worry of being sued. The YO refused to have any jumps over 1ft(max and this was VERY rare) so mainly focused on flatwork and dressage. I know jumping isen't everything, but its what I enjoyed when I was younger, and I think 'prepare to trot... and trot to the rear of the ride' becomes a bit boring after a while. So I agree, going to a RS does not in my opinion set you up for owning your own horse.

 

[PaddyMonty]

I find the attitude about riding school riders disgusting to be honest. I run a riding school.

Charlie - Do you really believe the majority of riding schools are run as yours is? I know they should be but in reality are they?

 

[charlie76]

The only way to be prepared for horse ownership other than learn the basics at a riding school is to buy a horse and keep it in a yard where there are knowledgable people to help you or be lucky enough to be born into a horsey family.

 

[rhino]

I find the attitude about riding school riders disgusting to be honest. I run a riding school. We teach our clients how to ride the horse correctly both on the flat and over fences.

Sadly C76 a lot of people don't have access (certainly easy access) to your type of RS, or know how to tell the difference between a good or bad one. The place I 'learned' was certainly good fun for a confident person (jumping in 2nd ever lesson, allowed to take the horses out hacking unsupervised etc ) but my personal experience was that I really learned to ride when I got my own horse and a different instructor; my riding was torn apart and I was barely allowed out of walk for a few lessons!

If the OP had been different I think a lot of the replies would have been different too... It is difficult to sit back and hear about the 'great RS' when there have been repeated concerns regarding insurance/safety/welfare

 

[marley and danni]

i started to learn to ride in august 2010 at a riding school thats BHS approved....

i was there a month before i took on a loan horse so i could learn the basics of caring for one as well as still attending the riding school to learn the basic riding skills!!

i learn pretty fast and was able to ride the mare i had on loan (not very well she was very forward)

the after having her till december 2010 i give her up and bought my own exrace horse in january 23rd 2011!!! (by this point i hadnt had a lesson for 2 months)

and i didnt start having lessons untill july 2011 on him (via a private dressage instructor)

i still have the odd group lesson at my old riding school as i love the people and the horses!.....

you can go up group levels and learn different techiques at my old school, learn to 'feel' the horse properly and ask for proper contact (this means riding a higher leve horse)

so i think it depends on what riding school you learned at... it hink mine taught me enough to go and buy my own which i did (proberly rushed, but hes perfect for me)

PS didnt ride when i was younger and im 21!

this is my and my little man (when 1st got him)

This is us 1 year on !!!