Kat
Well-Known Member
That ^^^ 100% agree!
Willingness to learn and an enquiring mind is absolutely the most important thing for the welfare of your horse and your progress as a horseman.
Riding School Riders?
- Thread starter Shantara
- Start date
That ^^^ 100% agree!
Willingness to learn and an enquiring mind is absolutely the most important thing for the welfare of your horse and your progress as a horseman.
Syrah
Well-Known Member
So are we agreed then:
a) it depends on the schools approach and;
b) it depends on the person;
There is no one right or wrong outcome.
Absolutely! Very well put
Lauren21
New User
When I started riding again after a very long break! I started working at a riding school in hope that for my work every week, I would get the chance to maybe ride a horse in return - although this never happened! 
But by doing this I had just over a year worth of experience from the ground before I even got on a horse! I think this kinda helped, because I ride at a RS, a different one though! and its great, I know the horses I ride and now after around 6 months of being back in the saddle I have already part loaned a horse, and am now, at my current stables, are moving on to the youngsters who will test me even more! So, I guess it depends, the school I'm at is great and I go early to give Millie a good rub and a few polos and untack her at the end, groom her and then whatever else is needed.
But by doing this I had just over a year worth of experience from the ground before I even got on a horse! I think this kinda helped, because I ride at a RS, a different one though! and its great, I know the horses I ride and now after around 6 months of being back in the saddle I have already part loaned a horse, and am now, at my current stables, are moving on to the youngsters who will test me even more! So, I guess it depends, the school I'm at is great and I go early to give Millie a good rub and a few polos
and untack her at the end, groom her and then whatever else is needed.MuesliMoo
Well-Known Member
Sorry I haven't read all the posts, but this is something that really really angers me. *Rant Alert*
The reason I have been "just a riding school rider" for the last 15 years is because I couldn't afford my own horse, I wasn't lucky enough to have one bought for me as a child, and I've spent 5 years at uni training to do a profession which will earn me enough to let me finally get my own. So why do I get tarnished with being "just a riding school rider" just because I couldn't afford my own?
Who is going to be a better rider?
a) someone who has no lessons and just rides one horse or
b) someone who has weekly lessons and rides a variety of different horses?
As "just a riding school rider" I used to work at the yard in holidays including teaching, school the horses, take them to shows, and even took the horse I rode to Hickstead to do dressage. Yet I was still looked down upon by owners and my opinion not listened to because I couldn't possibly know anything to do with horses. No, I'm not the best rider in the world, I have a lot to learn still, and no I certainly don't know everything about horse care, but please, don't look down on me just because I haven't been in the circumstances to buy my own!
Yes, of course, there's the people who are still learning the basics and know nothing about horsecare, there's the kids who just have lessons so they can ride rather than wanting to learn anything. But there's also some people who carry on at riding schools for years and years developing their skills, and in no way should they be looked down on as any less knowledgeable than an owner.
*Rant over*
The reason I have been "just a riding school rider" for the last 15 years is because I couldn't afford my own horse, I wasn't lucky enough to have one bought for me as a child, and I've spent 5 years at uni training to do a profession which will earn me enough to let me finally get my own. So why do I get tarnished with being "just a riding school rider" just because I couldn't afford my own?
Who is going to be a better rider?
a) someone who has no lessons and just rides one horse or
b) someone who has weekly lessons and rides a variety of different horses?
As "just a riding school rider" I used to work at the yard in holidays including teaching, school the horses, take them to shows, and even took the horse I rode to Hickstead to do dressage. Yet I was still looked down upon by owners and my opinion not listened to because I couldn't possibly know anything to do with horses. No, I'm not the best rider in the world, I have a lot to learn still, and no I certainly don't know everything about horse care, but please, don't look down on me just because I haven't been in the circumstances to buy my own!
Yes, of course, there's the people who are still learning the basics and know nothing about horsecare, there's the kids who just have lessons so they can ride rather than wanting to learn anything. But there's also some people who carry on at riding schools for years and years developing their skills, and in no way should they be looked down on as any less knowledgeable than an owner.
*Rant over*
rhino
Well-Known Member
Sorry I haven't read all the posts, but this is something that really really angers me. *Rant Alert*
*Rant over*
Well maybe if you'd actually read the thread you would have realised that no-one is knocking riding school riders, merely pointing out their experiences of the differences they discovered when they moved onto horse ownership from riding schools
JFTDWS
+++ Out of Cheese Error +++
Why the devil not? There are many reasons that have been discussed in this thread why RS riders have different experiences than horse owners - and as such are generally less knowledgeable in some areas than the average owner. RS riders have other advantages - often riding more horses than a singe horse owner, for example - but most of us acknowledge that we have learnt more since leaving an RS and acquiring our own horses. Obviously there are exceptions, but they are the minority, not the norm
I can't stand this "I wasnt privileged enough to be bought a pony therefore nobody should be allowed to suggest I'm any less knowledgabe than a privileged horse owner" nonsense. The majority of people on here bought and pay for their own horses, making the necessary sacrifices to afford it - often achieving it on less than you would spend to ride regularly at an RS...
MuesliMoo
Well-Known Member
Why the devil not? There are many reasons that have been discussed in this thread why RS riders have different experiences than horse owners - and as such are generally less knowledgeable in some areas than the average owner. RS riders have other advantages - often riding more horses than a singe horse owner, for example - but most of us acknowledge that we have learnt more since leaving an RS and acquiring our own horses. Obviously there are exceptions, but they are the minority, not the norm
I can't stand this "I wasnt privileged enough to be bought a pony therefore nobody should be allowed to suggest I'm any less knowledgabe than a privileged horse owner" nonsense. The majority of people on here bought and pay for their own horses, making the necessary sacrifices to afford it - often achieving it on less than you would spend to ride regularly at an RS...
I didn't say that actually you're putting words into my mouth
I merely said that the reason I didn't have my own (I'm getting my own on Saturday!) was because a) I wasn't lucky enough to have one as a child (and yes, a child who gets bought a horse is lucky IMO ) and b) because I didn't have enough money, and enough time (uni) to have my own. What makes me cross is when I automatically get put down for being a RS rider without anyone knowing my background, I don't think it's fair to immediately make those assumptions. As it happens I've volunteered for a rescue centre, taught RDA, and had a part loan for 6 years alongside being a RS rider, so yes, I think I probably actually know more now than I would if I'd had my own, as I've handled lots of different types of horses, medicated different horses, observed lots and lots of different vet visits, mucked out different types of bedding, fed lots of different feeds etc. etc.
rhino
Well-Known Member
I merely said that the reason I didn't have my own (I'm getting my own on Saturday!) was because a) I wasn't lucky enough to have one as a child (and yes, a child who gets bought a horse is lucky IMO
How exciting Don't think I slept for a couple of nights when I was waiting for my boy to be vetted/delivered! I bet if you came back here in a year you would be telling us how much you've learned by having your own horse
That's all anyone on here was saying!JFTDWS
+++ Out of Cheese Error +++
And the majority of your experience has therefore come from outside the RS - which is an entirely different matter - the OP was asserting that you can gain as much experience at an RS as you can being a private owner. That is what most people are disputing. Hell, by your argument, I could call myself an RS rider - I went for a lesson at an RS last year, the fact that I've owned for years and spent my teenage years working with horses is cleary irrelevant
MuesliMoo
Well-Known Member
And the majority of your experience has therefore come from outside the RS - which is an entirely different matter - the OP was asserting that you can gain as much experience at an RS as you can being a private owner. That is what most people are disputing. Hell, by your argument, I could call myself an RS rider - I went for a lesson at an RS last year, the fact that I've owned for years and spent my teenage years working with horses is cleary irrelevant
But for the last 3/4 years I have just been a RS rider, and I have been constantly looked down upon by horse owners, and it's not a nice feeling!
Rhino - oh yes no doubt I will learn lots, but they will be different things to the things that riding at a RS has taught me
JFTDWS
+++ Out of Cheese Error +++
Unfortunately that is life... If I took my competition horse to Hickstead to do dressage the majority of other competitors would look down on him to - literally and metaphorically!
MuesliMoo
Well-Known Member
An example of the small mindedness of the human race, and the "holier than thou" attitude which I despise
I have plans to take my small fluffy exmoor to hickstead to do dressage one day, could be quite amusing to see peoples faces!
JFTDWS
+++ Out of Cheese Error +++
An example of the small mindedness of the human race, and the "holier than thou" attitude which I despise
I have plans to take my small fluffy exmoor to hickstead to do dressage one day, could be quite amusing to see peoples faces!
Oh well, if you see a small fluffy highland, we can change the world together
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
I can't be bothered to read the entire thread.
I learnt to ride in a riding school. I was pretty good, so I thought. I realised how wrong I was when I got my first horse and only I was responsible for his schooling.
I also helped out weekends at a livery yard in London. I groomed, tacked up, mucked out, gave feeds, cleaned tack, I learned LOADS and none of it prepared me fully for actually caring for and taking responsibility for my own. It is a totally different ball game which you will realise when you actually have to do it.
I learnt to ride in a riding school. I was pretty good, so I thought. I realised how wrong I was when I got my first horse and only I was responsible for his schooling.
I also helped out weekends at a livery yard in London. I groomed, tacked up, mucked out, gave feeds, cleaned tack, I learned LOADS and none of it prepared me fully for actually caring for and taking responsibility for my own. It is a totally different ball game which you will realise when you actually have to do it.
ShadowFlame
Well-Known Member
I think it's more of a lack of experience than anything else. No matter how long you're at a riding school for, you'll only learn so much. When you finally take the plunge and have your own horse, it's a whole different kettle of fish.
In that sense, as a RS rider there's no commitment - you come and go as you like. Once a week, once a month, whatever floats your boat. You don't have to worry about waking up with the lurgy on Christmas morning and still having to battle your way down to the stables. You don't experience youngsters, more difficult rides, or varying work - every last horse is a schoolmaster who is not considered a liability, is in regular work, is fairly fit, has suitable tack and you can expect the same day in and day out. You don't have to worry about "oh, he's thrown a shoe, no riding for the next 2 weeks because of farrier's waiting list", then "well he hasn't been ridden in two weeks, I wonder how much fun being bronced off will be today?". You don't have to worry about fitness regimes, how much work they need to be in, how much work they're capable of doing, or whether the tack they're in is being detrimental to the way they're going. There's so many more factors, and so many more things you have to consider. There's also a big difference between being plonked on a RS plod who's used to different riders, and riding one that's only used to one, is responsive, and is only ridden for say 3hrs a week.
I understand because as a helper at a RS years ago, I too thought "there's no difference!" Believe me, there is, and it took a while to adjust to it.
In that sense, as a RS rider there's no commitment - you come and go as you like. Once a week, once a month, whatever floats your boat. You don't have to worry about waking up with the lurgy on Christmas morning and still having to battle your way down to the stables. You don't experience youngsters, more difficult rides, or varying work - every last horse is a schoolmaster who is not considered a liability, is in regular work, is fairly fit, has suitable tack and you can expect the same day in and day out. You don't have to worry about "oh, he's thrown a shoe, no riding for the next 2 weeks because of farrier's waiting list", then "well he hasn't been ridden in two weeks, I wonder how much fun being bronced off will be today?". You don't have to worry about fitness regimes, how much work they need to be in, how much work they're capable of doing, or whether the tack they're in is being detrimental to the way they're going. There's so many more factors, and so many more things you have to consider. There's also a big difference between being plonked on a RS plod who's used to different riders, and riding one that's only used to one, is responsive, and is only ridden for say 3hrs a week.
I understand because as a helper at a RS years ago, I too thought "there's no difference!" Believe me, there is, and it took a while to adjust to it.
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
Rhino - oh yes no doubt I will learn lots, but they will be different things to the things that riding at a RS has taught me
Which is exactly the point which most horse-owners on this thread have been trying to make!
Last edited:
chartoltewright
Member
My RS taught me everything i know.I started there when I was two and started having lessons at 5. I loaned my first 3 ponies off them and they were super helpful, helping me out if I needed it and giving me a telling off if I was slacking on my stable management. I bought my first two horses from them and worked there full time on my gap year. Then I got a riding scholarship for a certain very expensive boarding school and I was the only one there with a horse worth less than a grand and no instructor with credentials. I actually remember my first lesson there my instructor asking me who my trainer was after everybody else was going on about how they were trained my gb selectors that my instructor had her stage 2. It was so embarrassing, but I was the one with the scholarship and they were not!
I still have my lessons there to this day! They let me break and back youngsters when I was there and I had a damn few projects too, I bloody loved it! So you can never discredit a RS rider! If you're riding school is teaching you properly, like at more advanced levels more advanced schooling and talking about solving niggles with the horses after warming in in open order etc, you're on to a winner. I'm still a RS rider in my head and damn proud!
I still have my lessons there to this day! They let me break and back youngsters when I was there and I had a damn few projects too, I bloody loved it! So you can never discredit a RS rider! If you're riding school is teaching you properly, like at more advanced levels more advanced schooling and talking about solving niggles with the horses after warming in in open order etc, you're on to a winner. I'm still a RS rider in my head and damn proud!
topclass
Well-Known Member
I agree with you Chartoltewright I have had horse from being 5 brought up on a RS which was run my an Examiner who did all of my stable/riding exams passed them all worked her stud yard, ran competition yard and also competed at novice dressage and CC aswell as 3 day eventing, backing, breaking, reschooling etc and our RS ponies/horses where far from the "dead from the neck up" type horses people think they all are her horses had spirit and a brain and sometime you found out the hard why especially if you got those people how said I used to do this and do that and then end up on the floor cause they have "all the gear but not bloody idea". I will also be proud to be a member of the RS brigade
anuvb
Well-Known Member
Haven't read all the thread and am coming to this quite late, but what I have read is really interesting and something I have been mulling over for a while now.
As a pregnant lady I've been on the look out for a sharer who can and is willing to ride a quirky but on the whole well mannered dressage horse. Unfortunately most of the people looking for a share tend to be those moving on from RS and in theory this doesn't bother me but the standard of the riders has been very variable.
I'm old enough to have learnt to ride in an RS over 20 years ago and on the whole we learnt by the seat of our pants, got involved in tacking up, mucking out and so on. I was a pretty competent rider, got given the naughty ponies and eventually asked to school other peoples. Yet the 2 biggest gains in my riding knowledge happened when (a) I started private versus group lessons and (b) we got our first horse as a family. As other's have said being able to make the decisions is an experience which you cannot get in a riding school.
However, I'm increasingly aware that my 'education' in an RS is not necessarily what most RS's offer now... mainly because of Helath and Safety and fear of litigation. The RS riders I have had try my horse don't know how to tack up (around lesson 3 of my RS education 20 years ago), pick out feet, brush off after work properly. They've not offered to muck/skip out, feed/water etc. And one - who although was a pretty rider - couldn't bear the thought of cantering my horse and yet she has been learning for over 6 years at her local RS. Now I know my horse is a competition horse, but he's the sort that you can pick up and put down as required and if you want to trundle round with his head in the air he will do so quite willingly, as well as the more advanced movements. There isn't anything to worry about and if I'd been offered the opportunity to ride a horse like him years ago I would have jumped at the chance.
My only conclusion is that most (not all) RS these days only teach riders to go round the outside track following each other and like most things in life the experience you gain depends on the level of opportunity you are given. But I do know some excellent RS's too...
What I will say is that you never stop learning with horses - whatever environment you are in, it's just what you learn that varies.
As a pregnant lady I've been on the look out for a sharer who can and is willing to ride a quirky but on the whole well mannered dressage horse. Unfortunately most of the people looking for a share tend to be those moving on from RS and in theory this doesn't bother me but the standard of the riders has been very variable.
I'm old enough to have learnt to ride in an RS over 20 years ago and on the whole we learnt by the seat of our pants, got involved in tacking up, mucking out and so on. I was a pretty competent rider, got given the naughty ponies and eventually asked to school other peoples. Yet the 2 biggest gains in my riding knowledge happened when (a) I started private versus group lessons and (b) we got our first horse as a family. As other's have said being able to make the decisions is an experience which you cannot get in a riding school.
However, I'm increasingly aware that my 'education' in an RS is not necessarily what most RS's offer now... mainly because of Helath and Safety and fear of litigation. The RS riders I have had try my horse don't know how to tack up (around lesson 3 of my RS education 20 years ago), pick out feet, brush off after work properly. They've not offered to muck/skip out, feed/water etc. And one - who although was a pretty rider - couldn't bear the thought of cantering my horse and yet she has been learning for over 6 years at her local RS. Now I know my horse is a competition horse, but he's the sort that you can pick up and put down as required and if you want to trundle round with his head in the air he will do so quite willingly, as well as the more advanced movements. There isn't anything to worry about and if I'd been offered the opportunity to ride a horse like him years ago I would have jumped at the chance.
My only conclusion is that most (not all) RS these days only teach riders to go round the outside track following each other and like most things in life the experience you gain depends on the level of opportunity you are given. But I do know some excellent RS's too...
What I will say is that you never stop learning with horses - whatever environment you are in, it's just what you learn that varies.
Spudlet
Well-Known Member
There does appear to be one assumption being made... that if you are a 'riding school rider' then all you will ever have done is ride at a riding school, and you won't have gained experience in other ways aside from your lessons. Not neccesarily true...
VoR
Well-Known Member
I hear the theme to the Magic Roundabout going round and round and round.................
rhino
Well-Known Member
Nope, but the OP was on the basis of a riding school only rider which is why most of the replies relate to that scenario
sarahhelen1977
Well-Known Member
Haven't read the whole thread, but here's my two pennies worth!
I really think it largely depends on WHICH riding school you train at. The place I used to work at had horses right up to GP level, and used youngsters on lessons for more experienced riders. They also offered NVQ/BHS stages courses, and clients doing these courses HAD to put the hours in on the yard.
I also have a client that I used to teach at the RS who now shares my friend's horse - he is working Adv.Medium, and has competed at the nationals several times.
I accept that this type of RS is an exception, rather than the norm, but it highlights the fact that you can't tar all RS riders with the same brush!
I really think it largely depends on WHICH riding school you train at. The place I used to work at had horses right up to GP level, and used youngsters on lessons for more experienced riders. They also offered NVQ/BHS stages courses, and clients doing these courses HAD to put the hours in on the yard.
I also have a client that I used to teach at the RS who now shares my friend's horse - he is working Adv.Medium, and has competed at the nationals several times.
I accept that this type of RS is an exception, rather than the norm, but it highlights the fact that you can't tar all RS riders with the same brush!
madeleine1
Well-Known Member
i havnt read the whole thing either but a riding school rider can know alot more then a private owner who doesnt hv lessons
PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
I was just thinking the same thing . . . haven't we flogged this particular dead horse enough yet? And, yes, the pun was intentional.
I'm all for lively debate but . . .
P
Fellewell
Well-Known Member
Cracking post. Well done you!
Just out of interest, which riders do you admire?
TheoryX1
Well-Known Member
I personally would not discredit riding school riders, and to be honest I havent read all of this post. However, I bought my first horse 7 years ago from a riding school, after riding him in lessons for over a year. To be very honest I didnt actually start to learn to ride what I would call 'properly', ie with a proper contact etc until after I had bought him and had taken him out of a riding school environment. Oh, and that particular riding school was fairly good as well. I am of the opinion that its like learning to drive - you learn the actual techniques of driving, but you dont actually 'learn to drive' if you understand me until you have passed your driving test and you get let loose on the roads properly.
maresmaid
Well-Known Member
Look i think there is a big misunderstanding here. People are not saying that there is anything wrong with starting to ride at a riding school, many have done just that. What is been said is that there is still a lot more to be learned when you take on your own horse full time. That does not mean that we think riding schools or people who train there are inferior. It is a brilliant idea to move into horse ownership and keep your horse in a riding school environment - you will still learn lots of things in this way that you wouldnt learn otherwise. I honestly dont think that people who have not had responsibilty for keeping their own horse day in and day out will ever understand this point. I might also add that when i lost my second horse after 25 years of horse ownership i went to a really good riding school for lessons because i wanted some experience of riding different types of horses before i went try any prospective purchases as i had not ridden many different horses for a good few years.
badgerdog
Well-Known Member
I work with children at a riding school and the biggest difference I see between them and children who have their own ponies is that the RS kids are technically much better than the one's who have their own ponies. Kids who have their own ponies are more 'natural' riders and are much more confident but the ones at the RS have better positions and know more about aids, transitions etc because they have more lessons and are constantly being corrected. It depends on the riding school of course, we are lucky to have good instructors. Most of the kids I know who have their own ponies haven't been to riding schools and although have lessons, don't have them very frequently.
The kids at our riding school have been placed at dressage competitions but wouldn't dare hunt, whereas my friends children are frustrated by dressage as they aren't very good at it but were happily hunting when they were 6 and 7 years old!
The kids at our riding school have been placed at dressage competitions but wouldn't dare hunt, whereas my friends children are frustrated by dressage as they aren't very good at it but were happily hunting when they were 6 and 7 years old!
tinap
Well-Known Member
Not read the lot but my daughter was taught at a riding school, they made her the rider she is today. When they figured that she had a bit of a talent for being able to sit to anything they made use of her by putting her on all the naughties. The fact that she was small for her age was a great advantage to them as she could sort out the little ones too.
They chucked her on everything & anything & it certainly taught her a lot. She stopped going to the riding school when she was about 12 to concentrate on her own ponies. She now competes at a pretty high level bs.
I don't get on with the owner of the school but I will always say that they will certainly teach a kid to ride!!
They chucked her on everything & anything & it certainly taught her a lot. She stopped going to the riding school when she was about 12 to concentrate on her own ponies. She now competes at a pretty high level bs.
I don't get on with the owner of the school but I will always say that they will certainly teach a kid to ride!!