Riding schools and standards of riding

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horsemad32

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All I can say is - wow. Friend of mine had someone come to try one of hers for share today. Poor kid was so nervous as had been 'run off with' a lot at the RS until they gave up and just put her on steady ones. She wasn't used to having to do anything other than constantly kick as a result. There's also the complete lack of any idea how to put anything on the bit or be much more than a passenger. Horse looked after her really sweetly but felt so sorry for the kid - she's been paying all that money, to one of the better schools in the area (she did actually have balance at least), and she can't really ride at all!
 
We have an excellent RS in our area, it turns out very sensitive and effective riders from what I have seen.
We had a girl turn up at our yard with a newly broken 4yr old who had only ridden at that RS. Everybody thought it was a recipe for disaster but she's done a great job with her and is a fantastic advert for the RS imo.
 
Depends massively on the RS... I've seen a few cracking little riders from a certain RS, a some absoutely awful riders from other RSs in the area. It also depends on the rider too - some are naturally more gifted than others, and others just total knobs who shouldn't be allowed near a horse (those aren't limited to RSs though :mad:)
 
In fairness there is only so much progress that can be made if someone only rides once a week. Of a few near me, two have very high standards, two are ok as far as I know, & the last is a joke. I've met more than a few riders from the last, who I honestly feel pretty sorry for. But even the two good ones can't possibly get the same results in a few years of weekly group lessons as someone who's been brought up round them. ( fwiw I have seen lessons at the bad one so my judgement isn't just having seen the pupils elsewhere)
 
sounds like me lol.
can't believe all those years i spent at such type of riding schools.
I don't have a clue, what I have learnt is by myself tbh from excercising a friends horse.

Riding schools charge cost twice the price now £40 odd quid on an average, at least when I was younger lessons where alot cheaper ( & I wasn't paying haha)
but seriously, I've yet to find a good riding school locally yet that teaches anything other than kick to go and pull reins to stop on unschooled horses.

I've only ever been to one place that had excellent teaching and it closed down and was sold on, though I'm hoping in recent future it will be reopening to simular standards.

Though to be fair I haven't tried everywhere, but I'm tight to part with my limited money on the risk of it being a waste of time so for now I'm just keeping an eye out.
 
Some schools don't teach , I know of some that, to get pony/ horse to canter just say ' kick' !!! Nothing about where to place legs on the girth, and if you asked the kids what a diagonal was, try would have no idea what you ment!!!!!
 
You have to remember that a RS is a business first and foremost. If the riders are not very good, you have to give them something a little easier to keep them coming back, after all who wants to pay *insert ridiculous sum here* to end up in A&E every week :D:p

RSs also have problems with litigation, it's all very well people saying they want to learn to ride these sensitive horses, but if they fall off and damage their pride it's your fault. Most RS err on the side of caution nowadays.

I have different ways of teaching different types of people, so those who really want to learn to do it properly will do (these types are few and far between unfortunately), those who just want to pootle about on a horse once a week can do that too :)
 
I agree with LL if you can only ride once a week in a group lesson you cannot progress as fast as someone riding everyday and having private lessons. Additionally RS clients have to ride a wide range of horses and it is harder to work on position etc when you are having to learn to get used to riding different horses.

However there are some really talented riders who have come from RS backgrounds such as Anna Ross for example.

I liveried at a RS for a bit and still use the same instructor I had when there who freelances, she is a good instructor and I have achieved loads on my pony that I never thought I could. It was not teaching that holds people back always it is lack of opportunity to perhaps ride a horse that is suited to them. Some non RS people who seem like good riders often have help from their horses as they have choosen a horse suited to them and got to know them and what gets the best results.
 
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I work in a riding school as the head instructer and i find that most people just want to plod along and be told there doing great even if there doing nothing... They could be doing the same kind of lesson every week but as long as u tell them there doing great they come back for more..
If i try doing something harder (most often working with no stirrups) they get fed up and not want to come anymore because they have to work harder.. In fairness horse riding is hard work but most people dont want to ut in the hardship..
Riding schools are a business first and we want the customers to come back so you have to keep them happy and do what they want.. I get more fun and better results with the kids that come and help with the lesson.. you know the kids that always seem to hang around stables on a saturday... they want to work hard at riding and dont mind falling off,,
 
I worked in a great riding school where all the horses and ponys were well schooled, not over worked and ridden by the instructors a lot, so they always had someone with half an idea riding them and jumping them. The main few instructors gave really great lessons even on the lunge, and there was scope to learn more if the clients wanted too and were capable. I also worked in a very well known riding school whichwas horrible because none of the horses were schooled properly, and would run off, not go anywhere, and one of them repeated charged at me when a client was riding! I got tolld by one of the other instructors that he doesn't like rein contact so give him long reins and let him follow someone! How those poor people were supposed to learn to ride I don't know! I also was told to give a lesson to some kids whose parents complained my lesson was too basic and they had been cross country that morning... Well they couldn't trot without stirrups and looked like they were about to wobble off at any moment in canter. They had obviously been told how great they were doing when they hadn't been. I think there are some good places out there and some really good instructors, but they are few and far between.
 
What a sad thread :(

Its shocking to think that many clients won't come back if you challenge them. Wasn't like that in my day :D although bless her my insttuctor was ahead of her time and frightened of being sued, so I didn't jump much, but it speaks for itself that the ponies were all forward going and sensible even though the instructors and staff didn't ride them. :)
 
Don't know why I opened this thread, RS threads always make me cross.

For what it is worth, DH and I bought our first horse last year, a recently broken rising 4 year old. DH had only ridden RS horses, I'd had a share or two. We're doing fine, she's coming along a treat. Most people are amazed that she is our first.

I've come accross more horse owners that haven't a clue about aids and contact etc than I have in the RS.

I was privileged to have lessons with some fab instructors, several BHSI, and one who is now a FBHS. My riding was constantly challenged and pushed.

There are some awful riding schools and instructors out there but there are some fab ones too. Don't tar them all with the same brush!
 
I've been an instructor for 30+ years, all over the world, and can honestly say that the standard of riding instruction in this part of the world is, on average, AWFUL. Not always, obviously there are some exceptions, but if you want to learn to ride properly, effectively, classically and without annoying your horses, don't do it in the British Isles!
 
There are good riding schools and bad riding schools but I think just as much depends on the motivation levels of the pupils. You can achieve a lot in an hour or you can achieve nothing - a bit like lessons at school!

I grew up having weekly group lessons and aged about 8 or 9 I knew I was rubbish but I was determined to improve. I even used to practice sitting in the correct position on my rocking horse, looking at pictures in books, to try and get used to how it felt!

I also read a lot about riding and schooling to pick up tips and techniques I could try in my lessons.

As an adult I moved about a lot and found some riding schools were not even attempting to teach me anything or just put me on the same "have to beat up to get a passable working trot" plod every week, despite me obviously being capable of more. I voted with my feet and found another one.

Other ones were great and had at least one horse that was a bit more responsive than your average plod or a younger school horse that needed miles on the clock that they wanted to be used in lessons once they realised you were capable of riding them.

I don't think RS held me back as a basic rider in terms of my position or balance but I didn't really progress past as certain point (basic lateral work) and I have no experience of jumping massive fences or riding under competition pressure.
 
I agree it all depends on the motivation of the riders.

The riding school I keep my horse at in the UK is fabulous, I have received wonderful tuition on some great horses (including the instructors own competition horse) and (and here is the rub!) if you want to you can progress and take part in day workshops on Dressage, jumping and X-country with visiting instructors, go to competitions with a school horse, take BHS Stage I, II and III examinations in both riding and care at the yard. The yard also arranges lessons with top Dressage and XC instructors off site. Younger riders are encouraged to join the Pony Club which is run on a Saturday afternoon on site and if they can not afford their own to part loan a school pony. All this is available to you if you want it.

However some pupils choose not to do this and in this case they are taught enough to be safe, secure and confident so they can hack out and enjoy riding on a safe, sane horse. They may not be the prettiest riders but they are enjoying their hobby and are capable.
 
I have come across some good and bad places. My friend brought a mate of hers out to me, who had been having private lessons in london and hadn't mastered rising trot, she got it in 10 minutes with me, which said everything about the people who had been teaching her before!
However, I have come across some places where the pupils are great, and they organise in house competitions, where the jumps are more up to height than some of the local shows!
Our local PC doesn't teach much from the lessons I have watched tbh.
 
Considering the majority of us horse-owners on here probably learned to ride at riding schools, they can't all be bad unless we're all still clinging on like limpets!

I learned to ride at a few different riding schools as a teenager. The best instructor I had is now a freelance instructor and breeder of dressage horses, and someone I still keep in touch with and I have a lot of respect for - unfortunately she is just too far away for me to have lessons from now.
After then owning and loaning a few, I moved to London where I rode weekly at a riding school in Kingston, having private lessons. I found it pretty bad after the lessons I had had previously.
I then moved to where I currently live, in Cumbria and had to have lessons at local riding schools for a couple of years before I was able to buy my own again. The standard varied, but to be honest, I've seen better riders at those riding schools than some of the owners at the livery yard I am on now! In fact it was at one of these local riding schools that I got my passion for ex-racers as they had a couple which I was able to school for them.
Like some have said, some are good, some are bad. It also depends on the ambition of the rider in question. Some want to enjoy hacking and go for a gallop, some others want to own their own horse one day and want to do more refined stuff. That's their choice. The instructor, to a certain extent can only work with what they have in front of them.
 
There are definitely good & bad ones. I learnt to ride in one with a good reputation around here but even then it depended on the instructor. When I was about 10 we had one who would take us for a walk down the lane for the last 15 mins of our lesson so she could have a fag before her next one (our parents soon complained) but my last instructor before I left & got bailey was brilliant, always trying to push you & didn't let you ge away with being lazy but was equally as understanding when I'd lost a bit of confidence, she made sure I was on the horses who would behave but could still make me work.

Another school around here is just awful, I've never seen anyone come out of it that can ride properly, the horses are mostly mental, they basically teach them how to stay on, they do most stuff by voice & the girls that ive ridden with from there dont know how to use their legs. If you see them out for hacks there is little control, they often can't stop, the horses stop & eat when they fancy it, just mental. But everyone I know who "learnt to ride" there absolutely loves it. Each to their own I guess.
 
oh god the return of this thread :rolleyes:

I'm a riding school rider, for years I was stuck in schools that I'm surprised are still open. I sucked it up and thought this is the level of teaching in my country and I'd be stuck like this until I was able to get my own. (I was young at this age, didn't know any better and my family are completely non horsey so couldn't be told different by anyone else).

I took a 2 year break from riding and when I returned I moved yard (I am still on this yard 3 years later) and my god, I kick myself daily thinking how I should have moved earlier! In my old yard we did the same thing day in and day out with no rein contact no idea of steering and ponyclub kicking :mad:

On my new yard I was introduced to a real eye-opener, I was restarted immediately on learning how to ride properly and even with taking group lessons I was still improving tremendous amounts weekly. Naturally the improvement with group lessons decreased gradually which I have now moved onto private lessons fortnightly instead of a weekly group. I cannot express how much I've improved, from learning about weight aids, pressure leg, support leg and basically everything :eek: If a rider in my school uses a whip or ponyclub kick when not necessary (regardless of level/age) you get punished my stirrup-less troting laps.:p

There are schools out there that are for people who want to plod around and show up once a few months and then there are schools for people who are serious about their riding. Sadly in my area there's more of the plod around schools :mad: But I constantly guide friends in the right directions to schools regardless of them wanting to plod around or get serious. If you want to ride you learn to ride not just sit on a horse like I was taught, I just want to be there for them unlike anyone I had. Riding is an expensive sport so why pay for a bad service rather then pay the same price for a great one?
If your friend is in a bad school help them find a good school even if it means travelling a bit further from home!
 
The lesson to be learned from this thread would seem to be "find a better place to learn". But how is a beginner to know which is which? In countries which have high standards and traditions of riding (e.g. Germany, Holland, Spain) the basic instruction seems to be better and the average rider turns out with a good knowledge of the principles. Here (in Ireland), whilst we seem to have a good reputation as horsemen, our tradition is hunting - not your twiddly dressage stuff - and the basic standard and knowledge of the average rider is VERY poor. Yes, I know we have some truly great riders out there, but believe me they are the exception.
 
Cortez said:
In countries which have high standards and traditions of riding (e.g. Germany, Holland, Spain) the basic instruction seems to be better and the average rider turns out with a good knowledge of the principles.
Click to expand...

I teach a lot of German and Dutch kids who come here on holiday - they are almost all without exception very capable, confident little riders. However I find them all very hard riders, hard in the hands and hard with the legs. My horses do not need to be booted or pulled (no not even the cobs or haffies!) they all are trained to the seat and this is something that comes as a surprise to those kids. A lot of parents comment that in their riding lessons at home they are taught to kick and pull and the ponies need a stong hand, so I would say that even in other countries the instruction varies tremendously.

Incidentally I had a group of Irish ladies out last year and they were the best riders we've had! Ok we were trekking not doing dressage but they were confident, balanced and never once gobbed their horses :)
 
Not this again . . . seriously, haven't we done this to death yet?

Yes - there are some rubbish schools/instructors

Yes - there are also some very good riding schools

Yes - some RS clients only ever want to be passengers and couldn't tell their own backsides from their elbows, much less those of the horse they're on

Yes - some RS clients are hungry for knowledge, progress well and go on to become decent riders

Yes - some RS horses are bored, school-sour plods who are so behind the leg as to be jet lagged

Yes - some RS horses are well-schooled (by competent staff), well looked after and have alot to teach the RS clients

Yes - some RS clients do nothing more than show up, get on ready-groomed, tacked up horse, ride and then hand the horse back

Yes - some RS clients bother (or are allowed) to learn horse care/management and groom/tack up their schoolie before a lesson

FWIW, a friend of mine - who was also my instructor at one time - and who learned to ride at a RS - was hired as a groom by William Fox-Pitt . . . she was schooling and hacking for him, as well as doing yard work . . . and he knew she had come from a RS. A good illustration of how some riding schools can actually turn out decent riders.

Where on earth do most people not blessed with being born into a horsey family start if not (at some point at least) at a RS?

Rant over.

P
 
In fairness, PS, I don't think anyone on this thread is disputing any of your points - merely bemoaning the standards in some RSs, and how unfair it is on riders who want to learn but aren't in a position to realise that their RS isn't doing them any favours.
 
I think there have been lots of good points already mention in this thread so I wont repeat them :rolleyes:
I'd just like to add that those who come from non-horsey families don't have the option to learn to ride at anywhere other than a riding school unless they know a friend/neighbour etc. willing to lend them a horse and teach them (which is extremely unlikey!)
Very few parents are going to be willing to buy their child their own pony and pay out for an insturctor if the parent themself is clueless about horses as I generally find most non-horsey people expect children to grow out of horses sooner or later.
So for some people riding schools are the only option and if you happen upon a good one then they can be a solid base from which to move on from.
I began riding at a riding school (one of the better ones by all accounts!) and have now got a job working at a polo and racing yard for the summer exercising the horses and general managment...after uni I also intend to do a working pupil position so having started out at a riding school doesn't been you'll can't move on and progress!
 
I'm sure this has been done before but I haven't posted on one before so...

I LOVE my riding school! :D:D:D:D

Yes, there are the ''safe as houses'' plods that you start on, and the whizzy ponies that know every trick in the book, but if you persevere and move up through the classes then they have about 15-20 ''posh'' horses that are a pleasure to ride, and teach us so much about the finer points of riding. They range from ex-eventers and the daughter's retired showjumpers (she competes nationally), who are obviously lovely schoolmasters, to ex-racers and some that are just lovely, warmblood, VERY well schooled types who go out to compete (and win) locally in sj and dressage with both staff and customers on their backs.

The owner organises in house competitions in dressage, xc and sj, as well as working hunter classes etc. These nearly always have outside judges, and the judges are always impressed by how well the horses are turned out and how nicely they are ridden :o . When we hold open showjumping competitions our horses&riders hold their own against 'outside' riders with no problem, and more often than not our riders are much more sympathetic to the horses. None of our riders would dream of entering a horse in every class for example. (They would be dragged off if they tried it for one thing lol ;) )

Erm. Not really sure what I'm trying to say here! :D They're not all bad, but some are...(I've tried both :eek: )

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