Riding schools - they're not ALL bad

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teapot

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Decided to do a separate post as otherwise the positive views tend to get lost amongst all the negativity.

My last big riding school where I also ended up working was fantastic (and still is on some levels). Great, experience instructors (including 2 IIs and I at one point), decent horses and good facilities. Kids started outside of the arena doing lead rein hacks where they learnt all the basics before they even entered a lesson. Many had their first canter and jump outside the arena too. Used to regularly hack out as it was seen as part of a rider's education. The lesson progression system was really well thought out as well.

I learnt most of what I know from that place. Got taught to lunge properly, had stable management lessons way before any official BHS training, wasn't allowed to trot unless whatever I was doing was perfect in walk. Had many lessons where I didn't see canter as the trot work wasn't good enough. Jumped on all types of surfaces too which was nice. Taught about outlines properly, working from the back, the training/schooling levels of flatwork (which at my uni riding team trials, the instructor was thrilled to know that someone who was RS taught knew them!)

I currently ride somewhere much smaller and I know the kids' lessons are all about being safe and fun. They get to do loads of no stirrup work, hacks out, good jumping lessons, ride bareback to the fields.

So yeah, they're not all bad :)
 
My riding school is brilliant and so were all of the ones i attended regularly as a child (although that was in cyprus) my curent one she is a one woman band and she took me back to basics as i had a ten year break, in just over a year from starting from scratch basically Im now starting to jump courses and the horses are worked hard but very well cared for with a good variety of work.
 
The riding school I go to is great too. I love it there so much, that not only am I (hopefully) about to buy a horse via there, but I'm going to keep it there on working livery too.

I learnt to 'ride' 20 years ago at a different place, but after a year moved on to horse shares. I then did a handful of shows, but was mainly a happy hacker. I had no lessons, and my year at the previous school taught me to kick and pull. I then had a long break from riding and when I started again this year I wanted to learn properly.

In 3 months I have learnt more at the riding school than I ever knew. I have done private lessons and group lessons, and a couple of lunge lessons. I have been taught to use the aids properly (well, it's a work in progress!) and not once have I been in a lesson that consisted solely of trotting round and cantering to the back of the ride.

We've worked on shapes in the school, independently and as a group, leg yielding, walk-canter and canter-walk, counter canter, and landing on a different lead after a jump.

They have a wide variety of horses, from beginner-friendly to competition horses, 3 schools and access to brilliant hacking. Yes, people do vote with their feet, which is why they're always busy there.

I keep a record of all my lesson reports on the 'Diary of a Rusty Rider' thread if anyone wants more details.
 
I'm an instructor, and have been out of the industry for about ten years until five years ago. The biggest difference in riding schools that Ive noticed is that the clients have changed - more people with money who expect everything to be perfect for nothing, and so much litigation its frightening! No wonder some RSs don't push people! I've land and stables, and love teaching, but I'm not sure if I'd dare open a school (or that I could afford the insurance it requires nowadays!)
 
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