Riding Schools - thoughts ?

[abina]

This arose from another thread that I was reading and replied to -this particular person considered a Riding school to be a bad home. Being a Riding School Owner I of course stood up to defend my business and protested in a very loud voice.

Ok I have 17 horses in my R/S - all have a vet check annually along with jabs and a general chat with vet to clear up any small items that may arise. Farrier is here every 4-6 weeks depends on horse some go 4 weeks some 6 wks. All except one is shod with at least fronts - all large ones shod all round. The saddler and dentist are here every 6 mts unless required before hand - Every horse has a massage every 2 weeks - the ones that Hunt are done weekly. All have a minimumof a 12 x12 ft stable - fully rubber matted with proper beds in winter- day beds - summer as out at night. Cared for 24hrs a day ! Lavished with love from the clients and Pony Club. All are groomed daily - and strapped. All tack correctly fitted - and cleaned daily. Bit are always washed !! They work a variety of lessons - from LR to lunging up to Adv. Med Dressage. No horse works for more than 3 hrs a day ( please bear in mind ponies doing LR lessons do very little) All are schooled and exercised by staff on top of this - All either do PC / Rc or hunt regualrly in winter. Nine ponies qualified for PC Championships. All have indiviual diets according to work. temp/ breed etc - all have Mondays off and hack or have Tuesdays off (No lessons at all) and are turned out in summer and as much as the ground conditions allow in winter (we are on clay) All fit, healthy, sound, well schooled, muscled and happy ! By the way I own all the horses no working liveries or loans.

What are your perceptions and experiances of Riding Schools? and why? Genuinely interested as this is my business as well as my love! Comments please !

 

[kyanya]

Sounds like your riding school is a great place to be for the horses.

From experience of working at a riding school (BHS approved), all the horses were well-loved and looked after, but maybe not quite as well looked after as I'd keep my own. I was only there for 4 months (summer job) but I never saw a saddler and I got the impression that the saddler would only come out if a horse needed a new one or if there was obviously a problem. And same with chiropractor/back person - I never saw one.

That said, all the horses seemed fairly happy, but I think a riding school environment will always suit some better than others. Two in particular were right grumps, but they were mother and son, and I still know the son and he's still one of the best looking but bad tempered horses you will ever have the misfortune of meeting!!

I think people who automatically dismiss riding schools as bad homes for horses are generalising too much. I'm sure it can sometimes be true, but certainly not in every case. I know some horses that are happy as larry with lots of attention from customers, lots of lovely hacking and turnout in herds with all their mates.

 

[abina]

Let me just make it clear I am not on a witch hunt for R/S haters - just would like to know the general impression that us decent R/S owners are up against and what we can do, if anything to improve this image or improve the conditions that are requested by the licensing boards. This in itself is a thorny subject and prehaps better tackled elsewhere on another day as a huge subject.

The person who's thread started me on this - can I make clear - have never met except on here through this one debate and although had different ideas and experiances - both grown up enough to leave the debate as freinds and an invite to have a tour of my school when in the area !

Every sport will have it's good centres and it's not so good centres same as there are good private homes and bad private homes. Just wanted to hear of peoples experiance and general perceptions !

Thanks

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I recently visited a RS on their open day, it was the first time I've been to one for 10 years! Eeeek , how time flies!

My impression was that the ponies and horses were very nice quality animals, good tack, good body condition, had seen the farrier recently and seemed happy. The school (outdoor) was nice, the fields were badly kept (full of weeds and I really mean FULL) and the stables themselves were good sizes and condition. They did have rubber mats but there wasn't enough shavings to absorb the wee and the horses that had peed were standing in puddles of urine.

I have other issues with this RS (re their teaching) but that's a whole new topic!

 

[Divasmum]

Your riding school sounds great. I think people sometimes forget that some private owners do not care for their horses well. There are some excellent riding schools and private homes but also some very bad ones as well.

 

[hudsonw]

I think the problem is that there are a few bad eggs out there and that spoils it for the rest. You also have the problem of people being snobs and looking down on people who don't own their own.
I have known good and bad RS and yours sounds like the best...most liverys don't get such treatment!!!
I livery on a yard that is is also a BHS riding school and to be honest the horses have quite a good deal. They have Thursdays off, they are out 24/7 unless they are being used. Stabled in the winter with day turnout if not in use. They are only used 2 hrs a day. They hack on sundays and have pony days in the kids holidays. They have the farrier every 6 weeks and the vet when needed and yearly jabs.
However, I have found that it's the customers that seem to get a raw deal...they are charged £20 for half an hours lesson and by the time they have all mounted and warmed up they must only get 10 mins worth of lesson!!! They get charged for hiring a hat or body protector. Private lessons are more and hacks start from £30!!!
Clients are asked to untack and sometimes to turn the horses out afterwards.
I think it's quite expensive to learn to ride these days. One girl I work with can only afford one or two hacks a month!!!

 

[MelenR]

Your riding school sounds lovely. I worked at a riding school for 5 years when I was a teenager and keep my own horse there at the same time. All the horses were well looked after, groomed, fed, shod and tack cleaned. There were lots of helpers that looked after the horses in return for free rides. None of them were overworked - most of the ponies were turned out during the week and ridden for 2/3 hours a day at the weekend, and the stabled horses were ridden for about an hour a day. I think there were lots of older horses that had been given to riding school (or on full loan) and they were happy grazing during the week and plodding around the school/lanes at the weekend. I think if I couldn't sell my horse I would consider putting him of full loan to them...I think it'd be a bit like retirement livery without the livery costs!

 

[Pipkin]

I`ve looked at your link, damn i wish lived closer, look a fab places, nice horses, good facilities and a well thought out site with all relevant info, big hug and wine for you, thats what a RS should be like! you give it a good name

Ps I may have to steal Cino, a tb x and a dun and white..... i must must have

 

[coss]

i think your riding school sounds brilliant! not all riding schools are like that though - several have a variety of horses, and i'm don't know any in my area that have had the high quality ones! Usually the good horses are saved for staff and experienced riders, whilst the LR type classes have ponies that know to plod about and aren't schooled etc. I have been to several riding schools that have had a poor standard of horse tbh... i remember riding a working livery once, was told to canter to the back of the ride (how boring when i'm used to working with novice level dressage horses and aim to ride elementary/medium whenever i get the chance!) and after i successfully cantered round the arena the instructor informed me that was highly unusual as the horse usually bucks and refused to canter They hadn't warned me of that and the horse was very off the aid and at no point did it feel like it was going to start bucking

I think any horse at your riding school would be a happy horse though

 

[abina]

I recently visited a RS on their open day, it was the first time I've been to one for 10 years! Eeeek , how time flies!

My impression was that the ponies and horses were very nice quality animals, good tack, good body condition, had seen the farrier recently and seemed happy. The school (outdoor) was nice, the fields were badly kept (full of weeds and I really mean FULL) and the stables themselves were good sizes and condition. They did have rubber mats but there wasn't enough shavings to absorb the wee and the horses that had peed were standing in puddles of urine.

I have other issues with this RS (re their teaching) but that's a whole new topic!

Well yes the teaching ! again is a big subject and prehaps desrves another thread all of it's own later ! This is again one of my personal bug bears - I only use fully qualified BHS instructors that have a good track record and their interview with me is worse than facing the dragons - we teach from the classical school - weight aids, light hands etc .......as you say another story !

 

[abina]

I`ve looked at your link, damn i wish lived closer, look a fab places, nice horses, good facilities and a well thought out site with all relevant info, big hug and wine for you, thats what a RS should be like! you give it a good name

Ps I may have to steal Cino, a tb x and a dun and white..... i must must have

Everyone loves Cino ! he is a superb horse - does dressage , SJ, XC and has just started cubbing ! and no he's not for sale !!!! xxxxx lol

 

[Thelwell_Girl]

You only have to read my lesson reports to see how highly I think of my RS!

For me, it is the best riding school in North London.

One day, when I have my own horse, I will no doubt be keeping it there!

 

[abina]

You only have to read my lesson reports to see how highly I think of my RS!

For me, it is the best riding school in North London.

One day, when I have my own horse, I will no doubt be keeping it there!

what particularly singles out your RS ? is it the quality of horses the level of teaching or just a good freindly atmostphere ?

 

[mystiandsunny]

I know of a lovely RS, where the ponies do 2hrs a day max, and are spoilt rotten. Despite the fact that I know the ponies there are well cared for and looked after, it still wouldn't be a good home for just any horse. There are horses that thrive in a riding school environment, who love all the attention and have a fab sense of humour with the kids, and there are those who don't. So if someone says they don't think a RS would be a good home for their horse, that isn't necessarily a way of saying that RS horses aren't well looked after.

 

[Thelwell_Girl]

what particularly singles out your RS ? is it the quality of horses the level of teaching or just a good freindly atmostphere ?

Its just... Everything!

Teachers are all lovely, different ones have different strengths and personalities, so while I get on with B and Z very well, I dont always get on with L.

They are all honest, and encourage me to improve and to do my best. Ive even ridden my instructors horse in a lesson (well... grumpy pony!)

Horses are a mixed bunch, anything from tiny ginger shettys to big WB types, and apparently Pally (the horse I rode in my last lesson - see report for pics!) can do canter pirouettes. While Im not necessarily being trained up to Advanced Medium or whatever, I have this summer done my first dressage test (Prelim 10 - got 50%!) and somehow managed to get over my first ever diddy course of jumps!

When you help out, 99% of the time, you will get a lesson to say thank you. Helpers lessons on sunday afternoons are mad fun Every so often youll get a free private lesson too.

Everyone at the yard is friends, especially after this years advanced pony week!

Horses are cared for as family, each horse is an individual and is treated as such. Instructors are all responsible for their own 'sections' of the yard, so get to know the horses even better.

My instructor, B, is amazing. She is friendly, funny and caring, never lets me get away with anything. She always makes sure that you have fun, as well as learn, and is happy teaching anyone from tiny tots on the shetlands, to little TGs trying to become more confident, up to someone like Cavblacks, who rode the YO's daughters horse.

Whenever I see people bashing RSs, I feel like inviting them down to my RS and saying "So? What do you think then? "

 

[TinselRider]

I actually miss working in a RS! I miss the happy yet structured environment!

Unfortunatley around my way "quality" RS are lacking and the best one changed hands 7 years ago

 

[mulledwhine]

Your school sounds amazing, as were all of the schools of my child hood.

Can some one tell me how a school that never gets their horses vaccinated, or saddles fitted, infact the leather is questionable, hay in the winter is kept to a minimum, and i n the heat of summer no water is offered all day, gets an ABRS status?

There is no doubt they love their horses, but this is all wrong to me

 

[abina]

Your school sounds amazing, as were all of the schools of my child hood.

Can some one tell me how a school that never gets their horses vaccinated, or saddles fitted, infact the leather is questionable, hay in the winter is kept to a minimum, and i n the heat of summer no water is offered all day, gets an ABRS status?

There is no doubt they love their horses, but this is all wrong to me

Ummmm ... this infact a problem I have with the other RS in the area - only 2 miles down the road - same sort of scene. This is why at the moment I have held back from joining the ABRS or BHS as the standards don't reflect what these organisations seem to be standing for and no 'blanket' standard across the board - Why would I want to register and spend a couple of hundred quid a year on a fee that means nothing. I am however a PC centre which does uphold it's standard and I have PC officer come down regularly to check the yard, horses, insurance details, Instructor qualifications, CBR checks, First Aid certs and Child Protection certs. - and this cost me nothing !!!

 

[abina]

Its just... Everything!

Teachers are all lovely, different ones have different strengths and personalities, so while I get on with B and Z very well, I dont always get on with L.

They are all honest, and encourage me to improve and to do my best. Ive even ridden my instructors horse in a lesson (well... grumpy pony!)

Horses are a mixed bunch, anything from tiny ginger shettys to big WB types, and apparently Pally (the horse I rode in my last lesson - see report for pics!) can do canter pirouettes. While Im not necessarily being trained up to Advanced Medium or whatever, I have this summer done my first dressage test (Prelim 10 - got 50%!) and somehow managed to get over my first ever diddy course of jumps!

When you help out, 99% of the time, you will get a lesson to say thank you. Helpers lessons on sunday afternoons are mad fun Every so often youll get a free private lesson too.

Everyone at the yard is friends, especially after this years advanced pony week!

Horses are cared for as family, each horse is an individual and is treated as such. Instructors are all responsible for their own 'sections' of the yard, so get to know the horses even better.

My instructor, B, is amazing. She is friendly, funny and caring, never lets me get away with anything. She always makes sure that you have fun, as well as learn, and is happy teaching anyone from tiny tots on the shetlands, to little TGs trying to become more confident, up to someone like Cavblacks, who rode the YO's daughters horse.

Whenever I see people bashing RSs, I feel like inviting them down to my RS and saying "So? What do you think then? "

This is fantastic - pass on my congratulations to your Yard manager / Riding school owner - Excatly what I wanted to hear !

 

[abina]

Hi Abina!

Your riding school sounds fantastic, as does the one which Thelwell Girl attends! So I thought I'd take the opportunity to say how fabulous the one my daughter attends is too, and we now have our first pony stabled there.

Our RS has over 60 horses and ponies, 2 outdoor schools, 1 indoor school, miles and miles of on doorstep hacking (and lots of other really good things that I'm not experienced enough to know the true value of!). All horses are in excellent condition - they are all either on full or working livery (which may put some people off who want DIY, but it's perfect for me) and have literally every need provided and cared for. We can do as much or as little as we want, and they are currently teaching myself and my daughter how to care for our pony, all free of charge (despite my many offers of payment!). Also, horses and ponies on working livery are only used for 1 hour a day, 6 days a week (they have a day off too!) so it doesn't affect the owners riding.

The instructors are excellent, the lessons are well structured, they have a club for the kids to join at age 10 to teach them stable management (very cheap too) and the whole place has a lovely friendly feel to it, whilst being very structured and disciplined. The best thing for me is that my daughter has been welcomed into a completely new group of friends and a new social life which has worked wonders on her sometimes socially crippling shyness. Even the kids are all lovely, and I don't generally "like" kids!!!

And everyone is so approachable and available to answer my stupid questions!

My daughter rode at a different RS for over 2 years, and it was awful, so I feel I've seen both sides of the fence.

In my opinion, it all hinges on the attitiude of the owners, regardless of facilities etc... A nice, helpful and engaging owner will provide a good RS whereas a money driven and unpleasant owner, will not. Obviously, just my opinion, but honestly, even if our RS didn't have such good facilities, it wouldn't bother me due to how nice the people are.

And as the OP is seeking the comments of people on here, I conclude that they are in the first category!!! Well done OP for your no doubt lovely RS!!!

The people maketh the school!!!!

So true - it is all about everyone making an effort ! - Sounds like another fantastic place ! Well done

 

[Paddydou]

I have 2 riding schools near by who are both fantastic. Both very different in their aproach but both brilliant places. The horses are all very much loved and well cared for on both. All tack fits, the horses all have a wide variety of work. Vets, farriers, back men etc.

I would be happy for any of my horses to go there and live if I were not around.

I have seen some though that ruin the cart. They are sloppy, dirty, unfitting tack, the people don't care.

Its like anything it only takes one bad apple to ruin the perceptions of lot.