RS advice please

timefort

timefort

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My RS has been heading downhill for sometime but tonight has rather taken the biscuit as I've had an hour lesson, half hour of which I could barely see my instructor, or the others in the lesson due to it getting dark. We were riding in an indoor school which does have floodlights but the YO apparently didn't deem it necessary to put them on - the precise argument relayed by one of the stable girls is that by the time the lights warm up the lesson would be over :confused:. By the end of the lesson we were doing walk halt exercises because it was too dark to do the exercises the instructor had originally planned, and we ended early. I should point out my instructor (who's freelance) was livid with the situation.

I'm aware that horses' have much better night vision than humans, but if I can't see my instructor I cant see what she's demonstrating, and she cant see me to correct me.

This school is BHS approved. Do you think it would be worth me talking to the BHS about this - indeed would anyone at the BHS be interested? We've (myself, instructor and other pupils) tried talking to both the YO and YM about this and other matters but they're not interested. The only other option is to vote with my feet and find another RS (something I would have done long ago if it wasn't for a very good instructor).

Any thoughts...?
I believe it's customary to offer goodies at this point - like to share the homemade biccies made by my loverly OH??
 
Worth mentioning it to the BHS, but if the only issue you have is skinflintery on lighting then I doubt they will do much. If this is a regular problem (and lessons dont sometimes run over etc.) would ask for a refund on the part of the lesson you dont get.

You could also go in and say that you didnt feel comfortable riding in the dark tonight, and ask if they can let you know when they do plan to start lighting the school for that lesson so you can book in again from that point.
 
My sister has been having private lessons at a bhs school as she's just getting back into riding. She's paying a lot of money to have the school to herself and yet every session other riders are 'popping' in with their instructor to have a canter/pop a jump as her lessons are in the larger school. After pointing out several times that she wants her private lesson to be private she's not going back.
 
Remember these riding schools have to be licensed under the Riding Establishment Act, which is administered by your local Council.

It would be sensible to contact both the Council and the BHS.

No licence no BHS approval possible

OP, if you are in the Worcestershire County Council area, PM me, I cover all schools in this area for licensing purposes.
 
Can't understand why a RI would teach in such circumstances. The RS must make money out of her teaching there, so she should be asking on your behalf for a refund. If she's freelance does she not know of other RS within your reach?
 
Thanks for your replies. Once back in daylight the answer of "vote with your feet" does seem obvious and I am looking for alternatives (I'm currently on a prepay plan and am certainly not letting them have my money without doing some work for it). Sadly the alternatives near me are all a drive away which isn't always possible - the current one is a 10min walk from my front door.

Mostly I was interested to know whether the BHS would care at the rather shoddy attitude of the stables. I hadn't thought about the council, thank you to all who suggested this route.

AdorableAlice, thank you for your suggestion - I'm in the south east, but will try and find out who your equivalent would be for my region.
 
As your lesson would be pre planned, the lights should be on prior to you going in. Would it be possible for you to switch them on when you arrive or ask staff to do this. Surely, your RI could put them on, for health and safety reasons, quite apart from being unable to teach if she can't see what you're doing.
Is the RS owner unaware that you're riding in the dark ? Is it the fault of the staff ?
If the owner is too mean to use the lights, then most likely, there are plenty of other cost cutting measures that are detrimental to the well being of the horses and yard taking place. You mention the place is going downhill. Contact the council and mention the issues so that action is taken before things slide further.
 
Yes the BHS would care. Their assessment of riding schools is on the teaching not the horse care side of things. A riding school that holds lessons in the dark doesn't deserve BHS approval IMO. I fail to see how it could meet anybodys standard of good teaching.

To the poster complaining about private lessons, that term generally refers to a one pupil and one instructor situation, rather than a group of riders and one instructor. I've never known a private lesson to mean private use of the arena. Knowing how to share an arena is part of being a good rider IMO.
 
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