Schooling... On your own or with other riders?

[Tottie]

Just asking as i have been trying to school Tottie at the moment and have avoided riding in the school when another of the liveries are riding as they tend to put up about 7 or 8 jumps in a relatively small school which makes it impossible to do anything other than ride round and round the track.
SO have been riding in the school on my own and have been going really well with her, although still have far to go.
Last night however, riding on my own, everything going well, she was going very nicely and responsive, i was just trying to get her cantering on the other reign when 1 of the other girls came in to the school (obviously i have no problem with this) and was walking her horse on the opposite reign, we were just crossing paths when i was asking Tottie to canter when she literally turned on a sixpence to follow the other horse, and deposited me on the floor! Lol!
(had to laugh when she stopped and looked down at me as if to say "what you doing down there Mum?)!

So my question, is it better to school on your own until you've got your horse riding well, and then try riding with other horses once you feel confident she's listening to you all the time, or start riding with others immediately so she and I are more used to it?

Thanks

Steph.

 

[dibbin]

Hmm ... I generally school on my own, or with one or two other people who are also doing flatwork, we both get really distracted by people jumping. I think its best like that, means the horse can keep his attention on you and you don't have to keep moving out of people's way. Once she's working better you'll probably find her better behaved even when there are more people in the school.

Sorry, kind of rambling, hope it makes sense