Schoolmaster GP lessons?

[NinjaPony]

I’ve been riding a Spanish school master in Kent who is trained to Grand Prix but is kind enough for me to ride. He’s great at changes, I rode about 6 today by accident because I’d shifted my weight slightly at various points while cantering! I did have an assessment lesson first before they let me loose on him!

 

[teapot]

I’ve been riding a Spanish school master in Kent who is trained to Grand Prix but is kind enough for me to ride. He’s great at changes, I rode about 6 today by accident because I’d shifted my weight slightly at various points while cantering! I did have an assessment lesson first before they let me loose on him!

Was that with Alex Wyatt?

 

[ycbm]

A friend regularly goes to Pen-Llyn to get his riding tuned up and is very impressed with the quality of both horses and instruction.

It's easier for me to get to Portugal

And warmer, a big draw in winter.

 

[Puzzled]

I have two sessions booked next week at Talland…I can update after that if it helps?

 

[ycbm]

Yes please.

 

[NinjaPony]

I used to ride weekly at Talland and have learnt a huge amount but I’ve never been on a ‘school master’ so I can’t vouch for that side of things. I rode all sorts, from my favourite enormous spooky warm blood, to a hot sharp ex show jumping mare. I had a couple of lessons with one of the male ‘senior’ coaches who was great and more regular lessons with one of the younger coaches.

I think if you wanted that school master experience you would need to be very specific, they have horses are a very high level but I never went near those! Some of the horses I rode were pretty damn challenging, I had quite a few lessons where I felt very exasperated and frustrated, but now I’m back home and on a proper schoolmaster, I can really feel the difference. I am much more confident than I used to be and much better at adapting to new horses. I’m not sure that’s what you are after though.

I’ve gone from very hands on lessons to very hands off lessons, where I pretty much do my own thing, which might be more up your street.

 

[teapot]

I used to ride weekly at Talland and have learnt a huge amount but I’ve never been on a ‘school master’ so I can’t vouch for that side of things. I rode all sorts, from my favourite enormous spooky warm blood, to a hot sharp ex show jumping mare. I had a couple of lessons with one of the male ‘senior’ coaches who was great and more regular lessons with one of the younger coaches.

I think if you wanted that school master experience you would need to be very specific, they have horses are a very high level but I never went near those! Some of the horses I rode were pretty damn challenging, I had quite a few lessons where I felt very exasperated and frustrated, but now I’m back home and on a proper schoolmaster, I can really feel the difference. I am much more confident than I used to be and much better at adapting to new horses. I’m not sure that’s what you are after though.

I’ve gone from very hands on lessons to very hands off lessons, where I pretty much do my own thing, which might be more up your street.

Out of interest, challenging in what sense?

 

[NinjaPony]

Out of interest, challenging in what sense?

An example: ex 3* eventer, 17.2hh, who was perfectly capable of working very well but would fight you with his head. Too little contact and he would ignore you completely, too much and he would hang on the rein and fight. Once you got him going, he went beautifully but it had to be on his terms at all times.

Another example: 17.2hh warm blood, sweet as anything but tended to be backwards. Scared of whips so you couldn’t use one near him. Quite spooky and didn’t like too much pressure to be put on him. I loved riding him but he did need some patience.

15.2hh ex show jumping mare, very talented but opinionated, had to ride her very quietly and politely.

Nothing dangerous or unsafe, but you did really have to ‘ride’; they have a decent amount of well behaved novice rides too but because I’m not a novice I didn’t ride those.

 

[teapot]

An example: ex 3* eventer, 17.2hh, who was perfectly capable of working very well but would fight you with his head. Too little contact and he would ignore you completely, too much and he would hang on the rein and fight. Once you got him going, he went beautifully but it had to be on his terms at all times.

Another example: 17.2hh warm blood, sweet as anything but tended to be backwards. Scared of whips so you couldn’t use one near him. Quite spooky and didn’t like too much pressure to be put on him. I loved riding him but he did need some patience.

15.2hh ex show jumping mare, very talented but opinionated, had to ride her very quietly and politely.

Nothing dangerous or unsafe, but you did really have to ‘ride’; they have a decent amount of well behaved novice rides too but because I’m not a novice I didn’t ride those.

Sound like decent school horses to me! I owe so much to the 'challenging' school horses I regualrly rode... maybe I do miss it after all. I'd love to go back, but for Jan to March 24, not one weeked private lesson was released to be booked, and they had to cheek to whack their prices up too.

Would be interested to hear how you get on too @Puzzled

 

[ycbm]

I'd like to ride some horses that are schooled to GP which will do exactly what you ask them to even if what they then produce is not what you thought you were asking for.

That's what I would call a schoolmaster at GP level.
.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I know Pedro and his wife Kristin very well through my work and have been to stay and ride with them four times, although for trails in my case (I am not a dressage girl ). Our clients are extremely happy with the tuition there, both with Pedro and Perry who also instructs there and is a truly wonderful rider.

I also send clients to Monte Velho and Epona too, both of which result in happy clients, but whilst I don’t know you personally @ycbm I would be inclined to think Pedro more likely to provide the sort of experience you are looking for.

 

[ycbm]

I have two sessions booked next week at Talland…I can update after that if it helps?

I'd be interested in an update @Puzzled