'Shopping' around for instructors

[Green Bean]

As per the heading. I have struggled to find an instructor that fits my horse and I. I also am not a great believer in endless lessons unless trying to 'fix' something with either my horse or myself. I am not talking jumping, but more schooling correctly to get the best out of both of us.
Last year I had 2 lessons with a person who has lessons with a GP / Olympic rider, so not shabby at all. Whilst her advice was sound, I found I judged myself poorly and I suppose I was a little bit disappointed in myself not being able to pick up what I was being told. Before that I had lessons with another instructor who just didn't 'get' my horse's needs.
I have picked up lessons again after a 6 month break with someone I know, but not personally. She made so much sense in my first lesson that I am looking forward to my next lesson in two weeks which is quite odd for me, with my non-belief in regular weekly lessons.
Anyone else like this or am I just the only fruit loop in a bowl of coco pops?

 

[Red-1]

No, I found the trainer who suited me when I had an athletic sports model didn't suit H and I. My priorities have changed, and he is a different model.

I went to RC camp a few weeks ago and deliberately had different instructors who I hadn't had before. One really 'got' me for dressage and we have our first lesson tonight.

 

[AWinter]

No I think everyone should shop around, you can’t know what you don’t know and I think many people are stuck with trainers who really aren’t helping them that much because they don’t know there’s better out there.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I had lessons with a chap when I first got this horse 5 years ago. The last 2 lessons I had with him I learnt nothing. Went to another lady, same thing, got to a certain point then learnt nothing. Changed again and horse and I pushed too far and I started to hate lessons. Didn't have a lesson for quite a while. I've now gone back to the first chap as he's obviously obsessed with dressage and in those 5 years years has gained a huge amount of knowledge so once again we are enjoying it!

 

[oldie48]

I stuck with a trainer because I respected him and thought that because he rode at GP level he knew what he was doing. Actually he was lazy in his teaching and when I went on an intensive course with a different trainer, I suddenly realised how little progress I was making. I do appreciate regular lessons provided it is with someone who is a good "eye on the ground" and doesn't over complicate things. I'm now willing to change trainers, try new trainers. Well I was when I had my own horse!

 

[chaps89]

I have been thoroughly spoilt having had lessons with a very good instructor who taught me proper horsemanship, I’m moving away and dreading finding someone new!

I persevered with lessons with someone else (on a different horse) on two occasions - 1 the instructor just told me how endlessly wonderful we were, which sounds nice but actually nothing very constructive came out of those sessions and the second I would ride fabulously whilst he was there, the horse would go amazingly but I just could not emulate the way he taught me to ride like that under my own steam, which actually wasn’t conducive to progressing. However thanks to him I now know my school letters and much higher levels of school movements, have a greater level of accuracy and am much stricter in my schooling so it wasn’t all bad.
I also had another instructor who I put off having lessons with as I just wasn’t sure but wish I’d had lessons with her sooner, partly because she never laughed at my terrible co-ordination/lack of direction and partly because she gave me back a confidence in my ability, new exercises to use, more structure to my riding so I’ve learnt a lot with her.

So yes, back to the OP definitley shop around to find who suits you.

 

[countryal]

I think it's good to try new people. Clinics are a good way of trying without committing to someone.

I have had lessons with the same person for several years, and was against trying anyone else, but due to price increases and distance (two hour round trip) I tried someone new. She comes to my yard, so much more convenient, and i've found her teaching really beneficial, and have got so much out of her lessons, more than the other instructor.

 

[littleshetland]

I have 2 good friends, both professionals, both GP riders with yard(s) full of amazing horses, both train with a very well known Olympic rider/trainer, and when I can afford it I train with both of them, alternating lessons with each one. Both have completely different ways of teaching, although they are both delivering the same information, their individual ways of 'delivery' are entirely different, which I find incredibly helpful. I find when I'm schooling alone, I 'mix up' their information, techniques and exercises in a very positive way....I think I must be very lucky!

 

[Marigold4]

I have an Enlightened Equitation instructor. Instead of working to get horse going better in that particular hour of instruction, she works on my position and aids. It takes about a month of practice to change my habits and install the previous lesson's instruction but I feel I am learning how to improve my riding and my horse's way of going for the long term, not just the lesson. Often feel a bit of a failure during and after the lesson, but I enjoy the practice in between and the feeling of progress.

 

[nikkimariet]

Different people get different riders and different horses.

What worked for Fig didn’t work for Rooni. Such is life.

 

[Cob Life]

I am really fussy with trainers, I have ad 4 in the last year, I have 2 I like, one of the other 2 was a great instructor but just a little blunt for me(still quite complimentary and got a lot out of me, I would have her again) , the other just seemed a bit uninterested, sat in the corner the whole time even when I was really struggling, tried to cue him to canter for me instead of trying to work out what I was doing to stop the transition Etc.

I have found they have to be quite complimentary and have belief in me whilst correcting what I’m doing wrong as otherwise I lose all confidence in myself.
I also need to trust they know my ability and won’t push me beyond that.
Between them they have majorly improved my riding, identified 2 key areas in my body that I block in during transitions and we are working on those.