Should I change riding school?

Nasicus said:
You ever heard of the Milgram Experiment?
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funny you should say that because i Was talking to my brother about that eariler
emilylou said:
I think this is a little unfair on the OP. When you are inexperienced and not confident in your own abilities it is difficult to make judgment calls in the moment, especially when bad advice is coming from the person who you expect to be better, more knowledgeable and more experienced than you are. It sounds like the OP questioned the instructor and voiced her concerns but was dismissed and encouraged to continue.
I’m sure she will now know this isn’t okay and will take a firmer stance on welfare issues in future. An experienced eye wouldn’t have got on the horse in the first place, but OP is not an experienced eye and she went to the riding school expecting experienced help from people she could trust, and this trust was abused.
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You are right. I am always one to doubt my own abilities and I’m always one to put trust in others and I’m not confrontational. I’ll say what I think, in the nicest manner possible.
 
ozpoz said:
Yes, it can be difficult to make judgement calls, I agree. And the OP, who has ridden since she was six, had her own horse, and is a parent, so not without experience, whipped the hell out of it every stride until she was exhausted. All I'm suggesting is that adult riders are responsible for their own actions when it comes to whip use/abuse. I nearly had an "only ignorance" rant here!
See Black Beauty for details : )
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it was a difficult judgment call, the instructor was nice to me, reassuring and praising my abilities... then it Took a turn with her instruction as she was frustrated with the horse. I thought she knew better than me until I knew she didn’t and by that time the lesson was nearly over. I politely voiced my opinion and I won’t be going back.
 
I think my personality traits predispose me to the total opposite end of the scale to the results found in the Milgram experiment lol! but I can seriously see how this happens and I do agree it would appear to be the case here.
No criticism of OP - we are all so very different thank goodness and sometimes whatever end of the scale we are on - we get it wrong.
 
Mrs Jingle said:
I think my personality traits predispose me to the total opposite end of the scale to the results found in the Milgram experiment lol! but I can seriously see how this happens and I do agree it would appear to be the case here.
No criticism of OP - we are all so very different thank goodness and sometimes whatever end of the scale we are on - we get it wrong.
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I need to take a leaf out of your book. Confident in your own abilities, not afraid to speak your mind but understand of others. Thank you
 
Ambers Echo said:
I had a lesson like that. Horse needed a smack every 3-4 strides to maintain canter for a lap or he would just break to trot. After 1 canter I turned in, got off and said 'this horse is hating every second of this and so am I. ' Did not go back. That is not normal so yes vote with your feet and find somewhere else.
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good for you.
 
That is not common, no, but I have seen several schools with ill fitting saddles, horses that are 1 or 2 tenths lame and generally horses that have so little schooling that they cannot bend in any way and are resistant through the back from carrying novices all the time.
 
This is wholly unacceptable -both for the horse and for you. I think all of us might think twice about confronting an "instructor" on such a short acquaintance but the word "whip" would have alarm bells ringing for me. You cannot be expected to learn if you are having to take such extreme action to get any forward movement from the horse. As for him - I despair. The poor creature is obviously suffering and I would certainly be taking action with the local Council. Welfare organisations will be able to do little as, presumably, the horse is getting basic attention each day. But I would certainly be taking whatever action I could to highlight the issue.
 
The trouble is, I don't expect the council inspector would have much idea about this sort of thing. I would imagine they'd be looking at safety first and foremost (human safety), cleanliness, general facilities etc, rather than inspection actual lessons and teaching standards, or the condition of the horses unless obviously underweight or lame. And I can't see WHW or any of the charities getting involved for this (which is probably very common in my experience - I stopped my daughters riding school lessons for a similar reason). If it's BHS registered, they would be the ones to contact with a complaint, although I'd start by writing to the owner (who may be employing this instructor ad hoc).
 
Landcruiser said:
The trouble is, I don't expect the council inspector would have much idea about this sort of thing. I would imagine they'd be looking at safety first and foremost (human safety), cleanliness, general facilities etc, rather than inspection actual lessons and teaching standards, or the condition of the horses unless obviously underweight or lame. And I can't see WHW or any of the charities getting involved for this (which is probably very common in my experience - I stopped my daughters riding school lessons for a similar reason). If it's BHS registered, they would be the ones to contact with a complaint, although I'd start by writing to the owner (who may be employing this instructor ad hoc).
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this is exactly what I’m going to do. Thank you x
 
Find another school and teacher or try several.
Leave any school where you cry or feel sick after a lesson.
It is questionable whether or not to report to BHS - a school will always maintain they are faultless and the client to blame.
it is quite common once one can ride for one to be given a RS horse to "improve". My early dressage lessons going up through the components gave me great pleasure. I got fed up tho when each winter I was presented with a new pony to start at the beginning again..
 
I stopped going to quite a well regarded RS after one lesson of being shouted "put pressure on and release when he does what you want" which in reality wasn't far off what the OP was being asked to do with kicking and the whip. I'm also pretty non confrontational and was doubting my ability so pleaded human unfitness to give the horse a break. The next lesson was all about sawing at a horse's mouth to bring it into an outline, so I gave up.

With my horse currently broken I'm having lessons again but I was pretty tentative about booking them! Well known owner of this yard tho and in a different league.

Not sure council will do anything tbh. I'd just walk away
 
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