Should I change RI's?

tabithakat64

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A local RI has been schooling my green horse for me. But after 5 months she's still only walking and trotting him (his balance etc in walk and trot were reasonable anyway).
He generally lacks confidence and can be nappy (he's also frightened of the shadows when ridden with the floodlights on).
He is working in a more rounded outline and is quicker to go off the leg but isn't doing any canter work etc at all when being schooled.
She's not wonderfully reliable and several people including another RI (she doesn't have time to school my horse for me, as she teaches at a RS where I also ride) said he should be cantering and generally doing more than she is doing with him.
I have asked her when he will be ready to do 'more' but haven't really got a response.
I'm not very confident due to an accident and don't feel able to school my horse myself although I would like to have lessons on him when he is going better.
I should probably also mention that he was a late starter and is a Welsh D.
Sorry to ramble on
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If she can't explain why they haven't gor any further def go somewhere else. 5 months is a long time and alot of money for just walk and trot in my opinion.
 
Give her the elbow, she's taking you for a mug and lining her pocket: I had a similar experience over the summer with a 'natural horseman' - he couldn't admit that the job was bigger than him and would spout utter rubbish until we stopped calling him, got terribly huffy!!
 
My horse fractured her leg and was on box rest for 4 months and when I started riding her again she was very nappy with little confidence (she's only 5 too!) so I asked my RI to school her for me to ride her twice a week and she has come on so well that i did my fist show jumping clinic with her on sat (four months ago I could not ride around the block!). What I find works is having a lesson from my RI the day after RI schools her so she can show me what Elsa learned the day before. It sounds like your RI is taking the mic, if you are paying money she should spend time telling you what she is doing and how to be able to do it yourself otherwise whats the point! You need someone who will give you both confidence
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You know your lad, late starter yes but he should be doing more by now IMHO.
Go with your gut, if you feel that he's not being pushed then look elsewhere, at the end of the day not being pushed it will only end up boring him ridged and making him more difficult for you.

generally if you have someone school your horse then they push the boundaries of what the horse can do easily, then when you ride you ask for easier things and the horse finds it easier and therefore so do you....


sorry, really badly explained
 
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