Should I look elsewhere or not?

[Grajo]

Please can I have your expert advice. At the time of writing I have had 34 private lessons (14 more to go).

I have had riding on one horse 14 times in 34 lessons. He is a very lazy cob but not as lazy as the other two horses I've sat on. Not only he is a lazy horse, but easily scary from background noise.
Yesterday I have had my worst lesson. This horse not only stopped whenever he wants to but also swerved into the "middle" of the arena because of noise that he was scared. I could see his ears. I do not know what the noise is because I am deaf. Last time when I had him, he swerved over the poles continuously. Anyway, I did not enjoy yesterday's lesson and felt no rhythms at all and with stopping interruptions. I was improving all the time except for yesterday which I felt I was stuck on 4th or 5th lesson.

I received the e-mail from admin and her reply: "We understand its frustrating when your lesson doesn’t go to plan but unfortunately this is part of the learning process with horses. "

The problem is that this horse is owned by her mother!!! She got very upset and didn't believe that this horse is easily scared (even scared of 10-hand Shetland Pony)

I agree it is part of learning process, but too much problems with this same horse ?!!! It is like she refuses to believe it. I haven't had problems with other of horses.
I have 2-3 private lessons a week.

The few other stables have refused to accept me just because I am deaf as insurance won't pay them. My choice of other stables are very slim. Quob Stables is very expensive and probably have better quality of horses while Pinkmead hasn't returned my e-mail since I've informed that I am deaf. Lavant is little out of place when using public transport.

What would you do if you were in my shoes? Should I look elsewhere or carrying on with the same horse?!!! At the end of the day, it is still my money to spend on

 

[pistolpete]

I’ve just had a lesson at Quob and although I rode a lovely horse wasn’t impressed with the instructor. I’d say definitely ask for a different horse or try somewhere else. It IS your money and sometimes a different horse will make all the difference. Maybe ask for a lunge lesson which will mean the instructor has more control of the horse while you can concentrate on your balance etc. Good luck.

 

[Grajo]

I’ve just had a lesson at Quob and although I rode a lovely horse wasn’t impressed with the instructor. I’d say definitely ask for a different horse or try somewhere else. It IS your money and sometimes a different horse will make all the difference. Maybe ask for a lunge lesson which will mean the instructor has more control of the horse while you can concentrate on your balance etc. Good luck.

I've never had or seen any lunge lessons in my local Equestrian centre. The admin had said she cannot promise to have different horses. So much for over 30 horses! Not only problems with this horses, also last few lessons, they have brought the horse for my lesson LATE (like up to 5 minutes late) which means I get 5 minutes less in private lesson! They should've brought the horse 5 minutes EARLY in time for my lesson.

 

[Cortez]

I would say you have a couple of choices: insist on a different horse; ask for a lunge lesson; point out that you are unhappy with the timekeeping - horses should not be delivered late, no excuses if they aren't giving you the time you have paid for; stick with it and try to really ride the "difficult" horse - you don't always gel with a horse, but that is part of learning to ride and will actually be good for your horsemanship in the long run. Or you can find a different instructor/riding school.

P.S. it takes a lifetime to learn to ride, we are all learning all the time. Good luck, and I hope you continue with your lessons.

 

[Grajo]

I would say you have a couple of choices: insist on a different horse; ask for a lunge lesson; point out that you are unhappy with the timekeeping - horses should not be delivered late, no excuses if they aren't giving you the time you have paid for; stick with it and try to really ride the "difficult" horse - you don't always gel with a horse, but that is part of learning to ride and will actually be good for your horsemanship in the long run. Or you can find a different instructor/riding school.

P.S. it takes a lifetime to learn to ride, we are all learning all the time. Good luck, and I hope you continue with your lessons.

Thank you.... I don't have any problems with the instructors. That's the good part. 5 different instructors!!! One of them have left last week, and had my 1st lesson with the new instructor earlier this week (Not on this horse though). Having 5 different instructors are sometimes great when they are all instruct in different ways, but the problem is that sometimes they don't know what I've done in previous lessons. For example, one instructor didn't know I had ridden trot without stirrups.

When my paid lesson expires, I will try for 1 lesson elsewhere (in January) and see for myself.

 

[Leandy]

Cortez speaks good sense. You don't have to do either/or though. I would stick with and try to work with this riding school whilst also keeping an eye out for and trying other possible places. Also you don't have to stick to just one place. You can say go to one routinely, or just to hack or whatever and also go somewhere else further afield or more expensive periodically if you benefit from that too but can't afford the time or money to go there all the time. No reason not to mix and match. Do understand though that you will not become a good, experienced rider unless you ride a wide variety of horses. Some you will get on with better than others and some may take more time for you to get a tune out of but you will learn and further your skills with all of them.

 

[Grajo]

Cortez speaks good sense. You don't have to do either/or though. I would stick with and try to work with this riding school whilst also keeping an eye out for and trying other possible places. Also you don't have to stick to just one place. You can say go to one routinely, or just to hack or whatever and also go somewhere else further afield or more expensive periodically if you benefit from that too but can't afford the time or money to go there all the time. No reason not to mix and match. Do understand though that you will not become a good, experienced rider unless you ride a wide variety of horses. Some you will get on with better than others and some may take more time for you to get a tune out of but you will learn and further your skills with all of them.

Archie is my favourite horse and have ridden on him 7 times (out of 34) but I understand I cannot have him all the time. Matlida - only twice, very good but slower than Archie and not lazy. Rod is a lazy horse but I got on quite great with him when I have the crop in my hand, When I have the crop, Rod knows I am the boss and will obey me. When he slows down, I will open the crop (not hitting) and Rod started to go faster. Rod is the most intelligent horse and knew I was about to use the crop. 3 other horses are very lazy.

 

[meleeka]

I think I know which riding school you are referring to. (if it’s near Pinkmead?) I don’t think having the same horse week in week out is teaching you effectively. You might learn how to ride that horse, but you need variety to really become an effective rider. Maybe put it to them like that and see what they say. I’d probably not book any further blocks, but just as a more casual arrangement. You haven’t mentioned Fort Widley, but maybe public transport will let you down there too.

I hope you don’t mind me asking, I’m just curious, how do you receive instructions in your lessons without hearing?

 

[Grajo]

I think I know which riding school you are referring to. (if it’s near Pinkmead?) I don’t think having the same horse week in week out is teaching you effectively. You might learn how to ride that horse, but you need variety to really become an effective rider. Maybe put it to them like that and see what they say. I’d probably not book any further blocks, but just as a more casual arrangement. You haven’t mentioned Fort Widley, but maybe public transport will let you down there too.

I hope you don’t mind me asking, I’m just curious, how do you receive instructions in your lessons without hearing?

It is Fort Widley and it is the nearest, and easy to get there. 20 minutes on the bus and 15 minutes walk and back

I gave them instruction cards to tell me what to do. Any problems they write down on A4 clipboard with thick marker pen. It isn't rocket science
A to C, B to E, circle, diagonal, snake, over the poles, figure 8, 3 loops, 4 loops etc and the instructors will have to move themselves rather than sitting in the corner and shouting lol

 

[meleeka]

It is Fort Widley and it is the nearest, and easy to get there. 20 minutes on the bus and 15 minutes walk and back

I gave them instruction cards to tell me what to do. Any problems they write down on A4 clipboard with thick marker pen. It isn't rocket science
A to C, B to E, circle, diagonal, snake, over the poles, figure 8, 3 loops, 4 loops etc and the instructors will have to move themselves rather than sitting in the corner and shouting lol

Ahh that’s a good solution. Thanks for explaining ?

 

[eahotson]

Have you thought of approaching the RDA who may be able to point you in the right direction for lessons?
As for the idea of riding many different horses for experience, well that depends of course on what you want out of your riding.I don't find the idea of bullying a reluctant horse all that pleasurable (not the riders fault often and not a criticism but many riding school horses are very switched off).The other thing at that level is that you are taught Leg Leg LEG.It sets up bad habits which can be hard to get out of later.
On top of which I personally ride for pleasure,not for a living.I enjoy progressing with and riding my own so don't put myself through riding others very often.

 

[Cowpony]

If you have some level of hearing it might be worth experimenting with the remote microphones/earpieces that some trainers use now. RDA may be able to advise you on the best one. So much of equestrian instruction is about an immediate response, it must be so hard to make progress when you have to stop for your trainer to write something down, and then remember the instruction for the next time it happens. It's a hard enough sport when we can hear our instructor yelling "Sit up! Leg back! More leg! More!" I can't imagine how hard it must be without that. Well done for persevering, and good luck in finding a school that suits you.

 

[Grajo]

If you have some level of hearing it might be worth experimenting with the remote microphones/earpieces that some trainers use now. RDA may be able to advise you on the best one. So much of equestrian instruction is about an immediate response, it must be so hard to make progress when you have to stop for your trainer to write something down, and then remember the instruction for the next time it happens. It's a hard enough sport when we can hear our instructor yelling "Sit up! Leg back! More leg! More!" I can't imagine how hard it must be without that. Well done for persevering, and good luck in finding a school that suits you.

ANY hearing equipment are NOT going to help MOST deaf people. It is like telling wheelchair users to use "walking frame". However, I have a good memory with instructions.

 

[View]

Just thinking out loud. My Mum’s hearing aids are Bluetooth enabled, and there phoning her via her mobile works far better than the landline.

I wonder if there is something along these lines that might assist.

I have taught one deaf rider using their mobile phone to communicate in real time in a similar manner.

 

[Grajo]

Just thinking out loud. My Mum’s hearing aids are Bluetooth enabled, and there phoning her via her mobile works far better than the landline.

I wonder if there is something along these lines that might assist.

I have taught one deaf rider using their mobile phone to communicate in real time in a similar manner.

Your "deaf rider" would need to stop or look at mobile phone in moving motions like a driver looking at text while driving!!

 

[smolmaus]

It's a hard enough sport when we can hear our instructor yelling "Sit up! Leg back! More leg! More!" I can't imagine how hard it must be without that. Well done for persevering, and good luck in finding a school that suits you.

I actually had a replacement instructor over lockdown who would tell me the exercise and let me figure it out myself and then ask how it felt/ give feedback afterwards and I learned A LOT and (I think) rode better. Most instructors I've had are the constantly-instructing type but I apparently work well with the type of instruction Grajo gets. Perhaps coincidentally my hearing is poor and I think I might have some auditory processing problems, I get flustered when someone is constantly talking to me. Anyway, you definitely have to think for yourself more, it's certainly not a bad way to learn.

As for what I would do in your shoes Grajo, I would keep going to your current lessons since you have so many booked in advance but also try the next closest (and more expensive) riding school. You don't need to do the same block-booking and 2-3 lessons a week, maybe do one every 2 weeks for a while and see if you are getting more out of it. It would be worth the extra expense if you find it a much better experience.

I have had those lessons on an RS horse that just doesn't want to be there. One gelding in particular you are guaranteed to come away sweating and nackered and every time I'm on him there is that sinking feeling (in my legs). It's very frustrating. But I did get a decent ride out of him somehow last week so he is still teaching me something.

 

[Arzada]

I actually had a replacement instructor over lockdown who would tell me the exercise and let me figure it out myself and then ask how it felt/ give feedback afterwards and I learned A LOT and (I think) rode better. Most instructors I've had are the constantly-instructing type but I apparently work well with the type of instruction Grajo gets. Perhaps coincidentally my hearing is poor and I think I might have some auditory processing problems, I get flustered when someone is constantly talking to me. Anyway, you definitely have to think for yourself more, it's certainly not a bad way to learn.

The coaching rather than instructing style of teaching works better for me too. It gives more room for feeling the horse, thinking about what you're doing and how you might try another approach and briefly reflecting. There isn't time enough for this when you're dealing with the next instruction if it comes too quickly for your processing speed. Being taught in a way which works for you is one of the benefits of private lessons. I like that Grajo's likes his 5 teachers.

Grajo, hopefully your riding school will be able to give you your two preferred horses more often. I know that you are understanding of the fact that the horses have to share a workload and that you will occasionally have other horses. As a beginner I don't think it's of any advantage at this stage to learn how to ride numerous horses. This is something that can come later. People who have their own horse aren't going out to ride others to improve the way they ride their one and only horse.

 

[Cowpony]

ANY hearing equipment are NOT going to help MOST deaf people. It is like telling wheelchair users to use "walking frame". However, I have a good memory with instructions.

OK , sorry if I've offended. I was just trying to think more widely to see if there was an alternative solution

 

[stangs]

(Speaking as someone that used to work at a RS)

It sounds like the horse is napping, rather than spooking. This behaviour is pretty common among RS horses; they know that the centre line is where they rest, so that’s where they nap to. Same with poles. If they don’t have to do it, they won’t. Frankly, it’s understandable from their perspective (who wouldn’t want to stop an unbalanced rider from bouncing on their back), but still tricky for the novice rider who’s not balanced enough to make corrections smoothly in the trot.

Given that you’re an adult male, you’re probably on the heavier side of what their horses can carry, which makes it trickier for the RS to schedule horses for you. So, yes, annoying but not unusual.

I can’t advise you on whether to change RSs or not. But, some brief things you may want to consider:
a) Excluding the fact that you’re struggling with this mount, do you think the instruction is good enough to help you eventually learn how to ride this horse?

b) I’d talk to your instructor instead of the management - more often than not, the management doesn’t know much about what’s going on on the ground. Before each lesson, it might help to talk to instructor about what you’re working on, and what you want to achieve.

c) If you really want to move RSs, you may want to have a look at an RDA centre. The instructors there should be more equipped to efficiently instruct a deaf rider.

 

[ycbm]

You were advised right at the start by someone who knows it well that Fort Widley was not a good riding school Grajo. I expect that person is still of the same view.

I think you should try a different school. If you are profoundly deaf I think you may need a specialist instructor and in your shoes I would be consulting the RDA. As you progress to faster work it could be quite dangerous if you can't be given instructions and respond immediately to them.
.

 

[Grajo]

OK , sorry if I've offended. I was just trying to think more widely to see if there was an alternative solution

It is ok. The problem isn't my deafness and I don't have any problem with instructors.

The real problem is that some of the other stables have refused to take on me

 

[View]

Your "deaf rider" would need to stop or look at mobile phone in moving motions like a driver looking at text while driving!!

No, I was using my phone to speak in real time. Phone in pocket receiving speech Bluetoothed to hearing aids.

 

[tristar]

i think you will learn to ride better if you can sit still and concentrate, learn to use your hands and legs and seat correctly and get a decent posture which will help you influence the horse and will be much less frustrating

you are after all supposed to enjoy riding

and some people, well myself for example don`t like riding unresponsive horses, i like to use quiet subtle aids, i can`t be arxed with too much effort, and if we have a horse in here that is idle i soon teach it to think differently

 

[Grajo]

You were advised right at the start by someone who knows it well that Fort Widley was not a good riding school Grajo. I expect that person is still of the same view.

I think you should try a different school. If you are profoundly deaf I think you may need a specialist instructor and in your shoes I would be consulting the RDA. As you progress to faster work it could be quite dangerous if you can't be given instructions and respond immediately to them.
.

Like I said in earlier posting, I don't have any problems with instructors. They are also instructors for RDA.

It is THE horse. I agree that about what you said about FW. However, FW is the nearest, cheapest and are more aware of deafness than the others. 3 lessons for the price of 2 elsewhere. 5 lessons for the price of 7 - great value though.
Yeah the management didn't believe that this horse was scared of a 10-hand Shetland Pony by claiming he lives with them. I don't see them TOGETHER even when "living together"

I agree with someone who mentioned about my weight (and height). I am 11 stone 9 and 175 cm height.... which makes me too limited to ride on horses while the majority of clients from private lessons can ride most of the horses (except for Shetland ponies, of course). 14 1/2 - 15 1/2 hands suit me. There are some 14 1/2 horses but they are too small or have legs too thin for me.

 

[Grajo]

No, I was using my phone to speak in real time. Phone in pocket receiving speech Bluetoothed to hearing aids.

No difference because I am totally deaf - not deafened. I won't be able to understand what it is said even with hearing aids on

 

[Tiddlypom]

You being profoundly deaf will very much impact on your ability to react to and act on instruction, which is ideally given in real time and not when the pupil has a minute to glance up at the instructor or any information boards.

I applaud your desire to learn to ride, but I really do think that the RDA is the way to go. As a novice, you don't yet realise what a pickle you could get into if a horse plays up with you because it misunderstands your aids.

 

[teapot]

I've never had or seen any lunge lessons in my local Equestrian centre. The admin had said she cannot promise to have different horses. So much for over 30 horses! Not only problems with this horses, also last few lessons, they have brought the horse for my lesson LATE (like up to 5 minutes late) which means I get 5 minutes less in private lesson! They should've brought the horse 5 minutes EARLY in time for my lesson.

Speaking from experience of allocating for busy riding schools, you can have 1000 horses on site and still end up with the same four for a specific client. Why? because allocations are like doing sudoku without any numbers. They may well have 30 horses on site but that'll include the ones that you physicaly can't ride because you're an adult, and not going to fit on a 13.2 pony. There will be others that will not suit your current experience, and othes may well have the day off that you're riding on.

RS cobs are wiley beasts and this one sounds like it knows its job a little too well. Both horses I rode in lessons today had a cheeky look and spook, I won't be emailing, it IS part of the learning process, it is part of horses too given they're living breathing animals. Whether a napping cob is suitable for a novice is a whole other matter, and an issue that will continue to happen where you currently ride as they have a limited range of horses.

You were advised right at the start by someone who knows it well that Fort Widley was not a good riding school Grajo. I expect that person is still of the same view.

I think you should try a different school. If you are profoundly deaf I think you may need a specialist instructor and in your shoes I would be consulting the RDA. As you progress to faster work it could be quite dangerous if you can't be given instructions and respond immediately to them.
.

-waves, sighs- Grajo, please please consider not riding every week, but spending the money you save on lessons on public transport getting there. I completely understand accessblity and proximity to home, but this place is going to ruin your enjoyment, nor will it develop your knowledge and understanding of the very fact you are at the tip of an iceberg currently. An iceberg than can hurt you if it goes wrong.

If you want personal and detailed info re Quob, Lavant, or anywhere else locally, please pm me as I can help

 

[Ratface]

It is ok. The problem isn't my deafness and I don't have any problem with instructors.

The real problem is that some of the other stables have refused to take on me

 

[Ratface]

Have the stables "who have refused to take (you) on" explained why they made that decision? Did you feel that you were/are discriminated against?
I have live with dyspraxia and anxiety. I have explained this to previous instructors, some of whom changed how they taught me.
I sincerely hope that you can find a successful way and keep on keeping on.

 

[Ratface]

Have the stables "who have refused to take (you) on" explained why they made that decision? Did you feel that you were/are discriminated against?
I have live with dyspraxia and anxiety. I have explained this to previous instructors, some of whom changed how they taught me.
I sincerely hope that you can find a successful way and keep on keeping on.