Should I lunge before our first lesson

[Bluebelle666]

So... Blondie continues to throw the odd buck in and my intention with my aids are clearly being misconstrued by her (see previous post) and as I now feel after a lot of lunging that she is physically fit enough... we are due to have our first lesson next week.

I definitely feel that lessons are the way to go to ensure that I understand her riding needs better, and that we ride better together. I have spent the past month watching the various instructors that come to the yard and have chosen who to go with and booked a 30 min lesson.

My question is... should I lunge Blondie before our lesson, as I have been doing before riding her the past few weeks? Or should I not do, so that the instructor can see what she is like fresh?

Opinions please.

 

[be positive]

30 mins is not long for a first lesson, barely time to warm up, have a chat about what you are doing, your aims etc and do a few mins work then finish. I like an hour with anyone I do not know so that a thorough assessment can be made, time to get to know horse and rider and achieve something.
So if it is only 30 mins I would lunge so that you are ready to get on and do some work.

 

[Arizahn]

Why not do both? Ask the instructor if they can watch her on the lunge for at least part of the first lesson rather than risk being bucked off? That's what I do with Hippo. That way my instructor can check out our lunge work too. Mine are 45 minutes to an hour total, though.