Teaching someone to ride....would you?

Favourite name

  • Total voters
    0
Blizzard

Blizzard

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 September 2006
Messages
7,760
Location
South Africa
Visit site
Would you, or have you taught anyone to ride?

Do you think it should be left to qualified instructors, or that it is ok for an every day rider to teach someone?

Im talking about teaching people you know, not customers or strangers.


As some of you know Ive recently taught my OH to ride, he has never had a proper lesson, he only knows what I have taught him, however he now confidently trots/canters/gallops, he loves taking the horses out into the fields for a good blast, and I think he has done really well considering he only had about an hour a week to learn.
 
I taught myself to ride
blush.gif
Well I had some riding school lessons when I was younger and experience people give me advice etc. Though I don't know how I got where I am now on this?
blush.gif
But to the point quite a few people have asked me I have teach them, I quite enjoy it, Pretty rewarding. I know how to ride but that doesn't mean I can do it myself.
 
I taught my friend to ride. I had horses and thought it would be fun if we could ride together. She learnt to walk, trot, canter and loved jumping
smile.gif


She probably wasn't the neatest of riders, but she had fun and because she learnt on a very obedient horse she has very light hands.
 
I have taught some people to ride in the distant past.

Nowadays? No way! I see enough dopes when I take out trail rides so I know fine well I would never have the patience to teach them in lessons. I am asked most weeks if I will give lessons and I always say the same thing; that young inexperienced horses are my thing....inexperienced people on the other hand are most certainly not! However yes I would/do teach family members.

What I have enjoyed doing recently though is, teaching my beginner boarders how to teach and back their young horses. I have loved seeing both the inexperienced handler and the inexperienced horse learn together - quite something.
smile.gif
 
I did when working at the yard, and a friend has asked me to give her the odd lesson on her pony. Also occasionally gave Baron's owner a lesson on her other pony.

Having been a RS client for 95% of my riding history I really believe that you can have all the qualifications in the world but still be an awful instructor. And I hate to say it, but there's nothing worse than having a college taught instructor who has literally learnt the BHS manual from cover to cover.

Far rather someone who's got the experience and in the case of say struggling with confidence/nerves, personally think they must have had to experience it at some point in order to get your through it. Otherwise you get the school of thought of "but what are you nervous about" etc. Instructors have to be on the same wavelength as you.
 
I really don't think it matters if you're qualified or not. I've seen some dreadful qualified instructors, yet met others which aren't who have been fab.

Personally, I enjoy teaching. I'm not qualified, and I don't profess to be something I'm not. But i'm happy to conduct a lesson, I did at the RS years ago, and I give a friend's daughter the odd lesson, but always check what she's done at RS that week and just get her to work on that so she's only really getting supervised extra practice.
 
I have taught quite a few people to ride...but am qualified too...
I'd never teach someone to ride for money if I didn't have insurance...as I value all my possessions and don't want sued for them.
S
smile.gif
 
I taught my daughter to ride. She has had about 6/7 proper lessons but the rest is me. She has been placed in riding club dressage tests (against the adults) and can jump about 2'9" on merlin (he is 15.1hh and she is a skinny 12 year old)!!

I think she needs proper lessons now as tends not to listen to mum, but not really hungry enough for me to pay for them!!
 
I taught my sister. I virtualy have taught myself, if i get on a team or get a scholarship and they have free lessons i have them but not much else!
 
I have given my mum lesson's occasionally, but they normally finish with one of us shouting at the other . She just doesn't appreciate my efforts to get the horse moving with the aid of a lunge whip
tongue.gif
tongue.gif
tongue.gif

TBH I find it easier teaching someone I don't know so well, as it's easier to be honest
laugh.gif
 
I remember years ago at the riding school where the RI thought I was 'a retard', on a lesson she let the riders teach for five minutes each. At the end she asked everyone who they thought was the best...

Of the 6 people - 5 said Lobelia. Gawd the look on the RI's face!!!

*falls off chair laughing*
 
I give my daughter lessons on the lunge because I believe in work without stirrups & reins. A rider should be able to balance themselves without holding onto the horses mouth. Otherwise I leave it to her instructor, I would never try to give her lessons. It would be the same as teaching her to drive, we would just end up shouting at each other. I dont think some how that would help the horse!!
 
im teaching my bf to ride at the mo, on my friends (soon to be ours) ex riding school pony. its great, he copies what im showing him to do, listens and is enthusiastic. i do enjoy it and would like to do the relevant qualifications.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top