Tell me its worth it

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parsley

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I sold my son's 13.2 a shortish while ago as he really did not want to ride although his little sister was reasonably keen (but at 5 years a 13.2 was far too big). Now she wants to ride - I offered her a go on my horse (large 16.2 cob) but she found this a bit nerve racking (it must have been like sitting on a house) so I have booked her in for half an hour at a riding school - £17.50 to £21!!!!
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I don't really want to put her in a group lesson as my son did a few of those and by the time everybody had managed to trot around and someone had fallen off etc it was time to go in. I haven't confessed to OH how much a lesson will cost - should I book her in for knitting lessons instead!
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Normal going rate, if not slightly cheaper than the prices down south at the moment.

Private lessons are worth their weight in gold when you're just starting out. Plus with a decent instructor, she'll be kept interested and will learn through doing some fun stuff, that way making it that much easier for her
 
I know that the fee is good value considering the costs etc of the school but a weeks livery is only £28 - although it is nice not to have to do two
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I used to pay £20 for an hours group lesson and I know my 10 yr old neice's lessons are £27 for an hours group lesson!!

As teapot says private lessons are brilliant especially with a good instructor, and young children pick it up so quickly. Know what you mean about not telling OH though!
 
I might try to get her into an hour long group lesson if they do them when she is a bit bigger and better - I think that there would be more time to do more than the half an hour lesson. I don't think she could concentrate for an hour at the momment
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Just wrote a really long reply about how it was worth it and why and then realised she is only five. In which case (without meaning to sound offensive), I'd imagine she would find it hard to concentrate on all the things she has to learn to so she would do for her lesson would largely be led (or walked beside) practise steering, halting and try abit of trot (which most first timers this age find very bouncy and scary). Whenever I teach children this age I work on the above but all with the idea of making riding enjoyable, they generally aren't strong enough to steer or use their legs very well so need a lot of help and also reasssurance as it can be scary sitting on the great big little pony! If you are happy to spend this amount (which is the normal pirce), then go for it, a good instructor will really boost her confidence and enjoyment and will teach her the basics without pushing her too hard. Alternatively you could find a friend with a safe pony to borrow (I wouldn't buy one just yet, she might decide she doesn't like riding!), and take her for little hacks being led to get her used to being on the pony and practise little trots with her then once she is confident trotting (rising) then invest in some group lessons for her. Initially she'd get more out of a private but once she's able to steer and do transistions on her own she'd be fine in a group and most children like to ride with others as it makes it more fun and less intense for them. Good luck whatever you decide, I hope she enjoys it!
 
I disagree with Paintedlucky, sorry!

We have several 5/6 year olds who have 1/2 hour private lessons up here. 1/2 hour is the max they can cope with until theyre at least 7 really but her age isnt going to slow her progress down. One little girl we've got atm is just about to learn to jump- she has a great natural balance and is really gutsy
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All of ours start out on the lunge, soooooooo much more useful than sticking them on the leading rein. Once they can use their hands independantly they will practice going large with the instructor close by to help them steer but this usually only takes a couple of sessions and then they cope very well on their own.
 
Toby has his own pony at my sister's yard, but doesn't get to ride him more than once a week because of how far away we live. So we also have lessons at the local riding school (where his old pony is on loan so he gets to ride her) - The lessons are brilliant. He has learnt more in the past 2 months than he has in the past year - his instructor is young but brilliant with children. At 5 he is more than capable of rising trot, steering, stopping and starting. He has done bending cones, trotting poles, 20m circles and 3 looped serpentines. He knows where all the letters are in the school and really enjoys the lessons - probably more so than just meandering around on the end of the lead rope with his own pony.

So yes - the half hour private lessons are definitely worth the money. One of those lessons is equivalent to about 4 group sessions!
 
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Toby has his own pony at my sister's yard, but doesn't get to ride him more than once a week because of how far away we live. So we also have lessons at the local riding school (where his old pony is on loan so he gets to ride her) - The lessons are brilliant. He has learnt more in the past 2 months than he has in the past year - his instructor is young but brilliant with children. At 5 he is more than capable of rising trot, steering, stopping and starting. He has done bending cones, trotting poles, 20m circles and 3 looped serpentines. He knows where all the letters are in the school and really enjoys the lessons - probably more so than just meandering around on the end of the lead rope with his own pony.

So yes - the half hour private lessons are definitely worth the money. One of those lessons is equivalent to about 4 group sessions!

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That's exactly what my yard do and what I did with the little ones when I was teaching. SO much better than just sticking them on a lead rein. Plus infact, my yard actually teach the very basics to the younger ones hacking, rather than in an arena - quiet country lanes and bridleways do them a world of good, and the best thing - they don't get used to having fence all round them. Does wonders with confidence etc. Some even had their first canters out hacking.
 
She enjoys riding and happily rode her brother's 13.2 - she can do rising trot and games like around the world etc. Unfortunatly there aren't any small ponies at the yard where I keep my horse and I don't know anyone who has one. She did have a walk around on my cob the other day but found him far too big (16.2 and wide
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She is a lot braver than her brother at riding and a lot more bossy - he did have a couple of nasty falls though and can be quite passive.
 
My only concern is that some of the ponies at the school are far too kick on! - the children can kick and kick and still not get anywhere - very safe but exhausting for them.
 
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