Two instructors beneficial??

[AngieScorpio]

Hi there I wanted to find out what others recommend. I had a long break from riding but got back into it when my girls started riding in september. I quickly realised i wasn't a very capable rider back then now i am being taught correctly so i decided to follow the advice on here and get as many hours in the saddle as possible riding different horses. I currently have a 30 min private lesson once a week with a good instructor at a riding school, I also help a lady out twice a week as she has a few horses to keep exercised so i go out with her hacking twice a week and ride her easier horse. I'm sure to work on actually riding when out hacking instead of just being a passenger which is what i think i used to unknowingly do before the break as i don;t think my previous riding school was very good and the loan pony i had must of been a lot easier and forgiving than i realised haha I now also have a lesson with a great freelance instructor using one of the lady's other horses who is a bit less straightforward ( i don't hack this one out yet!) and these lessons are great always feel i have progressed or understand what i am trying to do.

What i wanted to ask is, Is there any point continuing with the riding school lessons or would i benefit more by having one instructor and doing an extra lesson with the freelance instead (who is half the cost)

What is stopping me from quitting the riding school at the moment is i am not sure if riding the school horses will make me a better rider ?? I will stick with it if it is beneficial as i don't want to fall back into the mindset of thinking because i ride an easier horse i know it all haha I feel it is harder work within the riding school and can come away feeling a bit deflated if i feel i have struggled to get the horse going as i can give light aids to the non school horse and as long as i am clear he will usually cooperate (he is 7 yrs old) and i tend to have to slow him down rather than get him going but i feel at the riding school light aids get ignored and i end up having to be heavier with my legs then once they get going i have to keep my leg on them every few strides or they keep thinking about stopping (currently now started riding a 9 yr old ex show jumper and was told if i am not clear with my aids he won't play ball as he is used to experienced riders so they thought it would be good for me as i was on one of the cheeky but easier ponies before) So should i continue both lessons? would be nice to save a bit of money as currently it's costing near on £450 pcm for riding inc the kids weekly lesson!

Thanks in advance for any advice/ views (sorry for long post i am an essay writer!)

 

[spacefaer]

I think you've answered your own question!

Riding at the riding school with kick-along horses won't teach you much at all - having to thump a horse to get it going (and keep it going) is not a good habit to get into.

Paying more money for that experience, as opposed to a cheaper lesson from the freelance, on a more educated horse.... it's a no-brainer to me.

Just because you have to work harder on the riding school horse, doesn't mean you are working "right". When riding is correct, it SHOULD be easy - you should feel that you are floating along, in partnership with your horse, with the ability to apply the aids lightly....

 

[AngieScorpio]

I think you've answered your own question!

Riding at the riding school with kick-along horses won't teach you much at all - having to thump a horse to get it going (and keep it going) is not a good habit to get into.

Paying more money for that experience, as opposed to a cheaper lesson from the freelance, on a more educated horse.... it's a no-brainer to me.

Just because you have to work harder on the riding school horse, doesn't mean you are working "right". When riding is correct, it SHOULD be easy - you should feel that you are floating along, in partnership with your horse, with the ability to apply the aids lightly....

Thank you for the reply I feel better about stopping my riding school lesson now I did think common sense I should stop but wasn't completely sure.

 

[MB1201]

I'm in the same boat right now! I go to a riding school for an hour lesson twice a month and can often come away feeling deflated as I can never tell if I'm doing something wwrong or if the horses are just that stubborn and lazy - booting them for every stride to keep them going is annoying too - i dont find time to focus on my position when i'm working so hard just to keep the pony going..

I am considering just having one lesson a month at the school and then having an instructor come out to teach me on my loan - as much like your pony she is responsive and is willing to work - and the opposite of a school horse! She's responsive and often needs to slow down and i prefer this to a horse who just really can't be arsed to work with you and is behind the leg. - yes, some of the school horses are better but you still don't get the feeling of riding a 'proper' horse if you know what I mean - privately owned horses that I've ridden are so different and not as robotic (as in just goes round and round on the track and is push button)

If you can I'd do half of your monthly lessons on school horses just so that you get the 'feeling' of riding different types of horses, and then lessons on your more forward going horse to lmprove and push yourself ona bit if you know what i mean

 

[Orca]

I would definitely use the option of freelance instructor and the horses available outside of the school. I had next to no lessons on school ponies, all of mine were private, on my forward going ponies and horse (fortunate to have had an instructor in the family!).

I think once you have got the basic aids down and good seat and balance, it's often beneficial to move on with an appropriate horse and support outside of the riding school environment.

 

[AngieScorpio]

Thanks for the replies I think I am going to end up still attending riding school lessons during the school holidays as forgot I only have access to the non riding school horses during term time as the owners daughters ride when not at school. It will be interesting to see as I progress if I can get the riding school horses going a bit better but will be using the freelance instructor where ever possible now. After my last lesson I realise even forward going horses have their stubborn days and stuff they prefer not to work on as he definitely wasn't happy about being asked to bend more or stay out on the circles we were doing and made me work a lot harder to get him to comply haha

 

[Pearlsasinger]

The problem with only having lessons with the freelance RI is that it limits the number of horses you are riding. IMO, the best way to improve your riding, rather than your riding of a particular horse, is to ride as many different horses as possible. The trouble arises if your RS doesn't have a variety of horses for you to ride, which can be the case for adults. As you say, even forward going horses can have off days. Riding less forward going horses well is also a skill worth developing.

 

[AngieScorpio]

Yes will have lessons at the RS still when I can't have a lesson with my freelance Instructor which is happening this week. So will be riding two different horses (usually ride 3 when I add in the RS lessons, hacking and freelance instructor lesson ) I guess my plan to conpletely leave wasn't thought through as didn't think about the weeks when the other horses are not available. Far too obsessed with riding again to go a week or that long 6 weeks in the summer holidays with no horse contact!! 😱😱😱