Ugh - what do they teach kids at riding schools these days!!!

trefnantblackknight

trefnantblackknight

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Sorry but this is a rant so feel free to press the back button if you don't feel like being depressed this evening ;)

So i finally found a rider for my cheeky chappy Digby
She's very dedicated comes up every Sat rain or shine to see him and she's a lovely sweet girl
But....
When she first tried him she balanced with her hands - trademark of our local riding school, so i said she should ride him in his parelli halter till she learnt not to do so - Digby is safe as houses in the brakes and steering department i tought him to ride tackless.

Now after 6 months she now dosent use the reins to balance but it turns out she can't even trot!!! Without losing her balance at all and falls off at the slightest thing!! - scuttle forwards/uneven ground etc.

Digby is a quiet pony he's not perfect but if you are competent he practically is! His bad habit is snatching for grass but as long as you keep his head up there's no problem.

But since she has been riding him he has developed another habit if you stop or he manages to get grass he will refuse to move and start backing up now this is not a problem if you have good balance and are firm - you just wrap your legs round his belly and growl and as soon as he goes forward you praise and he won't do it again it takes 3 seconds of that and he's fine

But she can't even do that since she has no balance and she doesn't talk to him no clicking nothing she's only 13 but iv told her time and time again that she shouldn't kick him because he wil tell her were to go and to click and talk to him and when she does he's good as gold.

Im now having to ride him twice a week ready for her on Sat because hes aloud to get away with murder when she rides him and i know during the summer i will need to give her lesson on him - which cant be done until our fields dry up.

The whole point of finding a sharer was so could concentrate on my boy and backing my youngster and that digby wouldn't be wasted he loves to jump and go hacking but he looks miserable when he goes out with her - head down ears back. I took him out today and he was so happy head up ears forward :)

Also i think i upset her the other day, Digs can jump 3ft spreadwith ease while carrying me - 9stone lump because i told her he won't do anything for her unless she loves it because he doesn't see he point otherwise...

Im sort of disparing atm i just don't know what to do ill break her heart if i say she can't ride him anymore but digby is more important but finding a good sharer is so hard and i hate to see him being wasted going out on loan is not an option. But i just don't have the time to give free riding lesson s :( sorry for the essay im just stressing about what to do :(

Xx choccy biccy anyone??
 
Suggest she has someone come in and give her lessons on the pony, as in, she would get so much better in a one to one situation, half hour private worth five class lessons etc.? Can you entice her to have instruction with the offer of a show towards the end of the season if she has so many lessons by then?
 
Can you suggest that she has some lessons on him with a local instructor (that you know or trust)?
 
We have no transport atm. There's only the one centre within riding distance but its about 45mins there and back so he's not fit enough atm. And they're responsible for her issues with kicking and using hands to balance so that's not really an option and even if it was i would have to ride there with her as her mum wouldn't be able to walk it - mainly steep hill work and i might as well give her the lesson my self if i have to take her up there...im seriously disparing :(
 
I don't really understand, can she only walk and trot?

How long has she been riding for and does she still have lessons at riding school. When she came to try him did she think you were going to be in a position to give her lessons. It's a shame that you have both let it go on for such along time, as you say she will be really upset if she has to give him up. Looks like she is keen but maybe not ready to share.
 
trefnantblackknight said:
Sorry but this is a rant so feel free to press the back button if you don't feel like being depressed this evening ;)

So i finally found a rider for my cheeky chappy Digby
She's very dedicated comes up every Sat rain or shine to see him and she's a lovely sweet girl
But....
When she first tried him she balanced with her hands - trademark of our local riding school, so i said she should ride him in his parelli halter till she learnt not to do so - Digby is safe as houses in the brakes and steering department i tought him to ride tackless.

Now after 6 months she now dosent use the reins to balance but it turns out she can't even trot!!! Without losing her balance at all and falls off at the slightest thing!! - scuttle forwards/uneven ground etc.

Digby is a quiet pony he's not perfect but if you are competent he practically is! His bad habit is snatching for grass but as long as you keep his head up there's no problem.

But since she has been riding him he has developed another habit if you stop or he manages to get grass he will refuse to move and start backing up now this is not a problem if you have good balance and are firm - you just wrap your legs round his belly and growl and as soon as he goes forward you praise and he won't do it again it takes 3 seconds of that and he's fine

But she can't even do that since she has no balance and she doesn't talk to him no clicking nothing she's only 13 but iv told her time and time again that she shouldn't kick him because he wil tell her were to go and to click and talk to him and when she does he's good as gold.

Im now having to ride him twice a week ready for her on Sat because hes aloud to get away with murder when she rides him and i know during the summer i will need to give her lesson on him - which cant be done until our fields dry up.

The whole point of finding a sharer was so could concentrate on my boy and backing my youngster and that digby wouldn't be wasted he loves to jump and go hacking but he looks miserable when he goes out with her - head down ears back. I took him out today and he was so happy head up ears forward :)

Also i think i upset her the other day, Digs can jump 3ft spreadwith ease while carrying me - 9stone lump because i told her he won't do anything for her unless she loves it because he doesn't see he point otherwise...

Im sort of disparing atm i just don't know what to do ill break her heart if i say she can't ride him anymore but digby is more important but finding a good sharer is so hard and i hate to see him being wasted going out on loan is not an option. But i just don't have the time to give free riding lesson s :( sorry for the essay im just stressing about what to do :(

Xx choccy biccy anyone??
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If you advertised him as a second pony, but found that she balanced with her hands when she first rode him, how did you not notice she couldn't trot until after her having him for 6 months? I'd say it'd be quite easy to spot the distance between somebody who you advertised for, and the person that you describe, so why start the share? I'd say that you owe it to her to let her have some lessons on him, before letting her down.
 
She could trot canter while using her hands to balance and while in a school or flat surface and now i know her and she loves digs its all got a bit you know....

I forgot how different it s riding on a flat surface as opposed to going up and down hills etc.
 
No i told her if she were to start riding him i couldn't give her lessons as too busy but she couldrride out with me. But its almost like she's got worse since she's been riding him like she's going backwards instead of forwards. Like you say maybe she just isn't ready for a 'proper' pony
 
Im confused :o you said she cannot trot but then say she can trot an canter :confused: don't get me wrong im probably in a work based coma :D But if it was me i wouldn't have allowed a child who didn't seem capable of that level ride. Or perhaps get an instructor to come to your yard ? many are willing to travel :)
 
Sorry but if you weren't looking for a novice then it should have been obvious to you that this poor girl was just a beginner.
 
The thing is, you advertised him as "not a novice ride", and have had a novice rider on him for 6 months. Surely from the first go, you will have noticed the balancing on his neck with her hands? And how her balance is affected by a hill or a slight jolt?

dosent use the reins to balance but it turns out she can't even trot!!! Without losing her balance at all and falls off at the slightest thing!! - scuttle forwards/uneven ground etc
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She may be able to trot and canter using her hands, but as you said above, she can't trot when she is completely responsible for balancing.

It puts both horse and rider in a difficult situation if anything were to spook him.

Unless you can give her regular lessons, or she can learn somewhere else how to ride properly, then I think the fairest thing to do for all parties involved would be to get a new sharer.

Yes, she loves the pony, but she is allowing him to learn new habits, and the situation is obviously causing you stress and worry.
 
trefnantblackknight said:
She could trot canter while using her hands to balance and while in a school or flat surface and now i know her and she loves digs its all got a bit you know....

I forgot how different it s riding on a flat surface as opposed to going up and down hills etc.
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trefnantblackknight said:
Now after 6 months she now dosent use the reins to balance but it turns out she can't even trot!!! Without losing her balance at all and falls off at the slightest thing!! - scuttle forwards/uneven ground etc
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So you must have noticed that's how she rode at first, and it's not the way you want your pony to be ridden? And, after 6 months you've managed to stop her using her hands, but not been able to give her any other methods to balance? How? Surely if you tell her not to use her hands to balance, you'd suggest other ways?

I'd suggest she get a freelance instructor, or if you're riding the horse 2 days a week, give one of those sessions over to teaching her. If she's had the horse over winter and been committed, it'd be a bit unfair to end the share coming into spring, without trying to help her first, knowing that you really let her start with your horse when she wasn't the rider that you were hoping for.
 
Fully understand your rant, some riding schools are producing terrible riders. One local I wonder what they do for the fee and how much they pay off pony club examiners to 'pass' the pony club test. We had a rider from this school come to ride one of my mums ponies, never in my life had I seen such unsympathtic riding, using the reins to balance, no understanding of surfaces riding on ( tried to gallop on a hardpacked farm track) kicking at the horse, and making tight turn barrel racing style. Needless to say we didn't ask them back. This girl had her c+!!!!
 
She's been riding at the riding school for nearly 6 years. And she honestly seemed like she would be fine once she stopped hanging in his mouth but honestly its like she's getting worse.
 
Beleave me i have told her to balance through her heels and hang ontt mane if she feels unbalanced but its like she just doesn't hear me. Or she just forgets
 
Im planing on giving her the benefit of he doubt. And ill help her out as much as ican but if she doesn't improve. That will have to be the end of it im going to explain the situation to her and her mum tomorrow i think.
 
My OH sister has just started to ride second lesson they take her out on a main road no reflectives 5 other kids and one instructor and naughty ponies that stop and snatch for grass.... I said she shouldn't go again we also found out they have no insurance.
 
What a patronising post! Firstly , you took this young rider on to ride your pony knowing full well of her abilities, did you think she would magically transform with no help or lessons?
Why on earth did you allow her to ride him if you didn't think her capabilities matched your idea of a rider for the pony?
This young lady has bent over backwards to help you in all weathers and to come on a forum and slate her abilities is disgraceful.
As for riding schools, they teach people to ride who cannot afford the luxury of their own ponies, they give people the chance to ride and enjoy a HOBBY. Maybe your young lady should stick to the riding school, help out there and perhaps be appreciated!!!
 
As you do Parelli, could you let her see some of the material, and get her to practice some of the ground games, and passenger lessons with him? And set up a fairly flat area for her? Then set her some challenges to master? 6 years being taught one way, and now 6months your way....especially if she is also still going to that school...... but she does sound like a typical "right" teen!!
 
Im sorry horseatemymoney but your not close to the situation im just expressing how stressed i am. I dont need 'b***hyness' just some friendly advice on how to deal with she situation.
She seemed to be suitable - apart from hanging on his mouth
But now the days are longer and i have seen her riding him rather than a hi and bye its clear she hasjustbcome worse rather than better so if you have nothing nice or helpful to say don't say anything!
 
Um, I'm sorry but if she can't canter or stay on over anything but a flat surface then she isn't suitable to ride a pony described as a second pony! Your post stated a whole list of what you feel to be incompetent in riding your pony. I agree with horsesatemymoney I'm afraid, you have had this poor girl working for you through the worst of the winter and now you decide she isn't good enough! Surely you should have assessed this before you allowed her to ride him and get attached to him?
Oh and if you post on a public forum then be prepared for replies you might not like! I'm sorry but its you that have failed the pony, not the rider. You allowed some one to ride him that was not experienced enough and now you want to blame her for picking up bad habits, that was bound to happen , you took her on knowing her ability. Why has it taken the whole of the winter to draw this conclusion?
 
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trefnantblackknight said:
Im sorry horseatemymoney but your not close to the situation im just expressing how stressed i am. I dont need 'b***hyness' just some friendly advice on how to deal with she situation.
She seemed to be suitable - apart from hanging on his mouth
But now the days are longer and i have seen her riding him rather than a hi and bye its clear she hasjustbcome worse rather than better so if you have nothing nice or helpful to say don't say anything!
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It has taken you six months to realise she can't trot? AND you have let her go out riding on her own and only just noticed this? Think there is two novices here
 
trefnantblackknight said:
Beleave me i have told her to balance through her heels and hang ontt mane if she feels unbalanced but its like she just doesn't hear me. Or she just forgets
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She is probably getting confused if that is the instruction you are giving her not to mention that she may be losing any confidence she started with if you have just taken away the reins without being constructive and giving her help. If you want a young sharer to improve and ride the way you expect there needs to be more input from you until this girl, who must be keen to come through the winter, comes up to your standards, if you cannot teach her find a local instructor who can.
 
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