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

Charlie76 things are more complex than black and white i haven't just decided she isn't good enough she has been progressively getting worse i was not deliberatly slating her riding i was just trying to explain my situation the best i can on my smartphone keyboard. I like the girl and don't want to just stop her riding him as i said in a previous post our fields need to dry out before i can give her instruction but when it does i can. So how about you back off!! Its not my fault your moody
 
trefnantblackknight said:
I have lent her parelli dvds and i have been helping her when i can i have been picking her up to take her to see dig so i can give her instruction.
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Poor girl. Parelli DVDs, no proper bridle on a 'second pony'? Can hardly believe you're a considerably better rider tbh with the instructions you've said you've given her.
 
As i said he is trained be ridden without tack. He is perfect if you are competent!!!! I put novice as he needs somebody to be firm which she seemed to be but as i said she is getting worse!!!
 
Moody!! Ha ha, no just an adult who has managed one of these 'useless riding schools' that can't teach people how to ride for many years.
Normal practice is to assess the riders ability, maybe give them a weeks trial and make sure that they are safe and suitable for the pony. That's what prevents accidents happening!
Also, riders aren't put on ponies that are beyond their capabilities, if they struggle they are taken off the pony and mounted on something more suitable, this assessment usually take five minutes, not six months!
So, if you are ALWAYS supervising her, why haven't you noticed her lack of ability before now? before she 'ruined' your pony?
 
Looking at it from her view she might have lost quite a lot of confidence. If that is the way she was taught at her riding school for six years she probably thinks that she is riding correctly and doing well. Then if you're showing her a completely new way maybe she's just not so comfortable with it and so is going downhill. Not that it makes it any better but I think she'll need to be taught correctly and made to realise that the way she was taught before isn't right.

There is a list of local instructors on the BHS website if you have a look. The riding school does not sound worth the bother! Maybe you could find an instructor that could come to you?

I definitely think you should suggest she should have more lessons in some way or another, it will benefit her too.
 
It would really only take 10 minutes of lunging her with no stirrups and a neck strap a few times to help her with her balance. Considering she is so keen and loves the pony it may be in your interests to help her progress through the summer especially as you say it is so very hard to find a sharer. You could be going through this scenario several times before you find one that you are happy with so maybe a little bit of investment in time now will pay dividents for the future. By the sounds of it this little girl deserves all the encouragement she can get - she sounds like a trooper to have stuck it out.
 
trefnantblackknight said:
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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Wow shame you didn't take your own advice before posting the OP. I really hope the poor kid doesn't see this.

tessybear said:
Accident waiting to happen.
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This. And whose fault will it be? Can't blame a 13 year old when there are adults aware of the issues, who've been more than happy not to bother supervising the kid riding their horse all winter.
 
I think it would be very unfair to stop her riding him now. She has been reliable and come over winter and spring is on it's way. Your fields will dry out in a few weeks so you, or an instructor, can give her lessons on the pony so she can learn how to ride him. If it was me i would be explaining to her how to ride him until she can have lessons on him and not stop her from riding him. I'm sure she will listen to what you are saying and eventually be able to ride him how you want him ridden. It sounds lie her confidence has been shaken(as you say she has got worse not better) and she needs to be able to get that back before she will improve.
To be honest if the rider hasto ride him exactly as you ride then you shouldn't have a sharer as every rider rides different, hopefully without hanging on to the mouth.
 
I think she has probably lost a lot of confidence and confused as to what's the right and wrong way to be riding your pony. Does she pay any contribution? If so, I think let her off paying and ask her to have lessons on pony instead. She sounds like she needs a lot of encouragement and less crisitcism. She obviously has the love and dedication for your pony, just needs a little help to get her on track with the riding. Please don't get rid of her before giving her some help, she will be gutted :(
 
trefnantblackknight said:
She stopped going to the school when she started riding him
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So basically, a competent but unbalanced riding school student has come off a riding school plod onto a 'second' pony that's clearly been taught the parelli way (which she's obv not used to!), a pony that's probably more responsive than the riding school ponies and has the brains to take advantage when he can, and knowing full well she's not had a lesson since she came to you has been expected to just get on with it and adapt to this pony without any form of guidance other than a few parelli dvd's?

Makes me wonder what they taught YOUR generation of kids at riding schools?! Be fair to the poor girl, she's young, keen and trying hard to find her way in what can only be described as a trying situation.
 
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OP you said she's not unsupervised, but that you've only just recently been able to say more than hi and bye. So which is it?

No 'bitchyness' from me, just my opinion, which I thought you'd want, seems as you posted on a public forum. Or do you want me to tell you what you want to hear, that having done all winter, this girl's riding is no suddenly bad enough for you to you end the share?

Your title isn't exactly non-bitchy and neither is your post about this poor girl- let's hope neither she or parents read it!
 
As the mother of a 13 year old girl who loves horses but is still learning to ride in a balanced manner I think your attitude and behaviour as a RESPONSIBLE ADULT stinks....sorry but thats how I feel. Amazing how the problem with her 'terrible' riding has only become an issue once the weather looks like improving?
If you arent able to spend the time with her or organise someone to teach her your style of riding I think you should break it to her mother that you want to end the agreement...yes she will be upset but Im not sure I would want my daughter riding your horse and Im sure she will gain more confidence with something more suitable.
 
redriverrock said:
As the mother of a 13 year old girl who loves horses but is still learning to ride in a balanced manner I think your attitude and behaviour as a RESPONSIBLE ADULT stinks....sorry but thats how I feel. Amazing how the problem with her 'terrible' riding has only become an issue once the weather looks like improving?
If you arent able to spend the time with her or organise someone to teach her your style of riding I think you should break it to her mother that you want to end the agreement...yes she will be upset but Im not sure I would want my daughter riding your horse and Im sure she will gain more confidence with something more suitable.
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Careful- if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all! ;) (although, I completely agree with you!).
 
horsesatemymoney said:
Careful- if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all! ;) (although, I completely agree with you!).
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Sorry I forgot...just made me cross but your right we should all be nice and go along with the poor lady who has had a 13 year old girl help out all winter only to post ugh about her riding...she probably deserves it :rolleyes:
 
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Not read all replies only the OP, I would say listen to your horse who is telling you he's unhappy with this rider. You are not getting what you were looking for (time with your other horses) as you are having to reschool this lad in between her visits. Yes she will be upset but you need to look at the safety angle - you say she's toppled off enough times. What if she hurts herself and things get difficult with the family?! End it now, it's just not working out. Pony would not be doing things but far happier in the field than having to put up with an inadequate rider. Good luck!
 
I've read through this thread twice, and I keep feeling as though I've missed something relevant.
I young girl, straight off riding school plodders, is now riding with a halter? Did I get that correct? Is she permitted a saddle? Moving from quiet school horses to a private pony is a big step for a kid, and id she's having to ride with a halter it may well have knocked her little bit of confidence out of her.
Have I missed something here?
 
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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It took you 6 months to find this out? Are you not supervising at all? This poor child obviously hadn't had many riding lessons before starting to ride your pony. Help her rather than knock her all the time.

If you are capable of starting a youngster then you are capable of teaching a beginner. Get her position and balance sorted through positive help rather than negative comments.
 
Where abouts is she riding him at the minute if she can't ride in the fields? Can you not teach her wherever she's managing to ride him now?!
 
trefnantblackknight said:
As i said he is trained be ridden without tack. He is perfect if you are competent!!!! I put novice as he needs somebody to be firm which she seemed to be but as i said she is getting worse!!!
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I'm not surprised if you're expecting her to ride it in a halter..

Relax, put some proper tack on it and take her for some chilled out, accompanied, hacks out. Then if there's any sensible kids she can ride with then so much the better. Then watch her confidence grow. Micro management does not make good riders or ponies. She sounds like a sweet girl who deserves a chance.
Oh and bin the Parelli DVD's :p
 
Ancient Hacker said:
I've read through this thread twice, and I keep feeling as though I've missed something relevant.
I young girl, straight off riding school plodders, is now riding with a halter? Did I get that correct? Is she permitted a saddle? Moving from quiet school horses to a private pony is a big step for a kid, and id she's having to ride with a halter it may well have knocked her little bit of confidence out of her.
Have I missed something here?
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I fear you have not missed something and I am appalled has OP ever considered what could happen to her if the child fell off and harmed her self while riding in a head collar ? That would sound apsolutly brilliant in court.
People do not learn to ride by magic and if someone's getting worse after six months of "help" I be ashamed of my self poor child .
If the ponies putting if head down with put a daisy rien on it if it ignores her leg sort it's training.
And finally OP if the riding school has no insurance it's will be unlicensed report them to the local authority at once.
 
Get a freelance instructor to come and teach her. It sounds like you have neither the time, skill, or inclination to do so yourself.

If you don't have a suitable place to ride then ask around for a manege to hire or an instructor with their own manege.
 
trefnantblackknight said:
She stopped going to the school when she started riding him
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As a former riding school instructor I can safely say I had customers who would balance with their hands despite my best efforts, it did come eventually but it took time. I had others who would find a natural balance within a couple of days on a horse.

If she's stopped getting lessons she'll have slipped into what's comfortable for her, if she doesn't have a natural balance, the comfortable will be going back to using her hands.

Can you give her some lunge lessons where she pats her head, reaches for the sky etc etc in rising trot? All would be very helpful to help her core balance and gain an independent seat.


Not all RS instructors are hopeless, some of us have some good ideas :D
 
I would like to suggest to your sharer to find another pony - you are more interested on berating the poor girl on a public forum rather than offering support. Not providing the proper tack is IMHO selfish and dangerous. And it doesn't sound to me like the pony is a saint anyway if he constantly takes the mick out of his rider - she is best off out of it.
 
I had a girl that was going to part share one of mine... Was 14 said could do everything .. Walk trot canter jump her mum would stay with her whilst she rode !!! She came out to try her out couldn't even rise trot I said from the off she was not a novice ride so I said no thank you to her riding her.. It really isn't worth the risk to the child or the pony if there not capable. I wasn't going to be able to always be around and I wasn't looking for a sharer so I could teach etc as I needed one that would just get on with it. You should of really said from the start she wasn't suitable as she's done the winter now would be harsh to jack her in now x
 
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