what does schooling mean to you?

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oliviacharley

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Just interested in peeps views on this as my lad is due some schooling but gets bored very easily and then it becomes harder for me to carry on really....

How long does it take before your horse improves?
Is it just walking, trotting, cantering etc - bit like dressage?
do people enjoy schooling? What does it mean to you...?
Does it make you more controlled with your competing and does it help the horse to build a bond with you?
Has it improved your riding and improved your horse?

Do some people not school - dont see the point in it?
I would be interested to see all views on this....
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My mare has never been schooled...wouldnt know what a school was. Always been used for hacking. So...schooling to me is just what I can do out on hacks, as I dont have access to a school either. I do lots of transitions,just generally try to get her responsive from my leg as she can be lazy...
I dont really see it as a big problem, I can jump her round a course of jumps and hack her out which suits me
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i dont like schooling, but i have to school at the moment as i have a baby pony (well 5) and he has a lot to learn! but i usually school for half hour, lots of transitions, voice aids, different shapes etc, then do 15 minutes in field so its different for him.
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STRESS, i normally end up crying! My horse isn't even naughty I just expect perfection! If you have ever wondered why eventers call dressage - 'stressage' this is why!
 
I love schooling, but my horse is very inconsistent. We tend to struggle away for months at something then suddenly it clicks into place and she does it perfectly. It can take weeks to get results or minutes.

I do tend to alternate between really basic things like transitions, then try something a bit harder like shoulder-in, then go back to more easy work. I ask her to work hard literally for 5 mins at a time then we either walk on a long rein or go for a little blast in canter depending if she feels pent up/tired!

Flatwork has made a massive difference to my jumping, I have so much more control and even on a big striding 16.2hh I find myself doing tighter and tighter turns as her balance improves. It has also improved her manners out hacking - she will no longer barge out in front of a car when she gets impatient waiting at road junctions, and is more respectful on the ground too.

That said, there are plenty of occasions when neither of us are in the mood and we go for a blast round the field instead. I try to make sure all the time spent in the school is beneficial, if your just going to go round and round the track you may as well go out hacking.
 
I love schooling - I'm very particular and like perfecting things but don't get too stressed if it takes time. I like planning new exercises to try out to tackle my or my horses issues.

I like to be creative so that it stays interesting - I watch some people schooling and their schooling session is my warm up!

My RI also loves flatwork (despite being an eventer) so always has loads of suggestions of new things to try.

I have also recently started doing interdressage comps as I like learning the tests and find it really good at highlighting our good and bad points!
 
school is the basis of any disapline. you will never get the best out of your horse if its schooling is not maintained. i don't particulary like schooling but i do it 3-4 times a week for a minimal of 30mins and it consised of basic trasition work, halt to canter, walk to canter flying changes leg yeilding etc and i get good results at the end of the day as i have good balanced obiedent horses( most of the time) lol.
 
I love it, gives me a chance to see how Zeb is going, and it is always a pleasure to ride him. As soon as we are in the school, we are down to busienss. We love each others company (well, I don''t have his side of the story!) and it is always a pleasure.

(this of course goes particularly when I ride properly and not like a melon!)
 
I like schooling, but we don't do anything particularly technical, I either practise things from dressage tests, or I get some ideas from my 101 schooling ideas book, or things my instructor as left me to practise. Trouble is half the time I think I end up confusing George!
 
Schooling is just training! You can concentrate more easily if you have a safe, flat, enclosed area but on a SAFE hacking trail, you can still school there. Schooling (like for kids) just teaches horse and rider the underlying principles that are then built on for all the disciplines whether dressage, xc, eventing, sj etc etc. But, like kids' schools again, some schooling is boring and repetitive and the kids hate it and play up or switch off and learn nothing. GOOD schooling (for kids or horses!) engages the horse, gets his brain going as well as his body, challenges him every day, makes him want to do well, should be fun and can be as innovative and creative as the rider/instructor can make it.
 
I school while out on hacks. I dislike schooling in the arenas, however I do go in my arenas once every so often just to keep their hands in. My lot are all youngsters so when I do it with them, they learn very quickly and improve every time I do schooling rides. I only school every 1 ride in about 10 though so give them plenty of time off.
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I school my horse (or did before he broke)...
I personally find flat work schooling really boring/difficult on my own but really enjoy lessons I have with my instructor. Without her there I seem to lose my way...run out of ideas and get in a pickle.
 
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