What should I do? Advice please.

H

HayleyUK

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 July 2005
Messages
1,541
Location
Cheshire
Visit site
I go for lessons with a SJ at a riding centre about 1/2 hours drive from me, he is good and I do feel like I learn from him when I go. I'm currently horseless so an hour a week is all the 'horse time' I'm getting, in an effort to talk my parents into co funding another horse for me.

However, today my usual instructor wasnt available, he's "really busy" today and one of the other instructors took me (call him X).

My SJ instructor has told me himself that whilst X has all the exams etc hes useless beyond teaching youngsters to ride since hes out of his depth when it comes to someone, like myself, who can ride accuratly and just needs technical guidence as opposed to "this is how to ride" basic tuition. I personally don't rate X as a tutor, and find my lessons boring and don't feel I've learned anything.

The horse I rode today had been out on an hour hack previous to my lesson and was sweaty, when I commented, I was told "hes unfit and he'll be fine". He is on working livery and his owner seemed happy enough. Towards the 35 min mark, said horse started tiring, he'd been consistantly clipping ground poles and was clipping very small fences behind. X's answer was to raise the fence, so it was ~85-90cm and he ended up bringing it down twice out of the three times we attempted it In the end, I said "he's tired, shall we just call it 1/2 hour and leave it there?" X was reluctant to do so, but I insisted and in the end he gave in after 45 mins ish.

I rode a small course, and the turns weren't good at all. I commented "That wasnt fantastic" and X replied "it was good enough for me, you got round". To me this isnt what I'm paying him for?

At the end of my lesson, he said "I can't see anything wrong with your riding that I could comment on.." So i replied " I'm sure Y (usual instructor) would disagree.." X replied "Probably, but I taught you today and I'm happy"..

I've booked a lesson next week, but how do I adress this? I don't want to be 'taught' by X any more as its more supervised riding in an enclosed space..but I never know if he will be teaching till I get there.

H x
 
I would talk to yard owner or someone similar. No point paying to waste your time. I always used to book with one particular instructor- can you not do this where you ride?
 
I might just say "I don't feel like X teaches me anything so I'd prefer not to be taught by him wherever possible"...

You just book in and usually its Y who teaches in the week...
 
Whenever I book my lessons I ask for my favourite instructor, she's brilliant whereas the other two at the yard I don't like so much.

It seems like a case of you are the customer, you should get the service you are paying for - which includes the instructor you want.
 
I would say I found "Y's" lesson so helpful - explain how great they were and then say you would prefer to have them again. This way you appear really nice and they should if they want the business keep you satisfied.
 
Thanks for the advice, its a pretty informal setup, I think I'll just be honest and say I didnt learn anything and just felt like i was being supervised as opposed to taught.
 
From what you have said, it all sounds a little slap dash. Every rider needs constant work and has ample room for improvement or we would all be up there on the telly.

Firstly, I dont think you are getting the instruction value out of these lessons, whats the point in going to be told you are fine, you dont want that, you want to be an excellent rider and to be pushed to the limits and constantly taught new things.

I think, they have taken the foot of the pedal with teaching you and you are getting short changed. Or you have out-grown that yard and its instructors and need to go for something more advanced.

Secondly, the sweaty horse, I feel sorry for the animal, it got a bit of a raw deal, being a working livery it should have been given rest and a freshen up before your expensive lesson.

I would want to be put on a clean, fresh, altert horse that I am happy to spend my money on, I think you have been short changed. To expect that horse to work really hard for you and for you both to get something out of the lesson, was not going to happen from the start. I am a bit disgusted with the horses owner to be truthful.

I would look else where for good quality lessons, I dont think from what you have said that you are going to make any more progress at that yard.
 
I totally agree with you Filly190 about the horse.... and for the instructor to actually say it's unfit then expect it to do an hours jumping lesson after an hours hack beggars belief! I would complain as much about that as the cr*p lesson.

What a shame you had a bad experience Hayley. I would explain how you feel, as tactfully as possible, and see what they come back with. If you still aren't happy then maybe a move to somewhere a bit more organised is needed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top