What would make you go to a RS?

[PinkvSantaboots]

I am very lucky that a friend of mine will give me lessons on one of her dressage horses which is now retired from competition, I absolutely love riding him and often ask if she fancies doing a swop with one of mine for a bit which makes her laugh nervously followed by a swift no thanks ?

She always reminds me that he never came to her like he is now it has taken a lot of hard work and training and you can totally see that.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I've tried contacting several local riding schools lately and can't get a look in and the others seem to teach children only. What I would be looking for:

- back to basics tuition on a safe, uncomplicated horse who isn't overworked or miserable
- an instructor who is firm and encouraging without being shouty
- staff in general who don't make me feel out of place/a muppet
- clear instructions in terms of preparing horse (for example if I need to fetch them from stable or do any tacking up etc.)

Many years ago I had two lessons (lord knows why I went back!) at Contessa which was meant to be one of the best riding schools in Europe at the time. I am a happy hacker type and have never been much for formal tuition, but I went to Pony Club as a child, competed in gymkhanas and had more lessons in my teens. The horse in my first lesson would not trot for me despite my best efforts and the second time I went the instructor rode and schooled another horse whilst teaching me! I hate to make a fuss and didn't complain, more fool me, but I paid a fair whack to be made to feel like a total numpty essentially. I would like to avoid that.

I am more confident now but still find it nerve-wracking turning up at a riding establishment for the first time and being made to feel like I don't know what I'm doing. We have family horses but every place does things differently and has their own routine when it comes to tacking up, handling etc. and I feel much happier when I am given clear instruction on these things (if they are part of the visit).

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'll second that you can only really get a strong riding core by actually spending time in the saddle riding correctly. That's why I am back at a riding school, getting fit to ride my own horse after her 2 year lay off.

I have also been down the weight loss/get fit route as a precursor to riding again. You'd think that my legs would be pretty strong and fit after doing 600+ miles on the interactive indoor turbo cycle trainer. Err, no, not really .

At the end of my 4th 45 minute private lesson recently I was sitting in the saddle knowing that I know full well how to neatly dismount, but my body just wasn't responding...

I'm aiming to get riding fit enough to go on one of the RS's 1.5 hour escorted hacks to the Forest, but I'm not there yet. Back in the day, I'd be in the saddle all day out hunting.

I've struck gold with the riding school that I chose, though I didn't know much about it beforehand. My first choice, because I knew first hand how good it was, would have been Foxes Riding School on the Wirral, but that shut down very abruptly as they couldn't make it pay.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

When I lost a horse to wobblers and then moved back to Sussex to look after my mum I started riding at the local RS. I had one lesson which was awful and after that I thought there is nothing you can teach me. However I totally enjoyed the carefree hacking and used to book two 2 hour rides a week. A year later I bought my now 27yr old. I’ve also really enjoyed doing fast paced trekking at Trans-Wales which is fantastic for seeing the country too. It’s more liberating when it’s not your horse and you don’t have to over worry about injury too. My horses would probably break a leg at walk on what we rode at a full gallop!

More recently I’ve contemplated having some jumping lessons as I’m very rusty and rather wimpy. My horse however is ex BS SJ and I fear he may jump me out of the saddle. I worry about the standard of lesson I would get at a RS but also that it’s incredibly expensive on top of owning your own horse. Privates at a good place locally are circa £70 for 45 minutes. I pay £35 on my own horse. I do understand the need for those costs.

I’ve also thought about taking a hireling XC as there is a local place that does hunt hirelings and you can also do things like sponsored rides and XC training in them. This would be prior to getting my horse out doing it who isn’t used to XC jumping.

I’ve also thought about schoolmaster lessons but again feedback from friends who have tried local places is that the horses are often stiff and unresponsive and the teachers not particularly inspiring so I’ve not taken that further.

 

[ester]

I did get a bit blasé saying I’d ride the day after my 110 mile bike ride as it’s different muscles ?.
Hope you weren’t stuck on top for too long TP ?

 

[teapot]

Where are you @HollyWoozle? A collective effort may be able to recommend somewhere.

I do love where I ride (horses, coaching, facilities in theory are all great) but it’s trying to be a 5* elite members club (and prices to match) with Travelodge level service/attitude and that grates a little. Got told yesterday in fact I can’t have a regular weekend lesson, not because they don’t do them, but because availability is so limited by opening hours/ number of coaches working wise. That’s £400 they’ve just lost a month…

 

[ester]

But if they are keeping customers no need to upgrade the service level?

 

[HollyWoozle]

Where are you @HollyWoozle? A collective effort may be able to recommend somewhere.

I do love where I ride (horses, coaching, facilities in theory are all great) but it’s trying to be a 5* elite members club (and prices to match) with Travelodge level service/attitude and that grates a little.

Thank you! I live just inside South Cambs (village of Gamlingay) and work near to Biggleswade in Beds. I've tried Hilltop and did get a reply once to say to contact them again later, but no reply later, think they're just super busy. I've also tried Monarch Farm (no reply to email but I've not called to be fair) and enquired with some others. I posted in local 'Everything Equine' horsey group lately too and no ideas in there, but I did have some messages from locals offering me some horses to hack out which I am looking into! Family horses are all retired and I can't commit time/finances to a proper share, would just like to ride once or twice a week be it a lesson or a hack.

The riding schools for children around here seem to be doing really well which is nice to see!

 

[teapot]

But if they are keeping customers no need to upgrade the service level?

Aside from the fact ‘oh well someone’s still coming in the door, we can do away with customer service’ is an appalling viewpoint to have towards clients paying a lot of money - see also John Lewis no longer caring about customers etc.

The fact weekend group lessons are half full, and there are a fair few empty private lesson spots Monday to Friday I would say perhaps people are voting with their feet… The place used to be rammed.

Maybe I’m a rare beast because I know what matters to me as a paying client. I went out of my way to make sure clients got decent service whether by email/in person etc because if you keep them happy they come back and keep spending money. Even now, almost two years on I get messages from clients from an old job, thanking me for making them feel valued (and sometimes how I made them feel safe and confident in the place) and how they miss that. People care far more than they ever let on.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s about answering an email helpfully, or actually politely saying ‘oh you’ve got Dobbin, he’s that one with the white face, shout if you need a hand’ or ‘your coach is just coming, she’s the tall blonde in a red coat’ - we have to remember that for a huge number of people their weekly riding lesson is a huge ask confidence wise - they’re trusting people they don’t know, to ride an animal they don’t know etc. It takes two seconds to put someone at ease! Then they come back a second time, and a third time… I’ve also seen very experienced riders not be sure of getting a new horse out a box to them so it’s not just about providing a service to beginners imho.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

The other thing that irritates me is lack of interest in receiving my business- I contacted a place last summer about doing a beach ride but had some questions as it was a lot of money to justify so wanted to find out what I'd actually get for my money

Sent a couple of emails and fb messages using the information off their website

No response

Finally spoke to her on the phone after I made the effort to call her and clarified most details though on hanging up realised some of the timings had changed

I text her 3 times with one question, to try and clarify around timings as for the price paid, I wanted as much of possible of the allocated time on the beach

All 3 texts went unanswered when all she had to do was send a simple reply

Hence why I gave up - id been all ready to book had she actually answered.

 

[ester]

Aside from the fact ‘oh well someone’s still coming in the door, we can do away with customer service’ is an appalling viewpoint to have towards clients paying a lot of money - see also John Lewis no longer caring about customers etc.

The fact weekend group lessons are half full, and there are a fair few empty private lesson spots Monday to Friday I would say perhaps people are voting with their feet… The place used to be rammed.

but you’ve had complaints for a while and are still going assuming same place? Which suggests they do hold some portion of the market without needing impeccable customer service

 

[teapot]

but you’ve had complaints for a while and are still going assuming same place? Which suggests they do hold some portion of the market without needing impeccable customer service

I’m not the only one feeling the same about it & I would be very interested to see what would happen if a rival popped up on the doorstep…

That said, I still think resting on your laurels is a bad way to do business, especially at the moment! As @Crazy_cat_lady mentions it’s not about wanting impeccable, just some actual service would make a change ? I don’t think wanting an email answered within a week is asking for much?!

Maybe I just notice it more because I went out of my way to make sure clients came back. When you salary depends on that, you do tend to care! ? and no I’ve not ridden in ages. Currently trying to find somewhere of the same level but that’s proving difficult…

 

[Cob Life]

I ride at a riding school, as well as having 2 loans to ride.

I go because I get to see other horsey people (a private yard gets lonely) and because I can learn the feel on a schoolmaster so I know what I should be feeling on my two as both are tricky rides.

 

[DressageCob]

I stable at a riding school. At the moment my horse is out of action so I'm having lessons on the school horses. They have the full range of horses, from beginner safe ones to young competition horses. None of them feel stiff or wonky and all of them have something to teach me. I do think what you get out of it depends on the riding school, the quality of instruction and the quality of horses.

What I've realised is how one horsed I am. I have always had a sit on other horses here and there, but then got back onto mine. It is so different to get on and not know the horse inside out. I'm a lot more nervous than on my horse. It's made me realise how many of my faults my horse just puts up with. The riding school horses are all kind but they tell you when it's wrong, either with a loss of the forwards, the movement not coming off, or them not being as soft in the contact. They are schooled so well they are perfectionists and I love it.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Many years ago I had two lessons (lord knows why I went back!) at Contessa which was meant to be one of the best riding schools in Europe at the time. I am a happy hacker type and have never been much for formal tuition, but I went to Pony Club as a child, competed in gymkhanas and had more lessons in my teens. The horse in my first lesson would not trot for me despite my best efforts and the second time I went the instructor rode and schooled another horse whilst teaching me! I hate to make a fuss and didn't complain, more fool me, but I paid a fair whack to be made to feel like a total numpty essentially. I would like to avoid that.

I).

I had an awful experience there as well-at no point did anyone actually try and teach me. I just didn’t understand what they were saying/telling me to do(I have been taught by a lot of instructors). The second lesson of the day on a different horse was so wretched and even after I approached the instructor (who spent most of her time teaching one student or chatting to a working pupil who was watching) to ask what I was doing wrong and was told ‘the horse went much better for the rider before you, what do you think that means’.
I dismounted, gave the horse to the instructor and just walked out. they had no interest in teaching anyone other than their regulars on this classical dressage day despite taking my money. At that point I wasn’t a slouch and I was certainly had a lot more riding under my belt than the clients in the arena, I had a young horse and had regular lessons with other well known clinicians. It was quite upsetting and left me feeling I had done something heinous, not paid for two expensive riding lessons that I got absolutely zero out of.

 

[Dave's Mam]

I would like to have lessons on different ponies to know what I am expecting when "I get it right".
I recently went for a lesson at a localish RS stating that I was working on my canter transition & that I have a 13hh pony.
I was put on a 16.3hh Anglo Arab who had hang time in his trot. Not quite like my Exmoor quickstep trot!
He was absolutely gorgeous though, even if his ears were in the next county.

 

[marmalade76]

I had an awful experience there as well-at no point did anyone actually try and teach me. I just didn’t understand what they were saying/telling me to do(I have been taught by a lot of instructors). The second lesson of the day on a different horse was so wretched and even after I approached the instructor (who spent most of her time teaching one student or chatting to a working pupil who was watching) to ask what I was doing wrong and was told ‘the horse went much better for the rider before you, what do you think that means’.
I dismounted, gave the horse to the instructor and just walked out. they had no interest in teaching anyone other than their regulars on this classical dressage day despite taking my money. At that point I wasn’t a slouch and I was certainly had a lot more riding under my belt than the clients in the arena, I had a young horse and had regular lessons with other well known clinicians. It was quite upsetting and left me feeling I had done something heinous, not paid for two expensive riding lessons that I got absolutely zero out of.

That's shocking! Good for you for walking out!

Horror stories aside, this thread is tempting me to go for a lesson somewhere myself. I got bucked off a couple of weeks ago, a saddle issue, we think and hopefully sorted now but I've been chickening out of having a canter since, a lesson on something reliable might just be the confidence boost I need - so Jill Gabb's or Talland? ?

 

[LadyGascoyne]

I would be tempted to take lessons on a schoolmaster. Mim is green and any new horse (tbc) will be unbacked or just backed.

I think the issue with riding schools these days is that they are so constrained in their ability to actually teach people to ride.

I’ve met so many people who have come though riding schools and may know how to sit on a horse correctly but cannot handle a horse. One girl who I used to work with went through riding schools, did her BSc Equine Science, and literally goes to pieces of the horse so much as tosses it’s head. A friend’s child is in a body protector for hacking on the lead rein. Another acquaintance has been riding for over a year and hasn’t cantered off the lunge yet.

I think everyone has to be so careful to be safe that learning to ride is more about risk mitigation than about enjoying the experience. I don’t think it makes for very capable, confident riders who progress and develop - and that can’t help retention.

I think riding schools can probably do more for experienced riders looking for a schoolmaster lesson than new riders these days.

 

[teapot]

That's shocking! Good for you for walking out!

Horror stories aside, this thread is tempting me to go for a lesson somewhere myself. I got bucked off a couple of weeks ago, a saddle issue, we think and hopefully sorted now but I've been chickening out of having a canter since, a lesson on something reliable might just be the confidence boost I need - so Jill Gabb's or Talland? ?

Would love to know how you find Talland if you do go!

I would be tempted to take lessons on a schoolmaster. Mim is green and any new horse (tbc) will be unbacked or just backed.

I think the issue with riding schools these days is that they are so constrained in their ability to actually teach people to ride.

I’ve met so many people who have come though riding schools and may know how to sit on a horse correctly but cannot handle a horse. One girl who I used to work with went through riding schools, did her BSc Equine Science, and literally goes to pieces of the horse so much as tosses it’s head. A friend’s child is in a body protector for hacking on the lead rein. Another acquaintance has been riding for over a year and hasn’t cantered off the lunge yet.

I think everyone has to be so careful to be safe that learning to ride is more about risk mitigation than about enjoying the experience. I don’t think it makes for very capable, confident riders who progress and develop - and that can’t help retention.

I think riding schools can probably do more for experienced riders looking for a schoolmaster lesson than new riders these days.

It does depend on the school, horses, and coaches. The bigger better places tend not to be as cautious but maybe that’s because they can afford higher insurance premiums!

I think caution can not only be limiting in terms of lesson content, but also how do you learn to feel a stride if you’re never allowed to jump out of canter/off a duff stride/anything that isn’t a perfectly strided grid… I’ve seen cautious lesson plans (and through no fault of the coaches) create very cautious riders. They then get bored, do something stupid like over egging experience, ride elsewhere, fall off and scare themselves.

Contessa’s closing for good at the end of the month for those who have been there.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I had an awful experience there as well-at no point did anyone actually try and teach me. I just didn’t understand what they were saying/telling me to do(I have been taught by a lot of instructors). The second lesson of the day on a different horse was so wretched and even after I approached the instructor (who spent most of her time teaching one student or chatting to a working pupil who was watching) to ask what I was doing wrong and was told ‘the horse went much better for the rider before you, what do you think that means’.
I dismounted, gave the horse to the instructor and just walked out. they had no interest in teaching anyone other than their regulars on this classical dressage day despite taking my money. At that point I wasn’t a slouch and I was certainly had a lot more riding under my belt than the clients in the arena, I had a young horse and had regular lessons with other well known clinicians. It was quite upsetting and left me feeling I had done something heinous, not paid for two expensive riding lessons that I got absolutely zero out of.

Gosh, I’m sorry to hear you had a disappointing experience there too. I came away feeling like I probably shouldn’t ride a horse again as I recall!

 

[honetpot]

I’m not the only one feeling the same about it & I would be very interested to see what would happen if a rival popped up on the doorstep…

That said, I still think resting on your laurels is a bad way to do business, especially at the moment! As @Crazy_cat_lady mentions it’s not about wanting impeccable, just some actual service would make a change ? I don’t think wanting an email answered within a week is asking for much?!

Maybe I just notice it more because I went out of my way to make sure clients came back. When you salary depends on that, you do tend to care! ? and no I’ve not ridden in ages. Currently trying to find somewhere of the same level but that’s proving difficult…

It's very hard to get staff, and there is a balance between, shaking up your staff, who may leave and you may not be able to replace them, for a customer base that may not exist on a regular basis.
I think with dealing with customers, there is a certain level, where they are so much effort, you do not want their business. I used to sell food, I know it was good food reasonably priced, freshly cooked from scratch. I like complaints because it gives you chance to improve, but there are some people who you just think, neh go else where. Making a profit, keeping your staff and keeping the majority of your customers is a balance.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I went to the local RS some years ago now for a weekly lesson when my own horse fractured his leg. I enjoyed it actually, it was nice turning up to a tacked up horse and handing it back at the end!
I ended up, years later having the horse I rode on loan (wvtb but it didn’t work out)
I mean now to book a lesson at another place because they have a mechanical horse, I’ve been saying that a long time but do intend to do it one day ?

 

[teapot]

Making a profit, keeping your staff and keeping the majority of your customers is a balance.

I spent five years doing exactly this, and for the most part succeeded. Even difficult clients are worth having imho, they should make you do things better, and in my experience tended to be the first to support business in times of need. People probably think I’m awful but I’m actually not, I simply would like some service at times (like not waiting a week for an email reply) given it appears to be non-existent in the industry.

Why we accept it, yet in other industries we would immediately vote with our feet, is beyond me.