What would make you return to a riding school?

[teapot]

Inspired by something @ester posted on the thread re licensing and sharers, and availability for advanced riders, what would encourage you to go for a lesson at a centre?

I know 95% of you on here have your own horses and/or compete both unaffiliated and affiliated, so what would encourage you book a lesson at a centre? Either on an irregular basis, or more regularly (weekly, twice monthly etc). I know some of you will say 'but I won't ever need to, I have x trainer', that's fine, but what would you do if they said 'you need to feel x' or 'go try y'...

So which of the following would make you spend money:

Horse power - flat
Horse power - jump
Other opportunities - say clinics
Coaching
Facilities
Wider facilities eg cafe, 'nice day out'
Availability
Price
Value for money
Accessibility distance wise


I've always found this stuff fascinating, even more so now I'm not working in the industry. I'll add my thoughts later

 

[wren123]

Well schooled, responsive horses on the flat,
Really good teaching,
Getting the full time I have paid for.

Edited to add I was paying good money for a weekly private lesson but then the yard changed location and I felt, as a long standing client, I was taken for granted and my lessons were constantly cut short.

 

[ihatework]

Horse power and needing to tune myself up.

But in all honesty, having gone to Portugal last year, I wouldn’t waste my money in uk again.

I can tune up my seat on super horses for a week, whilst esssntially having a lovely holiday. Far far better value

 

[scats]

The only time I’ve booked into an equestrian centre was pre-stages when I decided to do a test run out there (not local venue) and get my bearings of the place, so felt it was worth having a lesson up there while I was at it.

 

[ycbm]

Totally sound advanced schoolmasters where I wouldn't be told to take a heavy fistful of rein to get advanced moves.

Fast hacking in a lovely area off road on totally sound, switched on horses.
.

 

[Wishfilly]

If there was somewhere locally that offered proper schoolmaster lessons, then I'd be tempted to go occasionally- but all of the really good places are a long way from me, and if I'm going that far, then I may as well have a riding holiday, to be honest. I'd like to be able to go and ride the same horse at least 3 or 4 times, too.

In general, in terms of having regular lessons as an adult, I've always ended up being pushed to jump- which I just don't want to do on an unknown horse anymore. And even having private lessons, it often comes up. I think a lot of instructors locally don't really know how to help people progress on the flat and so they want to push you into jumping- which just isn't what I want any more.

 

[ester]

I'm so inspiring ?

For me there's two different things regular riding v. a holiday type set up. Arguably it probably works better for me if I spread fun stuff out around the year ie pay for share rather than a one off few days.

My biggest issue is price and I know when I'm not riding at least twice a week whatever else I am doing exercise wise is not the same and I don't have a good enough riding core to ride at my best which I'd sort of want to be able to do in lessons. I wouldn't be able to afford to ride weekly in an RS set up. The most likely reason I would go on a semi regular basis would be if they had decent jump schoolmasters, having had a tricksy welsh being able to work on me more than the horse with Jim was fab and I'd love to get more mileage jumping some more full up technical courses.

I will also pay for very good hacking, even more so if the ability to go unguided as I love exploring but that's an accessiblity + cost issue as we definitely don't have that round here.

Flat wise I've had fun playing with more advanced moves at penn lynn and it was definitely helpful with regards to getting a better feel (Frank would deny it was helpful as I came back and started re-teaching him a few things that we'd not quite hit the spot with correctly).

I love having lessons but I also get a lot more out of them if I have the opportunity to then go away play with stuff on my own for a bit then come to a lesson with the things I've struggled with/that I think aren't quite right.

 

[Stacey_xo]

I love the idea of lessons on a different horse because I feel like clinics and lessons on your own horse are more about how you ride together and less about your own riding ability, basically how to ride your horse, and not how to ride any horse. But your average school horse is usually a safe kick along and no real challenge either, so ideally a horse that will carry on nicely even if you sat on it backwards but can also take it up a gear when you want to try more challenging things and improve your riding ability.

Personally, I wouldn’t want to pay any more than £30 for a lesson at a riding school as that’s the average rate around here, but for clinics I would be willing to pay more, and wouldn’t want to travel more than 30 minutes away either as again that’s another cost with fuel on top of the lesson.
I wouldn’t care too much about facilities as long as they’ve got a decent sized school and a set of jumps, but saying that I would like it if the centre held shows and offered riders to enter on their horses, that would be fun and great for anybody without a horse who can’t do these things usually!

 

[Kunoichi73]

I'm coming at this from the opposite side. I'm a RS rider. I doubt very much I'll ever own a horse. Currently this is because I don't really have the time to commit to ownership (I'm caring for my dad who has dementia). I could probably just about afford a horse, but it would mean not being able to do other hobbies or take the kind of holidays I enjoy.

When I started back riding after a long break, I didn't really want to do lessons. I wanted to potter around on a horse doing my own thing. Obviously this is not possible on RS horses, so I started back with private lessons. I'm really glad I did.

It is a massively different thing to the lessons I had as a child. I'm more in control of the horses, I can work on different skills and request things to work on. I like to have different instructors, as each one will work on different things. Yes, some of them give fairly basic lessons but others really concentrate on position and seat, others do pole work and jumping. I enjoy each lesson for what it gives me. I would like to be able to go away and work on these things by myself, but that's not possible at the moment. Heck, I'd like my own horse so I could practice archery!

I'm keeping my eyes open for a potential share but there are not many locally and the ones that come up are not suitable for a RS rider.

What would I like my school to improve?

It would be nice to have a few more advanced horses. They have a couple on working livery but they're not massively advanced.

I'd like them to have the occasional clinic run by a specialist.

I'd like horse management classes aimed at adults.

They do have a lovely café on site, though! ?

 

[MuddyMonster]

If I was inbetween horses I think or try something totally different. I'd love to try horse archery or horseball for example.

I've ridden a classical school master which was amazing experience but didn't have a huge amount of cross over to my current pony so unlikely to do too much more of that at the moment. It was fun though!

I've also been for mechanical lessons so would go for a course of those if I needed to.

 

[McFluff]

I rode at a riding school for years, while I was focussed on my career, I didn’t have the time for my own. I loved the opportunity to ride so many different horses, and I was at a RS with very good horses. It wasn’t cheap (£50 an hour and that was over 10 years ago), but then it shouldn’t be. I have no idea how a RS can be expected to provide lessons for less than many of us pay for coaching on our own horse.

Sadly that RS closed - too many people didn’t want to pay what it costs to provide a great experience, and they weren’t prepared to cut corners. I did have lessons on other horses once I got my own, it’s a great way to feel what good is and take that back to your own. I haven’t had a RS lesson for a few years now (I have regular lessons and clinics on my own). If there was a RS within reasonable distance with good school masters (flatwork) I would go, as even with good coaches I think I’d benefit from a sit on a schoolmaster to get how something should feel, as me and my boy are learning together.
I have considered taking a few days and travelling to somewhere like Talland, but have never managed to prioritise that when planning my holiday use.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I'm coming at this from the opposite side. I'm a RS rider. I doubt very much I'll ever own a horse. Currently this is because I don't really have the time to commit to ownership (I'm caring for my dad who has dementia). I could probably just about afford a horse, but it would mean not being able to do other hobbies or take the kind of holidays I enjoy.

When I started back riding after a long break, I didn't really want to do lessons. I wanted to potter around on a horse doing my own thing. Obviously this is not possible on RS horses, so I started back with private lessons. I'm really glad I did.

It is a massively different thing to the lessons I had as a child. I'm more in control of the horses, I can work on different skills and request things to work on. I like to have different instructors, as each one will work on different things. Yes, some of them give fairly basic lessons but others really concentrate on position and seat, others do pole work and jumping. I enjoy each lesson for what it gives me. I would like to be able to go away and work on these things by myself, but that's not possible at the moment. Heck, I'd like my own horse so I could practice archery!

I'm keeping my eyes open for a potential share but there are not many locally and the ones that come up are not suitable for a RS rider.

What would I like my school to improve?

It would be nice to have a few more advanced horses. They have a couple on working livery but they're not massively advanced.

I'd like them to have the occasional clinic run by a specialist.

I'd like horse management classes aimed at adults.

They do have a lovely café on site, though! ?

I think your selling yourself a bit short here! Everyone was a riding school rider at one point or another. When I started riding at 10,it was rough, nowadays it would be classed as brutality ? but riding different horses gives you the abilities to adapt. I think you would be very capable as a sharer. ?

 

[stangs]

Not that I have the time/money for lessons anymore, but this is a topic I’m fond of.

General things I look for:

• Coaching from people who are willing to talk theory with you, explain why they’re saying what they’re saying, and who don’t treat you like their inferior.
• High standards of welfare (from the little a client can see, and I do make some judgement based off a yard’s social media)
• Accessibility by public transport if I’m going to be going somewhere regularly - maximum I’ve ever done is an 1h40 walk from the train station but I wouldn’t do that weekly
• Instructor paying attention to you and the horse throughout the lesson
• Things being simple: booking lessons without too much hassle, knowing if I’m expected to tack up, etc.

Things that are nice to have

• Somewhere to sit, even just a bench, so you can watch other lessons
• The occasional opportunity to do a show if you’re a regular rider there
• The occasional clinic on a RS horse
• Lunge lessons
• Advanced schoolmasters, whether that be for flatwork or jumping, but ones you don’t need to go after with a stick or a strong contact.
• Biomechanics-based training
• Good hacking

I do think riding schools could do more to provide horseless folk with experiences that usually only horse owners get: top quality coaching through clinics, in hand schooling or long reining lessons, and the like. I also know of some riding schools in the US and on the continent that do clicker training lessons, which would be nice to see in the UK.

 

[Kunoichi73]

I think your selling yourself a bit short here! Everyone was a riding school rider at one point or another. When I started riding at 10,it was rough, nowadays it would be classed as brutality ? but riding different horses gives you the abilities to adapt. I think you would be very capable as a sharer. ?

Thank you! You're probably right. I did do the weekend helper thing when I was younger and looked after a friend's horse several Christmas's ago. I know the instructors at my school like working with me and have recently told one of the working livery owners that I ride their horse really well and considerately.

I would need a sharer who wouldn't mind spending time getting me up to speed with the tasks and what to keep an eye on with their horse.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thank you! You're probably right. I did do the weekend helper thing when I was younger and looked after a friend's horse several Christmas's ago. I know the instructors at my school like working with me and have recently told one of the working livery owners that I ride their horse really well and considerately.

I would need a sharer who wouldn't mind spending time getting me up to speed with the tasks and what to keep an eye on with their horse.

People up here cry out for help, usually just unpaid help in return for riding and some chores ! ?

 

[Kunoichi73]

People up here cry out for help, usually just unpaid help in return for riding and some chores ! ?

I wish I lived up there!

 

[Red-1]

It would take a lot to drag me back!

I did a day long lesson just before my stage 4 riding, years ago. I explained what I could do and what I needed practice with, and they gave me what I didn't want.

Why they thought it was OK to put me on a young horse not generally used in lessons "because we think you'll manage" when I explicitly said that I was currently employed training young horses, I don't know. I asked for a schoolmaster for the bigger jumps, and preferably a wily old schoolmaster who'd take advantage if I wasn't switched on - because this is what I needed to practice.

I got a really green 4yo, and yes, I did get a tune out of him, but TBH they should have been paying me for that, as it was my speciality! It was simply not what I asked for or needed.

I did have a fabulous experience, at a different centre, also before my stage 4. That centre gave me some proper schoolmasters, I learned canter pirouette, changes, piaffe and passage. Not that they were required at stage 4, but at that centre they gave me the best experience they could rather than running the place to suit themselves. I ended up doing the rest of my training there, 3 separate weeks full time, and years later returning with my own horse as the trainer was amazing. There was no cafe or anything flash, but amazing training, great horses, tailored to what I asked for, within what was sensible to provide. The schools were immaculate too as in prepared surfaces and good lighting.

More recently, I went to a different, more local school (just last year) as I knew I was buying a better horse - I asked for a jumping lesson on a schoolmaster, as I hadn't jumped much for a couple of years and I wanted to get my eye in. I chose a BHS exam venue as I presumed they would have horses capable of this. I was thinking along the lines of a stage 2 jump course in height and complexity.

I was shown to a set of horses tied up in a yard. They all looked tired and feet needed trimming. The tack wasn't ideal. The horse wasn't well schooled. It was wooden, fell in, either was lazy then, if you got him going, pulled. The instructor was OK, but could only work with what she had, including a terrible school surface. I'd asked for a lesson round a course, I got a few pops over a single fence. I didn't want to do more than that with that horse, in that tack, on that surface. Yes, it did improve during the lesson, but it wasn't what I'd asked for. It was simply disappointing.

I would have been prepared to pay whatever they asked for the right experience. It was a private lesson, so it's not as though it was to suit other people.

I hate the way you seem to be expected to turn up and be grateful for whatever they decide to give you, even if it's not what you asked for. No wonder so many are closing. You see it on here, where people have asked for something on a lesson and haven't been given what was initially promised. You see people who have been riding for 6 months or more, unable to ride a simple dressage test or pop a fence.

I have recently browsed to see if there would be a hunter type place with horses capable of a little XC, so I can tune myself up for BH for next year, or for fast hacking with little jumps or something. If I found somewhere like that, I may be tempted. I also thought about a mechanical horse, but I would need to rate the trainer.

When Mr Red wanted to learn to ride, the standard of lessons was dire in most places. He got two injuries that were perfectly predictable and avoidable. We ended up borrowing a horse for the summer as it was safer and he made better progress. Again, he would have paid more for a better service at a riding school but that didn't seem to be an option. He had private lessons, but the horses were rarely suitable and some of the instructors were rudimentary to say the least!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I wish I lived up there!

Seriously, I was struggling just a few weeks back breaking one riding mine and someone else’s ? ?

 

[SO1]

I am between horses after loosing Homey and riding at a RS after 15 years of not doing so.

I enjoy the hacking off road on really safe hacking horses. There were only two of us on the hack on Saturday and we had some lovely canters through the woods.

Lessons the enjoyment depends on which horse I get. I have been doing the BSH jump and lunge challenge award for last 4 weeks one evening a week and really like that.

I think I may enter the dressage competition.

I am currently spending £123 a week at the RS with the two hour evening class and a hack at the weekend.

My goal is after having the same horse for the last 15 years to build confidence in riding and assessing unfamiliar horses ready for viewings. Also to have some time with horses but no pressure and responsibility after loosing mine.

Money and time would prevent me from going to a RS if I had my own horse unless it was a weeks holiday somewhere nice and relaxing.

A friend of mine with her own horse does go every month or so to a RS with a group of friends to do cross country and do fast hacking as her horse has health issues and can't jump anymore but she has more money and time than most horses owners I know.

I am actually enjoying the RS more than I thought. Obviously spending £123 a week I am not saving as much money as I had hoped though it is significantly cheaper than keeping my pony on part livery and all the added extras such as shoes, dentists, worming etc. I can see why people go down the sharing route as it is so much cheaper than the RS but you are not getting instruction or flexibility so much with a share.

The RS is a very active popular pony club centre and I expect that is where they make their money rather than from adult lessons.

 

[SafeInSage]

Schoolmasters/very well schooled horses that don’t simply consist of often lame cobs like many RS horses do. I went to talland (first school I’ve been to in years) for a camp and loved their horses.

Other than that, I see no real merit in going to a riding school after you purchase your own/loan/part loan and find a good private trainer. I am partial because the riding schools in my area are quite frankly horrendous - more so in education than the treatment of their horses, thankfully.

At the end of the day, I feel most people would rather progress with their own horse after a certain point. You can learn valuable lessons by riding other horses, but only when you’re getting a good trainer. Not to mention that most people I know wouldn’t be able to afford RS lessons alongside ownership at the moment.

 

[Cowpony]

I livery at a riding school and have regular lessons with the chief instructor on my own horse. It's probably not what the OP is asking about, but I really benefit from the instruction and eyes on the ground.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I'm out of horses and probably rarely if ever going to ride again however I'd probably need to go to an rs if I ever fancied it

-well schooled horses that aren't dead to the leg, go into a nice shape if ridden correctly

-schoolmaster types capable of at least changes/good lateral work, preferably ones I could then learn the advanced moves on e.g. piaffe etc

-fast hacking in good locations e.g. beaches etc. Definitely not ploddy walk and trot only. Let me canter and gallop

-i don't think I'd ever jump again as I'd lost all confidence in it while I had my own as the what ifs hit hard, but if I did wish to go a lovely point and shoot go off any stride confidence giver would be wonderful. The rs before I got my own had one who was loved by a great many people and who helped get my confidence back when I lost it once

-instructors actively engaged with the lesson e.g. not sat on the mounting block chatting to others or on their phone. I'm paying for this lesson so expect their full attention

-id love to have a go at western riding

 

[Birker2020]

Sheer desperation with wanting to ride a horse.

 

[GoldenWillow]

Inspired by something @ester posted on the thread re licensing and sharers, and availability for advanced riders, what would encourage you to go for a lesson at a centre?

Horse power - flat
Horse power - jump
Coaching
Accessibility distance wise

These are what would make me book a lesson rather than have a lesson with my own trainer and pony. In fact a few years ago for a couple of winters I did go to a RS to do this. I also specifically asked for some lunge lessons, I really enjoyed and got a lot out of just being able to concentrate on me and my position.

 

[maya2008]

Many years ago my ponies had both hurt themselves and needed a few weeks off (one ill, one field injury). I booked some schoolmaster lessons at a place in Surrey. Absolutely amazing and so worth it. If something like that was available locally I would definitely pay out for it. So lovely to learn what my ponies needed to do next on something that knew what it was doing, to tune up my seat and hands and take that back to my own ponies.

 

[scats]

There’s a lack of genuinely good riding schools now, a lot are just low level pony rides really. Once you can walk, trot and canter, pop a fence… there’s not much else that seems to be taught. It’s a shame and I can totally see why people move on to shares/part loans or buying their own.

I was fortunate when I was a child that I had a very good instructor at the riding school who recognised I was quite decent on a pony and really pushed me. I was competent in doing and understanding various types of lateral work by the time I was 10 and she used to grill me about the aids to various movements and the footfalls of each pace. I soaked it up because I was young and I’ll be forever grateful for that level of tuition at such an early age. Equally, there was an instructor there who was dreadful and just made you trot around for the whole lesson, without challenging you or giving any instruction besides “kick, kick”. My heart would sink when I saw she was taking the lesson.

There are a lot of complaints around this way about a fairly busy local riding school because a couple of the instructors spend the majority of the lesson on their mobile phones. I would be furious if I’d paid for a lesson and the instructor couldn’t be bothered to even take their eyes off their phone!

 

[J&S]

I rode at a RS in Holland some years ago and it was a terrific experience. Huge arenas, wonderful hacking and lovely horses. Also not at all expensive as no council Tax /Rates to pay. If I had found such a facility near me pre my horse owning days i might very well not have got my own.

 

[Tarragon]

I would go to a riding school if I wanted specific training for me as a rider, e.g. lesson on a lunge so that I can concentrate solely on my position, higher dressage moves than my pony is capable of so that I can learn what the aids should be and what it should feel like, jumping bigger jumps that I would do on my own pony so that I have the confidence to do the same on mine. So, all short-term and with very specific objectives, all needing school master horses, and all designed to keep me ahead of the level I want my own pony to work at.
I would expect the premises to be clean and inspiring, the horses to be happy and well cared for, the trainers to listen to me and build a lesson around me, and a cafe and on-site shop would be perfect!
I would pay quite a lot for this if I thought I was getting the education I was hoping for.

 

[criso]

Assuming I've got a horse that is doing everything I want and enough money to finance a horse and decent lessons which will not be cheap.

Advanced flat lessons. The chance to ride a schoolmaster and feel advanced dressage moves I will never train my own horse in.

Possibly hacking in situations i don't have access to e.g. beaches, moors

 

[Sprogladite01]

I'm currently riding in a riding school despite having two of my own. Simply because following the loss of my ridden pony (after extensive lameness and medical issues), I am not ready to buy another one. However, I don't want to be in the position I was in when I bought last time, where I had only ridden 4 times in the previous 2 years, when I start trying horses to buy next year. So for me it's more about keeping some muscles somewhat in line and trying to keep bad habits fine tuned so I can actually enjoy my new horse when I do eventually buy them.

When I had my lovely boy, the only thing I'd consider paying for is lessons on an advanced schoolmaster/dressage horse - something where the focus is on my position and way of riding vs trying to convince the RS horse we do in fact want to do some lateral work today lol (or something along those lines, ya get what I mean I hope!).