Which would you go for?

Holly Hocks

Holly Hocks

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This is a hypothetical question as I already have an instructor, but just have a think about what you would do.
If you had a choice of two instructors, which one would you go for

1: About to take her riding for BHSAI, done all the college courses, talks the talk, yet rides like a very heavy sack of spuds, despite only being about 9 stone, and her competition record is poor.

2: Ridden and competed at medium level dressage for years. Rides quietly and sympathetically, yet has no qualifications to her name at all?

I suppose it's a bit similar to Mrs M's thread about knowledge and experience really....
 
personally the 2nd one.... everytime.... my trainer is a 4* event rider..... i have no clue if they even have their pony club D test.....but they suit me & how i ride.... thats the most important thing IMO
 
Depends which one teaches better... you can be the best rider in the world but if you can't get the idea across then it's not teaching you anything...
 
Second one for me...
I go for instructors who have been there and done it, they may not have qualifications, but a piece of paper means nothing against experience to me.
 
Yes I would always go for number two as well, but just wondered what others thoughts were. My own instructor has absolutely no qualifications whatsoever, but has turned my riding around and in turn has created a wonderful horse for me.......but I know of some people who won't use an instructor who isn't qualified.....
 
My daughters instructor isnt BHS qualified but she rides competetively herself and seems to have a great rapport with my girl. She gives her confidence and knows just how far to push her without ever overfacing her. She has become a good friend and we trust her. We did consider whether a 'qualified' instructor would be better but couldn't find one we liked as much so no contest really.
 
I'm a competent and tidy, def not sack of spuds rider! but I'm not capable of riding at a high level any more, I would struggle like hell given a GP horse or sharp SJer. I am however a pretty good instructor, I have previously ridden to a decent level and I have a pretty good eye. I also know my limitations! I am fab at nervous novices, young horses, and taking people from being passengers to riders. I get the most from people who have bought their first horse and want to learn to ride it properly! I love it! And that must show!

I actually dont teach properly anymore, and when I did I taught appropriately. I could have been useful to someone competing at medium as an eye on the ground etc, but that would be about it, but I'm bloody good at someone working at prelim hoping to go on, etc

It depends on your level and their teaching skills. Being a fantastic rider doesnt always equate to being a fantastic instructor!
 
Dexter said:
I'm a competent and tidy, def not sack of spuds rider! but I'm not capable of riding at a high level any more, I would struggle like hell given a GP horse or sharp SJer. I am however a pretty good instructor, I have previously ridden to a decent level and I have a pretty good eye. I also know my limitations! I am fab at nervous novices, young horses, and taking people from being passengers to riders. I get the most from people who have bought their first horse and want to learn to ride it properly! I love it! And that must show!

I actually dont teach properly anymore, and when I did I taught appropriately. I could have been useful to someone competing at medium as an eye on the ground etc, but that would be about it, but I'm bloody good at someone working at prelim hoping to go on, etc

It depends on your level and their teaching skills. Being a fantastic rider doesnt always equate to being a fantastic instructor!
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That's a really good point well made. The difference is that you are saying you know your audience well and you know what you and the rider want to achieve.
It's a bit similar to me teaching piano part-time. I am a very good pianist - passed grade 8 at age of 15, however I would never be good enough to be a concert pianist and have never taken my teaching qualification, and I know that I wouldn't really be capable of taking anyone past grade 5. But I can get the children to understand me, and they all enjoy their lessons and keep coming back (apart from the little sods I got rid of because they were obnoxious!)
 
Pffttt....for me it would be instructor numero deux. If somebody talks the talk but can't walk the walk....what kind of instructor are they? How will they advise your riding? How will they develop your skills?....If they have none of their own? A poor competition record demonstrates their lack of ability to interpret their certificates into riding skill.....

Agreeing with Dexter here that being able to ride and being able to teach can be separated - I find it easier to decipher what is wrong when I'm on a horse and auto attempt to correct it; whereas I find it difficult to advise someone on what feeling/movement they should be experiencing and trying to get when I'm on the ground.

But, you're looking for someone to teach you, who has knowledge, not a set of certificates. Horse riding is about experience and knowledge - not intellect. xoxo
 
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No 2, personally, if I ever needed the instructor to get on and aid in sorting a problem etc, you'd never trust the first one if you didn't rate their riding ability!
 
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