Why are horsey people so rude?

Half pass in a riding school group lesson... Mmm the bull **** sensor on my phone has just gone off the scale. I'd love to see the riding school which keeps 6 horses capable of half pass, but I suspect it is a figment of someone's imagination. I am prepared to be proven wrong...
 
tescoexpress said:
Half pass in a riding school group lesson... Mmm the bull **** sensor on my phone has just gone off the scale. I'd love to see the riding school which keeps 6 horses capable of half pass, but I suspect it is a figment of someone's imagination. I am prepared to be proven wrong...
Click to expand...

The only other time I've seen the term 'demi-pirouette' in a post it was a troll post if I remember correctly.

OP, I'm sorry this has been your experience. I tried out quite a few riding schools when I started riding after a long break a few years ago, and all of them were very welcoming, without exception.
 
It's the little people who are worst! The higher up the levels you go the easier and nicer people tend to be because everyone has to work bloody hard and accepts that horses are great levellers.

There is far more bitching at 2'3 unaff than at affiliated.
 
I kept my horse at an agistment place and the lady that owned it was just plain rude - all thetime. I had a greenish horse and he could be naughty - but in the 6 months he was there we really made some good progress, she always was disparaging about anything she saw me do. The one comfort to me was at least my horse liked /likes me - hers did not like her at all. So must have been doing something right. ;)
 
Personally, I would be wary of the riding school that was more concerned with pupils attempting half pass than with actually being able to ride three correct and balanced paces.
OP, go find another riding school.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies, it's nice to hear that some of you have positive experiences - I will try not to feel too disheartened!
 
Quote Originally Posted by tescoexpress V
Half pass in a riding school group lesson... Mmm the bull **** sensor on my phone has just gone off the scale. I'd love to see the riding school which keeps 6 horses capable of half pass, but I suspect it is a figment of someone's imagination. I am prepared to be proven wrong...

JenJ said:
The only other time I've seen the term 'demi-pirouette' in a post it was a troll post if I remember correctly.

OP, I'm sorry this has been your experience. I tried out quite a few riding schools when I started riding after a long break a few years ago, and all of them were very welcoming, without exception.
Click to expand...

Before you hail me as a troll, I would like to say re the half-pass and demi pirrouettes that that was exactly my point - of course it was BS! Neither reider nor beast in that place was capable of either, they were trying to intimidate and belittle me beforehand. Of course in the lesson we barely did more than wander hopelessly around and canter to the back of the ride!
 
Wander hopelessly about " what a great description :) I had a group lesson once and that's probably a good description. Hated it and a waste of time and money.

How old were the other riders in the group ?
I've had similar thoughts to you re customer service awareness in the RS I go to. At one point I was having two lessons a week at £30 yet when I fell and broke collarbone ( THEIR horse tripped and dumped me) that I might have had a Get well card or the odd phone call to check on my recovery progress but not a squeak! Lucky for them I'm very in love with one of their horses and for a long time he was the only reason I stayed.
 
I too have encountered rudeness in riding schools, some of it shocking (an instructor once said to me 'oh, you're a student - too much brains and no effing common sense') and some of it just a bit baffling (is it really so difficult to say hello and goodbye?).

At the place I go to now they are actually very welcoming and there is a gang of nice little girls who always help me if I'm stuck trying to find the right box to return pony to etc, but I have been to places in the past where I went home and just cried after a lesson.
 
TrasaM - sorry to hear about your incident, this is just the sort of thing I meant! I wish I could toughen up and stay long enough to fall in love like you did :).

Sleighfarer - definitely have had my share of post-lesson tears too!

NZJenny said:
Riding school ..... half pass ...... demi pirouette ...... yeah right.
Click to expand...

Not sure how it works in NZ if you are based there, but I have lived in UK and throughout continental Europe and have found establishments that have many functions - competition yard/RS/show centre etc. When the competition horses retire from competition they are sometimes bought for the RS or taken on as working liveries if suitable. It is not unheard of for a RS rider to be able to receive a high standard of tuition on very capable horses, particularly in dressage.

Way beyond the scope of my abilities (and price range), but it exists nonetheless.
 
benji you are not the only one. I now keep my horse on a farm with only the lovely gentleman and two other lovely owners. All I know about the other owners is that they seem really nice and love their horses and take care of them. previous to this all I met on livery yards were a couple of very unhappy people who went out of their way to make sure no one else was happy.
If I was you I would shop around and try and find someone who isn t miserable to give your business too!
 
I agree! People at shows are so unfriendly I know where all competing against each other but for gods sake lighten up! also Ive never been happier than when I moved off a livery yard and got my own place, no bitches to deal with daily no one messing with your stuff or horse when your not there its heaven!
I do find though the biggest bitches are the wannabes a lot of instructors in my area event at a really high level and they are all so down to earth! Who ever you are though there's no need for it. I have a friend though who is very into dog showing and apparently that's worse than the horsey world nothing but bitching and backstabbing ive been told haha
 
I think you've been unlucky. I've met more incredibly lovely, friendly and helpful people than I have rude ones.

I've had complete strangers take me under their wing out hunting, people encouraging me and taking photos for me when I travel to shows alone, and had great banter and words of encouragement with others in lessons. Most instructors have been lovely too.

I have met a fair few snooty people too, and one or two nasty instructors, but I prefer to focus on the positive people I've met. I've also met a few amazing individuals involved in rescue and rehabilitation.
 
Gosh! This is something I really recognise. When my daughter wanted to start riding in Norfolk about 10 years ago I went to about 4 different riding schools and they were all incredibly rude and unwelcoming. (eg on our turning up 30 mins before the ride - announced in a very grumpy voice - 'you're early' and the one where we asked how old the pony was and they said very offhandly and turning their back 'I havent the foggiest'). I finally found the most marvellous place where I have been going for the last 10 years and it is my favourite place to be in the world. Most of their horses can do half pass and pirouette but all riders no matter what their experience or skill are treated like friends of the family. :) :)
 
its funny i was talking to a livery where i work about this subject today, when i worked on yards in england i was treated like s***, i would get really terrible riders with daddys bank boosting their egos, and then there would be the bully of the yard, don't get me wrong there were nice people aswell, but when i worked in england i was so happy that i have always had my own horses kept at home all my life, i never felt pressure of other people watching me ect... now i work in ireland and there is no bitchyness everyone is trying to help eachother, we'll hop on eachothers horses if someones having troubles, the yard out here is incredible, and i realized what it was it was the fact that we are too competitive with another yard down the road that we forget to have the hierarchy at the yard... i don't know if anyone else has this too?
 
I take it op you have never worked in an office full of men. They are bitchy, back stabbing and x times worse than horsey people. Your just saying horsey people cause that's the environment your around its like it everywhere.
 
Auslander said:
Oneupmanship, I feel. Its generally people who aren't very good at whatever it is they're doing, but think that by making a lot of noise, and doing down the 'competition', that they will appear godlike. I figure that's their problem. While they are focusing their attention on asserting their superiority, they aren't learning anything - their loss.
Click to expand...

This, without a doubt. I haven't been to a riding school since the lovely friendly one I learned and later worked at but there's something about horses; there are so many 'experts' who talk the talk, give it the large one and are always ready to look down.

Having said that, I've also met so many lovely people through horses; those that are now good friends but also those that help you out in the warm-up, give you a hand loading or just come up out of nowhere and say 'your horse is lovely' :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top