Do any riding schools give lessons on the lunge?

[fimonkey]

Hi All,

Have been v busy for a while, but back to riding my happy hack again. Thing is, I really want to improve my balance and position, but can't find a riding school that can help. (I'm in Bournemouth Dorset).

The pony I ride doesn't bend v. well (she takes corners like a motorbike) and although I can work with her in terms of lunging etc, I also need someone to work with me! -It's not at all possible for me to take lesons ON her, (as she's still quite green, a wee bit unpredictable, and no schooling facilities) so I've been looking for a good riding school nearby, HOWEVER Despite friends saying I could do with lessons on the lunge (whereby the instructor controls the horse so I can concentrate on my own stuff) I cannot for the life of me find a school that is willing to do this! .. Why not? Are there issues with this that i'm not aware of, or is it that riding school horses tend to be 'nags' that plod along and don't work well on the lunge? - or any other reason?

With my happy hack I trot and canter without stirrups when we're out, but I cannot concentrate on my upper body when I do this (ha ha, as I need a hand free to grab the pommel when we go from canter to trot, and I need to hold her back sometimes in canter).

What would you guys suggest I do?

Thanks.

[acw295]

Never heard of that before - sounds odd to me. Obviously I'm not in the same area but at all the RS I've been to (and I've lived in quite a few parts of England) it is normal for new clients/beginners to have some time on the lunge. I returned to my current RS after a 6 year break and they insisted on a 1/2 hour lunge to assess me before allocating me to a lesson (which was v. good for me I might add :) )

We can also book private lessons and these can be lunge if requested, almost all of the horses and ponies lunge - some are a better bet for complete beginnersand others are 'easier' so are used more than others.

I'd keep looking if I was you :)

[teapot]

Any good riding school should have horses that are suitable for use on the lunge

Have you looked on the bhs website to find any of the approved schools in your area? Obviously just because they're approved, doesnt mean they are all brilliant but you may find some of the bigger yards will have a much better variety of horses.

[Trio]

hi- if you're willing to travel a bit then burley villa in bashley does lessons in a huge indoor school on the lunge. I used to have lessons there and the horses are fantastic for this- very easy going and relaxed!

[andreaB]

Any good riding school should have horses that are suitable for use on the lunge

i totally agree , however unfortuately there are plenty of not so good schools that don't have horses that are up to the job &/or indeed instructors

[fimonkey]

Cheers, will try Burley Villa, don't mind travelling a bit. Funny though in that teh 5 riding schools I called allsaid 'no' to lunge lessons so I then presumed that meant it was NO for ALL riding shcools!

Cheers all.

[*sam*]

i know this is a old post if you are still looking ranch house stables in osmington weymouth do lunge lessons i booked a private lesson and after seeing me ride she put me on the lunge as she could tell i would benifit from it. im surprised you couldnt find anywhere all the stables ive ridden at have done lunge lessons.