Witch instructor would you go for?

[Waikato Valuta]

Horse
17hh TB 6months of the track. Very basic education. Parelli level one.

Rider
17yo Been ridding for 4years. Had 3horses. Good seat and hands(or so I have been told :( )

Ambition
To go to low level dressage comps. And work my way up as high as I can got hopfuly at least medium(I'd love to go higher though).

Instructor 1
Grand prix rider. About 40yo. Want me to start teaching horse to go on the bit but most of the lesson is long and low and relaxing. Asks me to trot faster that normal to because she thinks he will learn to balance himself better that way and do a slower trot later down the track. When asking on the bit. I am told to wiggle the bit gently and push a little more with my legs. and to relax when he comes down. She encorages a very long low frame. She gets me to do a little leg yeild on the circle.

Instructor 2
Advanced rider. 24yo. Thinks that going straight for a few months is the best thing for him. Dose not want me getting him on the bit so he often has his head heald very high. No contact with mouth. Working on walk and trot. She wants the trot slow. She gets me to do a little leg yeild on a straight line.

I dont know who to go with. They both seem very good. What do you think of them from the discription I gave you. any opinion you have would be apreciated.

[Rakeli]

I'm not sure if I would choose either of them! They both have some good ideas, but there are some I'm not sure about...

Instructor 1
- Trotting faster WON'T help balance!
- Long and low - I'm not sure I'd do this for the whole lesson and only when done correctly

Instructor 2
- 'Going straight' you mean no circles, bends or turns? For a few months?
- It dosn't matter about not going on the bit yet, he won't be properly ready to do that. But no contact at all will not help the situation, and a high head carriage will make it harder for him to go in an outline when required, as he will have built up the wrong muscles.

HOWEVER, use your gut feeling. I've never seen you or your horse, they may have perfectly good reasons for doing these things (eg if the horse is backward thinking). I hope you end up with the one whose best for you and your horse, so good luck!

[Tootsie4U]

I personally would go with #1. Reason:

What instructor #1 is asking is for you and the horse to WORK. By trotting faster, I think she means to have him engage his hind end and not just plod around aimlessly. Think of it this way: If you learn it the right way straight off the bat, it will be easier for him and YOU farther down the road, when your asking for a collected trot/canter - whatever. I feel that she wants to teach you both to get your motor going and how to do it right, rather than *pardon my expression* doing it half-assed. If he is off the track he shouldnt really have a problem with stamina, does he?

This training isnt for everyone, but you say you want to compete. Instructor #2 turned me off because my motto is you'll never get anywhere if you dont push yourself. If your goal was to hack and do pleasure riding, I'd say dont bother with the whys and hows that instructor 1 will teach you. If you are serious, I'd go with #1

I share this problem with you in that I began my life riding with instructor #2. She really messed me up in that all I learned from her was to be conservative, dont push yourself, take it slow and easy. Now, that I love riding and am serious about it, my new instructor (#1) had to reteach practically everything.

[cvb]

Are either of them explaining any of the "Why" behind their approach ? They should be teaching you as well as the horse so you need to have an idea of what you are aiming for rather than just pushing the buttons as and when they say. They should be giving feedback all the way.

I would also want them to be discussing goals and progress - do either of them do this ?

Instr 1: the 'fast' trot could be trying to get the hindquarters more active and engaged. Does she tell you when it is 'good' and when it is simply rushed ? Then later when the horse is warmed up and supple, you can slow the trot but keep it engaged. So there is some possible sense to this. This instructor seems to be results orientated, and is possibly less concerned about the 'How'.

Instr 2: does not seem to be aiming at doing any dressage tests in the short term if you are not working on all 3 gaits. Is she clear how soon you want to be competing ? I quite like a 'get the basics right first' approach myself - far too often we rush on too quickly. But if you are not getting anyway, this phase could last for ever ! This instructor seems to be more concerned about the process, about going about it the right way, than about actually acheiving anything or getting anyway.

I know I am making blanket statements about people I don't know - and I have been deliberately extreme to differentiate between them. I'm sure neither of them are this extreme - but it might help you make a decision ?

[Tootsie4U]

cvb- we should combine our brains ;)

[Tootsie4U]

Not saying that Instructor #2 is teaching "bad stuff" but like I said do it right the first time:

This is a quote from cvb off of Debutante's "When to begin dressage training" thread: it applies to my theory:

"If you think about it, why teach a rider to ride 'badly' first and then teach them the right way ? Why not teach the correct way to ride a corner, the feel of a balanced horse, of a soft contact etc as soon as possible ?!" -cvb


BINGO!