feeling frustrated

[scout4361]

I am an older rider who had never ridden before. I find that now that I have some balance, I really do love to ride. However, I don't always tack up my horse (more often than not I ride one that has already been in the previous lesson), so when it comes time for me to tack up on my own, I feel very nervous. I also seldom ride the same horse every time, so I'm not used to which girth or saddle is best for which horse. There are a couple of young girls here who I don't think realize how lucky they are to have had years of riding lessons - they tend to look down their nose at me which makes me even more uncomfortable and unsure of myself. However, my instructor is great. We get along really well and the other student in my class is wonderful too. However the owner of the stable is quite moody and sometimes verrry grumpy!! I sometimes think she'd rather I wasn't there!! The horses are very well schooled, but i think that it is somewhat unorganized at times with tack not properly labelled and not always put away where you expect it. Last week i went to put the bridle on and found out one of the pieces was put on inside out, so I had to try an undo it which wasn't easy in the freezing cold. I have been riding for about 6-7 months, once a week, but we miss alot of weeks due to weather extremes (both hot and cold). The stable is very close to my house and like I said the instructor is great, but I don't know if I should say something to the owner. Sometimes I have lessons with her if my instructor can't make it and she always makes me feel like an idiot, which I'm not!!! What is it like at other stables??? I don't know whether to try somewhere else out or not. It seems like everyone here is either very nice or very bitchy. Oh well. Just venting my frustrations, but I think I could learn alot better if I felt more comfortable and could concentrate on riding. Should i be able to demand the same horse for consistency? Then at least I would get to know what his tack looked like!!

[Peace]

Some barns will let you stay with the same horse, but lots (most in my experience) won't guarantee it. The larger barns will usually say it's just too difficult to schedule particular horses for certain riders. And even at smaller schools, sometimes a horse will need to be rested due to injury or illness.

But I sympathize with how frustrated you must be feeling. They certainly should have labelled hooks and stands for each horse's tack - how else are you supposed to know what goes with whom?

BTW, are the horses working two lessons in a row as a usual thing? I guess it depends on how strenuous the lessons are, but I'd be a little concerned about how much the horses are worked.

If I were you, I think I'd just go have a look around at some other barns. Maybe watch a lesson, and then hang around and get a feel for the place. If you find one that seems promising, you can just book one lesson to try it out. You might find somewhere that you don't have to put up with all that attitude!;) Or, if not, you haven't lost anything by looking.

I spent lots of time school-shopping before I finally found a place I wanted to stay!

[Jodie]

Just thought i'd comment hear as I have experience in riding schools as both a student and as staff there. If any of the the staff their are bitchy towards clients i would suggest looking around for another place because it is the staffs duty to be polite and encouraging thats the way it is where i work and the way it should be although with the exception being if the students dont wanna learn and/or refuse to listen (although this has always been children) then you will find staff getting less friendly simply coz horses are dangerous and they must listen for their saftey. Though i love to see people trying and wanting to learn and in that situation am more than happy to help with anything no matter how trival it maybe. Its up to the staff to put the clients at ease so they dont feel uncomfortable not knowing some thing after all they are their to learn no one starts riding and know exactly what to do particulary in a riding school situation where your only with horses once a week and as you said still only do limited stuff with horses including not always tacking up.

As far as riding the same horse you cant expect that it is way to hard to do in riding school some riding schools may do it i know the one i work at doesn't and when i'm selecting horses for riders i try as best i can to change their horses around on purpose simply coz if riders start riding one horse then get attached to that horse when they are capable of riding a harder horse they dont want to and the riding school could need that horse for other begginers who need that horse again we have mostly children so things like that dont mean much to them where as the adults are more than understanding if you explain this sort of stuff to them so you could ask if its possible but demand no such a good idea coz that will turn the staff bitchy least i know it would where i am. besides its really good to ride different horses getting to know just one horse isn't good you dont really learn if you know what i mean.

and as far as twisted parts on bridle not nesercarrily their fault if you got a group lesson all untacking together some students undo extra parts and do them up wrong instead of waiting for the staff member to finish helping someone else to help them.

But yeh bitchy staff for no reason is a no go at least where i work

some may disagree just my opinon

[mikka]

Hello Scout4361, I think your experience isn't that foreign. From what I've seen of various yards/stables, your description isn't terribly uncommon. There's an odd culture of rudeness that permeates this equine field. I can only speak to my own experiences, but there's a haughtiness abroad that seems to move down the hierarchy from owners to managers to fellow riders (and I'm not referring to money-snobs - just rider-snobs).

Strangely, this trend does seem to miss trainers...thanks for very small indulgences.

I often wonder about the likes of those silly kids who look down their noses at others. What is it about barn and riding protocol that turns them into stable Nazis (not meaning to use the term lightly)? It seems that the minute they smell hay, they elevate themselves by 20. Worse, though, is the nasty owner who, like Fawlty, would have a great life were it not for the clients.

To make it worse, in your case, is the mess up over saddles and tack. Were it not an outrageous thought, I'd assume we'd ridden at the same stable.

Move on.

As Wally on this site says, vote with your feet.

[AmIafriendorFoe]

The stable I take lessons at tack the horse up for you for the sake of time and safety as many young children ride there and I'm sure a short person wouldn't be happy tacking up a large throughbred. Although most people choose to untack their horses and put them away so they can blanket them. If I were you I would look around, there's no harm in that.

[scout4361]

Well, I've had a little bit of success by changing my riding lesson to a time before the other girls get there. That way I don't have to put up with their surly attitude. Also, the barn is nice and quiet, I have my choice of horses to ride and get to tack up each time on my own without the chaos and feeling like someone is looking down their nose at me if I forget how to do something. I already notice a difference and feel much more confident tacking up my horse (now that I've actually done it 2 X in a row!!) and am more relaxed in my lessons. As for the owner of the barn, I try not to take it to heart when she is rude and bitchy because she's like that with almost all the riders!!! Still, I don't think its appropriate. Afterall I am paying for the lessons and help out as much as possible (cleaning up after my horse etc) and as an adult I always listen and am never rude or condescending to anyone. I agree with the reply that said that there seems to be an attitude with equestrian people. The one girl really does act like a little Nazi!!!! I just don't tolerate rudeness well. Anyway at my last lesson I felt so much more comfortable, so I'll keep going for the time being. Thanks everyone for your support. No snobbish equestrians on this site!!!!