Instructors???

[silly mare]

I have found returning to the saddle after a long break relatively easy - less aches and pains than I anticipated, and it has all come flooding back to me and feels very natural in the saddle.

However, I would like to have some instruction to brush up on my aids and schooling. When I ring up riding schools, what sort of lessons should I be asking for? Is it best to explain my situation to them, and see what they come up with? Obviously loaning a horse is expensive, and I don't want to start paying too much for too many lessons. What do you think is a reasonable length of time to refresh my riding skills? Don't want to compete - just want to be able to school my mare effectively, as she has had a long period of being out of work and is very loathe to school!

[Rachel R]

You will need to decide if you want to have private or group tuition. Obviously groups are cheaper, but you should learn more in private lessons and be able to work on the things of your choice.

Have you considered waiting until your horse is fitter and then having lessons on her. It could be money better spent.

Just a thought,
Rachel

[Mossy]

This is probably a very silly question but why do you want lessons? I know you want to brush up your skills and school your mare, but I am inclined to agree with Rachel and say wait until you can ride her again.
Firstly it is money well spent as the instructor can teach you both.
Secondly and more importantly you have far greater influence over the way you are taught if it on your own horse. A school horse is schooled by whatever method the school adheres to which may, or more likely may not be Heather's methods. Either way it will have lots of different riders and the standardisation is based on the stables. If you find an instructor for you, and many will travel and work happily in a field, you are much more in control. You can discuss what you want initially and you can assess the reaction from both of you to the instructor when you meet. [My mare did not like my previous instructor one bit! She was right not to do so too.]
Sorry if that was garbled but I hope you can extract the sense of it

[Jo]

Well, I think you are right to book a few lessons and not necessarily on your horse, either. Have you thought of having a couple of lunge lessons on a school master to establish your position? Then maybe you can stretch to a couple of lessons on your own horse. You may be fine with no lessons but if things do go wrong for you it is good to have experienced support to rely on. Good luck!