Private Lesson?

[amylou_84]

Im thinking of taking a private lesson, instead of a group one but they cost twice as much as group lessons so my mum says i can either have my usual group lesson a week, or skip two group lesson and have a private lesson instead.
Are they worth it? Will i be able to decide exactly what i want to do. Iv never had a private lesson and feel a little daunted at the fact its all focused on me :) At least in group lessons i can fade away if i feel a little stupid at making a mistake. Il only be able to have one private and 2 more group lessons or 4 group lessons before i have to stop riding for a while, so itl have to be worth doing. It may be a waste of time.

Amy :D

[Bay Mare]

Why not try one and see?

I prefer private lessons because I feel that I learn a lot more in them AND I can work on something that we probably wouldn't do in a group lesson. I DO also like group lessons as it's nice to ride with other people but I don't feel like I progress as much doing just groups. Unfortunately the places that I ride at prefer to put you in group lessons (group lessons = more £) so it's quite difficult to get a private :(

If you've only got a short time left why not just get in riding time (unless you're really hacked off with the groups) and look into having a private lesson when you get back?

[lady ridealot]

I usually have group lessons, but ideally (money permitting!) i would have one individual a month to learn or work on something specific, Eg, no stirrups work, leg yeilds or jumping position etc etc... And then put the things i learn in the individual into practice in a group lesson, for the next three weeks before having another individual! So perhaps in your case you could have one individual this month and two group lessons?!

[amylou_84]

Well it looks like in the next 4 weeks to come il only have a private lesson, a hack and a group lesson. My sister is coming over and she used to ride. She doesnt want to go on a lesson but preferes a laid back hack :rolleyes: Im sure itl make a change. I think im definatly going for a private lesson. Itl be very strange to have the instructors full attention :rolleyes:
I dont want to jump in the private lesson. That s what makes me nervous and ruins the whole lesson. Can you suggest any flat work activities to do? Il probably work on my canter a bit. I am determined to plan this private lesson to do things I want to do. Instead of the usual routine :)

Amy :D

[Bay Mare]

Hi

If you're more interested in dressage why not ask to do some lateral work and some extension/collection?

Maybe you could work on a dressage test too?

Have fun :)

[kedwards]

I would explain your situation to your instructor (that you have limited lessons left, and want to get the most out of them). Identify a goal (it could be just having fun and learning something new, it could be improving your seat, etc.), and then let her plan a lesson or two that can help you accomplish that.

Best of luck! If you find yourself "hiding" during the group lessons to avoid scrutiny, you'll probably find the private lesson much more intense, but much more helpful. After all, if the instructor can't see what you're doing wrong, she can't help you correct it.

[Nikita88]

When i rode a couple years ago, i took private lessons. now i take group lessons. i LOVE taking group lessons. I am not a risk taker at all! so when i was first learning to ride, my instructor asked me if i woud like to canter. i was to scared to. when i got to my group lessons (2 other people) i would see them do it and be like oh i can do it too! then i was scared to jump 2'6 untill one other girl did it (the other girl cant jump yet) so then since she did it, i thought i could do it too....and i did :). I learn alot by watching the 2 other girls, what they are doing right, what they are doing wrong. My instructor will have us watch them and explain what she is doing right and wrong then i can see it (im a visual learner) and instead of having someone explain it to me...i can see it so that way i understand it better and know what she is asking next time she asks me to do it. I would suggest staying in group lessons...private lessons you can have the attention all the time, but you learn more in group.

xoxo
*Jen*

[pipkin]

from my experiance you do learn a lot more!! i think you should try them and if you don't like them go back to your group lessons!

[Frost]

Holy poopy I woludent take a private lesson.

1) They are expensive
2) In group lessons, you can make friends
3) BO-ring!

(not trying to be snooty, but blech!)

I have fun riding with my friends, and my sister. (plus, your trainer doesnt allways complain about you, she complains about other peeps too.:D ) DOnt u think that ** friends wolud miss u if u took lessos without them? My pals Ami, Ari, and Monica wolud.

[amylou_84]

Thanks guys :D Im definatly going ahead with my private lesson. Even if it means i wont be riding again now for 2 weeks :eek: Im looking forward to it really. I like to work hard at my lessons as its good exercise and i do really enjoy my flat work. Il definatly ask to try out some extened/collected canter and no doubt alot of w/o stirrup work, which i like.
Im sure my mates wont mind me not goin to group lessons. I dont know then that well and il be leaving them for 4 months anyway! :D
Oh what level do you all think i should be at to try out dressage moves.

Amy :D

[Bay Mare]

Originally posted by amylou_84
Oh what level do you all think i should be at to try out dressage moves.

Amy :D

I'd speak to your instructor but you can probably do leg yield, turn on the forehand and school 'figures' (serpentines, shallow loops etc) and maybe more.

Dressage moves are *only* flatwork anyway so it's all part of the progression.

Good luck and let us know how you get on :)

[*Horse*]

How much do private lessons cost????. I'm thinking of trying them because i'm really starting to dislike group lessons.

I'm wasting my money on group lessons because when i've finished i just feel like i don't want to go anymore and they're stopping me from enjoying my riding.:(

[*MiRi*]

hi there.

i take private lessons but when im only on holiday and then when im back at school i take group again.

Everything depends on what you are doing and how many people are in the group what standards people are at (obviously if your in intermideate (sp) everyone will be roughly the same but some might be ahead in jumping or waht ever).

I hate having busy lessons. it really puts me off. cos im scared one of the horses/ponies will go werid or something. Sometimes my group jumping lessons can be quite quiet other not. it depends.

In private lessons everything is focused on you. which is nice cos the instructor can pick up on things you are doing wrong and things you are doing right and if you make a fool of yourself no one is there to laugh and point.

In my opinion i prefer private lessons...yes they are a bit more expensive but the are worth it to me. I learn faster, as you are doing something the whole lesson not just at random points.

My private lessons are about £22 i think for 45 mins and £20 for half and hour. I think its that.....roughly anyway.

well hope ive helped a bit and apolgise for the long piece of writing.

xox

[Scarlett 001]

I am a fan of private lessons. I accomplish much more, enjoy the one-on-one with my instructor, and I consider it a good thing to be seen at all times by the instructor :) - I am paying enough money so want to get the most out of my lessons. I found that group lessons, while more social and fun if one wants that, just cannot lead to such quick results as can a private lesson.

What I do find helpful is showing up early and watching some of the private lesson that is going on before me. I learn loads by watching someone else's private lesson. This particular person has similar things she is working on, so it really helps to see what my mistakes look like and to see her work on improving things etc.

[*MiRi*]

scaret that is what exactly what i think!!

xox

[ilovebridget]

if you are in a private lesson you will not be able to fade away when you make a mistake. this is better because the instructor will help you correct your mistakes. i hope this helps :)

[*MiRi*]

i had a private lesson today and it went amazing!! there was another private lesson going on at the time but only one person in the whole school!! (and as it was pouring i thought everyone would come in side but then again there werent very many eople around!)

xox

[Thowra]

I'd have to go with a private lesson. The attention is all on you and yes that can be a little daunting but at least you'll learn more and you wont be distracted by Joe Bloggs who just made a mistake costing you a few minutes :eek: where you could have learnt something new and fun! :D

[*MiRi*]

no more private lessons for me!:( school is here again!

xox

[Demson]

Just think say you are paying £15-20 for a group lesson but there are 6 in the class then you are actually paying for 10 min of the instructors time.

With a private lesson you could pay anything from £20 to £35 per hour pending the instructor but you get their full attention.

A good instructor will know immediately what you need to work on and will structure your lessons accordingly. From reading your threads I would assume you are not that expericenced so in my opinion yo are not yet ready for collection or extension. These are difficult to achieve correctly and done badly can just confuse a horse.

You will find that with a private lesson you would only need one every 2-3 weeks anyway as you need time in between to practice what you have just learnt. If you do not have your own horse then i'd say just take a private lesson once a month and then decide if you want to carry on with a group lesson.

Personnally, though it is more expensive I prefer private as you learn so much more much quicker.

What about this way of thinking...


Takes 5 lessons to grasp something new in a group lesson
Takes 1 lesson to learn something new in a private lesson

5 lessons cost £75 - £100 approx
1 lesson cost £20 - £35

Putting it this way actually shows private is better and cheaper over a period of time in the form of the learning.


ALF

[SwiftwindSpirit]

Private lessons are GREAT! :) You will be able to fix up those mistakes that make you want to fade away. It may seem like it will be daunting with the instructor watching you every second, but it really isn't scary. I work much better in a private lessons, but as you said they are expensive, so I only have 1/2 hour private lessons now. It doesn't sound like very long, but I sure get a lot done in the time. Just go for it, and if you don't like it after a couple of lessons, just switch back to group. You'll never know what it's like until you try it.

I haven't been cantering for the past 2 lessons (because I've ridden 'new' horses those times so I want to adjust to them first), so I've been working on simple transitions eg: trot to halt, and halt to trot, serpentines in trot and different ways of changing the rein (eg: the teardrop outside the circle). There are plenty of things you can work on without cantering. A good one is sitting trot!

[flyindreams]

i had my first ever riding lesson yesterday, it was a group lesson, with about 10 people in ,i was being led, and although i got used to sitting on a horse while walking, also i started trotting(not very well as i bounced every where, bu the instructor did issue instructons to sit back and this helped i found i could trot around the arena, the person leading also helped) i found for bout 15 minutes i was sitting in a corner, my group lesson was good and i REALLY enjoyed it .

but i am thinking about having a private lesson so i can focus on sitting properly and the instructor can tell me exactly what to do rather than me sitting in the saddle badly but is it worth having a few more group lessons first? or to hav a private lesson to start with so that i'm learning straight away and not just for 10 minutes in a group lesson?

[SwiftwindSpirit]

Wow, 10 people in a group is quite a lot! I guess if you were all just being led that's ok. I think the most people I've been in a group with is 5 all together (including me), or it could have been 6. Private lessons really help you work on certain things you're having trouble with. By the way, trotting DOES get easier, trust me! I know sometimes you'll think "I'm never going to be able to do this", but you will! :)