Finally...a worthwhile lesson

[HorseHappy]

I posted here a few weeks ago about my concerns re: lack of guidance during lesson. Only instruction : heels down, toes up and the instuctor who spends a lot of her time on her cell phone.

After doing a lot of reading about riding, I began to suspect that there was a lot of instruction I wasn't getting. I had a private lesson at a new barn today and all I can say is "WOW".

We spent most of the lesson on seat and balance. It makes a big difference!!! Then we started on a little posting (she led the horse so I didn't have to worry about steering.) She also had me use a lot of imagery to work on my balance and seat. I feel I learned more today than in the last 7 weeks of lessons at the other barn.

Funny...last week when I was posting my feet keep coming out of the stirrup and my legs were bouncing all around. All that instructor said was, 'maybe your pants are made of slippery material." When I told my new instructor she said that it was probably because of the way I'm sitting.

I think that the instructor at the first barn is a good rider herself and she cares very diligently for her horses but she is definitely lacking in training skills. A good instructor makes a BIG difference!

Thanks for the support.

[kedwards]

I'm so glad that you found someone who you clicked with and who really helped you. As you discovered, it takes more than riding ability to be able to be a good teacher. The ability to analyze problems, offer exercises and improvements, and trasmit all of that knowledge to a student are skills unto themselves.

[Wobblydeb]

:D Brilliant isn't it? :D

I had just the same revelation a few months ago when I found a new instructor (and I've been to some quite decent places). I've never been happier with my riding - and actually feel like I am improving for the first time in my life :)

[denise42]

Here , Here, to you !!
:D
I was stuck in a situation with an inferiour instructor for 2 yrs before I saw the light. So I am glad to hear that you got out of that situation much faster than I did.. I regret all the wasted time.
But have to not look back , and be happy that I did find out that I was getting jipped and moved on , and my riding is SO much better. That I have now convinced myself that I have only been truely lessoning for 1 year , and when some one asks me how long I have been lessoning thats what I tell them , as if the first 2 years never happened. :p

[Peace]

Congratulations. A good instructor is a true gem - hang on to her!:)

[Laetitia]

That's marvellous, you'll really get going now.
My instructer is very aware of our fitness levels - both mine and my horse - and gears our lesson accordingly. The result culminated with us coming first in our first ever baby dressage test with the comment that my mare was supple and free in her back. Can't ask for more really. So we progress on from there as soon as she becomes sound again. L

[MI Horsey]

Isn't it amazing how you can learn so much more in a lesson ? I switched Instructors and barns about a month ago and wow !!!!
I have gotten so much better within this one month . The time I spend at the other barn was a complete waste of money (well , not entirely . I did have fun there but even coming back from a long break I felt that I couldn't learn anything there I didn't already know . Turned out I was right :rolleyes: ) Now I am back to just walk and trot because my balance is still not were it should be .I love my Instructor !!!!! She even offered to let me work of some of the lessons .:) :D :) wich is great because they are costing me a fortune . The only downside is that this is a show barn and eventually I will be expected to do some shows .(starting with some schooling ones ) as I have never did that I'm not sure I want to:( But hey , I'll give it a shot .
I may learn something by doing that as well.

[Scarlett 001]

I do remember your thread.

Fantastic to hear you found a great instructor! I have been riding for 2 years now, and have been with my new dressage instructor for about 2-3 months. She is the absolute best and it has made all the difference in my riding!!! For proof of this, check out my new thread in my Training of the Rider section - thanks to her I finally have learned how to get the horse to frame up beautifully and engage the hindquarters properly. There is no substitute for a great instructor. This reply I am writing about her has just reminded me to make a note to myself to remember to buy her a nice Xmas gift this year to thank her - I will be on the lookout for some nice horsey item for her over the next few months.