Beginning Lessons--Dressage?

[Kris]

Hi everyone! I've just started riding and so far I've taken a couple of beginning English lessons. I would like to eventually progress into dressage. Would it be better to start off with a dressage instructor even though I'm just a beginner? I hear that dressage lessons are much more expensive because the instructor comments on every single movement of your body. Is starting off with more expensive dressage-specific lessons recommended so that I start with a good foundation, or would regular English lessons be ok? When should I start training with a "real dressage" instructor?
Thanks!!

[liz--y]

i think its ok to start off with a normal instructer, they will prob teach you then same stuff a the begainning i dont really know

[JumperGirl]

I started with a dressage instructor, but only because the other instructor had just had surgery. At the beginning it's probably just about the same thing, when you get farther along, it changes. Like when you are learning jumping, you have shorter stirrups. The one difference theree might be is they teach you a slightly different position in jumping compared to dressage, it's a little more forward position.

If you decide to go to a dressage instructor when you have a good foundation for learning, go ahead!!!!!

Personally I dant think there would be much of a difference, only position i think.

Hope my message makes sense!!!! :)

[liz--y]

you wouldnt learn how to jump with a dressage instructer, the position should be the same as normal riding but with longer sturrips to make you sit deeper in the saddle

[KarinUS]

Honestly I think in the beginning there will be times when you are just happy to stay on and get the horse to do what you want. Sometimes it feels like there is so much to do and think of at the same time when you are taking beginner lessons.
A good instructor will worry about your "form" regardless and correct you when she feels you are ready.

Also a thing to consider is that a good Dressage instructor may not be a good Beginner instructor. :(
My instructor gets regular referrals from a polo instructor (our barn location is a Polo Center), because he doesn't want to deal with beginner stuff. He wants you to be able to ride when you go to him to take lessons.
Why not save your money now and take regular beginner lessons. Once you have become somewhat sufficient in controlling the horse, you can "specialize".

If you do it this way you also have a chance to try out different things. Once you have found some confidence in your riding and you are ready to specialize, your regular instructor can teach you the basics of a lot of different things (dressage, jumping, etc...).
:)Don't limit yourself to just one thing right from the start!

I had my heart set on western when I started taking lessons- haven't been in a western saddle in months! ;)
At some point my instructor gave me the chance to try out English and I've loved it right from the start. We are now starting to focus on jumping. But she also advised me, that jumpers benefit from some dressage training, so she will teach me a little bit of that, too. I am excited about jumping, but who knows: once I try it I may prefer flatwork (dressage)!

[Barkless]

When you are starting out, I don't think it really matters which discipline you choose, as the instructor will have to teach you the basics first before teaching the specialized stuff. Just pick the best instructor in your area who is patient and understanding with beginners, whatever the discipline. You can specialize after you've learned to stay balanced and in control at walk/trot/canter, and can apply the aids correctly.

The cost of dressage lessons (or any lessons, really) depends more on your location, the reputation of the instructor, the quality of the facility and the training of the horses. A private lesson at the farm down the road from me with a small-name eventer on regular horses costs a lot less than a lesson at a fancy dressage center in an expensive town with a world-class instructor and Grand Prix horses.

Kerry (who is looking into dressage lessons herself)

[kelsey]

I agree with Barkless! When I first started riding again as an adult, I went to a dressage instructor who, I now realize, was trying to teach me things way beyond my level. Like how to put the horse on the bit while I was bouncing all over the place (I shudder to think of it!) Probably in order to justify the price of the lessons! Then I switched to Western for awhile and recently have started dressage lessons again with another instructor. This instructor has told me more than once that she generally sees better seats in the Western riders that come to her because you have to learn to ride with less contact and more seat and legs.

Not that I am saying everyone should start Western, just that a really good instructor in any discipline will give you the foundation to build on, and not rush you to do things you can't do properly. Its easier to learn good habits from the start than to overcome bad habits once they are ingrained.

Good luck!!!

[belle]

I think that a normal instructor is best when you are first learning, as until you have been riding a while you dont know for certain that you will like dressage. also, dressage is only really accurate riding, which at a lower level can easily be taught by a normal instructor.

[floppy]

i think as you are new you might aswell stick with the instructor you have now....especailly if the lessons are cheaper....then when you are in command with the horse and your body and can sit canter and sitting trot well then i would start with the dressage lessons....thats my opinion anyway...as for jumping...you might want to try it oneday and maybe your current instructor, or dressage instructor will teach you ...
i have an instructor that teaches dressage, cross country and showjumping.

[JumperGirl]

I learned how to jump with a dressage instructor.
Position in dressage is a little diferent besides the longer stirrups. Like in jumping you are more forward, and in dressage, you are always back in the saddle.

[floppy]

just so you know that general riding-walk-trot-canter is the basics of dressage..and to jump you need the basics plus a good seat...the difference between dressgae and jumping is that with jumping you jump and have your stirrups a few holes shorter- the only time jumping position is used is when you are going over a fence...its kinda like when you go out on a gallop and perch yourself slightly out of the saddle and dressage you do gernal +fancy riding with longer stirrups..and also i belive..through my own experience....falling off a horse whilst jumping can be ALOT more painful than falling off doing dressage!:eek: