Choosing a riding school

[alleycat]

I am currently shopping for a riding school. Does anybody have any advice on specific things I should look for? For instance, is a school with an indoor arena vastly preferable to one without? Some schools only offer private lessons, others only group, and some do 30 or 40 minute classes while others are an hour long. Right now my mind is spinning, and I'm sure there are other things I should be thinking of that I'm just completely ignorant of! Can anyone help?

[Showjumper]

Look for one where the horses are clean and happy and alert, the staff are friendly and helpful, and of course, it must fit your budget. Don't worry too much about material things like indoor and outdoor schools - as long as it has a school that's fine.

Have a look around, see how tidy the yard is, how many safety precautions there are, observe a few lessons, and generally get a feel for the place. If you like it, go for it.

Good Luck and Happy Landings! :D

[belle]

Look for a school that is approved by the BHS or ABRS. Go to the riding school section of this site, and all the schools there should be approved, and there should be some in your area.

First impressions count when you go, the yard should be tidy because of health and safety and the people should be friendly and helpful. If you dont like the first one you go to, try another. Dont stick with one you dont like.

As long as the school has a school, it shouldnt matter whether it is indoor or outdoor, but lessons in outdoor shools may be cancelled in bad weather.:)

[alleycat]

Thank you both for your replies, I suppose I am getting a bit overstressed at this point. ;) I don't know what the Aussie equivalent of the BHS would be, but I have managed to find 2 schools which are reasonably nearby, and which I can afford. (Barely! The average cost of lessons seems very high!) Now I guess all that's left is to go out there and try them out - I can't wait!

alex

[Moonlightrider]

The usual - happy horses and ponies, a neat and clean barn, etc, friendly atmosphere... I like indoors, but I haven't found any jumping barns with them in the area.

Length of lessons - sometimes, it's better to ride for 30 minutes on a fresher horse then for an hour, and wear out your horse. My lessons are half an hour at one barn and an hour at another. Find a nice place first. Length isn't as important, although for jumping, lessons are usually longer.

Talk to some people besides the staff. If you don't like a place, it will show. My friends and I constantly show around new people, teach them to groom and tack, and get them mounted if we're booked up. I've ridden in several places I didn't didn't think gave the horses proper care, and you know what? Most of the time, the people I talked to didn't come back.

[Wally]

It doesn't matter a tinker's cuss whether it is approved, has indoor or out door facilities, whether the lessons are half an hour or an hour long. If you feel the staff there take your safety and you seriously then go to the stable that suits you.

If you are a fairly easy going person the last thing you want is a stiff, tight laced school that insist on dress code. Try out a few and go where the instructors are human, friendly and the horses don't dump their riders.

[alleycat]

:p Thanks guys! Simple advice, but very sound. I feel much better. Will let you know how I get on.

[liz--y]

i agree with wally.

there are alot of bad approved ridings schools out there, you need a instucters that you willlearn with and wont be afriad to ask qustions

[KarinUS]

I was looking for one with an indoor arena, because I had a hard time at first when it was raining a lot this winter.
Here in Texas rain means lesson is being cancelled! It was just too frustrating to always get that call that meant no lessons.
Of course you want to go to a place where they take good care of their horses and it's reasonably safe.
I also find it important to have an instructor with a nice personality. With my first instructor I always felt I should apologize for being that old, slow, timid etc.
With my new one I feel like I can learn so much at my own pace and I am doing great!
If you have two to choose from, why not take a lesson at each of them and decide based on what feeling you get from them?
... the funny part about the cost of lessons seems to be that at first you think you can barely afford one a week, but then you get addicted and beg your instructor to let you fill in for cancellations, preferably at least twice a week! :D

[fionahogg]

Don’t dismiss a school just because it isn't 'approved' by the BHS or ABRS. I've seen some afwul schools that were 'approved' and some excellent ones which weren't.

Fiona.