How to choose the best riding school?

[Kezzabelle]

Hi all! I will try to make this short... I joined NR a few years back when I was activley riding. Since then I havent sat on a horse since! I have a few confidence issues, dont where they have come from but I now have morbid fear off falling off and seriously injuring myself. I also worry about my size, im 5ft6 size 18/20 im worried I will be frowned apon for riding though i have been reading all the rider/horse size posts and although in the minority, there are a few of us larger riders out there! ;)

Since moving house I am closer to a handfull of riding schools in the same area but im not sure which one to choose, I have phoned a few to ask if they can take my weight and about lesson prices but Im not sure what questions I should be asking to get an idea of the standard of the riding school. One school said they would have to see me but I dont want to turn up to have them look at me and turn me away with disgust :( What would you suggest?

Any suggestions appriciated :)

thanks Kez xx

[raingodz]

I decided in May 2005 that I wanted to start riding again so I phoned and e-mailed a few riding schools, I was put on the waiting list at three and the one I ended up at was able to accept me in September, so the choice was just the first one with a space to take me :rolleyes: But I am very happy there.

It seems that in Sheffield there is a shortage of riding school places for adult beginners who can only ride at weekends :(

If I was looking again now, I would ask on NR for recomendations since I think a personal recomendation can go a long way - especialy as I don't like shoutie instructors :eek:

[Trewsers]

I don't think for a minute they will turn away in disgust when they see you:mad: :eek: And if they do - well, we all know what we think of people like that don't we???!:mad: I would go and have a look around them - you'll get a "feel" of whether its a nice place or not. It just clicked for OH and me right away when we started having lessons (we liked it so much we're now keeping our own horses there on livery:D ) Try not to worry too much bout falling off - I had a fear of it - and it rather spoiled a few of my lessons until I actually did fall off and lived to tell the tale!:p :D You'll be fine - with the right teacher - it took me ages to build my confidence - but now, well, there's no stopping me and my mare.........!!!:D :D Good luck and keep us posted.:)

[Purple Hugs]

Depends on the size of the schools, I only had a choice of two, and intially went with the lower cost, due to it being a much smaller school (only 2 horses, and 4 ponies) I found them very restrictive as I only 'liked' one of the horses. :rolleyes:

So I bit the bullet and changed schools - this one has a menage about 4 times the size of my old one, under cover - as well as outside paddocks set up for jumps etc. Has a variety of horses for me - I'm a 16-18 - I've riden 5 different horses since starting there, and am about to ride another one on Thursday. They started me off small and i'm going up the chain so to speak! ;)

I had lost a bit of my confidence before I started at the new school but it's back and I'm loving it.

I'd go along, see how you like the look of the school (i'd go for an all weather menage too...) and see how the people are - if they are friendly, give it a go! You can always change schools! :p

Good luck! Don't forget to let us know how you are getting on! ;)

[ajhainey]

Everyone has always been polite to me kezzabelle and I am at least as big as you - thats not to say I've never been turned down, but I've never felt insulted by them doing so! Some places just don't have the horses.

In my experience don't talk weight on the phone (unless they ask), ask if you can come by and meet them/see the place/watch a lesson. If your weight is a problem they can say then - try prompting the discussion by asking who you would be able to ride?

The 'go see' is also the best way of judging a school so happily solves both yuor problems :-)

aj xx

[Wobblydeb]

I don't think you can really tell over the phone, whether a school is good quality or not. It is a good way of establishing their weight limit though, so you don't waste time. I'm not sure why somewhere needs to see you - X stone is X stone whether it belongs to a body builder or a belly dancer. Neither one is necessarily less balanced than the other. Have to admit I'd be a bit wary of that school, myself :rolleyes: as it suggests they believe they can tell someone's fitness and riding ability from a visual inspection....

As raingodz said, asking for recommendations is a good start. In the absence of recommendations, try to visit the school and watch lessons in progress. That way you also get a feel for the types of horses they have, how well kept they are, and what the people are like to deal with :)

When I was looking a while ago, I just turned up at a couple of places to "book a first lesson". If I hadn't liked the look of the yard or been dealt with unprofessionally, I would have just walked away and not bothered. I turned up early for my first lesson to watch the previous class in progress, and also used my lesson to see if I liked the teacher. IMO a good sign is them insisting on a private lesson as your first, to establish what standard you already ride at - even if you then go into group classes.

I tried those couple of places, and picked the one I preferred. In all honesty, both were good, and now I've got more funds I've actually returned to the second and take lessons at both! :p

[Harvey99]

When I returned to riding after injury I wanted to take lessons somewhere and did a lot of phoning round. Most of the time I could discount places puring on the way they dealt with me. And so many of them clearly didn't listen to a word I said. The place I chose in the end, listened to what i said, made no judgment or promises and what swayed it for me was that the YO said "look, the best thing for you to do is come a and have a look around the yard, anytime you like - I'll be there from xhrs to x hrs everyday - and see what you think of the place. Come and watch a lesson or two and then you can decide how you feel".
Basically that sold it to me. I liked the attitude. And, not surprisingly when I turned up at the yard, i liked what I saw, like the lesson style and had plenty of opportunity to discuss what I wanted, my previous level of riding etc.

I had to phone a lot of place before I found the right one though.

[Kezzabelle]

Wow! thanks for the replies! I will deffinitley take all your advice, It would be ideal to see the places before I take the plunge. So do you reckon its ok just to turn up and have a look around or would you phone and ask?

If anyone is in the Paisley/Renfrewshire and has experience of any schools that way please let me know!

When I visit the riding schools, is there anything that I should be weary of or things I should look out for?

Thank you for all your quick replies, its helped me out loads! :D

Kez xx

[Wobblydeb]

Wow! thanks for the replies! I will deffinitley take all your advice, It would be ideal to see the places before I take the plunge. So do you reckon its ok just to turn up and have a look around or would you phone and ask?

If anyone is in the Paisley/Renfrewshire and has experience of any schools that way please let me know!

When I visit the riding schools, is there anything that I should be weary of or things I should look out for?

Thank you for all your quick replies, its helped me out loads! :D

Kez xx I've done both - phoned small private yard, because they didn't advertise opening hours, and also walked into large busy yard with tackshop (knowing there would be someone available).

When visiting I would look out for:

Friendly and helpful staff
Well kept horses
Facilities that you need - e.g. floodlit school
Qualifications (of instructors, such as BHSI) or approvals (of school, such as ABRS or BHS)


If you watch a lesson, look for:

Positive, constructive teaching style
Attention to safety of all pupils
Tack in good condition
Everybody being watched, and taught (some teachers can ignore the more competent members, which is frustrating)
Group lessons having pupils at similar levels of ability, and how they cope with any differences in ability (e.g. One pupil canters circles, another does a circuit, another might just practice working trot).
A willingness to invite, and answer, questions
Horses that appear to be of a standard appropriate to you


I'm sure there's lots more, but the one thing I would encourage you to do is visit more than one school if possible. Lots of people on NR seem to have spent months (if not years) at a school, to finally get sick and look somewhere else just to realise there was a much better option in the area all along. I've done it myself! :o

[ajhainey]

I'm not sure why somewhere needs to see you - X stone is X stone whether it belongs to a body builder or a belly dancer. Neither one is necessarily less balanced than the other. Have to admit I'd be a bit wary of that school, myself :rolleyes: as it suggests they believe they can tell someone's fitness and riding ability from a visual inspection....

I know, I know, but the problem I find is that lots of places don't actually have a weight limit or if they do it's lower than it needs to be (as they can't handle many bigger riders as they have only one or two big horses, but CAN take one or two once a week) so it's not that hard and fast, or maybe depends on riding level. If you only weight 7 or 8st, 15 st sounds absolutely massive and on the phone you'll often get turned down flat (many school have a 'formal' weight limit of around 12/13st IME) in person there is often some 'wiggle room' to arrange a private lesson, or short lessons or to only ride a particular horse, but all this is far more easily accomplished once you have a foot in the door so to speak. I know it sounds underhand but without such tactics I'm not sure anyone big would ever get riding in the first place!

The other approach is to go for a very big school as these have a wider variety of horses and thus usually a higher weight limit.

aj xx

[Kezzabelle]

Thanks wobblywed! I didnt realise that there were other instructors qualifications other that BHS. I will try to visit as many schools as I can.

In my experience the thing that I find off putting is the stereotypical yard owner/manager (which i have come across a few times in schools and livery) - very abrupt, no nonsense talking and snobish. If you want to have a chat or ask him/her some questions they can give the impression that your wasting their time and make you feel a bit inferior (sp?). Dont know if anyone else has had that experience? It makes me mad when I consider the fact im paying them my hard earned cash to help run their business!!

I just want to find a nice friendly school with nice friendly people and nice friendly horses lol :)

Kez xx

[Wobblydeb]

The ABRS is actual Association of British Riding Schools, so a school approval rather than an instructors. Someone else would be better placed to tell you about instructor qualifications - I don't know much :o

I know EXACTLY what you mean about the no-nonsense don't waste my time type people. Heck, I've even paid my money to someone like that before - until I finally got sick of the attitude and went elsewhere. Everything else about the school was good, so it is a shame her customer service skills were appalling :(

That's why I suggested looking at a few schools - until I looked again, I never realised there was one nearly as close with the nice friendly people and nice friendly horses that we all appreciate :D (And they actually accommodate up to 16 stone, so schools like this DO exist. Just got to hunt them out :p )

[eml]

Just to add the yard owners view. It is a sad thing to say but in these days of walk in tack thefts etc you are not necessarily going to get an open arms welcome if you just turn up.

I usually ask callers to visit and watch a lesson. We have a firm rule that people are not allowed to wander round the yard, both from security and health and safety points of view but will take any genuine potential customers on a tour of facilities.

I hate to say it but when places are limited the owner/instructor tends to choose those they think they are most going to enjoy /progress with. I tend not to have a stated weight limit but because I have limited weight carriers particularly for novices I tend to pick those that I feel will progress most quickly onto our more advanced horses.

[ajhainey]

I hate to say it but when places are limited the owner/instructor tends to choose those they think they are most going to enjoy /progress with. I tend not to have a stated weight limit but because I have limited weight carriers particularly for novices I tend to pick those that I feel will progress most quickly onto our more advanced horses.

I think thats the other side of what I mean - If I just ring you and the first thing I ask is about weigh it's easy to just say no - heavier folks are a pain as you need to pay more attention to scheduling and it can mean their being only one or two hroses to choose from. However if I turn up full of enthusiasm, asking about helping out at weekends and how I used to ride a lot and really want to get back into it, and incidentally are you sure you have a horse or two to carry me - you are much more likely to say yes!

aj xx

[Kezzabelle]

So basically I have to try and win them over? :confused:

Kez xx

[wanabe]

What weight does a size 18-20 work out to?

[Kezzabelle]

quite bloomin heavy!! :( :eek: size 18-20 is my uk dress size

Kez x

[Purple Hugs]

What weight does a size 18-20 work out to?
depends on the height of the person, but i'm a 16-20 depending where i shop, and am 14.5 stones :o
There are plenty of horses that handle my weight at my school though and not all huge. :cool:

[ajhainey]

In my experience riding schools (good ones) are oversubscribed so getting into a lesson at the time you want, with the instructor you want and ther horse you want does involve a fair amount of winning people over :-)

Wanabe - depends on height(and clothes brand!) but I would say 200lb ish for an average height woman (5'4" to 5'7"?). With say 15lbs variation in it?

aj xx

[shirley]

I am a size 18 dress size and only 5 foot tall. I have an 14.2 irish cob and has a good deal of bone - which is measured around the canon bone on the front legs. It is the amount of bone on a horse and type that determines how much they can carry. My boy carries me and has not problems. We also have a cross highland. Full highlands can carry a mature stag of up to 17 stones across the Highlands of Scotland.
What you will find is that good riding schools will have a wide variety of horses to choose from and amoungst them some really good weight carrying cobs.
So keep on going and do not give up. Acknowledging your problem and doing something about is takes a lot of courage to do.
You will also need to start thinking about jodphurs as well, but beleive me there are ones out there for us larger ladies!!!
Good luck

[raingodz]

I am not sure if any one elso has found this, but I have often found that ridingschools that run RDA classes always seem very nice places to ride - nice facilities, nice staff, nice horses etc.

[Crazy Mare]

When I moved house I tried out a couple of different yards within a short distance of where I live.

I've settled on a small yard with only a small outdoor school but I just liked the feel of it. The horses seem happy and well cared for and there is plenty of turn out.

Oh, and my instructor is great! I feel that my riding is progressing so much more, even though my old school was a big yard with lots of facilities :D

I don't know if I might need to change when I want to progress into more advanced activities though.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I agree with everyone else. Try to arrange to visit a couple of yards and perhaps even have a lesson at them. Don't feel obliged to stay with the first yard that you ride at if it doesn't feel right for you.

Anyway, all the best with your search. And don't worry about your size, there are many larger ladies that ride out there.

Good luck :) :) XXxx

[smudge]

Having recently looked around most of the riding schools in my area for my 2 girls, I found that watching lessons tells you quite a lot about the school itself and in my case the other factor was price. Having to dish out for 2 expensive lessons a week really adds up (especially when saving for my own horse) so I made some compromises. RS they are at has good horses, good facilities, great instructors, not too expensive. Downside huge livery where everyone looks down at you as a RS client and lots of kids hanging around on a weekend dragging the poor poinies from pillar to post.

You do need to phone and ask if you can go and view a lesson, when would be the best time etc, take it from there. One point if you are planning riding at the weekend I would view at the weekend, some places take on a different feel when they are really busy and stressed.

Liz

[Kezzabelle]

great advice people, I will get on the phone and ask about coming up to do a nosey :D

[rhyme123]

Aww hun, dont worry about your size, I know loads of people sixe 18-20 that ride :)

And where schools are concerned, pick one thats got nice stables, healthy looking horses and friendly people. Good luck!

xx

[joey_olop]

For me the people and staff make a good riding school-as does the quality of the horses.

You could go on personal recommendation too. I would have a ride at all of them and see what you think. If you cant do that visit a few of them, Im sure they wont mind you looking around.

Good Luck.

[Marmite]

Go somewhere where you feel happy. Anywhere that makes you feel uncomfortable is no good as you'll never relax into riding, which means it wont be much fun, which is what its all about.

Been at my RS for 8 years now, dedication for ya :p Couldn't move now, too attatched to the horses.

When you're looking, just look for happy horses, happy riders, and friendly instructors. Some RS have the biggest stables, the best facilitys, the "best" cared for horses, but if you look, the horses aren't happy due to little personal relations between them and the owners of the yard, and the people can be utter snobs with no customer relation skills.

Just because they have the "best" of everything, doesnt mean they are the best place to look at. Personal experience, can you tell? :rolleyes: Went into a bit of a rant there lol, sorry.

But then, you get places with the best of everything that are totally brill, happy horses and riders too, didn't mean to put you off places like that. Oops.:o

[teapot]

tidiest of the muckheap - a well kept muckheap normally shows a well run yard.

friendliness of staff
content horses
the "feel" of the place - been at my RS 6 years
facilities for both ridden & non-ridden activities

[worldtravel]

I would ask around if know any body that ride find where go and ask what like and *** like place at . it like that thing if had good exparnce tell 5 other people bad tell 12 people on bad exparance or how ever that goes think number mix up and check place out