2nd Riding lesson at riding school

[nicolaj]

Had a second lesson today at a proper riding school, with indoor school and everything! Bit of a novelty being indoors!

My own horse is now being turned away over the winter months to 'mature' like a fine wine! We shall get him professionally schooled in the spring. So to keep myself 'ticking' and to get over some of my confidence issues have started to have lessons at a local riding school.

Basically there isn't anything wrong with my position (although he didn't see me canter!:p ) did loads of trot work without stirrups, leg yield on circles and such like. The half hour was over far too quickly, and I don't ache!

But it just set me thinking how easily I could be lulled into a false sense of security riding a nice school master in the indoor school! What far cry from our bit of flat field with a school arena marked out, with people walking along the lane, heads bobbing along the top of the hedge, the odd dog getting under the gate.

Does it do me more harm than good, to continue with the lessons or just pack it in? Also there are no nice easy horses to ride at the yard either!

[Wobblydeb]

You must be insane! :D Lots of us long for lessons like that! :D

On a serious note, keeping your riding muscles in shape and having a pair of eyes on the ground to help you develop your riding are a good thing. However if you aren't developing then it does seem a waste of money on instruction. So....... could you ask your instructor to make things a little harder? Are they experienced enough to match your level of experience and stretch you?

Otherwise can you get the riding exercise (if not the pair of eyes on the ground) by getting a share, or exercising friend's horses? :)

[loopyh]

I had an hour lesson last week with a RI but on a livery horse (used for lessons occassionally) It was great to ride a horse who has been schooled properly and who responded to my legs. It was the best lesson I have had in ages and some things that had been troubling me were explained and I realised it wasn't necessary me that was wrong on other horses but maybe the response wasn't right from the horse. Nothing wrong with my old RI or horse just that if they are used for lessons all the time I do believe they stop responding the way they should - if that makes sense. I also ached for a week after but can't wait to do it again.