riding instructors

[cabanha]

What is with so many riding instructors now? I'm lucky enough because my mom is my riding instructor, but I have read so many posts already talking about, "my riding instructor is moving too fast" and "she has no personality and snaps at every little thing" and many others. It is becoming so hard to find good, personable, knowledgable riding instructors. Anybody else know what I'm talking about so I don't sound like a idiot? Anyone else agree?

[nirikina]

I've only been taking lessons for four months, before that I taught myself or just did pleasure rides. My boyfriend is so used to putting up with my whinging after every lesson. I moan about the horses, the stable-girls and the instructor. I pay £11.20 for half an hour in a group of five or six. It's a "learning to canter" group but since we're only allowed to canter one at a time, by the time the horses are warmed up we don't always get to canter once round the menage on each rein. I could list so many things that **** me off.
The one time I tried to explain to the instructor that I couldn't do any better, the six of us riders were walking round spaced out round the arena, and we just had to halt and not move. My horse didn't like being alone. She halted, then insisted on moving off. I sat relaxed and deep, leaned back with all my weight with the reins so tight her poor nose was in her chest, and I still couldn't hold her back. When I called to the instructor she yelled at me to "get that bloody horse where it should be".
The second worst time was when I was asked to peel off from the front of the ride and cut across the arena to the back in sitting trot. I knew immediately it wouldn't work because the horse already had the idea that being in front meant he should then canter round to the back. As soon as I sat he went into canter around the arena as he was used to doing. Except there were some poles lying in the way. He spooked and jumped them. I got shouted at, but what else could I do?
No matter how good a rider you are, if you're on a strange horse that doesn't know you and trust you, if the horse doesn't want to do something you ask, then it won't. The horse is stronger. I'm seriously thinking about giving up these lessons because I don't agree with the way they look after the horses or teach the students.
Very sorry Cabanha for whinging in your thread.

[Wally]

You do sound as if your lessons are a trial to be endured instead of enjoyed.

Well, you have the perfect right to demand an enjoyable and informative lesson, you are the one paying, If someone shouted at me to " get the bloody horse somewhere" I'd get off hand it to the instructor and leave without paying.

It sounds like the horses you are being given to ride are a bit cynical too, it can all be off putting. By the sound of what you have described I don't think you are being instructed very well in the art of control, I know you havn't been riding long but your instructor should have told you that leaning back and pulling will not stop a horse, it's more likely to tank off by doing this.

Horses rarly refuse to do something simply because they don't want to, if you instructor has not taught you how to acheive things you simply will not be talking to the horse in a language he understands.

Try one or two other schools, take a few private lessons, have an hour group lesson, pesonally I think 6 in a group half hour is far too many, I won't take more than 4 at a time, hour or half our.

You should be looking forward to each lesson and if not feeling you have done well each and every time you should at least learn something new and at least once during the lesson be laughing.

[Katie_85]

Ooh, I do feel badly for you nirikina. :( My story is a bit different. I have a wondeful instructor! Extremely patient and she has a fantastic sense of humor! I usually do laugh though lessons and always learn something, even from the bad ones. This is how riding should be. Please do try to find a different school with better instruction. It doesn't sound as though you are enjoying riding much at all because of incompetant instruction. Let us know how you get on! :)

[horsemad]

I have ridden at quite a few different riding schools in my time, and I've had my share of good and bad instructors.....the worst ones would shout and lose their temper, would try to bully you into doing things you weren't happy with, and would make you feel stupid or inadequate if you refused to do something. I had one instructor who used to try to bully me into jumping cross country jumps when I really didn't want to, with the result that I used to feel sick with nerves before the lesson.....and ended up giving up riding completely for about 6 months....

But other instructors (including my present one) have a completely different approach. They are patient, understanding when I have one of those 'oohh, I'm too scared to do that' moments, they encourage without bullying, and really make you feel like you are progressing. My present instructor has helped me so much, and it is in large part due to her that I have had the confidence to take on my share horse.

Hurrah for good riding instructors - we do appreciate you!!:D

[Horseluver1220]

I've had my share off good and bad instructors too. The worst was a group lesson of about 6-9 and we were just asked to walk and trot. They put you on horses with behavior problems such as biteing, kicking and once someone got bucked off! Luckily The horse I rode was a gentle gelding that I knew and my friends was a sweet old mare, Angie who was sadly put to sleep about a week ago due to an injury that was not getting better. :eek: :( :mad: My newest instructor, Brain is nice and teaches both me and my friend new things every day. My friend and get a good laugh almost everytime(except for serious times). Were on very well behavied horses that follow commands and do not kick, bite, buck, rear or gallop away without a cue. I think that the first instructor you find is not always the best one.:D

[Elfin]

I feel sorry for all you lot with bad instuctors. I really like my instructor, she doesn't force you into doing anything you are not ready for, and yeah she has a good sense of humour which is nice.:)

[Mare-e]

A good instructor is a blessing at any time, but especially for the novice and the nervous. My current instructor is a perfect match for my personality and my "issues". She knows when to be gentle, when to loosen me up with humor, when to distract me from being nervous by being chatty and informative, and when to push me. And this is on top of driving me forward with lots of variety in exercises and different horses. Thanks to her efforts and my trust in her, I am finally starting to cantor. Where I once had my days when my body would tremble and teeth would chatter (literally) at the prospect of trotting on a new or bigger moving horse, I now have a slight attack of nerves when she tells me to cantor a few strides. But we are persevereing and I give her a lot of credit for her patience. Next week she will put me on a longe line to work on lots of cantor transitions and to improve my balance and develop a stronger leg and body position. Rather than the heart palpitations and dry mouth I once had, I now look forward to this eagerly. Maybe a gifted natural athlete can learn with any instructor. But some of us need special handling. I encourage anyone who is thinking of abandoning riding because they are not happy with lessons, to seek out a better instructor.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

my instructer is like my second mom almost!!! she is awsome, she knows i want to be seriously into my riding (shows, career with horses....alll that) so she pushes me but when i am having a bad day she knows it and she doesn't ask to much lol! the one i had before that is my ex step grandmother but moved...she is 76 now and still does competitive rides...when she comes and visits i get a lesson from her and she is great. but i did have one of "those instructers" once...i mean she was nice but i was with her 5 years and learned nothing i did walk trot pony rides with her!!! she is a good friend today but when I look back on it (now) i relize how slow she was and stuff. I think that you need to have a good relationship with your instructer and if you do, you have more fun, learn more, and you also get that specail friend in your life :)

[Gemma R]

I have been riding for around 14 years when I started I didn't have proper lessons from professionals I went to this tiny yard where they taught you how to stay on and have some fun. It was fantastic :)

I haven't had many lessons since then but last year I was horseless and I went to a local army barracks for some lessons. The guy there was FANTASTIC. So when my other half and my friends other half decided they wanted to have a go to see what all the fuss was about I didn't hesitate to take them back to teh said barracks. Unfortunatly on arriving the fella I had my lessons with the lovely Simon was not there!!!! Some stroppy riding instructor was instead - who preceded to tell my friend that her other half would be riding better than her in a couple of weeks - even though she has NEVER meet my friend let alone seen her ride!!!!

Anyway after a VERY frosty reception the boys preceded to start there lesson - bearing in mind they have NEVER ridden before she took them into the lesson slapped the horses on the arse and sent them trotting around the arena giving them no instruction on stopping turning or anything!!!!!!!! Things got suitably worse when my friends husband couldn't get his horse to trot so instead of telling him how to she chased the horses with a lunge whip!!!!! Brents horse didn't take any notice but Pauls horse (my other half) went tearing round the arena rearing and bucking!!!!! He was VERY scared at that point I ran into rescue him yelling and screaming at her for being a terrible instructor.!!!


Still bad experiance over with we changed schools - the boys now go every week to a school on the Isle Of Sheppy that I would highly recommend. Paul was petrified three weeks ago and could barely face the thought of getting back on -now he loves it and looks forward to every lesson!!!

If anyone in the area wants lessons then I can highly reccoment Taylors riding establishment - sheppy.

[Horseluver1220]

When I started jumping my instructor was very supportive and a great help he started me off with very low jumps telling me the little things that would help make the experience easier and much more fun. We were soon jumping pretty high(I don't know how many feet all I know was it was pretty high being that am only 12 and pretty short compared to the other riders who were like in their 20's). He is a great instructor who always manages to make me laugh and is like an old friend who I haven't seen in a long time. So for the people who complain about their lessons and the ones who are afraid to canter or jump because their instructor is not supporting them I think you should go out and find a new instructor who is nice, supportive, funny and who will teach you how to over come your fears.:p :D