How do you know if the instructor is any good?

[Widget]

OK so having ridden English for 23 years I have decided I want Western lessons. I have never had any sort of lessons before. I just got on a pony and went. Now I have read lots and had a couple of English style lessons recently and my riding appears to have survived years of uneducated abuse!

So Im off to book a Western lesson soon as I quite fancy the whole idea. How will I know if the instructor is any good? Its a lot more limited than English and I have no one to ask advice from as they all think im nuts to want to 'ride like a cowboy'! Have found a place that does hourly lessons or whole day intro courses. The course sounds good as they cover tacking up etc aswell as riding, but it £140. Fine if they know what they are talking about.

What questions should I ask once I pluck up the courage to ring?!

[bexj]

Well, I would first of all check on the Wes website to see if they are an approved instructor, then I would post on here, and other forums that do western riding to see if he/she has a good reputation.

[Widget]

The nearest I have found is the Mendip Stud. On the A38 in North Somerset. Will look on WES site. Thanks.

[jinglejoys]

My Hinny Sarah-lee came from Weston super mare!:)
You're lucky having a good Western place so near you I think you're going to enjoy it as if you have been self taught your balance may be more natural

[Bluey's~Friend]

G'day! Yes I second posting on forums to see if he/she has a good reputation. If you can get contact details of other western riders who go to him/her ask them about the instructor, if not you could just go along and follow your gut feelings, but thats not much help because if you go, you'll have to pay so I dunno. Godo Luck though!

Gotta Gallop,

Bluey's~Friend

P.S When you go western riding, take pics and post em', we wanna see you riding western!

[Jessey]

Mendip has a good reputation and pretty good show record too.

The only thing I will say is, it really depends what you want to do as to which trainers will suit you best, if you fancy reining or pleasure showing you may find different instructors will be better for each one, if you are more looking to just get a jist and then play with your own then one who will give you a good basis but as you say also include tack, uses, how to etc will be good :D

Much like with english lessons, you may find you don't get on with one instructor, perhaps their style or 'way' just doesn't suit you so don't be affraid to try a couple :D

I would definatly advise you check with the big associations and make sure the place/person is registered as an instructor, hopefully that should get you off on the right foot :D

J x

[Skib]

Good is a relative term. Ideally one should always watch a teacher teach before taking a decision.
The teacher must teach at an apropriate level for the student.
And the teacher must teach a style which is right for that student. Both physically and intellectually.
Styles of Western riding in the UK appear to vary a good deal.
You need to find one that fits your prefered way of riding.

I went to a recommended instructor - in fact the only one in the area. But the style she taught was pretty rigid and far removed from the classical European riding style which I prefer and am taught by my normal RI.

And it was very different from that taught by Mark Rashid. It wasnt till I got to the States that I found Western riding like that. I've had two Western lessons in the States (Montana and Texas) both of which were very much to my liking.

Some riders of Western and its teachers in the UK perhaps emphasise the differences. They want to make Western riding seem remote from what we normally do? This may be what you want?

Whereas I like the commonality between all riding styles and want to build on the skills I already have? Learning sitting trot for dressage makes Western jog easy.
And I have returned the favour in the States, reassuring the Wrangler and co-YO who took me out one morning that the skills she already had could be transferred to English riding.

Since you have been riding 23 years you need a teacher who wont be scared of your knowledge, and will respect what you want to learn? I booked my Western lesson to find out whether trotting in a Western saddle would hurt my back. But I was taught on a lesson horse that had not yet learned to jog so though I paid my money and drove a long way, I never trotted at all.

May be I wil loook on the internet and see if I can find a teacher too?

[Luv 2 Trot]

You should definately ask if you can come out and watch them give a lesson. It is a good way to talk with the instructor and get an idea of their teaching habits.

[qhlady]

Hi, here I go again.... just a quickie I promise!

DEF go to the Mendip Stud, they have WES instructor, and more important then WES qualification, they have, and use regularly, a huge pool of knowledge from the top riders/trainers in the WORLD. Including David Dellin, Illan Rosenberg, Sylvia Jackle... and all the greats from th UK too...

I have been there many times, they are top of the tree in this country, there is nobody else in th UK doing what they are to promote real western horsemanship... John, Lou and their gang - they are awesome people, and absolutely a great place to start.

All the same, instructors are people, and you may just not like one over another, so try a few out... but I promise you, for a first impression, Mendip is the place to start.

And my two penneth re styles of western... western equitation, taught properly, should be virtually the same as the classical seat... not the foot shoved home, toes to nose stuff some are teaching here... feet forward is fine in reining/cattle etc... where you need the security, but pleaseure/trail/horsemanship etc... no!

I'm off... see not too long!!! :)

[Widget]

Thanks for all the replies! Im going to call them and book one lesson. If I like it I can go from there. I dont think I will want to compete (I dont compete now, just hack) but you never know. I like to try different things so if its not for me, at least I can say I tried it!

I know its probably silly, but im a little worried about being laughed at. If I enjoy it and decide to train my horse Western we will stand out on our yard. I just think people might think im a little odd!

It just seems like a good way to ride if done well.

[Jessey]

Don't worry about that, some stuck up idiods will give you a hard time :mad: but thats just because you are doing something different (and they are too narrow minded to accept that it is not wrong just because its different), but most people, esp the lads are often interested and gelous of it :D
Generally speaking now western is more accepted than it used to be, the whole natural horsemanship boat has made it more acceptable for lots of people :D