Beginners at Riding Schools

[mistymoon]

Is it me, or does anyone else feel self conscious about being a beginner at a RS? I would really like to see a beginner like myself in my RS going through the same things but all I see are experienced horse riders! When I ask the RIs at the school if there are any other beginners there that I could chat with, they just talk about something else! Maybe they don't want me to feel self conscious about it therefore say nothing. It would be great to actually see other riders having similar issues with the same things I am as I know you are all out there according to this forum! I don't think I am experienced enough to go into a group lesson as yet though... any ideas? Thanks

[Lot1983]

Speak to your RS and see if they would offer some sort of ‘coffee morning’, get a group of beginners together for tea and cakes and have a Q and A session, if I was working at the RS full time I’d be more than happy to do this, sometimes as an instructor you don’t have chance to talk though all the things in the lesson that you want to! I sometimes think this is where novice adults luck out as the novice children can go to Pony Club to learn together but adults are sometimes a bit marginalised!

[eml]

I like to put beginners together as soon as they can walk and trot on a safe horse for exactly that reason, riding for most people is part of their social life so the lessons need to be fun and sociable as well as instructive.

It depends on your RS when they move people into groups and how large the groups are. I go from privates to groups of 2 or 3..when we used to have larger groups people really needed to be more experienced to benefit.

[mistymoon]

Originally Posted by Lot1983

Speak to your RS and see if they would offer some sort of ‘coffee morning’, get a group of beginners together for tea and cakes and have a Q and A session, if I was working at the RS full time I’d be more than happy to do this, sometimes as an instructor you don’t have chance to talk though all the things in the lesson that you want to! I sometimes think this is where novice adults luck out as the novice children can go to Pony Club to learn together but adults are sometimes a bit marginalised!

That is a really good idea! I will suggest it to the RS. Yes, my RS does seem to be predominantly aimed at children on their ponies but as I am only there for an hour, maybe this is a bit unfair of me to say as there might very well adults there too later in the day!

[mistymoon]

Originally Posted by eml

I like to put beginners together as soon as they can walk and trot on a safe horse for exactly that reason, riding for most people is part of their social life so the lessons need to be fun and sociable as well as instructive.

It depends on your RS when they move people into groups and how large the groups are. I go from privates to groups of 2 or 3..when we used to have larger groups people really needed to be more experienced to benefit.

Totally agree eml! I have very strict but pleasant RIs and feel the balance would be beneficial. Maybe I just ought to suggest I have a group lesson one day and see how I get on as I just ask for a private lesson each time as I don't think I am good enough as yet, although I can trot ok.

[beakysian]

Originally Posted by Lot1983

Speak to your RS and see if they would offer some sort of ‘coffee morning’, get a group of beginners together for tea and cakes and have a Q and A session, if I was working at the RS full time I’d be more than happy to do this, sometimes as an instructor you don’t have chance to talk though all the things in the lesson that you want to! I sometimes think this is where novice adults luck out as the novice children can go to Pony Club to learn together but adults are sometimes a bit marginalised!

Very good idea ^^

My RS devoted weekends to the kids so adults were taken either privately or in pairs on weekdays (evenings for me due to work) so there wasn't anybody to chat to. If yours could accommodate this it would be great. My failsafe has always been NR given the lack of 'real' people

[Calluna]

I think that if you go to your lesson with a mission (whether group or private) you'll get more out of it.

As a beginner of course I know that there's lots to learn and lots to improve and it's all a bit of a mountain from an achievment point of view but... if you have a mental list of the most important things to you that you want to work on in the lesson (I only pick four things - that's as much as I could cope with!) you are much more focused-self concious rather than inferior-feeling-self concious if that makes sense.

That's why NR is so good though - I always assume that other adult beginners have equally busy lives and fit lessons in around everything else like I do - but there's always someone here with a helpful/sympathetic/motivating/whatever you need word

[LBrider]

I think it's a great idea to tee up with people in the same position as you, but bear in mind that just because the people you have met so far are 'experienced riders', that doesn't mean they are super confident and don't understand how you feel. After all, they were beginners once too! You may be surprised at how supportive and helpful they can be, because they have been there too. You may need to make the first approach to them because they may not want to feel as if they are sticking their beaks in or patronising you in any way. I've sometimes started chatting to what I consider to be really advanced, confident riders in my school, (I can't shut up, me) and have often found that they really empathise with some of my issues and can give helpful advice.
Good luck.

[Lot1983]

Originally Posted by LBrider

I've sometimes started chatting to what I consider to be really advanced, confident riders in my school, (I can't shut up, me) and have often found that they really empathise with some of my issues and can give helpful advice.
Good luck.

If you look at it another way, the more you know about riding, the more you know is going wrong!