Opinions / Advices Needed Please

[cobmum]

As some of you may know i have recently found a riding school for myself and OH.

Now to set the scene... i have been riding for 22 years with various gaps and most recently a 1 and half year gap. I have never been an amazing rider but i would say standard. I am building up my confidence again after my last horse knocked it completely.

My OH had ridden western as a young child (he is Australian) and had only ridden twice as an adult in the UK. He has no schooling experience what so ever.

Basically we found a riding school, that was happy to do a private half hour lesson at £16.00 each. We were both very honest about our abilities when we enquired and prior to our 1st lesson.

The first lesson went quite well, i was on a lovely highland a bit quiet for me but i understood the Ri would need to see how well I rode etc. However my OH was put on a 3 year old who was quite slender in build and definetley needed clear instructions from the rider

My OH explained to the Ri that he didnt feel comfortable and he was unconfident with the horse. I again explained that Adam was a beginner rider and could not give the horse clear aids.

We thought that the RI had understood that a 3 year old horse was not suitable for my OH and that my OH didnt have the level of ability to ride the horse.

So last week we had our second lesson, again i was on the highland but was told i would be on a more 'spirited' horse next week.

To our surprise OH was put back onto the 3year old. Straight after he mounted the 3year old horse spooked and lept across the arena, leaving my OH clearly very scared. He advised that RI that he would be getting off as he felt very unsure about riding the horse the Ri said to my OH that 'you rode her last week' my OH replied 'yes i did and i did not trust and have confidence in the horse then either'. Within 5 mins my OH stopped and got off as he felt unsafe and unconfident. The RI repeated again 'you rode her last week'.

I then stepped in and said to the RI that OH is a beginner rider and that a 3 year old horse is looking for confidence and direction from the rider which OH cannot give.

RI said that riders cannot pick and choose horses, i agreed but said that if a rider clearly does not have the ability to ride the horse they are on then it is certainley unsafe for both horse and rider to continue plus not the best situation for a beginner rider to gain confidence.

I was then advised that the school only had 3 horses suitable for OH weight and height and that the other two horses were being used and they cannot reserve him one of the three. I was supprised at hearing there was only 3 suitable as upon visiting the school initially we had been advised that catering for OH would not be a problem.

I am completley at a loss of what to do now. I have been trying to find a decent riding school for a few months now and want to continue lessons untill i buy a horse next year. OH wants to continue with lessons too.

Now i am thinking i will just wait untill i buy a horse next year and i can get a private instructor??

Help and advice welcome and appreciated!!

[greymare]

I think it is irresponsible of a riding school to give a rider a horse that they dont feel confident to ride. The fact they basically ignore the fact, as you say, that all horses look for some confidence from their rider scares me a bit.

Have you spoken to the manager/owner of the Riding School?

Jen
x

[cobmum]

I have not spoken to the manager yet, we should have spoken to him straight after but there was other people in the office and OH was not in a good mood...after paying £16 for ten mins of feeling scared!

Plus i forgot to say my horse had a cough so i was advised by RI that i couldnt do any cantering. During the lesson i pulled the horse up after a short trot as he was weezing heavily, so i did the remainder of the lesson in walk

I dont want to kick up a big fuss as i was thinking about having my future horse on lively there but maybe i should re-think?

[rtk]

Not only is it irresponsible to put your OH on a 3 year old on Health and Safety grounds, it is no fair to the horse. IMO its OK to break a 3 year old and do light work but I would hardly call working in a riding school suitable. I wonder if the people doing their approval and insurance know.

I wound't have any confidence in a school which treated customers like that.

I dont know what the answer is for you but I wouldn't go back.

[greymare]

I would be concerned if they show little regardfor clients feelings and safety. I would speak to the manager, let them know your concerns and explain that although you dont want to cause a problem, you feel there has been a mis-understanding whihc needs to be clarified.

If this doesnt resolve it then make a complaint. I have always taken the attitude with companies that they get one chance to make a mistake then the next time I take it more seriously. (But I am a massive softy!!)

I know that they say they cant reserve horses for people, but I was under the impression that RS's tend to pre plan a horses work so they know how much work that horse has done and therefore they must be able to allocate you OH another horse.

Jen
x

ETAI knew there was another point to bring up - why are they using a 3 year old?

[Kimmy C]

That riding school is completely ignoring what you say and have no thought for such a young horse. That to me says it all but it is such a shame there are apparently only three horses suitable for your husband. I suppose you could give them the benefit of the doubt and try one more time to see if OH gets one of the other horses. Other than that I'm afraid its time to do some more looking around.

[popularfurball]

Cobmum where are you?

I knkow I asked before - pm if you want, I may be able to suggest others... I walked away from where you were after one session Although I really like the instructor I had as he was fussy, the horses we were given were nutty - again they had never seen us ride - Mine kept cantering off round the school, and the other wouldnt move! Hence I noticed the size of the school was small as cornering was fasst and tight and a bit hari raising!!!!

Oh also forgot to ask OH's weight sorry I know personal, but I know a nice school but not sure of their weight limit

[Daisy_Roots]

I'm surprised the riding school use 3 year old horses for lessons , I don't think that's a very good idea at all.

Unless your OH is a HUGE person, the Highland you ride should carry him just fine.

[Demson]

Is this riding school BHS assessed and passed, is the RI qualified? Have oyu seen her qualificaion certificate?

This is a very iresponsible and dangerous riding school and if I were you I would never go back again.

I would also seriously reconsider boarding a horse there.

I am surprised your OH paid for his lesson, I'd have point blank refused.

The 3 yr old is goign to be ruined being used for many different people for lessons, the poor horse will be totally confused. it seems this riding school is more interested in the money than the horses and clients.

If you can't find a good riding school then I would buy a horse that suits me and OH and have a recommended Instructor come to me.

In fact you wil learn faster and better that way than going to the Riding School your going to at the moment.

Best of luck in whatever you decide to do

[eml]

Under the Riding Establishments Act it is in fact illegal to use a three year old in an RS. Suitable or not for your OH if it is a three year old it is wrong apart from being very bad practice.

I would move schools.

[Demson]

When you think 3yr old and used for lessons, por horse how old was it when it was first ridden.. the mind boggles at some people.

I am not surprised it is illegal to use 3 yr old for lessons, diabolical comes to mind.

[tiga]

That sounds awful to be honest. I wouldn't want to go back. They seem to have little concern for student safety or the welfare of the horses. Using a 3 year old for lessons is ridiculous, never mind for beginner lessons.

I would give them a wide berth.

[Ceiron]

i would be avoiding the place like the plague

[Flipo's Mum]

Originally Posted by cobmum

He advised that RI that he would be getting off as he felt very unsure about riding the horse the Ri said to my OH that 'you rode her last week' my OH replied 'yes i did and i did not trust and have confidence in the horse then either'. Within 5 mins my OH stopped and got off as he felt unsafe and unconfident. The RI repeated again 'you rode her last week'.

I then stepped in and said to the RI that OH is a beginner rider and that a 3 year old horse is looking for confidence and direction from the rider which OH cannot give.

RI said that riders cannot pick and choose horses, i agreed but said that if a rider clearly does not have the ability to ride the horse they are on then it is certainley unsafe for both horse and rider to continue plus not the best situation for a beginner rider to gain confidence.

I was then advised that the school only had 3 horses suitable for OH weight and height and that the other two horses were being used and they cannot reserve him one of the three. I was supprised at hearing there was only 3 suitable as upon visiting the school initially we had been advised that catering for OH would not be a problem.

Doesn't sound like very good customer service - I'd be tempted to vote with my feet and try somewhere else. Its a shame, it sounds like you tried to politely explain to them and maybe their reasons are legitimate but it does sound like they have a very 'cant do' attitude.
I get frustrated with poor customer experience, they could so easily have tried to offer a solution like finding a lesson time that allows your OH to ride one of the other two horses rather than appearing to get defensive about it all.
Good Luck with what ever you decide.

[Happy Hacker 01]

Originally Posted by rtk

Not only is it irresponsible to put your OH on a 3 year old on Health and Safety grounds, it is no fair to the horse. IMO its OK to break a 3 year old and do light work but I would hardly call working in a riding school suitable. I wonder if the people doing their approval and insurance know.

I wound't have any confidence in a school which treated customers like that.

I dont know what the answer is for you but I wouldn't go back.

I completely agree with rtk and the other posts on this subject. It's quite unbelieveable that a riding school would be using a 3 yo for lessons at all, let alone for a very in experienced rider?!

At most I would expect the 'greener' horses to be reserved for the experienced riders, not only for safety reasons for the rider, but also for the horses continued education. Even then I would be expecting them to be 5/6 year olds, but 3?!!

[melmo1313]

Having ridden at riding schools and worked in them for a good few years, I know the pitfalls of putting beginners on unsuitable horses! Quite often as a skinny 15 year old I'd be called into the kids lessons to get on a new pony that we had suddenly found was certainly not suitable for beginners and people would be running around to get one of the 'old faithfuls' tacked up instead while the kinks were worked out in the other school with the problem horse. That problem horse was usually either sold on or kept for more experienced kids while the kid having the lesson got to finish out the lesson.

As an RS, they really should have more choice for beginners ... majority of the horses used should be suitable for beginner level and while I can understand the weight limit to a point, they should have been clear to you from day 1 about the limited choice for your OH, and it sounds like for you as well. Maybe see if you can get moved to a different time when more choice of horses might be available (ie there may be another lesson going on at the same time as you so less horses available).

[lynnemh]

it doesnt sound like a good riding school to me; it sounds like it has an irresponsible and uncaring attitude to horse and pupil alike. i would change schools

[eml]

Originally Posted by melmo1313

As an RS, they really should have more choice for beginners ... majority of the horses used should be suitable for beginner level .

I think it is up to each RS what sort of riders they want to cater for. I would struggle with horses/cobs for adult beginners and so have a very low beginner weight limit but have a number for career students and more advanced riders ...that suits my target market.

The issue is that this RS should not have taken your OH at all if unable to provide a selection of suitable horses.

[doorstopper]

cobmum, where are you based? I can recommend an excellent riding stables in the North West if you're interested. PM if you like.