Still a beginner after 7 years...

[Lorenzo]

I have been going to my riding school for 7 years now. I'm still classed as a beginner. I can walk, trot and canter, all asked for and I can stop again too. I can jump if they give me the correct horse, as in one that jumps. I don't know what steps there are from here. What to intermediate and advanced do that I don't? I feel like I've gotten no-where in the last 7 years. I'm not sure where to go from here, because the prices keep going up and I can't afford to go frequently and even when i did for like 5 years, I was still classed as a beginner and I feel like it's hopeless. What is the point of throwing £37 to go and sit on a horse for half an hour, where I do that same thing every lesson, unless I get a horse that jumps?
Sorry if I'm ranting, but I'm annoyed its that expensive and that I've seemingly got nowhere in 7 years.

 

[KarinUS]

What is the significance of their rating?
Are you progressing? Are you meeting your goals? What is the next thought you want to learn?

 

[carthorse]

It sounds to me like you need to know what you want to be able to do, and then you need to have a talk with them about how to achieve this. Being in a labelled group doesn't mean a thing, I've known people come from a school who can do no more than that yet the school calls them advanced riders - it causes all sorts of problems when they look to buy as they seriously over-rate their ability.

If the school won't talk to you or come up with a plan to help you reach your goals then I'd say it's time to find somewhere else. However if you're maybe only going once a month then realistically any progress will be very slow and hard to achieve.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

I agree with Carthorse that you need to have a talk to the school. But let me ask you, what do you want to get out of riding? What is your interest? Many people at your level are eager to have more to do with horses, and so if they can't get a horse of their own for whatever reason they look to increase their horse hours and experience by sharing someone else's horse, meaning that they get to know, look after and take responsibility for the horse as well as riding it. That was my next step 15 years ago, after having had enough lessons that I felt competent to take a horse out hacking on my own. Is that something that interests you? If not, what is?

 

[Skib]

You dont say how old you are, nor whether you are riding in group lessons. Nor how many different horses or ponies you have ridden. Classification words mean very little.
However even in the UK, it is possible for adult riders to pay for a weekly group lessons and do nothing very much except follow the horse ahead. You really need to talk to the instructor. If you want to learn to jump, then you need to tell the school and discuss the schedule and costs.
If your present school cant provide the next level of instruction, you may need to look for another school and another instructor. That is what I did after my first year of lessons. I always had one on one lessons (I was an old beginner) but I had to move schools twice in my second year. One needs the right horse and the right teacher.

 

[GaryB]

Maybe time to try a different RS if there is one you can get to?

 

[Lorenzo]

It sounds to me like you need to know what you want to be able to do, and then you need to have a talk with them about how to achieve this. Being in a labelled group doesn't mean a thing, I've known people come from a school who can do no more than that yet the school calls them advanced riders - it causes all sorts of problems when they look to buy as they seriously over-rate their ability.

If the school won't talk to you or come up with a plan to help you reach your goals then I'd say it's time to find somewhere else. However if you're maybe only going once a month then realistically any progress will be very slow and hard to achieve.

I'm not sure what else there is to do. I just want to have a bit of fun, there's no long term goals. I like jumping and when they allocate me a horse that jumps, then I jump, otherwise I go in a circle aroud the arena, cantering.
The trouble is, once you start the lesson, and told them what you want to do, they don't have time to sort what you want to do. Then the next lesson, you'll hve someone else and none of them communicate.

 

[Lorenzo]

I agree with Carthorse that you need to have a talk to the school. But let me ask you, what do you want to get out of riding? What is your interest? Many people at your level are eager to have more to do with horses, and so if they can't get a horse of their own for whatever reason they look to increase their horse hours and experience by sharing someone else's horse, meaning that they get to know, look after and take responsibility for the horse as well as riding it. That was my next step 15 years ago, after having had enough lessons that I felt competent to take a horse out hacking on my own. Is that something that interests you? If not, what is?

I like riding. I applied for a job with horses, but really didn't like the environment. It wasn't the horses, it was more that I was thrown in the deep end and expected to know what I was doing.
I'm not sure I want anything other than to not go round an arena every lesson. It gets boring. I want to do jumps, which I have been, but again, depends on what horse I get.

 

[Jessey]

Book a trail ride somewhere if you are bored of going in circles!

Have you asked your RI what you would need to do to progress into the intermediate/advanced class?

Jumping is great but you can’t just expect to do it every lesson, the horses would quickly get sour or injured if everyone expected to jump every lesson. Have you considered perhaps asking about control within the paces, learning to collect and extend within a gait? Or perhaps ask to start on some lateral work? Those are getting into the more advanced flat work, but you need to have well established independent seat and hands before doing those really.

 

[Jessey]

I like riding. I applied for a job with horses, but really didn't like the environment. It wasn't the horses, it was more that I was thrown in the deep end and expected to know what I was doing.

If you are going to work with horses they would absolutely expect you to know what you are doing, unless you specifically apply for an apprenticeship. They aren’t going to pay you a good wage and train you for free!

 

[Skib]

They aren’t going to pay you a good wage and train you for free!

Not always the case, I hacked very happily for years at a BHS recognised RS where their staff were paid and also trained up taking the BHS stages. Plus some other tests like First Aid, Riding and Road safety and the teaching qualification.
At our RI's yard staff took other qualifications (British Riding School)

 

[Jessey]

Not always the case, I hacked very happily for years at a BHS recognised RS where their staff were paid and also trained up taking the BHS stages. Plus some other tests like First Aid, Riding and Road safety and the teaching qualification.
At our RI's yard staff took other qualifications (British Riding School)

That would be an apprenticeship, and I said they won't pay a good wage, generally RI's while in training they are paid pittance, at least everyone I know who has done it has been. Honestly, even once you are qualified and know what you are doing, equestrian jobs are renowned for still paying poorly.

 

[Lorenzo]

If you are going to work with horses they would absolutely expect you to know what you are doing, unless you specifically apply for an apprenticeship. They aren’t going to pay you a good wage and train you for free!

They knew I had no experience with horses and gave me a trial day to see what it was like. After that day, it felt awkward going riding there, as I didn't get the job and I didn't like the day anyway.

 

[Lorenzo]

Maybe time to try a different RS if there is one you can get to?

There is another one that has replied to me today, so I'll go along at some point and see what they're like. My current one knows I have Dyspraxia and I don't know if that's a factor in what my lessons entail.