Rocking Horse Gaits part 2 by Diane Nafis
So You Want to Learn to Ride a Horse? Here is Help!
Taking the first steps...
Whether you own your own horse and want to learn a particular riding discipline, you want to learn to ride yourself or you want a child to learn to ride, choosing the right instructor is paramount.
There are different considerations for the person who owns a horse than for the non-horseowner who wants to learn to ride. The importance of choosing the right instructor has equal impact on all riders at all levels and for all disciplines or types of riding.
So, where do you go and how do you go about finding the right riding instructor?
Let’s assume for the sake of discussion that you are the prospective rider and you have done some reading and have chosen a discipline. It does not matter which discipline catches your fancy for this discussion. Most people try several before settling on one that they want to master. The best initial source of information is, believe it or not, the yellow pages.
My telephone directory has “Riding Academies,” “Riding Equipment and Apparel,” “Horse Furnishings,” “Saddlery and Harness,” and “Western Apparel.” Yours may have more headings.
Start with a list.
Using the listings from your yellow pages as a guide, go visit the tack shops listed. I have not been into a tack shop yet that did not have a bulletin board filled with everything from lessons to massage therapy and from horses for sale to free cats. The people who work in the shops will probably be able to add their recommendations to your list of prospective schools. There are many private farms that offer limited lesson programs and these would not be listed in the yellow pages. Don't overlook this valuable resource, especially if you are looking for affordable one-on-one instruction (something I highly recommend for a beginner of any age.)
Once you have visited the tack shops within your area and chatted with the staff of each, sit down with your expanded list of possible instructors and your telephone, a pencil and some paper. Usually you will have to leave a message on an answerphone machine since horse people are always busy with the horses, the barn, the lessons and the chores. Don't let this discourage you. The best instructors are usually the busiest. When you get a message machine leave your name and number, the age and experience of the student and mention a convenient time for the school representative to call you. The last courtesy will help avoid a frustrating and time-wasting round of telephone tag.
When you do speak with someone from each school be prepared to honestly assess the experience of yourself or the prospective rider, to assess the horse if you have one and to outline your goals. Have a list of pertinent questions with room on the page for jotting down answers. If you are really organized, a sheet of these questions for each call you intend to make already identified with the school/instructor name is a great help.
Some of the important questions are:
1. What type of riding is offered? In “english riding” there are many disciplines from hunt seat to centered riding! In “western riding” there is a wide range from barrel racing to pleasure riding. It helps to have some idea what it is you want to try but, if you are not sure, ask what each discipline offered is about and take notes!
2. What training/certification does the instructor have? What experience? There are many very good instructors out there who hold no official certification but it is good to note when there is some formal training and recognition of achievement.
3. What are the durations of the different types of lessons? If “group” lessons are offered and are more within your budget, ask how many riders are in a “group.” If “semiprivate” lessons are offered, how many students in each lesson? In either case the smaller the group the better. At first, if you are new to riding and/or horses and if you can at all afford it, take private lessons. This will give the instructor a chance to take you through the basics at an easy pace. The expense of the initial individual attention will pay off in the long haul.
4. What is the price of each type of lesson? Are there packages for which you pay in advance for a certain number of lessons? Sometimes there is a slight discount for this.
5. If you can only afford group lessons, do the classes mix adults and children? For some adults this is a problem. If it is a concern for you then ask.
6. What equipment must the student provide? What are the apparel requirements? Most teaching facilities will require the student to have and wear a well-fitting ASTM/SEI approved helmet and a pair of shoes/boots with heels to prevent the foot from slipping through the stirrup. Some schools have a few helmets on hand for first time riders. Fit of the helmet is very important so whether you buy or borrow, know what you are doing. Recommended are pants or britches with smooth or no inside seams to chafe the legs.
7. Is there an indoor riding arena or are lessons canceled in inclement weather?
8. Is it permissible to come and watch a lesson or two? If this is NOT allowed look elsewhere. Period. You can not make an educated decision if you have not been able to go to the barn and observe. Much of the training requires a rapport and trust between the student and the teacher. A good teaching facility will welcome your visit and, if you make an appointment, someone is likely to take you in hand and show you about. (We will go into what to look for later in the discussion.)
9. What are the hours of operation either to schedule a visit or lessons? Make an appointment right then for a visit if you can. This will save some time and more telephone tag.
Keep in mind that an instructor will have some questions for you. Be honest about your ability and goals to give the instructor the knowledge to select a mount and a starting point for the lessons.
People who own their own horses are usually looking either for someone who will come to their farm or for somewhere to trailer the horse. If you are one of these lucky few there are some addition things to consider:
10. Does the horse need training in the chosen discipline? If so, can the instructor provide both training for the horse and instruction for the rider? Usually, but not always, the training of the horse is separate from the riding lesson and is scheduled on another day. Whether there is formal horse training involved or not, often the instructor will “hop on” the rider’s horse in order to assess the horse’s ability in order to adjust the instruction to the pair. Most “lesson horses” in teaching facilities are there for certain talents that the instructors know quite well. There is no need for the instructor to ride the horse other than to show a student the form. With an unknown mount it is a good idea for the instructor to ride the horse before or during the first lesson.
Frankly, I believe that the person training the horse should also be the one instructing the owner. This will avoid the possibility of the horse getting mixed signals and the rider getting frustrated at using an aid that the horse does not understand. Sometimes the combination trainer/instructor is not possible, but it is to be hoped for and searched out for the beginner rider and her horse.
These points should be discussed between you and the prospective trainer/instructor before there is an agreement for lessons. If the trainer wants to ride and evaluate the horse and evaluate your ability before making a commitment, this is an added bonus. This should not cost you anything. It is part of the proper (and safe) procedure for matching the rider and the trainer.
All of these questions and discussion points will narrow your original list of potential schools. It is time to visit the facilities that remain on your list.
 NetPets® Main Page |
 The Horse Center |