Are your riding lessons worth the money?

I had them regular years ago when I was interested in doing all that and enjoying it. after working on a certain yard for 2 years and the owner said some things I totally fell out of love and havnt had one in the 3 years since,the fun and enjoyment was completly taken out of it for me which was what it was all about.i am now a true happy hacker and malaika and I are both happy with that.I do think they are worth the money if that is what you enjoy as anything you enjoy is in my opinion priceless.
 
I think I'm too much at the other extreme! I'm almost too afraid to ride on my own (apart from hacks), without a RI present, for fear of riding badly!:unsure: I became so dependent on having an instructor there to tell me what to do and what to correct that in the event that I had to ride on my own I felt totally lost! Now I have a lesson once a week or once a fortnight & use them to set me up for what I need to work on during the week. So, yes, I think my lessons are worth the money but it's important to be able to work independently & stand on your own two feet also.
 
When I do have them I save up and spend a lot with a posh instructor. My carriage driving essons are well worth the money.
 
I have 2 a week and I love them! My teacher Jayne is brilliant at inspiring confidence. I'll drop down to one a week or a fortnight once me and Poppy are more established as a duo but at the moment, being a novice with a new horse, I need the help.
 
I have now had 2 lessons on Ben (one flat and one jump) with another booked for Saturday morning.

I have to say that they have already made a world of difference, but in some ways they have made my life harder. I now have goals to work towards and a greater expectation of how I want him to behave. I no longer feel that I can just 'poolte' round on him in the school because I need to make him work and ride properly. It's all still fun, but sometimes frustrating when he doesn't want to do the same thing as I do!!!
 
Mary Poppins said:
I have now had 2 lessons on Ben (one flat and one jump) with another booked for Saturday morning.

I have to say that they have already made a world of difference, but in some ways they have made my life harder. I now have goals to work towards and a greater expectation of how I want him to behave. I no longer feel that I can just 'poolte' round on him in the school because I need to make him work and ride properly. It's all still fun, but sometimes frustrating when he doesn't want to do the same thing as I do!!!
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Goals are good though! Mine (when riding on my own) at this stage largely revolve round having a good pootle :wink: but I spent some time this morning doing serpentines (a bit messily but not too bad really) and getting her listening to me. My own goal is that I'd LOVE to do a novice dressage test with her some time this year! I'm starting to believe we actually could and the lessons are definitely helping with that.

What is Ben like to jump?
 
squidsin said:
What is Ben like to jump?
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He is amazing!! We only do tiny jumps at the moment because of my own nerves, but we can get around a 2ft course relatively easily. We are working on striding between fences and doing lots of grid work at the moment. Last night we were praciticing cantering over poles on the ground which were 2 or 3 strides in between them. I was going to set up some jumps but he was knackard from the cantering so we called it a day.

He jumps really well and obviously enjoys it. He would easily do a 2ft 6 course, but I'm not quite there yet!
 
Mary Poppins said:
He is amazing!! We only do tiny jumps at the moment because of my own nerves, but we can get around a 2ft course relatively easily. We are working on striding between fences and doing lots of grid work at the moment. Last night we were praciticing cantering over poles on the ground which were 2 or 3 strides in between them. I was going to set up some jumps but he was knackard from the cantering so we called it a day.

He jumps really well and obviously enjoys it. He would easily do a 2ft 6 course, but I'm not quite there yet!
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That's super-cool! 2 foot...2 foot 6 - there's not much difference really... ;)
 
squidsin said:
That's super-cool! 2 foot...2 foot 6 - there's not much difference really... ;)
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My head says that, but when I see a 2ft 6 jump I panic!!! Ben has got a HUGE jump in him and is sometimes a little keen to take off early. That's why we are doing the grid work and the pole work. Sometiems when we go to canter over a single pole on the ground, he jumps it like it is a 2ft jump. So far I haven't been cataputled over his head, but it's only a matter of time before I get some flying lessons. I am trying to convience myself that falling off whilst jumping is a GOOD thing and it shouldn't put me off.
 
Mary Poppins said:
My head says that, but when I see a 2ft 6 jump I panic!!! Ben has got a HUGE jump in him and is sometimes a little keen to take off early. That's why we are doing the grid work and the pole work. Sometiems when we go to canter over a single pole on the ground, he jumps it like it is a 2ft jump. So far I haven't been cataputled over his head, but it's only a matter of time before I get some flying lessons. I am trying to convience myself that falling off whilst jumping is a GOOD thing and it shouldn't put me off.
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I've fallen off twice while jumping (not on Poppy, on RS horses before I got her) and actually it was fine. You're usually kind of expecting it and not going that fast by the time it happens! Both times it was because the horse wasn't sure if it was going to refuse, then put in an extra stride/cat jump and I went over the shoulder. I don't mind falling off in the school really - it's soft and she can't go anywhere. I mean, I'd rather not, but better than out hacking!
 
Very worth it for me, I have recently started backing Max, a novice with a youngster, good combo lol. We are being taught more classical riding, going western and bitless, she charges £13 for 1/2hr, or £15 if its only you having a lesson, comes to the yard. She takes it at your pace, the horses love her. I have a lesson with her every week.
 
I normally spend the summer having fornightly riding lessons with my instrutor 35 for 45 mins. It has helped with my confidence loads. But I have decided this year no lessons just hacking and schooling and I will use the money I save to hire a box and have some days out. Too...... Horse Agility, Le Trec training. Pleasure rides, Shows and the beach :)

I am a bit bored of lessons. I want to mainly just have fun this year with my OH .......the Ponies and friends:smile:
 
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