Are your riding lessons worth the money?

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins

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Oct 10, 2004
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I have owned Ben for almost 18 months and during that time I have only had 5 lessons on him - 2 were privates and 3 were group. I haven't had a lesson since last August but have decided to give them a try again and see how I get on. The lessons are not cheap (£45 for private) but the instructor is a BHSI and very good. I'm not aiming for anything in particular but I want to improve my riding and just get the best out of my horse. I'm aiming for 2 private lessons a month as long as I can afford them.

Do you all have regular lessons and are they worth the money?
 
I have lessons, approximately one per month although what I tend to do is go away and practice my 'homework' for a couple of weeks then ring my instructor to arrange the next lesson when I think I'm ready (either because I've achieved something or because I'm getting no-where!).

I definitely think my lessons are worth it. I'll never be a brilliant rider and I used to think 'schooling' was only for serious riders who wanted to compete, but now I realise that it actually gives you the tools to deal with awkward situations if they arise. I just wish it didn't take so long to learn all these magical skills!
 
I tend to find I get bored riding in the school at home, I love my lessons as I take Moët to the instructors yard and we both focus a lot better being off the yard.

I used to have 1 or 2 a month and thoroughly look forward to them. I used to have a different instructor years ago and didn't really look forward to them as much, but as this instructor focuses on my riding not Moët I find I come away having really improved or changed something about me, and Moët has also offered something new in response.

I can't wait to start lessons again at the end of may, although juggling a baby with no family nearby means I will only be able to have them on a Saturday when my husband is free to babysit, meaning I may find it tricky to get a lesson slot as frequent :(
 
I don't have regular lessons, but when I do have lessons I spend a lot of money.

Heather Moffett, best money I ever spent on lessons. NOt cheap, but I actually improved. Same with my carriage driving. I get a lesson in if I am ever in Aberdeen. Might spend £100 on a lesson, but well worth it.
 
Mine are really well worth the money (when I can afford it lol).

Really thoroughly enjoy them and find much benefit.

You have to make sure you get a really good instructor though.
 
I believe strongly what Bodshi said about doing homework after a lesson. I fixed this while learning to ride by having expensive lessons and then hacking (private hack) to practise whatever I had done in the lesson.
When I shared I didnt have lessons unless I wanted to learn something specific. I had a lesson on opening gates and a ground work lesson.

I dont believe in vaguely improving one's riding. Taking lessons doesnt necessarily do that anyway.
OH and I are having expensive private lessons at the moment and learning. That is, we can list what we learn. Which is why we continue with that RI.
One of the things we are learning is to ride some different horses. Which again wouldnt apply if you were having a lesson on your own horse. And which we cant practise unless we have those same horses to practise on.
 
I would like to start having regular lessons again, I think it's money well spent so long as you are always looking forward to them and feel that you take something from them when the RI has gone and you can practice what you've been told about. Money is a big factor for me atm, I think the going rate around here for a private lesson is about £50 - plus petrol expenses for them as we are in the middle of nowhere and I wouldn't expect them to just come to me and pay for all their expenses.
 
Well in the London area it is a lot more than that. Our current school costs more but you can see the money goes to having good horses, good tack and skilled staff. Moreover you get the school to yourself for a lesson. No double booking of the teaching spaces.
 
I have just booked 3 lessons, 3 weeks apart. The cost has gone up though - £50 each!!! I hope that they are worth the money. If not, I just won't have any more!
 
Fortnightly at the moment as I need the time in between to check how we are going and also having two in full work means that Ginger gets two nights off a fortnight so only get a change to work on the flat stuff 3 times before next lesson as hack at weekends.

I have always had lessons since I started to ride at eh age of 20 weekly, monthly or as now. They stop me picking up bad habits and refine my skills.

When I got Ginger I knew I had the ridden knowledge to bring him on but I still wanted lessons so that should I have an issue that I can't work around myself they will often have a different angle to try.

Worth every penny even the ones I don't have
 
I'm in a bit of an odd situation - so my answer is "yes and no".

1. No. Not really for my regular private lesson, which is cheap and cheerful anyway at £17 for 30 mins. I don't feel I'm learning much new after 4-5 years there, we tend to do variations on the same routines and I sort of 'practice with supervision'. But it's lovely and friendly, the ponies and horses are great and I feel relaxed there. This is why I keep having lessons. (I did try elsewhere where the level of instruction and mounts were better, but in the end I found I was a bit intimidated by it all.)

2. Yes. Because they are so kind. I get little pony projects to play with, and they are happy for me to turn up and ride something (in the school or hacking, with others or solo) any time in the week. I can join the wrinklies riding club lesson for liveries, on either school or livery horses, for an extra £3!!

So basically I can ride more or less as much as I want for £20 per week. That is priceless, both for extra saddle time and trust extended to me.:smile:
 
selside said:
I'm in a bit of an odd situation - so my answer is "yes and no".

1. No. Not really for my regular private lesson, which is cheap and cheerful anyway at £17 for 30 mins. I don't feel I'm learning much new after 4-5 years there, we tend to do variations on the same routines and I sort of 'practice with supervision'. But it's lovely and friendly, the ponies and horses are great and I feel relaxed there. This is why I keep having lessons. (I did try elsewhere where the level of instruction and mounts were better, but in the end I found I was a bit intimidated by it all.)

2. Yes. Because they are so kind. I get little pony projects to play with, and they are happy for me to turn up and ride something (in the school or hacking, with others or solo) any time in the week. I can join the wrinklies riding club lesson for liveries, on either school or livery horses, for an extra £3!!

So basically I can ride more or less as much as I want for £20 per week. That is priceless, both for extra saddle time and trust extended to me.:smile:
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That does sound lovely.:smile:
 
For me backing my own it is nice to have lessons on her and develop. I agree with the homework, I spend time doing what I have been told to work on.
You don't know what your getting when you start a baby, apart from the unbalanced, green and inexperienced part. So I have to improve on what I am sitting on. I can't put her back in the stable and say no I don't want to book that one again I didn't like her!
She is mine so it can make you suck it up and get on with it.

When I rode my friends medium dressage horse I was bored after two rides, I may have looked nice but I felt too much like a passenger, he didn't do anything, like disagree, buck, spin, shoot off, nap, all the things I am used to riding. :redface:
 
I am having sidesaddle lessons every few weeks but thats it at the moment. Its £30 for 45 min, well worth it :)
 
newforest said:
When I rode my friends medium dressage horse I was bored after two rides, I may have looked nice but I felt too much like a passenger, he didn't do anything, like disagree, buck, spin, shoot off, nap, all the things I am used to riding. :redface:
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Sometimes when I'm riding Raf I wonder what it will be like when we've progressed so far that I know what aids to give and he does exactly what I ask. I mean that's the whole point isn't it - to get a perfectly responsive horse? I must admit it does cross my mind that it will be boring, then I think there's no point in worrying about it because it ain't ever going to happen!
 
Bodshi said:
Sometimes when I'm riding Raf I wonder what it will be like when we've progressed so far that I know what aids to give and he does exactly what I ask. I mean that's the whole point isn't it - to get a perfectly responsive horse? I must admit it does cross my mind that it will be boring, then I think there's no point in worrying about it because it ain't ever going to happen!
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Ditto!!!
 
worth the money? definitely!!!!!

i'm a happy hacker and useless at schooling by myself! I find it boring, can't think of much to do other than the glaringly obvious and have a quarter of a century of bad riding habits!

both of my RIs are fantastic and I can really see progress which is fab :D
 
Havent had a lesson for ages, few years before owning my own horses (nearly 8 years ago lol!!) :tongue:

I dont crave to have one either, i like doing my own thing. I plan out my own sessions and what i want to do. OH then watches and picks up any 'flaws' etc :smile:
 
Yes, if it wasnt for my RI I doubt I'd've got on again after my injury, she is so supportive and uses just the right combination of bossy and kind, to me, and Cracker.

Also I can never think of what to do in the school on my own, and she never seems to run out of ideas of ways to make it more interesting, and we practice what we have done in the last lesson a couple of times in the week.

I do feel I have improved, and feel a lot more secure in the saddle which is all down to her.
 
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