My daughter has had a few private lessons at a local, very small stables which she really enjoys. However, we have never filled in any paperwork, they don't seem to do any pony club activities and there is no formal path of progression. I wasn't sure if this is how it is everywhere or just at this place as I have no experience of horseriding whatsoever.
She is now ready for group lessons but being a very tall, proportionate 11 year old, she now gets the biggest, most stubborn horse whereas the other smaller riders seem to get the more active smaller horses, which she often rode during private lessons but are not available to her in the group lesson (plus others in the group have been riding for about 6 months now whereas she has had about 6 private lessons).