just wondered really as i had my first lesson tonight, i used to ride as a child but ive not ridden for over 30 years.
the first school i had booked with were very lax and when i showed up for my lesson tonight they claimed they had tried to phone me to say the instructor hadnt made it in - they had not tried to phone me and i told them that - then they changed their story and the man said he couldnt ring as had locked himself out of the house, and said they would be in touch. Still no call from them, not even an apology.
so at short notice i booked at another school and went for my lesson tonight.
i told them id not ridden for a very very long time and would need to be treated like a total novice.
it was an arena, a very placid horse and i really had a wonderful time, but i just wondered how lessons normally go?
i found i couldnt concentrate on technique because i was trying to keep my horse going, he was lovely and an old hand but in trot he wanted to stop....is it a good idea to learn to control the horse and learn technique at the same time?
im pleased i was let loose to some extent and i think i will learn quickly - alot of it came back to me tonight though i will need tons of practice and im sure alot of this cant be "taught" and has to be learnt on the job as it were.....but i know my balance is awful and though i was told id done really well, it all felt a bit clumsy and i dread to think what i looked like!
how do first lessons normally go?
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The tack room
what would you expect from lessons?
ThatVikRinA22 · 30/10/2012 19:29
he is a gentle giant - and i did have a bit of a moment mounting him! 
as im only 5ft 3 1/2! but once on i was fine - though he has a much bigger trot than my usual little pony....
im really not very good but im enthusiastic and fairly fearless so i think it will all start to come together (eventually!!)
and i love being at the yard and im really learning tons. 
Six month's poo picking?? .
You've certainly earned a bit of tuition. Shame you don't live near me, it would only take half an hour to show you how to put rugs on and tack up, most of it is just common sense. You could have started with ds's loan pony today, she's only 12.2 and very patient and doesn't kick like dhorse .
Yes, be careful of that Vicar. If you are up for it (and depending on how you think the RI might respond - well or poorly), it might be time to have that discussion about your services rendered and what you can expect to be taught in return, quid pro quo. Unfortunately there can be a tendency for people to take the mickey in this situation - not that I am necessarily suggesting the RI is doing that. Otherwise, an airy "Oh sorry, I'm busy that day" will suffice .
she showed me how to pick out a hoof today as it happens, and she knows a week is too long, i dont think that happens when the days get a bit longer.
i was meant to do another field today (smaller one) but mucking out took precedence, im not very fast 
and instructor had lessons. im pretty sure she does do all the other stuff she doesnt get time to do on a weekend during the week when she has a little more time.
i think she does sometimes take the fact im there for granted slightly, but she is always grateful for the help (always at pains to say thank you) and she showed me how to tack up today - i will ask next week if i can do it while she supervises, she is very very particular about tacking up - i know someone said the odd teeth rattle wont hurt but she says it does and makes them wary of being tacked up if someone hurts them so she likes it done properly and only after tuition. (p;is when times off the essence its 10x quicker for her to do it than me...)
i do think she is one of the good guys where horses and instruction is concerned - having seen the bad guys prior to finding her....
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thanks 50 - im sure that some of it that she is terribly pushed for time with so many horses and thats why she does rely on volunteers to do some of these jobs.
i dont mind as long as im getting some learning from it - saturdays that just doesnt happen but sundays it does - still not a lot because there is so much work to do, but i shouldnt moan because i do go willingly and i love being around the horses, and just being there and listening to her is in itself learning.
i think if i were to be going on a regular basis i would broach the subject but fact is im going to be back at work before long so wont be there every weekend - ive yet to find out if she would like me to go maybe one day a week on my days off, so im making the most of it while i can.
i will ask her next week if i can tack up the horse i have my lesson on, if she has 5 mins to stand with me while i do it.
if the learning grinds to a halt then so be it, i wont go weekly just to shovel shite, but for now, while im off work, ill go. im going tomorrow and weds to help out because of pony club days.
if it feel that its becoming a very one sided exchange then i will go just for lessons and leave it at that.
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