Am I expecting a bit much from DD's riding school?

[Springersrock]

I know absolutely nothing about horse riding. Was never interested as a child so I don't have a clue.

DD 2 is 11 and started riding in April. We went to the local riding school where they suggested half hour group lessons.

10 months later, I can't say I'm all that impressed, but DD absolutely loves the place and doesn't want to change.

When we started she was in a group of 3, we're now up to 8 regularly, it has been more than that on occasion.

They all walk round the school for a bit, then take turns to trot or canter - as there's so many in the group most of the lesson is spent sitting doing nothing waiting for your turn. We've asked about longer or 1-to-1 lessons but they don't offer them

There doesn't seem to be any record keeping - if her regular teacher is off for a week the teacher taking over doesn't have a clue who's who or what they're doing.

We never get any feedback - the teacher will stand in the middle of the school and yell vague instructions, but she doesn't explain what she wants or how to do it. Just before Christmas we had a different teacher for a week who noticed that DD's heels weren't down properly and spent some time actually explaining to DD where she was going wrong and how to correct it.

There used another child with the same name as DD and every week we still get are you Child A or Child B - DD been going every week since the beginning of April and the other child hasn't been going since October. Out of everything, for some reason this pisses me off the most.

I want to change schools. I'm pissed off with paying for it, but from talking to other people, they all say this is pretty par for the course. DD loves the riding school and the horses so it's going to take some convincing for her to move

Thanks!

We are told to kick twice and then use the whip if the horse is still not moving as some riding ponies become numb to the legs.

So just sat through another lesson and am just so annoyed.

Again with the are you Jane A or Jane B?

No, she doesn't get a crop with stubborn horse.

Teacher stands in the middle of the school and yells. No feedback, no proper instruction.

I asked about longer or 1-2-1 lessons again, but they won't offer them. I explained that DD was frustrated at her lack of progress so we thought about having the odd 1-2-1 lesson with someone else if they don't offer them - they'd prefer we didn't as it would put her put of step with the rest of the class.

I am not sitting watching this (or paying for it) anymore

There are no pony club stables near me unfortunately. This is the only one who allows the kids to help out

The bottom line is you are throwing the money away , take the decision away from your daughter - she moves stables or stops altogether , this is pointless . We are a horsy family but my youngest started at riding school when she was nearly 5 having only sat on ponies before ( not ridden IYSWIM) she had a private 30 mins and a class 30 mins per week and was cantering and starting to jump in 12 weeks .

That's not proper instruction at all.

You do need to switch riding schools.

We use our own crops. Couldn't you get your own?

A riding crop is not going to solve this issue , it's piss poor teaching that is the problem .

Yes Floralnomad, precisely.

Maybe tell your daughter that it's a total waste of money...she either gives the other place a try, or doesn't ride at all? I think you need to take drastic action. It's far too expensive a hobby to put up with lack of proper instruction and no progress imho. I would feel exactly the same if I were you.

Would there be an option of her getting her own horse at some point? I think you mentioned that you might consider it later on. If I'm right about that, & she loves it as much as she thinks she does, it would be a small price for her to pay.

Dd1 was at a local riding school, which was very 'kid-focused'. She could spend the day there helping out and earning PC badges and would have a 45 min lesson or hack as per of her day.

I pulled her out of there when their horses kept going lame and started her at another school that is less 'kid focused', i.e. No days with the ponies, just a one to one half hour lesson after school and boy has her riding improved. It helps that she has access to other horses (we even had a pt loan for a while) so she can hack and 'hang out' at a private yard when she wants to.

The new riding school teaches completely differently though; they use the Classical Dressage approach, which IMO is far kinder to the horses... no kicking etc and the horses are so much happier, speedier and 'professional'. Both did and I have benefited from the move the lessons are cheaper!

I think there are a lot of riding schools out there that are quite run down, with cheap ponies that are bought purely for their 'bomb proof' natures, and the riding that is taught is never tailored to the individual. At her new place, dd seems to learn something new every week. Eg She will do three weeks of flat work then three weeks of jumping, and progresses each time. Some lessons the flat work is all about controlling the horse through various speeds in canter, and sometimes it's more technical bending work.

Dd isn't as 'horse mad' as she used to be (thankfully the desperation to own one has waned ) but she gets an awful lot out of her one to one lessons, and approaches them like any other sport where she wishes to improve.

However (last post now ), dd absolutely loved the community and social aspect of the last place, and the fact she could spend all day there learning about horsemanship was hugely beneficial. It was a lovely place, but the experience was very different to the new place where she is going one to one. You need to go out and explore the different possibilities and get a feel for the yards. Check out the horses too, and see if you can get a feel for the type of instruction on offer.

Thanks all!

I've spoken to DD and even she's admitted she was bored, cold and fed up on Saturday.

We're going to see the new place after school this week

Hi OP. How are thing's?