Riding lessons-getting bored.

[pinkhousesarebest]

I have been riding again for two years after riding as a child. Still basic enough but I felt I was getting somewhere last year and competed in some little club competitions etc. However, for some time the lessons have become a bit repetitive, endless trotting with maybe one little individual canter and I am enjoying it a lot less. To make it worse, three beginners have just joined our group...
The instructor said this week that she would put me on a more challenging horse next week. Is that the way forward. Personally I would prefer to be on a horse that I felt comfortable on but was challenged by trying new things. What are your opinions on this? Don't want to go back to being terrified either ....

Havent ridden for a few years now but I think you should be pushed in terms of exercises. When I went back after a break, terrified after a nasty bolting experience on a friend's horse, the teacher moved forward at my pace (and I was almost in tears when I first got back on) and within a few months we were tackling small jumps, lots of cantering and figure 8s etc. Still basic but moving forward. Perhaps you should look elsewhere. Seems a bit crap for total beginners to be added - are you all doing the same or does the instructor give you more challenging exercises?

A more challenging horse isn't necessarily awful, I ended up on a slightly flighty 17.1hh boy which was great fun. Depends if the horse you currently ride is ploddy or if it is willing to get going when you ask!

Thank you for taking the time to reply. No he isn't plods, he is really forward going but safe. There are others that are fast but heedless and you spend the lesson just trying to stay on, which is not what I want. Yes little jumps, more work in canter is what I would love. Maybe time to move on.... such a pity.

IME putting you on a more challenging horse doesn't make it more fun, it makes it bloody hard work, but it will make you a better rider if you can cope with being frustrated. If you are feeling bored, and they are putting total beginners in with more experienced riders I would suggest changing schools - this is not good for learning.

How do you feel about getting out of the school and going hacking? I like lessons, it getting out and about every so often is what keeps things fresh for me. Change is as good as a rest and all that?

I would love to do thatSpudlet. I fact my prime motivation for taking it up again was to be able to go out with dd. We live in the country and there are bridle paths everywhere. But it doesn't seem to be a thing here.. lots of mutterings about how dangerous it is. Like school work exists in a vacuum. Weird.

NewLove I know. I am dreading next week now, as I think I will be put on the loopy mare that can't be told and will find my confidence wither away. Problem is we are paid up for the year. I am comforted to know though that I am right in my thinking so thank you!

Riding challenging horses will make you a good rider, not just doing a bit more canter work on the same old horse you ride all the time. I used to hate being moved up a horse but now I love it. Riding the old horses is boring and the new ones are so much more rewarding, when you figure out what buttons to press. I would say my co fidence went through the roof too! Ultimately if you aren't happy with the lessons you will probably need to move schools or start paying for private lesson

What is even better though is being at a decent riding school and riding a schoolmaster - being taught properly. It's so disheartening to be stuck on poorly schooled riding school horses and progress up the the more difficult ones and then basically doing their job for them of schooling them.

I'd also be a bit suspicious of a riding school that expected you to pay up for a year...

That is the norm here ( not in the U.K). The horse I ride is fab, very well schooled. I do have the odd private lesson on top but it's beginning to become expensive.

I would look at schoolmaster lessons, maybe some dressage where you can work on the lateral movements, lunge lessons. I went away for a week and did flat, jump, lunge and sidesaddle lessons and had a ball!
Even book somewhere else, go and ride a heavy horse or go for a trek

Yes. Thinking of that for half term...

Private lessons where you can choose to work on jumping or lateral or something more technical?

Riding holiday? Either a hacking type one or there are specialist dressage centre type ones you can go to?

I had a set of special jumping lessons.