Riding schools don't seem to want my custom

[Lurkingforawhile]

I've been riding regularly for nearly 20 years now, generally weekly in a group. I'm a decent rider (good seat) but not confident and also sometimes my asthma plays up. My last school had issues holding onto instructors and finally closed a year ago. I tried another local school with a good reputation and had a terrible lesson (everything just went wrong, my fault). I then rode at another school for four months which was ok but there were really too many of us for an indoor school with pillars in the middle. I had my last lesson in Feb.

In Feb I had shoulder surgery, then lockdown happened. My school were not doing the group lessons as far as I was aware. I emailed them to ask if they were restarting but didn't get a response. I then went on a brilliant hack on holiday in Yorkshire two weeks ago with a stables who had great customer service.

I have just contacted the first stables I tried last year to see if they can fit me in for a private lesson and have been told no. I've found out that the second school started the group lessons again a month ago.

I feel like the stables aren't really interested in riders like me, only the liveries or more advanced riders. I pay over £40 for a group lesson and would have thought I'd be a good customer. Am I missing something or being paranoid?

I don't want to have my own horse, and weekly riding is what I enjoy, but it seems pretty hard at the moment.

Thanks

That's extremely expensive. I pay £20 for 45 min group lesson or £35 for 30 minute private lesson (that usually ends up being 40 minutes).

Anyway, I have found that you need to be known/a regular to get the private lessons at my local riding school. The owner is fully booked up most weeks and they wouldn't take a booking for a private lesson from someone they don't know. They also only do them during week days. They seem to have enough custom to not be able to meet demand. (It is a good school.)

There are no adult group lessons, except for one on a Tuesday afternoon. They seem to make their money with the children's groups, especially on a weekend.

Would you try again at the school where you said you had a bad lesson (that sounds like it wasn't their fault)?

Thanks @historyrocks - it's about standard price around here (south east) sadly. The one in Yorkshire was much cheaper!

The one I had a bad lesson at is the one who said they couldn't fit me in for a private lesson. I think you're right that they have enough demand, and I know another stable around here doesn't do any private lessons at weekends and just does group lessons for children.

Sorry you are having trouble finding somewhere to ride :(. I know of a couple of places that developed a long waiting list during lockdown, and still aren’t running all lessons as normal - eg, private lessons or single households only, or no one who can’t lead their horse to the arena, mount and adjust girth and stirrups independently. That might mean they are reluctant to take on anyone new as they don’t know if you can do these things safely. It sucks for you, I know.

If you try again in a month or so, demand often falls once the weather turns, so you might have more luck.

Thanks @Feawen, that's a very good idea. I'm usually happy to ride in any weather, and I know people who move from lessons to hacking in winter so might be some capacity.

Where in the south east are you?

Hi @shittingthreeeyedraven - just outside Reading. I've ridden in West Berkshire and South Oxfordshire before

Sorry to hear about your struggles. I can only imagine covid chaos is playing a big role so please don't take it personally. I rode at riding schools for many years and did find it tough to find a good one, teaching (at all but particularly adults) is a real art and not all riding instructors have it, and sadly for whatever reason lots of schools don't seem to put that much effort into their adult customers, perhaps it's as simple as children being where the money is. I had plenty of lessons which were both disheartening and a waste of money (to PP yes, £40-45 p/hour is average for SE), where the teacher would just make us all drill round as a ride nose to tail, or worse, if it was an 'advanced' group, just sit on their phone or chat to their mate while we schooled their ponies for them, occasionally giving a half hearted 'heels down' or similar... The only thing I'd say is stick at it, don't write off a school on the basis of one bad lesson as typically for your first lesson they'll give you the safest, slowest plod they have to check if you really can ride and also you don't know which teacher is best so do see if you can give the other school a 2nd chance. You may also need to travel further afield for better quality teaching. Can you work towards a share/part loan also as this is really the best way of progressing without owning your own?

Ah wrong area for me to suggest anything

Thanks @maxelly - it's good to hear you've had similar experiences to mine! I've had a couple of brilliant instructors who gave me so much confidence (which is as much or an issue for me as technical skills) and you're right, they are not easy to find. I will keep going, and try maybe somewhere in North Hampshire where there are a few more stables. I don't mind going less frequently as long as it's regular. I don't think a loan or half loan is for me at the moment - my shoulder surgery wasn't successful so still trying to get to the bottom of that. It would be a good longer term aim though

I think your experience might be quite common at the moment....running a riding school is so costly now and several have closed in our area, such that the remaining ones are very over-subscribed. There are then a couple of COVID related factors that are impacting. The first one being as a pp mentioned above, that some schools are only accepting riders who can mount and adjust girth/stirrups independently and are probably more comfortable with the ability of people they know for that. The second being that lockdown was such a tough time for riding schools. Most of the ponies had to go out to grass for a long period of time and are coming back into work slowly, and certainly a couple of schools local to me returned loans to their owners or loaned out riding school ponies. So they might be running on a reduced capacity. One had to reduce any cost they could (to enable them to still care for the remaining ponies) and reduced her liability insurance to maximum 6 riders at any time. She may increase it again, but I was just pointing out that although riding schools are open, things are far from 'normal' for these businesses.

Thanks @Deliaskis - I had thought about some of those issues but not others, so useful. I know the stables around here really struggle to make riding schools wash their face anyway, which is why some have gone livery only, so this would only make it harder. Insurance seems to be the biggest issue.

@Deliaskis

I think your experience might be quite common at the moment....running a riding school is so costly now and several have closed in our area, such that the remaining ones are very over-subscribed. There are then a couple of COVID related factors that are impacting. The first one being as a pp mentioned above, that some schools are only accepting riders who can mount and adjust girth/stirrups independently and are probably more comfortable with the ability of people they know for that. The second being that lockdown was such a tough time for riding schools. Most of the ponies had to go out to grass for a long period of time and are coming back into work slowly, and certainly a couple of schools local to me returned loans to their owners or loaned out riding school ponies. So they might be running on a reduced capacity. One had to reduce any cost they could (to enable them to still care for the remaining ponies) and reduced her liability insurance to maximum 6 riders at any time. She may increase it again, but I was just pointing out that although riding schools are open, things are far from 'normal' for these businesses.

Very good point re the costs of keeping RS horses, my YO who runs a large riding school has just sold off or loaned out 3 of her big horses, she says coming into winter there is no way they are going to earn their keep, they need more food, rugs, forage, grazing, vet attention and general TLC than the ponies, and even though she's raised her prices, the demand just isn't there. She says going forward for the riding school she'll only be buying 14.2 or under native or cobby types that are cheap to keep, sound and hardy. Her ideal horse is the type that can be ridden by anyone from a tall 8 year old to a slight adult... and I guess it's just hard luck if you don't fit that mould through being a bit taller or heavier. Luckily she does also buy and sell horses on the side, and there is the odd working livery too so if you are a 'trusted' client you'll be allowed on some of the much nicer/bigger types, but I don't really know how you are meant to get to that point if you are a taller/heavier beginner or even just someone she doesn't know well. I guess it's just business reality, the majority of RS clients are kids and so that's what they cater for but I do think it's a big shame for people like OP who aren't ready or able to have their own but do want to enjoy riding as an occasional hobby - there's enough in our sport to put people off (expense, risk, perception of snobbishness etc) without making it actually impossible to learn in some instances.

OP, one thought, you seem like you aren't too far from Windsor Great Park - there are a couple of riding schools which offer great hacking through the park which is just beautiful (and I expect they do lessons too) - worth checking out?

The (very average) place where I ride is over-subscribed for group lessons. Private lessons are possible - but they only have slots during mon-fri 9-5. They are following the restrictions about having to be able to sort stirrups, girths etc. so probably are not rushing to set on people they don't know.

They are also limited for 'adult' horses they can give to a rider of unknown skillset - they mainly have mid sized ponies and cobs, so if you don't fit one of them it's hard for you to get your foot in the door.

I agree with others that it is probably partly timing and riding schools being reluctant to take on new clients right now. I know that restrictions on riding schools have just increased again, and it must be difficult for places to take on unknown clients as all riders need to be able to mount/dismount/do girths and stirrups themselves safely.

It's also true that most schools don't want to run private lessons for adults when they could run groups, particularly with limited school space.

However if you want to ride you ought to be able to find somewhere! I would keep trying different yards, and hopefully you will find somewhere suitable!

I would keep looking, maybe post on your local FB horse owners group. I know what you mean, when you're in a group adult lesson its fun and confidence building but going somewhere new for a private lesson can be a whole different ball game. Perhaps if you post what county you are in people can recommend somewhere as well.

Sorry to jump in, but where was the good place in Yorkshire? I'm in Yorkshire and always looking for good places for hacking!

I thought I would come back with an update, and to say thank you for your support. I had my first lesson back at the school I wasn't so keen on yesterday and it was great! We rode outdoors (I think because of Covid) and the instructor who I did like before was really helpful, including changing my horse to help with my health issues. Back cantering, and trotting over poles with confidence. I've signed up for vouchers which brings the cost down to £30 a lesson and will be riding weekly, although taking it easy because of my shoulder to start with. Was lovely to be riding again!

@Pr1nc3ssP3rdy Masham Trekking Centre. On the Swinton Estate if you fancy a posh spa trip too!

That’s great news - I’m glad you found somewhere. It sounds like you are sorted now, but a friend of mine who lives near Reading mentioned enjoying lessons at Cloud Stables.

Thanks @Feawen, I'll keep that in mind!

Great news, really glad to hear you're enjoying it again, do keep us up to date!

I should have also said re a couple of comments above I'm lucky to be small enough to ride ponies, and I like a small cobby type. Very interesting to hear about stables wanting to keep more versatile horses. Feel it must be particularly hard for men wanting to learn. Also I know that it's been good for me to have lessons on the bigger horses to improve technique.