Wwyd

[scattercushion]

My daughter has been having one-to-one riding lessons with an instructor since September but does not feel she is progressing. She had a lesson with another instructor at another riding school and did so much better so we have decided to change riding schools.

What would you say to the original instructor? I feel really bad because she’s on her own trying to run a business and is struggling for money but I suppose that’s not my problem. Would you explain why you’re moving or just make up an excuse? And would you text or phone? I’m shit at this sort of thing.

I wouldn’t say anything if you are just moving schools, just stop booking?

Yes just stop booking. She'll probably never forgive you 😆because the horse world is a bit like that, but if you never have to see her again then it's fine 🙂

What lastqueen said! We had a similar situation when dd was much younger - we used to book a block of lessons at a time - when we decided to change riding schools we just didn’t book another block.

I agree to just stop booking? You don’t owe her anything, but if she does contact you and ask then it would probably be a kindness telling her the truth. Her business is struggling for a reason if her teachings substandard, she needs to work on improving her methods. Just tell her what you’ve said on here, your daughter has stopped progressing and she improved after a lesson with another instructor 🤷🏼‍♀️

Don't do this ! Just lie and say it was easier for some reason

Yes, morally speaking of course the right thing to do is probably give her at least some explanation particularly if the reason for the change is something she might be able to fix for the future, but here in the real world I'd 90% just stop booking without saying anything (this is how I've 'broken up' with previous instructors as well as hairdressers, dentists and a range of other service personnel, shoot me ), or if you think she's going to contact you and directly ask or you really feel you need to say something, I'd do a vague/white lie type explanation, something like 'we're really busy at the moment so DD is going to have a break from lessons with you for the time being'. Horse people are not usually the best at accepting constructive feedback, to put it mildly, so I'd be pretty anxious about having any kind of conversation with her about her teaching methods or quality of horses or facilities or whatever it is...

Like everyone has said, just stop booking.

She won't want to hear that it's because she's crap at her job, and all it will do is sour relations between you for no reason.

Leave on good terms, without upsetting anyone with the hard truth.

In the horse world, you never know who knows who and who you will come across in the future.

Keep it easy and as others have said, just don't rebook.

I’m such a wimp with this sort of thing ! I’d say she was having a break from lessons (blame the impending snow) and then reappeared a fortnight later at the new place 😁

Definitely leave everything and everyone in the horse world on a good note - everyone knows everyone !

This. Always leave on good terms.