How to pick a barn for riding lessons?

[Dancer_Mom]

I don't know anything about riding really.  There are 2 riding schools close to us that both seem very good.  For those that may be experienced with this do you think either one of these schools sounds like the better option?

 

School 1:

 

Teaches English Saddle

Private Lessons (60min) are $65

Group Lessons (60min) are $45 - ratio is 6:1 (3-4 students for beginners)

Students can progress to participating in competitions, dressage, jumping

 

Students start with an evaluation, then private hour long lessons until they can trot comfortably, and then they can transition to hour long group classes if desired.

 

All students are required to learn to tack up

 

Instructors all have degrees in related fields and one of them coached the local university equestrian team for 2 years and now coaches the local state university huntseat team

 

They have an academy show one time per year for all the students

 

Facility is beautiful with an indoor and outdoor ring - they host the huntseat team from the state university. 

 

 

School 2:

 

Teaches English Saddle Seat (is this the same thing as above?)

Private Lessons (30min) are $40

They offer private lessons only (instructor told me they sometimes offer small group lessons and will extend the time of the lessons instead of adjusting the price)

Students can progress to competitions as well here

 

Instructors biographies were not available online but I spoke with 2 of them and they both have many years of teaching experience.

 

Instructor told me they stick with 30 minute lessons because they feel that is the optimal amount of time for the students to focus and they work them very hard in that 30 minutes. 

 

Instructor also told me they try to do mostly privates for safety of the students.

 

Edited to add: She also mentioned that they move the kids quickly and would have her trotting on her first lesson - wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a red flag

 

Students can learn to tack up if they like but you can also just show up for the lesson with the horse ready.

 

They also do an academy show each year at this school.

 

Their facility was nice and they also had an indoor and outdoor riding ring.

 

 

Any thoughts from riders or moms of riders?  I really think this could be a long term interest for my daughter so I am trying to pick a place that will start her off right.

Edited July 2, 2016 by Dancer_Mom

[SKL]

Personally I prefer the hour-long lesson and requiring the kids to tack up and also do other horse care before and after riding.

 

My kids do what's called group lessons, but they go at their own pace and get plenty of individual attention.  I am not sure why private lessons are better.  At some point you want to learn how to ride with other horses/people around, right?

[bzymom]

I would always lean towards a barn where the riders learn to tack and groom the horses.  IMO it makes them better connected to the horses, more informed as to what the horse's reactions can be and just better riders.

 

My dd is a theraputic riding instructor and also teaches "typical" lessons and groups (Girl Scouts etc) and camps, headed to college in Fall for animal-assisted therapy and equine therapeutic riding, so my knowledge is purely based upon our own experiences.  

 

I hold horses, whisper sweet nothings, and hand out lots of treats.  ; )

[hornblower]

My  dd rode English for several years. My preference is for facilities where the kids have to tack up,  & clean the horses & tack after. Actually often when we arrived, dd's lesson horse would be out in the field and she'd have to go catch him. He didn't always want to be caught :) 

However, as I posted in a previous thread a couple months ago, the main criteria I'd look for now is a facility that uses Alexandra Kurland's or similar methods.  Dd rode in what was considered a very gentle stable with a very calm and encouraging instructor but after several years, dd decided she wasn't happy with some of their methods - not visa a vis the humans, but the horses.  At the time she couldn't find anyone she really liked and she ended up quitting altogether. 

We also have nothing good to say about the whole pony club world, where horses are passed around like old shoes or gym equipment. 
 

Edited July 2, 2016 by hornblower

[momacacia]

I would watch some lessons and even the trainers ride or working with some of the horses. Hornblower has a good point...you want a place with a good philosophy towards the animals and students. You want your dd happy there and seeing good examples of animals treatment.

 

I rode in a barn, many moons ago, and the trainer was not good to the animals during training. I think this pops up a lot more than one might realize, but maybe the culture has really changed. Idk.

 

I'm also very in favor of tacking up yourself. It's the whole world that is fun, not just getting on and off. Cleaning tack on a winter Friday night in the little tack room with a space heater is a fond teen memory. :) There's nothing like the smell of leather or a nice barn. Hope she has a great time!

[Peaceful Isle]

I would want lessons at least 45 minutes. What I look for, is how organized the place is and if I can connect with the teacher. We switched places this summer, because the last teacher was not good at communicating. 

Also, look to see if the teacher is tired. I know that sounds silly, but if the teacher is worn out, they don't have much patience with the child. 

60 dollars a lesson is reasonable where I live. That is what it cost us last year. 

Shop around and try to find the best. 

[Reefgazer]

I think for beginners, group lessons are OK, but as your DD progresses, she may want to have private lessons in order to get more personal attention.  I don't think that 30 minutes or 1 hour is necessarily the best option; it really depends on what is best for your child.  But it is darned next to impossible to accomplish much in 30 minutes if that 30 minutes will also include grooming, tacking, and unsaddling the horse (and there is no way I would use a barn that didn't encourage students to do this kind of work because it enables the rider to develop a rapport with the animal).  My DD takes lessons at a barn where her lesson runs about 1 1/2 hours, but includes all her own horse care, from fetching the animal out of the pasture, to grooming, tacking, riding, and unsaddling. 

 

What I would look for in a barn:  First and foremost, a barn focused mainly on horsemanship, which includes all aspects of care, as well as riding, rather than on competition.  I think it is necessary to develop good horsemanship skills before entering the competitive world.  A really competitive barn can suck the joy right out of it for your DD, so beware of a barn that emphasizes competition for a rank beginner.  Degrees don't mean much, on a practical level, but years of hands-on horsemanship is worth gold.  The indoor ring is a plus for inclement weather.  Without seeing the barn or talking to the owner, I would be wary of Barn #2 because they don't require the student to tack and groom their own horse (although they may later on when the student progresses; you should ask this).  Look around the barn:  Are the stalls clean and water fresh, are the horses mostly pastured or locked in a stall (horses should be pastured whenever possible), are other riders interacting with the horses or just jumping on them as if they were some breathing Ferrari?  The answers to those questions would help me decide which barn to use.

 

 

 

Edited July 2, 2016 by reefgazer

[Reefgazer]

:)

I would watch some lessons and even the trainers ride or working with some of the horses. Hornblower has a good point...you want a place with a good philosophy towards the animals and students. You want your dd happy there and seeing good examples of animals treatment.

I rode in a barn, many moons ago, and the trainer was not good to the animals during training. I think this pops up a lot more than one might realize, but maybe the culture has really changed. Idk.

I'm also very in favor of tacking up yourself. It's the whole world that is fun, not just getting on and off. Cleaning tack on a winter Friday night in the little tack room with a space heater is a fond teen memory. :) There's nothing like the smell of leather or a nice barn. Hope she has a great time!

 

[Dancer_Mom]

Thanks for the replies so far. 

 

I definitely want my DD to learn to tack up and groom.  Her interest in horseback riding is equally about learning to care for animals as it is to learn to ride.

 

For the second school they said that if you want to tack up and groom you let them know you will be arriving to the lesson early to learn.  The 30 minutes is all on the horse.

[Ottakee]

If second one says come early/stay late for tacking and grooming the ride time.might be the same...or the first barn might want her there 1/2 hour early to get ready once she is able to tack the horse herself.

 

Another possible option is lessons from a 4h leader. Might be cheaper and low key but they often work on teaching all aspects of horse care, not just riding.

[Sdel]

I'd make sure the two barns teach the same things before comparing. When I hear saddle seat, I think of gaited horse shows and not dressage and jumping. They are very different approaches to riding and handling horses.

 

Stefanie

Edited July 2, 2016 by Sdel

[MotherGoose]

My dd ride at a place that's English, which we like, and also very down to earth with cats, dogs, Guineas, chickens, and babies wandering through. Riders must clean up behind their horses and parents are encouraged to allow willing riders to hang around and shovel more poo. So when dd says she wants a horse of her own, I can remind her of all the work required to take care of a horse! If you aren't rich people then I wouldn't ride at a rich people barn, given other options.