should my friend be farther than this?

[horselova4ever]

Hi, my name is whitney and ive been just free riding for like all my life but i just started taking lessons just about 2 years now. well this thread is for my firend. You see she started riding around 3 years ago maybe even 3 1/2 years ago and shes not even jumping yet. Also she just stared cantering on a lounge line about 6 months ago. Im kinda worried she is paying to much and to long for the lessons at her stables. Her mom would love her to move to my lessons and so would i but she wants to stay there which i totally understand. I just wanted to no if this was normal for her to only be this far and has been riding for 3 years.

p.s. she had to switch riding instructors 1 1/2 ago and she says she had to start her over but i dont undrestand why she had to start her over.

p.p.s. also her stables wont let their students jump if they dont have theyre own horse but i dont think shed be ready to just even if they did. sorry if that sounds rude.

[Filly]

I would say 3 years is an awfully long time to not be jumping. The same sort of thing happened to me, but I was only there for 1 1/2 years. The only thing I did was walk and sometimes trot on a lounge line.
I recently moved toa new stable and am beginning to trot 12" jumps :jump3: (usually cross-crounty, which is harder), some cantering, and a lot of other stuff as well. I have only been there about 2 1/2 months.
Now, some people might think that is going a little fast, but I'm being chalanged and I'm so much. I am really angry at myself for not switching sooner, I wasted 1 1/2 years. I hope this help (And I hope I didn't bore too much with my riding auto-biography lol) :rolleyes:

[mishalee]

I have been riding for about 1 1/2 years. I've started cantering about 3 months ago, and I would've cantered a very long time ago(probably last winter, to be exact) if I hadn't been so chicken. Now I'm trotting over poles and going into the 2-point position and hopefully this will prepare me for jumping, which I might start doing soon. This summer I'm going to a show and I'm going to be in some walk & trot classes. I like going at this speed, as I can excel and become better at things over time.

It sounds as if that friend of yours needs to switch barns and instructors.It does sound like she paying too much for lessons and has learned far too little, and her instructor is probably aware of this.

[lilrish]

Well, as an instructor, I'd say that she absolutely should be at a higher level than she is at. Unless she is really, really, REALLY uncordinated (which I doubt), I'd have to say that either one or both of her instructors is/was incompetant. She absolutely needs to switch barns, not only for this lack of progress, but for their ridiculous rules about jumping. Any professional english lesson program should include jumping up to the intermediate level. If the lesson horses aren't fit to jump (explaining the 'own your horse to jump' rule), than the stable needs to purchase more adequate lesson mounts. If it is fearful of a lawsuit, well, thats the biz. Release forms should be sufficient. I would highly recmmend your friend to switch to a new farm. I'm sure she'll be pleasantly surprised at how swiftly she'll advance after 3 1/2 years of practically no forward movement. Good luck!

[paulandashia]

OK... See... LoL
I live in Alaska, and was a wrangler for years.
Tell your friend to go out to a "RANCH", and instead of spending her money on "lessons", where she just gets to walk around in a circle all the time, tell her to saddle up, and go for a REAL ride. Out where there is no fences holding her back. (((I mean no offense to anyone))) You learn how to "really" ride, "really" quick...

[lilrish]

While I agree that trail riding is not only pleasurable, but imperative to anyone who calls him/herself a 'rider', I don't think that lessons are a waste of money. Lessons teach the foundations of riding, such as leg position, balance, and muscular control. These qualities aren't for looks or 'pretty' riding, but for handling situations when the horse does not do what you want. Any rider who goes out on a trail without knowing the basics of riding could find him/herself in a tricky situation if the horse spooks, rears, or bolts. Lessons are not just 'walking in a circle' - they are a series of exercises intended to improve horsemanship. Not to mention the fact that there are disciplines, like jumping and dressage, that are intended for (and limited to) the ring. Again, I want to stress that nobody should call him/herself a well-rounded 'rider' if they can't handle trail and outdoor riding. However, the steriotype that lessons are a waste of money and do not teach 'real riding' is one that I'd like to challenge. After all the incidences I've had out on the trail (a few close calls, that's for sure), I'm greatful for every lesson that I paid for.

[m0usey]

I've been taking lessons about 2 months and the most advanced thing that I am doing is trotting over a pole on the ground on a lounge line. I think that this is about the right place for me to be.

[choco horse]

well this thread is for my firend. You see she started riding around 3 years ago maybe even 3 1/2 years ago and shes not even jumping yet. Also she just stared cantering on a lounge line about 6 months ago.

ok it is quite common at this day and age but she should be cantering as soon as she has mastered the sitting trot...and jumping as soon as she has mastered cantering...

[QUOTE=]Im kinda worried she is paying to much and to long for the lessons at her stables.

The reson she is paying a lot and they are holding her back may be because of insurance in case you haven't noticed there are too few a riding schools now a days as the insurance has gone up to much and a lot of riding schools can't afford it and so they try to have as little accidents as possible so they don't have to pay out as they will have to start there insurance again.

Her mom would love her to move to my lessons and so would i but she wants to stay there which i totally understand. I just wanted to no if this was normal for her to only be this far and has been riding for 3 years.

p.s. she had to switch riding instructors 1 1/2 ago and she says she had to start her over but i dont undrestand why she had to start her over.

i don't see why she had to start from scatch again as i have changed many riding instructors in my life and have not started again but it could of been just to see wat she could do or the new riding instructor wanted to teach your friend her way.


p.p.s. also her stables wont let their students jump if they dont have theyre own horse but i dont think shed be ready to just even if they did. sorry if that sounds rude.

ok once again insuranse resons but for the horse this time as the possibility of the horse landing wrong and dammaging it's shoulder
i think they may want there pupils to be trained to the best of standars and if your friend sticks to it she will be a very good rider indeed!

i hope this helps your friend and i would change riding schools if i was her or make the best of what they are offering they are clearly makeing sure that there students are to be traned to the best standards as i mentiond befor.l

ps just out of curiosity were dus your friend ride??

[choco horse]

OK... See... LoL
I live in Alaska, and was a wrangler for years.
Tell your friend to go out to a "RANCH", and instead of spending her money on "lessons", where she just gets to walk around in a circle all the time, tell her to saddle up, and go for a REAL ride. Out where there is no fences holding her back. (((I mean no offense to anyone))) You learn how to "really" ride, "really" quick...

you said go to a ranch well see what if the girl is english in england we do not have ranches.

In lessons you do not just ride around you get tought HOW to ride.

you said saddle up and just ride any were
well you need lessons on how to tack up, and what if they dont KNOW how to ride? or handel a crises?

ok you need to learn how to pisition your self and also how to understand the horse.

ok there are a lot more points i would like to stress but i shant as it is boring and will begin to sound like a lecture!. :D

[horselova4ever]

im sorry i no ur trying to help Paulandshia but i dont agree with you also like choco horse sed you need lessons on how to tack up and learn the basics and my friend rides english which is not something you can do at a ranch. Also I dont think it would be a good idea to go out and just ride a horseon a trail without knowing how to ride at all for when she started riding she no offence to her but didnt no anything really about riding. Sorry if I offended you in any way.

[paulandashia]

You have not offended me... :)
I just never took a single lesson in my life, so I guess my comprehension of why pay for something like that differs slightly from yours. :)
Also, from MY personal experience, I learned that EVERY SINGLE horse rides differently. They ALL need to be worked differently. What works for one, does NOT work for another. If you have Light Hands, you are going to have a VERY rough time with a Heavy-Mouthed hourse, and if you have Heavy Hands, and ride a Gentle Light Horse, you are going to be in a LOT of trouble as well... Same with Leg Positioning... If you brush One horses Flank, he could care less, If you touch Another, You are going to end up flat on your butt...
I just don't think there is ONE WAY to ride, and therefore, I do not think that that is something that can REALLY be taught. I ride differently than my best friend, and we are BOTH very secure in the saddle, and have managed to handle everything from MAJOR spooks, to High Jumps, and riding green-broke horses that rear each time you pull the reins... We have been bucked off, kicked, stepped on, bitten, chased... You name it... :) :) :)

[lilrish]

Quote - Also, from MY personal experience, I learned that EVERY SINGLE horse rides differently. They ALL need to be worked differently. What works for one, does NOT work for another. If you have Light Hands, you are going to have a VERY rough time with a Heavy-Mouthed hourse, and if you have Heavy Hands, and ride a Gentle Light Horse, you are going to be in a LOT of trouble as well... Same with Leg Positioning... If you brush One horses Flank, he could care less, If you touch Another, You are going to end up flat on your butt...

That's absolutely right, and thats ANOTHER reason why lessons are so beneficial. Unless you own your own horse, lesson programs are designed to let you experience a wide range and variety of horses, all with their own personalities and tendancies. At one stable where I started riding, they had 23 lesson horses!!! By the time I left that place, I could handle horses that were so sensitive you only had to think 'walk' to make 'em move, as well as horses that needed some hard cues and hands to keep controlled. Another point about lessons that I'd like to make is that anyone can get on a horse and eventually figure out how to ride, but that extra set of eyes on the ground will be able to spot things that you may not be aware you're doing. You may think you're sitting fine in the saddle, but a professional trainer may see that you're leaning slightly to the left. If that goes uncorrected for weeks or months, both you and your horses back could get thrown out. All I'm saying is that lessons are not a waste of money. You may be able to figure out what you're doing on your own, but a trained professional can get you (correctly) where you want to be safer and faster.

[choco horse]

Yes i agree with that and i have rode horsen who need a lot and a meen a lot to get them going and horses you just need to sit on there back and there off!! also when you are in a lesson you learn to conrtoll your self in the saddel i.e stop your self from slouching down or sitting like a sack of potatos! i realy think you can get to understand the horse better if you are having a lesson as you can find out all it's good points and it's bad points (related to if you are looking to buy one!) where as on a you don't really understand them as many a horse would prefer to be on a than in the school and thus they would not play up as much as they quicly get board of the school and beggin to go sawer. okay this next bit is not to do with wat a just said well it is a bit... A good ridding instructor when in the school should do a differnt rooten evry lesson and also a good instructor when taking the students out on a they should choose a differnt root evry time.

[rhiannonl]

people develop riding skills at differant rates i had a girl borrow a horse form me and she was trying to canter the 2nd day maybe your friend is just a slow learner and i v seen a lot of leassons going on over my 14 years of riding and i am 15

[HarimauDahan]

Well what does your friend think? If she is happy with her progress then its really only her decision whether she should change instructors or not. My mother has been riding for about 5 years now and still hasn't learned to trot. She has taken a few lessons and has trotted a time or two but doesnt like paces faster than a brisk walk. Point is, she's happy with her riding skills, lots of people are happy with what they know, Its not our place to say what one should or shouldnt be doing.

[slinkybink]

Well what does your friend think? If she is happy with her progress then its really only her decision whether she should change instructors or not. My mother has been riding for about 5 years now and still hasn't learned to trot. She has taken a few lessons and has trotted a time or two but doesnt like paces faster than a brisk walk. Point is, she's happy with her riding skills, lots of people are happy with what they know, Its not our place to say what one should or shouldnt be doing.

Exactly what I was thinking. If your friend is unhappy with what she is being taught, and the pace it's being taught at, then by all means, she should move. She may be comfortable with where she is at.......and maybe the instructor sees that she is uneasy with doing more?
I ride western pleasure now.....I'm 36 years old. But from 9 years old to 14, I took English lessons, up to dressage. I think, you REALLY can learn alot from riding both. And English style definity teaches balance well. My horse, Lucky, was 2 1/2 when I got him......I broke him. I truly think, if it had not been for some of those English lessons, I might not have been able to handle some of the things he threw my way. Yes, as paulandashia said, getting bucked, thrown, etc.....you learn.......but I never got bucked off or thrown, and I feel this was a direct result of the lessons I took......no matter how long ago it was....lol. I was able to go with the horse when he lept sideways, because a leaf blew the wrong way.....lol. Stayed on the saddle, when he thought it was a good idea to lunge jump across the 2inch trickle of water across the path. :rolleyes: Because I had learned, Lucky learned through me, that he could trust me. Yes, every horse rides different. But a confident rider, will output a confident horse.....most of the time.

Just my 2 cents. ;)

[horselova4ever]

well Emma (my friend) has told me a number of times she wishes she was as good as i am (not trying to brag just quoting.) The reason i think she doesnt want to move is because she thinks my instructor will challenge her to much. My instructor yes is very challengeing and that is why im where i am right now.
I dont think its that she confortable with where she is but that she is uncomfortable with herself. By the way im not making this stuff up we talk about horses all the time these are just a few things she mentioned to me.

[Bilbo12]

Maybe she should try taking a few lessons at your stable and if she finds it to challenging then she can go back to her old stable or try another one (:

[hersheybaby]

While I agree that trail riding is not only pleasurable, but imperative to anyone who calls him/herself a 'rider', I don't think that lessons are a waste of money. Lessons teach the foundations of riding, such as leg position, balance, and muscular control. These qualities aren't for looks or 'pretty' riding, but for handling situations when the horse does not do what you want. Any rider who goes out on a trail without knowing the basics of riding could find him/herself in a tricky situation if the horse spooks, rears, or bolts. Lessons are not just 'walking in a circle' - they are a series of exercises intended to improve horsemanship. Not to mention the fact that there are disciplines, like jumping and dressage, that are intended for (and limited to) the ring. Again, I want to stress that nobody should call him/herself a well-rounded 'rider' if they can't handle trail and outdoor riding. However, the steriotype that lessons are a waste of money and do not teach 'real riding' is one that I'd like to challenge. After all the incidences I've had out on the trail (a few close calls, that's for sure), I'm greatful for every lesson that I paid for.
i agree i don't take lesson becuase there a wates of time and i can learn for free from other cowgirls and cowboys

[mikay689]

I've been riding 3 1/2 years too, and i walk trot canter ( with and without stirrups ) and I jump 2'6 - 2'jumps...

[Bilbo12]

:offtopic: Mikay689 I LOVE you Avatar! :cutie:

[rainbow jump]

Hi, i dont think it is anything to worrie about,
you say your friend dosent want to move lessons to the hire one,
i completly symthpasise [sp?] with her as this could be a question of confidence, not every one wants to just go off on a horse and full speed, and maby she feels insecure, my point is if she feels happy where she is then let her be, riding is about enjoying your self not trying to get to olimpia or top events like such.
sorry i havent been much help but yer.
x