What Would You Do? (20 Characters)?
First a little about me: I am an intermediate rider, w/t/c jump 3′ basic dressage, ridden and trained green horses, work at a barn, love to show and want a horse career as a teacher, trainer, and mostly rider. my goal is to show high level and go to equestrian college. i am 16.
So i have three choices horsewise based on my budget:
1) Take two private hour lessons a week, top trainer, top barn top lessons. indoor/outdoor arena, jump, dressage, and shows. occasionally school the horses at the barn i work at. 0/month
2) Full open lease at the barn i work at. ride 6x a week, two mediocre lessons, one private one group, ride different horses. no jumping, some shows, no indoor. 0/month
3) half or three quarter lease of one horse, one average lesson a week. indoor, jump, some shows. 0/month
Which should i pick? i cant decide. Thanks for your help!
feel free to ask me more questions!
yea no jumping is definitely icky. its pretty much because its a small place with lots of horses (30+) and some horses are loose in the ring. and by the simple fact that they have no jumps. and no jumping teacher. and yes i am a hunter/jumper and eventer, so that is a major turnoff.
2 – icky. No jumping? Why not? Probably liability issues which would make me kind of iffy of that barn in the first place. Once they say you can’t do one thing, you won’t be able to do a whole bunch of other things either. The good thing about that barn is riding 6x+ a week. But I kinda remember you saying you evented? Maybe?? If so, no jumping may be good for your dressage but not so much for the other 2/3 (unless you are allowed to jump in lessons/off site lessons at least once a week?)
#3 – Too much money for what it is, I think. 2-3-4 rides a week and only one lesson.
#1 – My pick. Riding days are lower, but I’m guessing they’ll go up as you get more lessons/more experience/the trainer figures you out more and starts letting you school more horses. You’re old enough that you could intern with him if he’ll allow it and that would be a huge jump start in your career.
i think option 1, it covers a wide variety of riding and it’s cheaper than the other 2, so you get more value for money
I would have said # 2 bar the no jumping so, would go for # 1 – better quality of lessons and one on one instruction. I would ask that you ride different horses as much as possible as this is a vital part of learning to ride correctly.
Once you are known there you could always try to integrate and get some extra lessons for work.
1- if u r an intermediate rider, (and i know) only riding once or twice will drive u crazy!!!!
I’d go with the first one, no question. There is no substitution for great instruction; that instruction will help you progress quicker to a rider that other people will WANT on their horses. You’re better off taking one GOOD lesson from a quality instructor on a well-schooled horse than several lessons with a less schooled instructor and mediocre horse.
And take it from me – the group lesson thing is a sham. I have never seen it benefit a rider more than private lessons. You get less attention from your instructor and spend a lot of time waiting around watching someone else ride. While they offer a pleasant social setting, mostly what group lessons do is bring in more money for less of the instructors time. This is why good instructors limit the number of students they teach at a time, and charge more.
Also I’m not sure what area you’re in, but that’s pretty darn cheap for 2 hour private lessons per week. That’s about $60 a lesson? Most reputable trainers in my area charge $75 to $100 for those types of lessons.
If I understand the options correctly there is one best choice: #1. If you want to work in the horse industry and have the opportunity to train with a well-known trainer you will do better all the way around. If you do well and impress your trainer with the quality of both your ability and work-ethic you may get a job there or a great recommendation to another trainer’s barn in a couple of years.
Most successful trainers today worked for a great trainer on the way up. Stick with the best education and the best trainer.
Go with option 1. It fits your goals the best.
1 sounds like the best one
Personally I would go with option #1 Less money (: $20 can go a lonng way , and you get full on attention with a highly skilled trainer