Changing riding barns?

[starcrossed]

I'm toying with the idea of changing the barn I ride at. I love the barn I'm currently at but there are a few niggly problems there but I'm having a hard time of getting into the mindset of actually making the change and I need to make sure I'm not overreacting to something experienced horsepeople would consider small.

Comments

[hagazusa]

Try a lesson or two at another riding school, preferably one with an indoor arena. Look in the phone book and see what options you have.

I would also be concerned about the way your current barn is treating their horses. In winter it will be hard to get them immaculate, but if they look neglected and uncared for, especially if they are allowed to get overheated in summer--that doesn't seem good.

Alas, the standard of horse care at different riding schools varies a lot--as does the quality of instructors. Some schools I've experienced have ungroomed school horses left all day in tie stalls and instructors that are basically college students that scream at you. And some have pampered horses in beautiful stalls and mature professional instructors. You might have to pay more for quality, but it's worth it.

You're the customer. Shop around. Good luck! :)

[hagazusa]

Yeah, sometimes mud-caked tails just mean they get lots of healthy turn out and fun time. :)

[draftwitch]

Trust your gut instinct - it's there for a reason. The big thing that immediately stood out for me was reason #3. If the instructors don't know how to help you, have you told them why you're not getting it? If you have talked to them about it and you're still not having any luck - then try a new instructor.

When you go to the new barn - ask lots of questions! If you have concerns - bring them up.

That's about all I can think of. Good luck with your search!

[fleefloodle]

Look for a BHS approved riding school if you can. Admittedly, they have approved some fairly appalling ones, but if they don't have approval then it can be a warning sign.

I'm in Scotland and an indoor school is definitely a good thing! And as others have said, if you don't feel your instructor is really helping you then it's not worth staying with them.

[thehomicidehoe]

The only thing about BHS riding schools is, yes they are 'safe', but the instructors will most likely be the 'collage-age ones that scream at you', not all of them are, but there are quite alot of them. Just my opinion

And yes for indoors!

[fleefloodle]

BHS riding schools should also have at least one BHS qualified instructor...

[thehomicidehoe]

I never said they weren't qualified. In my experiance, most, and I say most, not all, of the BHS instructors I've been 'taught' by, didn't know an awful lot. They could teach a group of children 'up-downs' but thats it. There are good BHS instructors, but you have to also look at if they ride, what they ride and what their competition/training results are like, or if they don't ride, what their students are doing. Most, again I say most, not all, BHS riding schools I know don't want their students progressing past a certain point (up-downs, a bit of canter, very basic) because then they will want to move on, past the instructors ability to teach. I really don't want to start anything, I just have a bit of a grump with the 'BHS teaching system' at the moment

[elevenelevenxo]

01. "The way the horses were treated in the summer

[cake_of_hate]

I went through the same thing about a month ago. On a lark a friend and I decided to try out another few barns near where I live and wow, I didn't know what I was missing. I absolutely love my new instructor. She really seems to understand the things I am nervous about and helps me work through them, and readily answers any question I have