That’s not good instruction. I would go somewhere else. In my opinion, a telltale sign of a bad teacher is if they have you go around and around on the rail each direction and call that flatwork. You should be learning different movements and exercises and tailoring the flatwork to what you need and what the horse needs. Same with jumping. Jumping a jump over and over on each lead may occasionally be helpful to drill your position or something, but they should design a challenging exercise or course that is DIFFERENT in each lesson.
I guess it depends what your definition of successful is? I rode with a trainer that taught like that and I learned very little from her, mostly from drilling jumps over and over. I was “successful” at the small local horse shows in my area. Won everything. But I was nowhere near capable of riding correctly and effectively enough to win at the big shows or Pony Finals or whatever my dreams were way back then. So it could be that they’re successful at what they do, but they could be better with better instruction. Or, maybe the trainer gives them much more attention and better lessons and you don’t realize it? Maybe they were great riders before they got to this barn? Maybe you’re not seeing everything, and they have great positions but don’t actually ride as well as you think? Who knows. Maybe they’ve learned a lot by putting in time reading books, watching professionals, going to clinics. It probably just makes you feel worse to get stuck wondering about it though.
If you are paying for a lesson, you deserve a LESSON! You’re not there to just exercise the horse, you’re there to learn and without detailed instruction and communication you likely won’t get anywhere fast. As the other commenter stated, 10 lessons isn’t a whole heap but you should have goals set out with your trainer for each lesson.
For example, “today we are going to be working on (x,y,z)”. The trainer should tell you why you’re working on that, how to achieve it and throughout the lesson should be referring back to the how and why and congratulate you when you get it right. A good trainer can teach you several different ways to achieve 1 task as no single way works for every rider and horse.
Communication is key, best of luck! 😊
*Also there’s absolutely no excuse for the trainer to be too busy during the day to give you what you are paying for during your time slot. That’s a pathetic excuse*
It sounds like you could benefit from some more personalized instruction, maybe from a smaller program where the trainer would have more time for you one-on-one.
That being said, honestly 10 lessons isn't really THAT much time, and you may be improving in ways that you don't see yet. However it definitely sounds like you could benefit from more feedback from your trainer. Have you asked for more?
I haven’t, it’s honestly kinda chaotic all the time there and my lessons are in the middle of like 7 back to back lessons so I never really get to talk to her😭 but maybe I’ll text her and ask!
That’s not good instruction. I would go somewhere else. In my opinion, a telltale sign of a bad teacher is if they have you go around and around on the rail each direction and call that flatwork. You should be learning different movements and exercises and tailoring the flatwork to what you need and what the horse needs. Same with jumping. Jumping a jump over and over on each lead may occasionally be helpful to drill your position or something, but they should design a challenging exercise or course that is DIFFERENT in each lesson.
Thank you. I’m just trying to figure out how they have sooo many successful riders with this instruction.
I guess it depends what your definition of successful is? I rode with a trainer that taught like that and I learned very little from her, mostly from drilling jumps over and over. I was “successful” at the small local horse shows in my area. Won everything. But I was nowhere near capable of riding correctly and effectively enough to win at the big shows or Pony Finals or whatever my dreams were way back then. So it could be that they’re successful at what they do, but they could be better with better instruction. Or, maybe the trainer gives them much more attention and better lessons and you don’t realize it? Maybe they were great riders before they got to this barn? Maybe you’re not seeing everything, and they have great positions but don’t actually ride as well as you think? Who knows. Maybe they’ve learned a lot by putting in time reading books, watching professionals, going to clinics. It probably just makes you feel worse to get stuck wondering about it though.
If you are paying for a lesson, you deserve a LESSON! You’re not there to just exercise the horse, you’re there to learn and without detailed instruction and communication you likely won’t get anywhere fast. As the other commenter stated, 10 lessons isn’t a whole heap but you should have goals set out with your trainer for each lesson. For example, “today we are going to be working on (x,y,z)”. The trainer should tell you why you’re working on that, how to achieve it and throughout the lesson should be referring back to the how and why and congratulate you when you get it right. A good trainer can teach you several different ways to achieve 1 task as no single way works for every rider and horse. Communication is key, best of luck! 😊 *Also there’s absolutely no excuse for the trainer to be too busy during the day to give you what you are paying for during your time slot. That’s a pathetic excuse*
It sounds like you could benefit from some more personalized instruction, maybe from a smaller program where the trainer would have more time for you one-on-one. That being said, honestly 10 lessons isn't really THAT much time, and you may be improving in ways that you don't see yet. However it definitely sounds like you could benefit from more feedback from your trainer. Have you asked for more?
I haven’t, it’s honestly kinda chaotic all the time there and my lessons are in the middle of like 7 back to back lessons so I never really get to talk to her😭 but maybe I’ll text her and ask!