I teach the Never Evers/Up Downers at a very casual barn. It’s a community farm tended to by volunteers. They feed, clean, do chores, repair, and whatever needs to be done around the facility. Aside from horses (about 18 or so), the farm has goats, rabbits, calves, chickens, ducks, pigs, and more. It is a no frills/do it yourself type place. It also has several instructors who specialize in one discipline or another. I am the beginner hunt seat instructor. I have to admit that when I first saw the place I was prepared for backyard style horses and riders. I gave a lesson to the intermediate kids just so the owner could see my style and what I know. The riders surprised me! They all rode very well! The horses were all well suited and the rider had good equitation and feel. These kids do pony club, eventing, local h/j shows, and dressage. They also have fun with the horses by taking them on trails, to a lake to go swimming in the summer, and gymkhanas just to name a few. The barn itself needs some love but the volunteers are working on that. All the horses live out together in one large turnout area. It can get very muddy and sloppy. The barn has 4 stalls but they opened up the back of each stall and they feed into the turnout run. Horses will sometimes stand in the stall part just to get some shade (there are two shelters in the turnout) or just hang out. One stall opens to a separate run where one horse and 4 donkeys reside. Most of the horses have a part time leasor to help cover costs. Those horses are the ones that the intermediate and advanced students ride in their lessons. My beginners aren’t ready to lease but I talk to them about doing it in the near future so they will have a goal. There are about 6-7 horses who aren’t fully leased and those are the ones I can select for my lessons. I don’t have to pay for a lease to use them. They are taken care of by the barn owner. I’m also covered under her insurance. It’s really a sweet deal for me. Ok, getting to my point…
I have been there since the end of July (started by doing two weeks of day camp) and started teaching on a regular basis around the end of August. They needed a new instructor for the up/downers because the last one suddenly left and left some students hanging. The owner hired me based on what she saw when I taught that first lesson and day camp. I focus on safety and horsemanship before the riding part. I teach grooming, horse behavior, how to catch and lead a horse, horse anatomy, etc. We usually spend the first 15-20 minutes on horsemanship. I also quiz my students to see what they remember from eeek to week. Then I add a couple things more such as parts of the tack or another horse part. My kids run from ages 5-12 so I hear a lot of varied answers. I also use that time to get to know my students as a whole. I then use that information to create a relationship between the horses and their personalities. I also focus on safety. I require all my students to wear their helmets any time they are on the property. They must have proper riding boots (and half chaps should they want them). No cowboy boots for h/j lessons. Proper clothing for any type of weather. The weather here changes on a dime so layering is key. They are never allowed to say “I can’t”. They have to switch it to I can or I will. They need to be on time and come with their ears, eyes, and brains turned on. They aren’t to go into a stall/run by themselves. They have to retrieve their tack and groom while I assist as needed. There is no running or loud voices. But mostly, NO WHINING or else they don’t ride. Riding is the reward for getting the horse ready themselves (with my complete supervision). When they are all ready, they will take the horse into the arena. My students all start on the longe line until after many lessons, I feel comfortable letting them ride without me holding them. I always walk/jog alongside with them the entire time. I never step away into the middle of the arena or sit down. They ride for about 30 minutes then they have to untack and not leave until their horse and tack are properly put away.
Ok, I’ve gone on long enough. What I’m getting to is that I focus on the absolute basics and explain the how and why we do the things we do when riding. I tell my kids that the hardest part about riding, is riding. I also tell them that my job is to keep them safe and that’s not feasible to do that if they don’t learn how to ride properly. I’ve been told by many trainers that I am filling a void that is desperately needed in this industry. I agree but it’s sad that there are only a few of us who start the kids slowly instesd of seeing dollar sign and push the kids quickly through the ranks so the parents will buy a high five to six figure horse within the first year of lessoning. I don’t care about any of that. I have zero desire to take kids to shows. I’m also a professional Braider, groom, and I judge. So I see enough horse show drama. I know I don’t have the patience to put up with any of that. When my students are ready to move up to leasing and/or jumping/showing, I send them to the true h/j or dressage trainer there. Only leasors are allowed to ride with them. I love their style of teaching so I’m happy to do so. The atmosphere at the “farm” is far more relaxed yet all the riders ride as if they are in a fancy place. I think their skills show that building up the foundations of riding pays off. It shows up in the riding regardless of the horse they ride.
I have around 15 students and I have a waiting list. I’m going to open up some more afternoons just to fit them in due to all the inquiries I’m getting.
I hope more people start going back to teaching the basics otherwise we will have a new generation of “trainers” who don’t know enough to care for the horses and riders. The horses and riders will suffer greatly. That could lead to a complete deterioration of our sport.
) riders.
