Once per week lessons in discipline of choice, or more frequent rides/lessons in another?

[BTRRS19]

I’m a low level hunter rider whose heart is in the hunters, but the closest hunter/jumper barn I’m aware of is over an hour away, making it impossible for me to ride more than once per week due to gas prices and time constraints. I’ve lessoned once a week before and enjoyed it, but became discouraged by my very slow progress and would love to be able to ride more. I do not have my own horse, otherwise I would try to find a more local boarding barn to practice on my own horse throughout the week and then lesson once per week. Unfortunately, horse ownership isn’t financially feasible at the moment and I don’t know of any local places offering something like a half lease, plus I’m sadly not an advanced enough rider to catch ride or exercise horses, though I would absolutely love to.

My other option is to lesson at a more local barn that specializes in other disciplines, mainly Western but some foxhunting, cross country, and dressage. I’ve lessoned there years ago and found them to be very skilled and knowledgeable, but I had to take a break from riding at the time and switched back to hunters later. While I’d really love to get back into the hunters again, I’d really just like saddle time right now. I would probably be able to ride 2-3 times per week here, which would likely help my progress a lot.

If you were in my position, which would you choose?

[Texarkana]

At the end of the day, saddle time is saddle time and good instruction is good instruction.

I think you are going to reach your goals a lot faster with more time in the saddle, provided both programs are knowledgeable.

It’s hard to make progress only riding once per week, but if you feel like you’re not progressing, a change may be in order anyway.

Taking lessons in a different discipline may or may not help you get to the show ring of your choice, but it will help you be a better rider and horse person overall.

[SweetMutt]

Can you do both?

If not, I’d vote for the closer barn. There’s nothing like regular saddle time when you’re getting back to it.

[BTRRS19]

I’ve done both before and it was a bit hard to juggle, but would be willing to give it another try if possible. Scheduling for the one that’s far away is the hardest since I only have a couple of different days per week I would have time to drive 2+ hours (to and from) and groom/tack/ride/cool off/etc.

[walktrot]

Aim for the closer barn. You are correct, your progress will be slower if you ride once per week. If you can do 2or 3 (or more) rides during the week you can practice. Ask your instructor give you some homework.

If the barn has boarders ask about a half lease. You may be able to find a horse owner who will do a partial lease. I gave up cantering during a lesson when we were on a longe line. The instructor asked the horse for a better canter. He got excited, yelled YeeHah, and the next thing I remember is lying on the ground gasping for breath. Being in my mid-50s, I didn’t need the high speed work.

I had a couple of teenagers who rode my horse for their lessons and during the week. He got excited because he knew he would get some high speed work. He loves galloping in snow. The first one won the open junior class at a versatlity challenge and had a blast at a skijroing clinic. The second one learned to ride on him. She spent a few years as a working student at an excellent dressage barn in Wellington and Vermont. She is making her way up the levels and is an excellent rider.

[clanter]

Unfortunately, horse ownership isn’t financially feasible at the moment

(actually horse ownership is never feasible we just rationalize the expenditure as justified)

I agree with Texarkana

[Janet]

Saddle time is the biggest thing that you need. Skills you learn hunting or cross country jumping will transfer directly to a future show hunter career.

[173north]

You need to get as much saddle time as possible under the best instructors possible, and it sounds like the closer barn is a good fit for that. I grew up doing cross country and dressage under a very old-school trainer and found moving into hunters to be a breeze - I had to tweak my style and equitation a bit because I was a bit rough around the edges, but that was surface-level stuff and trainers were always very complimentary of my effective riding and good seat.

[phosics]

Seconding the saddle time, also time spent with different instruction and cross training can be incredibly beneficial to your growth as a rider! Especially dressage, there is a lot to be learned that that makes for good skills to have in the toolbox. I think it will help you scratch the itch, so to say, while also teaching you a lot that will be useful when you do return to the Hunter ring.

[findeight]

A big part of riding is muscle memory, the more you develop those muscles, the more intuitive your riding becomes. That means your body reacts to the the horse almost automatically, you feel what the horse is going to do before it does it and adjust without correcting after the fact.

The only way this can be accomplished is repetition. You cant develop it anywhere except in the saddle. Doesn’t matter which kind of saddle, basic behavior and reaction are the same. Feeling a spook coming, a buck, a balk? Don’t feel any different.

Soooo….if you really want to develop as a rider? Ride. Wherever, whatever and whenever.

[Jealoushe]

The dressage lessons would be the most beneficial to further your training imo!

[BrendaJane]

@clanter

(actually horse ownership is never feasible we just rationalize the expenditure as justified)

dammit, just as I am thinking about looking…

[DawgLady]

Dressage lessons with a competent instructor are never a bad idea! You’ll really learn how to ride.