Okay, so I keep seeing people say they want lessons on schoolmasters.
These same people would probably like that lesson to be the same cost as a lesson on their own horse, right?
Or they think maybe an extra $15 or $25 covers the use of that horse for their 30 minute rental.
Let’s say you owned a schoolmaster. The type of horse who is able to do all the hard work, and tolerate doing it with someone who doesn’t yet have the skillset to ride the movement correctly and easily. You are asking for a horse who not only has the training, but can use it with a rider who is effectively shouting at them, possibly in another foreign language.
It took years to develop that horse, who has to eat, be trained, probably have vet work since they are likely older with some miles. There’s two options for ownership: a well heeled client, or the trainer.
If you owned one of these gems, would you let whomever come ride it once a week? No, you probably wouldn’t, because it costs you more to go keep him tuned up and fit and healthy than you could ever recoup. So you’re now doing it from the goodness of your heart, with something very valuable and hard to replace.
Maybe I’m projecting my own experience, because I own one of these horses, but the number of comments I get wishing that people could just ride him once or borrow him for a show as if the reins I’m holding are the key to their dressage success if I’d only not be so nasty as to not share, well, I can really understand why people don’t allow it. There is nothing in it for the owner.
schoolmasters are readily available, for those who are willing to assume the costs of having one. The idea that they should be available at low cost because someone wants to ride dressage but is broke, well, I’m not so sure I’m behind that idea. Someone is paying for it, but in the same breath people say that training is too expensive. What exactly is the solution here?
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