[QUOTE=Kaylinne;8853903]
Thank you all very much for your comments & insights: Positive & negative. I have found them to be most helpful-really. For those who believe I have “blown smoke”, I actually presented the situation as I percieved the events. The student involved has a busy professional life so Sunday was our best chance for an assessment lesson. This individual’s personality is “get it done-now”, very competitive and also a very busy life. Sun eve seemed to fit. I asked the student to put it on the white board out of courtesy to the barn. The observer did not have a camcorder- rather an iphone. I had no idea post-lesson comments were being made. I typically finish with my student, put my equipment away & leave. I see that I have been rather naïve in approaching teaching. I am new to this side. I didn’t board my horses, so I either hauled in for any of my lessons with my instructor or he came to my farm. I continue to own a farm but liability insurance for me/my property to teach a few students is simply not worth it. My farm is a private one- not for boarding/lessons/sales. I frankly don’t have lengthy experience with boarding facilities. I see that the majority of responders here feel it is the norm to observe other instructor/riders’ lessons on a regular basis. Some posters have commented they are uncomfortable being observed others welcome it.
I feel my personal situation has resolved. I also have a better understanding of current expectations & accepted practices at some boarding facilities, thanks to your comments /advise . May I suggest we identify the take-home messages from this lengthy post that might benefit all vs finding means to refute the authenticity of my account or discuss the semantics, morphology & syntax of my posts, which I admit, are not edited & perhaps ought to be. My take-homes are: to “lighten up”, to learn more about current boarding accepted practices so I don’t over react should I decide to continue working with a few students, I need to diplomatically inquire if my students are having any outside issues ir are uncomfortable with any aspect of our lessons. I might suggest to some reading this controversial post, that good manners never go out of fashion. Thus it may be a courtesy to first ask if its okay to observe a lesson or lessons. If the student or instructor says, “sure, for a few lessons”, then honor that. If the instructor or student says, " Not for a while, please, as this is a nervous ride, or nervous horse, or, ir, or. Perhaps don’t assume its always okay. I have observed many many instructors over the years. I’ve always asked permission. Personally, I would feel uncomfortable watching lesson after lesson, unless I, too, were a paying student. But that is a personal choice. I came up riding in the 50’s & 60’s. My approach comes from a different era. I have not kept up with nuances at present-day barns. Times do change. For those whose opinion of me gleaned from these posts is that if a self-important, kniw-it-all, I apologize if I have offended you. I assure you, I am a tough cookie in many respects, but I have demonstrated great kindness, compassion & generosity to many people & animals over the numerous decades of my life. I believe horsemanship is a life-long pursuit that does nit include a finite date when one can declare, “I know everything about horses”. I do extend my apologies to those offended by my comments. I assure you, no offense has been intended. Happy, safe riding to all of you. Thank you for helping me on my rather-late-in-life foray into instruction. I have learned from your comments. Best wishes to this thread’s participants.[/QUOTE]
Thank you for telling us what “our” take away is. We may never have grasped that on our own. :rolleyes:
Best of luck and thanks for the lunch time reading. Truly enjoyable.
