What is your lesson schedule?

[ljm824]

How often do you take lessons? How long are they? Private or group? Do you lesson in multiple disciplines? Do you own/lease a horse or use a lesson horse? Do you show?

I’m an adult re-re-rider without a horse. I do two lessons per week, 30 minutes each, Private, Hunter and Dressage, lesson horses, don’t show (yet?).

I’m just curious what others think works best for them. I’m considering half-leasing eventually but I’m not sure that’s the best way to go, since I’ll only be able to take one lesson per week and then have two rides on my own.

[blondewithchrome]

I, too, am an adult re-rider and I found the more I rode, the closer I started getting to my junior years equitation/ability. For me, it’s lessoning two times a week (one group, one private) and riding whoever I can throw a leg over in between - bad pony, rehabbing and can only trot, lesson horse who needs a tune up, boarders horse for a client who is on vacation…I’ll take it all! My lessons are a healthy mix of hunter/eq and jumper theory as I do all three rings these days.

I have a flexible work schedule so riding as often as possible is best for me. I think the advice we give hungry kids is the same for us adults too - the better you want to be, the more horses you need to ride, and as often as possible!

[222orchids]

Normal thing in my barn is three lessons per week, in groups of about 4 to 6 riders, and two of the three lessons are flat/jumping lessons, with one being flat work only. Depends on how hot it might be, but lessons are generally anywhere from 40 to 60 minutes for the group We take sufficient breaks to care for the horses when it’s really hot, and there is often a point where we all stop to discuss something about riding theory or horse anatomy that informs the particular exercise we might be working on. So the flat lesson is not a continuous 60 minutes without a break.

[Scribbler]

@ljm824

How often do you take lessons? How long are they? Private or group? Do you lesson in multiple disciplines? Do you own/lease a horse or use a lesson horse? Do you show?

I’m an adult re-re-rider without a horse. I do two lessons per week, 30 minutes each, Private, Hunter and Dressage, lesson horses, don’t show (yet?).

I’m just curious what others think works best for them. I’m considering half-leasing eventually but I’m not sure that’s the best way to go, since I’ll only be able to take one lesson per week and then have two rides on my own.

Once you are safe to ride unsupervised, and have learned a basic warmup routine, more time in the saddle is worth more than an extra lesson. It is riding alone that allows you to internalize what you’ve learned and start to listen to the horse. In a lesson especially at the start you have to listen to the instructor over the horse.

Honestly two 30 minute lessons a week are not going to build a lot of fitness or muscle memory.

Typical for many horse owners is ride almost every day, one lesson a week. If you are jumping and need a coach present for that (many barns don’t allow unsupervised jumping) or you are on a strong competitve path, you might do multiple lessons a week.

[Buckshot1]

It’s all about hours in the saddle and a portion of those hours should be under good instruction.

I get 4 - 8 rides in per week depending on the weather (ie: less in cold dark winters or long rain patches).

I get a jump lesson every 2 - 3 weeks, and every 6 weeks do a dressage clinic with 2 lessons (would love to do more).

Maximise your riding time for sure. A part lease is a super way to do it.

[Scribbler]

I would stick with one discipline as a re-rider until you are confident and confirmed in that style. Eventers do both jumping and dressage but typically start as jumpers. I actually think jump seat riding is best for beginners as riding a dressage horse on strong contact before you have an independent seat can teach you to water ski and balance on the reins.

At the start of being a returning rider just stick to one barn one discipline until you are very comfortable, outgrow the barn, or decide you are too scared to jump

You aren’t going to learn faster by cycling between Western saddle seat, jumpers and dressage in your first year back.

[OutsidersOpinion]

I lesson maybe once every 3 weeks or sometimes twice in a week if preparing for a show on my personal horse. We don’t jump outside of those lessons. I ride six days a week, several different horses. Those sometimes get jumped by me/sometimes the head pro depending on the day. I flat A LOT. Intense flat, loose rein flat, conditioning. Try to keep it varied for the horses. I take Mclain’s advice of sitting the trot for 5-10 min without stirrups and try to do that once or twice a day on whatever horses are doing more serious flat work that day. I also take some advice from eventers and try to walk the horses 10 min before and after every ride.

I agree with the above, it is not about “lesson time” as much as it is “ride time”. Also, if i see a horse owner lessoning twice a week, every week jumping 3ft+ I worry about the horses’ long term soundness, mentally and physically. But alas some people demand that.

[dani0303]

I am an adult amateur (former pro). I try to lesson once a week but sometimes it’s every other week. Lessons are 1 hour privates.

My horse is being half leased by a junior and she lessons twice a week. She gets 2 hack days and I get 1. I usually school some of my trainer’s greenies on the other days which means I’m in the saddle usually 4 times a week.

[bluepece2]

I ride almost every day. I’m a rerider too, been at it for 5 years now. I currently lesson once a week over fences. I flat my horse the other days to go out in the woods. My daughter now rides and has a large pony that I school 1-2 times a week.

[ExpialidociousOTTB]

@222orchids

Normal thing in my barn is three lessons per week, in groups of about 4 to 6 riders, and two of the three lessons are flat/jumping lessons, with one being flat work only. Depends on how hot it might be, but lessons are generally anywhere from 40 to 60 minutes for the group We take sufficient breaks to care for the horses when it’s really hot, and there is often a point where we all stop to discuss something about riding theory or horse anatomy that informs the particular exercise we might be working on. So the flat lesson is not a continuous 60 minutes without a break.

This is very similar to my barn - I try to make it for 3 lessons a week, and 1 hack or groundwork day, or even just a play day, with my horse on my own. The more I ride, the more “normal” it feels to me - and I think getting a lot of instruction as a re-rider was definitely part of that! I still had some muscle memory/a decent seat, but my confidence was poor and I could get clampy and anxious during a spooky moment or when something unexpected happened. I’ve been lesson-ing again for a little over a year now, and I finally feel like I’m recovering my junior skills. I’m kind of weird in that I don’t like to ride a lot of different horses (though I do think it makes for a better rider!) and part of getting me to this point was getting my own horse and developing a real relationship and trust with him.

[SuzieQNutter]

I used to lesson twice a week on a school horse. Then I changed to my instructor on one of those nights with training a horse.

I have changed that night to a lesson during the day on my own horses and I still have a lesson on a school horse with his partner. I have now had 3 lessons on my horse. That was 1 lesson with him not fit and just finishing when he had done enough. Then 2 weeks off from lessons but me working him at home because of work. Then 2 lessons in 2 weeks and I have just cancelled next week and I will probably have to cancel the week after and I am casual so I never know in advance when I am working.

[atl_hunter]

I’m a middle aged adult re-rider. I started back into the sport by just taking lessons on weekends - once a week. I was able to show every other month. After doing this for two years, I got a lease. That’s when things really improved as riding every day made such a huge difference. I had three lessons a week in the program and it helped immensely. The lessons were sometimes group, sometimes private, 10-15 minute warm up and the rest jumping. Lessons were 45 min for private and an hour for group.

After a horse change, I moved barns to a new program. In this program, there were 8 lessons a month and 8 training rides. The lessons are in group format with 45 minutes of intense flatwork and 15 minutes of jumping. The flatwork killed me the first few lessons. I could hardly move for several days after, my back abs core pained me, but I never complained or pulled the adult card and stuck with it. I had asked the trainer to treat me the same way she treats the kids and it was painful! But… it worked. Riding without stirrups is no problem. I can post without them for 30 minutes and not be tired or weary. I feel secure over jumps. Now I show about 6 times a year as my job keeps me busy and I like to relax on my weekends, but I’m competitive when I do show and we get tri-colors nearly every time out. The training rides are super helpful because on those days I can stay at the office and not have to worry about playing in traffic. It’s a nice balance.

[kashmere]

I take one lesson/week (1 hour, private), and ride ~4-5 other days on my own. Currently at a dressage barn and only working in that discipline. I ride my own mare the most, but also often get shuffled other students’ horses to be a guinea pig or help keep them fit/tuned up etc.

[rockonxox]

1 hour group (4-5 riders) once per week. When I can (finances + trainer schedule) I try to also do a private (30m) or semi private (1hr) each week. Some Saturdays I am going to be going XC schooling as well, but that will be in place of the private lesson more than likely. In my main group, we are all working adults and sometimes due to work schedules it could end up being just one or two other riders and myself so it can be like two semi privates a week. I also lease and try to get out as much as possible to ride during the week outside of lessons. Leasing and having the time to practice on my own has been so incredibly helpful in helping me gain confidence and become more skilled. Just riding in lessons and not being able to practice outside of them was a slight road block for me progressing. I have also recently been told I can help out with bringing one of our trainers other horses back into fitness (flatwork only right now) which will be great because riding different horses is a good skill to have.

As for the type of lessons I do… I’m a hunter that loves dressage and has recently gained the courage to go XC schooling and now am planning to event. My group lessons focus on lateral work then over fences work which can either be set up for hunters or jumper courses and I think it is a great thing to have both under my belt. Privates are for dressage, flat work, or lunge line no stirrup or rein lessons. I do agree with others who are suggesting, at this time, to stick with one discipline and get comfortable and then branch out. Learn the basics and get a good foundation and then you can go in any direction!

In a perfect world I’d be riding 5-6x a week again… but now that I’m working out on a regular schedule some nights are for the gym and that is important to me as a rider as I need my strength and want to be fit.

[HappyAmmy]

Also an adult re-rider (quit at 28, started back at 43). I was super frustrated with the fact that my brain remembered the good old days but my body wouldn’t perform. I started back taking 1-2 private flat lessons a week on my very quiet but very green horse. I eventually moved to group flat lessons but still only riding 2 times a week at the most. I finally realized that while the horse was improving with his training rides, I was not getting anywhere with my 2x a week program. So I started riding him more (which slowed his progress but what can you do) and taking another lesson on a more broke horse of a barn client. The adults are treated a bit different at our barn and the lesson plan is really tailored to what the rider can fit into the week and where their horse is in terms of green (no lesson horses for grown ups). The junior show kids have a strict program of 2-3 lessons per week, comprised of one flat (usually sans stirrups), one gymnastics/jumping, and one straight course work if they do 3 lessons. The lessons are 45-60 minutes depending on size of the group (45 for privates). The jumping lessons do not include any flat work. All juniors are expected to warm their horse up (correctly) for 20-30 minutes prior to the lesson.
Thank goodness I’m not a junior any more and can have cocktails when I pick up the right lead and don’t make the trainer gasp with my distances.

[SugarCubes]

When I first started back as a re-rider, I dove in headfirst and took four lessons per week, on my own horse. This quickly got me feeling like I sort of knew what I was doing again, after several years away. During this time, I was also showing probably once or twice a month (hunters).

After a couple of years of that routine, I wanted a few days to work on my own on what we were working on in lessons, so I went down to two lessons per week. I needed time to process what I was feeling without a trainer telling me what to do. Now, several years later, I still do one or two jump lessons per week but I also take a weekly lesson with a dressage trainer who has helped our flatwork immensely. I then have 3-4 days to ride on my own, and I’ll usually work on myself (stirrupless rides or lots of two point) or anything that gave us trouble in our lessons that week.

I’ve always taken private lessons, but will occasionally lesson with someone else due to scheduling, but I feel like I get the most out of privates. Lessons are an hour, but lots of walk breaks and if we nail something the first time through we’ll have an easy, short day as not to drill the horse. Weather is obviously a factor as well.

[findeight]

Having rejoined the ranks as a rider after an 8 year break at age 40 with a career ( flexible hours, up to a point), found that 2 lessons a week plus a day on my own practicing what I had learned worked best.

30 min privates were my favorite but I was expected to correctly warm up the horse before the clock started. Little or no walking during that 30 min whether jumping or serious flatwork. If OP is not at the accomplished point skill wise yet, IMO, 30min is not enough…especially if there is a lot of walking eating up that time. Recommend bumping the time up to 1hr and with a group is just fine and easier on the wallet. It’s time in the saddle.

Two lessons plus another day hacking on your own practicing what you learned gets you the time plus most can work it into a job schedule. Most barns really don’t have extra horses to dole out for rides so suggestions of riding multiples aren’t possible nor is there time in most working adults days/weeks for that. A meaningful 3 days a week can be a good goal.

And, yes, it helps to have access to a better quality horse so a lease arrangement is beneficial. Look into a part lease giving you exclusive use of the same horse 3 days a week. Avoid those deals that have multiple leasing riders on a horse per day. Get a part lease where Horse is yours and yours only 3 days a week.
Then get out there and ride him 3 times a week.

[CHT]

I teach a lot of adult re-riders with careers. Some can only commit to once a week, but most try to lesson twice a week. Most of my lessons are small groups (2-4), with the first half being flat, the second being jumping. Some days the flat half is highly structured, but quite often I give them some latitude to do their own flat warm up with my help as needed. I find this helps lesson students make the transition to riding on their own better than always having highly structured lessons. My lessons are all an hour or more, but we do stop and chat, so they aren’t typically intense, as they ride more for skill building and enjoyment, rather than with goals of being an elite athlete.

Once a week seems to be enough to build and develop skills, but three times a week (riding, not just lessons), seems to be the magic number to develop riding fitness and muscle memory in an adult.

[RockingJ]

Last year, I rode one day/week after 7-8 years out of the saddle. I didn’t have any plans or goals, so it fit my needs at that point. I work full-time, go to the gym 2-3 times per week, have a husband and house (no kids). They were private lessons, about 45 minutes in the saddle. I spent time at the barn grooming and tacking up (sometimes grooming is my favorite part of the day!) That barn was 40 minutes from my house. I rode on weekends and sometimes had a weekday ride, but lessons were rarely enjoyable after a workday, as I would just be too tired/mentally drained, especially in the winter.

Riding one day was fine. If I missed a week, I could feel it in my legs. And then I started to get a little bored, felt like I was outgrowing the barn, and was really missing showing. I finally found a new barn that is a great fit (and is less than 10 minutes from my house), 30ish minute lessons, 2 days/week.

I don’t own a horse, and I’m thinking of trying to figure out a part-lease in the fall. I didn’t ride between January and May, so I want a few more months of riding regularly. For me, it’s been important to understand and be okay with the limitations of life/scheduling now and finding a balance.

[Sueby]

I lesson once a week, usually 45 mins to an hour. Sometimes it’s just me and other times there are others that jump in with me.