Resources
Articles
Finding the right Barn for you.
Finding a barn can be stressful and complicated. Just like people, every barn is different. A lot of barns focus on training and/or boarding, some barns have lessons, and many are specific to certain disciplines. Another thing we have to consider when looking for a facility is how it's managed, and what kind of people and personalities run the place. There are many reasons why one facility might not work for you and another one does. For example, Lunar Winds Stables has a strong clientele in beginner and intermediate lessons and barrel racing. Although we do offer advanced riding and English jumping lessons, if you are someone looking to get into the competitive world of English riding, this may not be a long term barn for you. But we would be happy to get you started in your equine journey. Here is a good article to get you started;
Hallas-Kilcoyne, Jess, (2021, March 31st), “Home Sweet Horse Home”, Horse Journals, https://www.horsejournals.com/acreages-stables/barns-stables/home-sweet-horse-home
Importance of Lessons.
Taking lessons should be mandatory for all beginner and intermediate riders, but did you know you should still be taking lessons as an advanced or even professional rider? Many people believe that when you hit a certain point in your skills or you finally buy your first horse, lessons can stop. This is absolutely not true! The best equestrians are the ones that are always willing to learn and improve. This sport is always evolving, as the equine community learns more about horse welfare; new and better techniques get discovered all the time. Lessons are the best way to learn those techniques. On top of that, horses are all different. The standard technique may work for most horses, but maybe that new horse you bought needs a different perspective. Having someone with a different mindset than you can help with that.
Habits are so easy to pick up. Some habits you may not be aware of are an issue. Having someone there to point out those habits will be the best way to fix them. Lessons are also a good way to make sure you're getting pushed physically and mentally. I find that I tend to get lazy with stirrup-less riding, so taking lessons ensures that I’m riding to my fullest extent.
Andrew, Amy, (2019. May 31st) “Why Horses and Riders should always have Lessons”, Whickr, https://www.whickr.com/uk/en/blog/why-horses-and-riders-should-always-have-lessons/
Why My Riding Skills may not be Improving
Here is another common issue I have seen in my program and in other programs in the area. Riders feeling like they are not improving. We really have to break it down to pinpoint the exact reason. So first, you need to look at yourself. Are you fully comfortable doing what you are doing? I have seen many riders, and have been one myself, with a confidence issue. Could be that you are someone who is very aware of how big and unpredictable horses can be and that gives a bit of anxiety. Or maybe you had a bad fall and it's all you can think of when you are on the back of a horse. If this is you remember falling is part of the sport, some of them won't be that bad. Then talk to your trainer and they can provide you with tools and drills to help your situation.
Next, ask yourself how often you are riding and doing lessons. I recommend doing at least 1 weekly lesson. Riders who participate in every other weekly lessons or less aren't going to progress as fast as someone coming in every week. If you have your own horse you should be working that horse 3 to 5 times a week for optimal performance.
Then look at what type of lessons you are participating in and what you are willing to spend. In my experience, there is limited time and space in group lessons. Group lessons are the best place for beginner and intermediate riders as it gives them good visual examples with other riders and teaches them arena etiquette, but it may not give an advanced or strong intermediate rider what they need to be pushed. This is when you’ll need to consider private lessons. In privates, there is more time to focus on problem solving drills and concentrate on disciplines that you want to learn. Unfortunately, this is where money really starts to become a problem for many. This sport is expensive! Those who have money to spend get a lot more opportunities than those who don't. I get it, I have my moments as well. All we can do is work with what we got and budget.
After you review the first two topics, then you’ll need to consider what type of facility you are at. Maybe the facility that you are currently taking lessons from don’t have lesson horses that meet your needs. Are you wanting to get into a specific discipline? Are you wanting to get into showing? If so, are you ok with simple local shows or do you want to get into something bigger? If you feel this may be the issue I suggest to first talk to your trainer. They may be able to adjust your lessons to push you in the right direction or help you find a different facility that will better suit you.
Videos
Sitting the Trot
One of the hardest gaits to learn is sitting the trot. This video by Basic Horse Training is a good one I recommend to watch if you are really struggling with the topic.
Groundwork Drills
Groundwork to the foundation of all horse training. This video by Carmella Abel- Equine Helper really highlights good groundwork drills you should start on with your horse.
Shouldering The Barrel
A horse that shoulders the barrel can be a major issue for a clean and fast run. There's many types of drills you can do to fix this, here's a video by Fallon Taylor that really can break it down for a deeper understanding of what we want.