Rocking Horse Gaits part 3 Doing the Leg Work
By now you have a list of farms and riding schools that have passed your initial telephone interview(s) and seem to be worth a visit. You have requested permission to visit and have been given convenient times for observing lessons (be sure these are taught by your prospective instructor if there are several trainers at the school) and touring the facility.
Now what?
If you are the prospective student and you are not certain you will be able to adequately evaluate the lessons you will observe, try to enlist a friend with some riding experience to go along. The caveat in the case of a second opinion is to be aware that horse people are opinionated and most seem to think that their way is the best (if not the ONLY correct) way to ride/train/instruct.
Trust your own judgment.
If the student is a child, take the child with you on the visits. The feedback from the student is critical when choosing the instructor. There has to be some rapport between the two. Much of riding is in the feel. It is best to start out with an initial good feeling between rider and trainer.
Don't expect to be offered a trial lesson but certainly dress for the possibility. If britches or chaps are not in the wardrobe then wear comfortable pants that do not have a thick inside leg seam. Do not wear loose clothing that will flap around and possibly bother the horse. If boots are not in the wardrobe then wear sturdy shoes with a small heel to prevent the foot from sliding all the way through the stirrup. Believe me, hanging from a stirrup by your ankle is painful even if the horse is standing still! Sneakers are usually not allowed; sandals and clogs are never allowed. If sandals or clogs are allowed it might be best to look elsewhere for a riding school. Bring a helmet if you have one (even a bicycling helmet or a rollerblading helmet is better than no helmet since you will not be allowed to ride without properly fitting protective head gear at most facilities). If your hair is long, catch it in some sort of barrette or scrunchie that will feel comfortable under a helmet.
Some things to consider bringing along with you in addition to your list of questions, directions, telephone numbers and your water bottle are a camera, paper and pencil for notes, sunscreen and/or a hat, sunglasses and some horse treats. For treating equines apples cut into quarters or raw carrot chunks are best. Sugary treats are frowned upon by some owners. In any case, with any treat: never EVER give a horse a treat of any kind for any reason without permission.
Arrive on time.if you are not certain where to park or where to go to meet the instructor, ask someone. Lesson days in large facilities can be hectic. You want to be safe. At small farms you want to be safely out of the way so you are not interfering with horses or traffic.
Once you are out of your vehicle observe. Use your eyes and your sense of smell. Listen. Use common sense.
In all cases note any safety concerns:
Saddle racks should be stored flat against the wall when not actually being used. Halters, leads and tack should be hung up or well out of the way of hooves and feet. Ditto with brushes, hoof picks and other grooming tools. The students should be calm and quiet, moving at a walk, talking not shouting.
Horses should be attended at all times.
Safety rules and/or barn rules should be posted and enforced.
Visiting canines should be on leashes.
The facility should be clean (cluttered, maybe, and sometimes not neat, but definitely CLEAN.) Your sense of smell will help you discern normal barn odors from stale, hardly-ever-clean odors.
For a small farm or private facility:
How does the barn smell?
Are the stalls fresh and do the horses have plenty of water?
Is the riding area enclosed (fenced or surrounded by a stout hedgerow), free of hazards and safe?
Are children being properly supervised?
Are the horses being handled in a manner safe for humans and horses?
Is the place generally in good order and in good repair?
For a larger facility or commercial school:
Take into consideration everything you would concern yourself with for a small facility but note the general deportment of the students.
What is the noise level?
Is the equipment safely stored where horses can not get entangled?
Are horses left tied and alone or are they properly looked after?
Is the tack well maintained, clean and in good repair?
Are the instructors professional in their behavior and demeanor?
And what about the horses? How can you tell if a horse is fit and healthy? That is not easy to discern for the casual observer or the budding equestrian. You might be shocked to see a horse that seems positively thin working quite hard. Some old “schoolmeister” horses are old and wise and love their jobs. These horses are used in schools because they are older and “bombproof” for beginners who might prod them inadvertently, become unbalanced, pull on their mouths or let out a scream the first time it doesn't feel safe. Don't be misled. Watch to see if the horse is breathing hard or just cruising along. You should be looking at the general fitness of the horses. Keep in mind that all horses have a knack for getting into situations where they can and will get hurt, so seeing a horse with a gash or a bite mark or a cut is not necessarily an indication of a poorly run farm, however, wounds should be clean and seen to. Horses also love to be dirty as protection from biting insects, so on a generally dusty horse look to see if the saddle area has been thoroughly cleaned before the horse is tacked up. Be aware of any signs of improper fitting of equipment such as sores under saddles or girths. Notice that the horse’s hooves are shod or trimmed. Hooves should look neatly trimmed and, if the horse wears shoes, the horse should not be ridden if it has lost a shoe. Look for horses that have “happy” expressions and bright eyes, nice coats and good health. Since horses nap standing up, a horse with its head hung low or eyelids dropping is likely to be napping. Still, be aware, ask about the horses and use your brain.
What is “safe handling?”
Look to see that leads are used when horses are being moved about. It is not safe to lead a horse by grabbing its halter. If it startles or pulls away the horse will be loose! Horses should be at a walk beside (not behind) the handler when being led. If a horse does act out, discipline should be instant and appropriate to the misbehavior. Horses should not be tied or put in cross ties (lines that go from the barn walls to the horse’s halter one from either side) then left unattended. Horses’ heads should be attended when one horse is passing another in an aisle.
And the lessons themselves:
For the horse:
At the beginning of the lesson is the horse properly warmed up at the walk and/or trot? Usually, a horse that has been in a stall for a while needs some time at the walk and trot to loosen up while a horse brought in from a field needs less time to warm up. In lessons of an hour or longer duration is the horse given breaks to walk and relax, perhaps while the instructor is explaining what the rider is to do or feel?Is the horse given about 10 minutes at the end of the lesson to walk and cool down?
For the student:
Is the lesson instruction or correction? All good lessons from beginner to advanced include instruction plus correction. If all you hear is “do...” and “get....” and “move...” and “make that horse...” without hearing some description of how and why, then perhaps this is not the instructor for you.Does the instructor’s manner seem comfortable to you?
Can you understand the instructor and the instruction?
What is the instructor’s reaction to problems?
Is there a summation? Time for questions? Is there interaction between student and instructor?
In a group lesson:
Does each student get instruction and attention?Is there proper traffic control?
After the lesson:
Is the horse cared for?Tack cleaned and stored?
Equipment put away?
If you can, talk with the student or parent:
How does the student feel about that particular lesson?The lesson series?
Talk to the instructor if he/she has the time but do not take up time within someone’s lesson.
Watch several lessons to get a good feel for the instructor. It is hard to judge by just one lesson since there is at least the possibility that a horse or a student can have a bad day.
Gather all the information that you can and then make your decision.
From the author:
Once you have chosen a school and an instructor, give yourself some time to evaluate. Each lesson should represent some progress. I am currently on my 5th instructor in 2 ½ years. I ride 6 days per week! Most of the changes of instructor were due to moving my horse from one facility to another, but my last change was a judgment call when I reached a point where I had not made significant progress in 14 weeks. I can be reached for comment or discussion via e-mail at dizzi@nazlo.com or book@nazlo.com.
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