School is about to start up again, and that means riding stables will be filling their lesson programs with eager students. There are thousands of things that make a riding school good, or not-so-good. In this post I'll only touch on a few important things to look for when "shopping" for a lesson stable (assuming you have already located facilities that teach the kind of riding you want to learn). We'll discuss this more at length in the weeks to come.
* Before anything else, you want to find a lesson program that puts safety first. You are dealing with an animal who weighs ten times what you do (plus or minus), but has a brain about the size of a large walnut (of course there are variables, but I am trying to give you an example). Humans are far more intelligent than horses, and it would be good to understand that. If you approach a horse as the superior being in your own mind, the horse will believe you. And unless he is a reincarnated ax murderer disguised as a pony, he will usually respond to your confidence by being obedient.
* Safety in a lesson program means they will not allow you to ride without an approved safety helmet strapped tightly onto your head.
* It also means they include unmounted Horsemanship Lessons as part of their regular program (to teach you things such as how NOT to get kicked or bitten by your horse!)
* Beginner lessons should always take place in an enclosed ring with a gate that latches, and there should be no more than 6-8 students per professional instructor. For first timers there should be extra help available as well, in the form of Working Students or Instructors in Training.
Never be afraid or feel embarrassed to ask the stable manager any questions. If the manager or instructor isn't interested in your questions, you should not be interested in taking lessons at their facility.
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