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  Discussion on Lesson Protocol For Students
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Member:
Trouble

Posted on Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - 11:20 am:

I am curious to know what the "protocol" is for students taking lessons on a lesson horse.

Should the student be expected to fetch the horse from the pasture, groom, tack up, untack and take to the wash rack when finished? I am an adult who has horse experience, but I can't think that a child would be expected to to do this.

I recently started taking lessons at a local barn for the first time in 20+ years. I don't mind doing these things, but I would expect that the lesson horse would at least be in the barn and ready to be tacked up.

I arrived for my lesson 20 minutes early in order to tack up and be ready at my lesson time. Unfortunately, lesson horse was happily munching grass in the back 40 and I had to trod through the muddy field (with my just polished riding boots) to catch her. Luckily, I had no problem catching her, but by the time I got back to the barn, cleaned mud off lesson horse and tacked up, I was 10 minutes into my lesson time.

If this is normal, then I have no problem with it and will allow extra time. None of this would even matter to me if my lessons were in the early evening, but the only time available happens to be in the middle of my work day and my 1 hr. private lesson turns out to be 2 hours at the barn.

Am I way off base on this? I would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

Lisa
Member:
Green007

Posted on Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - 11:52 am:

I teach lessons from time to time and charge according to whether I help with catching/grooming/tacking/untacking or whether the student catches/grooms/tacks/untacks. There is a $25 surcharge for me to catch/groom/tack/untack due to the fact that my time is better spent in the arena teaching lessons. That said, I teach at a barn where there is field board only so there is no "barn" or small paddock to put horses that are "on deck" for lessons. If I had a barn or paddock, leaving the horses in for students is something I would probably do to make things easier for everyone.

Some people do not know how to tack and untack yet, so it becomes part of their paid lesson. Others who know how to tack up, but are very short on time, are happy to pay me to take care of the ancillaries. As there is a market out there for all types, I am happy to help but do charge according to the amount of time it actually takes, as my time is valuable, too. If I charged $75 per hour for a riding lesson, and it takes up to an hour to tack and untack, I would have to charge $150 per lesson to make up for the lost income. I know many instructors who teach in 45 minute increments so that they keep from getting too far behind in their lesson schedule.

Why don't you request that your horse be kept in on your lesson day? Or, see if there is a kid out at the barn who is willing to catch and groom your horse for you for an extra $5? That way, you and your trainer both save valuable time and a child has extra horse money!
Member:
Trouble

Posted on Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - 1:09 pm:

That's a great idea, Debbie. I have been able to reschedule some of my lessons for a later time, which means I don't have to take as much time off work.

Thanks for the input.
Member:
Steveb

Posted on Friday, Jun 9, 2006 - 1:33 pm:

I've seen it done both ways. There is no standard protocol. I would negotiate with the stable/trainer for how I wanted/needed it to be done. As long as she is willing to trod to the back 40 nobody will stop her!
Member:
Erika

Posted on Saturday, Jun 10, 2006 - 9:01 am:

Lisa, I think it is very valuable to know how to catch and tack a horse and the only way to learn is to do it.
That said, I agree with you that it is a pain when you are short on time. I would certainly ride a LOT more if I had someone to bring my horse to the house all cleaned up and tacked. I could step off the porch in my clean clothes and shiny boots--instead of transferring all mud and hair from horse to me, and having that horrible dirty face and clogged fingernails feeling!!
I vote for paying a stable kid to do it for you. Sometimes time is more valuable than money, isn't it?
PS When you find that kid, send him over to me!
Member:
Ilona

Posted on Sunday, Jun 11, 2006 - 8:11 pm:

We do a lot of trail rides and lessons with visitors to the area. Many return year after year, some have second homes here and return each month. I find it invaluable to have the "student" help get the horse from the corrals (they all come to me so there is no catching involved), groom and tack prior to the actual time in the arena. I have found that many riders have gaps in their information about horses and how to handle them safely on the ground. This a good non-intrusive time to fill in those gaps the best I can. Most importantly, I find that by doing these things, they establish a bond with the horse which is invaluable to their riding experience, and too for the experience of the horse.
I personally never just get on a horse and go. If I am in that much of a rush I shouldn't be riding that day.
I was initially under instruction in South Africa and none of this was done. Grooms did everything, I just mounted and rode. Looking back it was a sub-standard experience for both the horse and myself. I was a child/adolescent and didn't know the difference. I do now. Some people object and if after explaining my reasoning they still object I refer them elsewhere. My thinking is, these people come and go, the horses are a part of my family and they stay with me. In ensuring their well-being I am ensuring the well-being and advancing the skill-level of the riders.
Member:
Canter

Posted on Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - 8:38 am:

When I first started riding (as an adult), my trainer spent the first several lesson teaching grooming, & tacking up - we spent more time on the ground then in the saddle. When she was confident that I was OK to handle the horses, she would leave it up to me to bring in the horse and completely groom and tack up. It was invaluable training for me. A year later, when I bought my first horse, I was very confident handling him and doing everything neccessary to get him ready to ride. Plus, as Ilona says, its good bonding time with the horse and I love the time I have with my horse before and after I am in the saddle. Given the choice, I would much prefer doing all this myself than having someone hand me a clean & tacked up horse.

To directly answer your question, I think it is "normal" protocol for the student (with some experience) to get and ready their own horse. At least that's the way it's been at the barns I've been around in the past 8 years.
Member:
Stevens

Posted on Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - 10:31 am:

The "normal" protocol should be to clearly state expectations up front.

At our barn, all but the littlest kids and the rankest beginners tack up for their lessons. All the lesson horses are in pens though so nobody has to do a big trek.

When I had a horse in full-time training at a show barn, I just showed up. My horse would have been turned out before I got there, groomed and tacked up. The groom also untacked, cleaned him and my tack up and put him away. Needless to say, I paid for the service. To be frank, I actually missed the bonding time with my horse. Grooming is a great way to build a relationship and also check the horse over before you ride.
Member:
Green007

Posted on Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - 10:52 am:

I agree with all the other posters on the "bonding" element of grooming. Unless you spend some time with the horse on the ground, there is no way to gauge his "mood du jour" or to establish a lasting bond that starts on the ground and makes your saddle time so much more meaningful.

If time is tight, and you have tacked up enough horses to last you a lifetime, see if you can pay for the extra help. However, a lot can be said for moving your lessons to evenings or weekends so you can take your time and really enjoy the entire experience!
Member:
Trouble

Posted on Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - 11:44 am:

I appreciate everyone's input and I do agree that the grooming and tacking routine does wonders for bonding and is a part of the learning process.

However, I did not mention in my post that I currently own my own horses and spend plenty of time grooming/riding/cleaning at home, so I was really expecting more riding instruction versus the whole learning experience.

Actually, I am enjoying my whole "experience" as I am meeting new people at the barn and they all seem very nice. I realize that I miss the interaction with others that you don't get at home.

Thanks everyone!
Member:
Christos

Posted on Monday, Jun 12, 2006 - 2:23 pm:

Grooming and tacking up is, I believe, the rider's responsibility before every single ride. The ones who don't know how or can not do it alone for whatever reason should be at least present during the procedure. This way they learn how and what is being checked before every ride.
That does not normally include catching the horse from pasture or removing a cartload of mud.
But it does include at least rubbing the horse all over to check for injuries and painful areas, checking legs and hooves, checking saddlecloths for roughness, saddle billets, stirrup leathers and bridle for worn (or unbuckled) leather and last but not least, generally observing the horse for 10 minutes before you mount. I would never shift this responsibility to someone else.
However, if I am very pressed for time, I will let someone else cool the horse off and untack/clean him after the ride. That saves me some time if I need it and it is a nice chance for a kid or a beginner to ride a stronger horse for 10 minutes at a walk and take care of him afterwards. They usually fight over it.
After the ride it is also a better time for kids/beginners to get familiar with the procedures of taking care of a horse, since there's no nervousness about them getting ready to ride.
A good deal is like I will help a kid or beginner groom and tack up his horse when I have the time and he will cool off, untack and wash mine when I'm pressed.
This way my horse also becomes very fond of kids and strangers, which makes offering a ride or a lunge session on him a lot easier.
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 - 9:41 am:

I think every situation is different. Someone taking lessons who has horses at home, should just arrive, tack up and get on with the lesson. A real beginner on the other hand, should get lessons in the basics first. Grooming, ground manners, and tacking up.

My daughter took lessons last summer. The time frame wasn't really tight, and sometimes the horse had to be caught, and always brushed and tacked up.

My daughter will not be taking lessons this year though, because she is not able to do any thing on the ground. (she does groom and pick out feet) She is not willing to make a bond with the horse we own that is to be hers for riding. A bond based on respect through basic ground work.

I see no sense in being a good rider, if you can't lead a horse, or make one move away from you, or, do basic ground work. I wish every person giving lessons would spend a few hours just on that, and tell the student to go home and work on it.

Just my thoughts.
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