How to choose a Horseback-Riding Instructor

9 steps to help you pick the perfect instructor in no particular order
by Lisa Roberts

1. Questions, questions, questions – Don’t be afraid to ask a ton of questions. If you have a phone number, call them so you can hear their voice and their tone. Try to find someone who is genuinely interested in teaching you or your child. Ask what kind of background they have. Do they have a resume, website, face book page that you can look over. Are they insured? Do they teach kids? Ask if there is an age limit (some insurance policies won’t cover anyone under 6.) Have they worked with adults? Perhaps your child has special needs – is this something they can handle? Do they teach groups or private lessons? Ask what the first lesson will entail.

2. The Horses: You’re taking horseback riding lessons to learn how to ride horses, which probably means you or your child love, or at least like, horses. In my opinion, the care and treatment of these wonderful animals should always come first. Check out the condition their horses are in. Obviously, chances are you aren’t going to know too much about lameness or what have you, but do they seem happy, do they seem healthy? Are you going to a place where you’re the 4th person in a row to ride the same horse? If you are able to see walk around the barn, do they have water and are they being handled well? Are they being ridden in extreme weather conditions? More often than not, people are going to take great care of their horses because we all are riding for the same reasons – we love horses – but it is nice to be aware.

3. Observe and Learn: If you can manage it, try to see if you can see them teach. It’s nice to be able to see how they interact with people and the horses. This will give you an idea of how much attention they pay to their students. Sounds obvious, but I have seen many an instructor spend more time on their cell phones then paying attention to their students. You’ll be able to see if they are patient and friendly or they scream at the first sign of a mistake.

4. Safety first: This cannot be stressed enough. Make sure whomever you choose is insured. And in some states, licensed. Always, always, always wear a helmet. If you choose to ride with someone that says you shouldn’t need one, start looking elsewhere! Yes, there are disciplines that don’t require helmets if you compete, Saddle Seat being one of them, but you should always have a helmet when you ride. Even the kindest, best-behaved horse can trip and put you in the dirt. And always make sure they have you sign a waiver. True, it is more for their protection, but any legit place will have release forms.

5. Your horseback riding goals: This is the first area that you need to explore. What is it that you are looking to do? English? Western? Dressage? Maybe you eventually want to compete? Or just learn to ride for the fun of it? Whether it is for you or your child, knowing your goals or at least having an idea of your goals, will help narrow down your choices. There are many riding stables and instructors that won’t take on new students that don’t want to compete. Also, it is harder to find an instructor that can teach many disciplines. If you’re unsure which style you prefer you can always check on the internet and do some research into what looks fun and go from there.

6. References: Seems simple. Ask if you may get some references from current students or current students’ parents.

7. The “Click” Factor: Horseback riding can sometimes be scary. Horses are fast, big and can be intimidating. The most important aspect of finding a good instructor, in my opinion, is trust. Are you going to trust this person’s judgment? You are going to be relying on this person to teach you horseback riding. One of the most important things is the “click factor”. Simply put – do you click with the instructor. Does this person’s voice make you cringe? Do they yell and scream and degrade their students if one of them makes a mistake? Do you understand each other? Can you comprehend what they are saying, or do they use jargon that you don’t even get? A good instructor will be able to articulate the point they are trying to get across, whether they have to get on the horse to show you or draw you a picture. You have to be honest with yourself – if you truly can’t see yourself working with this person, then move on.

8. Price: Let’s be honest here, in today’s economy this is usually the deciding factor when choosing a riding instructor. Truth be told, horseback riding isn’t a cheap sport. Horses are large, expensive animals to house and feed. Be wary of instructors that have hidden fees. I’ve heard of some people going to a barn and then being slapped with a “tack rental fee” on top of their lesson price. Also, always ask ahead of time if they take checks.

While it is often true in this sport, that you get what you pay for, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways to ride on a budget. Ask your potential instructor if they offer any packages, like “Buy 5, get one free” or if you refer a new student to them, maybe they will give you a deal. Be creative – can’t hurt to ask!

9. Lastly, trust your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. Horses are incredibly sensitive to how we feel. If you feel like something is wrong, they will feel it too. Horseback riding should be fun. The focus should be on building a great relationship between you or your child, your instructor and your horse.

Lisa Roberts is an experienced Horseback-Riding Instructor currently accepting clients in the West Valley Area…

Ohanu Riding Stables