First Riding Lesson

[OSUJillyBean]

So I call up the lady who gives lessons in my area (see my previous post under buying/selling horses) today.

She emailed me saying that yes, she does offer basic equitation with the hopes that, if all goes well, I'll be able to own my own horse one day.

Today, on the phone, she seemed almost miffed that I did not own my own helmet, boots, or HORSE?! Therefore, since I'll be using one of her horses, my $35/hour lesson fee went up to $50/hour. She also says she can loan me a helmet but eventually I'll need my own helmet & boots.

So at $50/lesson horses are once again out of my price range. I don't get it - how are you supposed to afford it in college? This lady's stable is ten minutes from a major (30,000 students) university. Does she think all college students are just filthy rich and everyone has their own string of horses????? I don't even have a real job yet and once I do I may not have 4 hours a day to spend with my horse - how do you guys balance it?

Nothing was mentioned on her website about her providing a horse - is that not the norm? Should I be looking elsewhere?

I think my first lesson may also end up being my last. Lessons are exactly what I need but until I get a real job I don't think I'll be able to afford them.

[Lady_MCSE]

Hang in there . . . go ahead and try some other places and see what you can find. Around here probably the cheapest lesson you could get is for $25 on a half-hour lesson in a group, on the stable's horse, but I'm in a "major metropolitan area."

Pretty much every place should expect you to have boots and helmet of your own. If they don't insist on a helmet, find someplace else to ride. Luckily, helmet prices have come down a lot, and you can get a pretty good one for under $40 (I want to say even as low as $25 at Farm and Fleet?). For boots, you should be able to do about the same, under $50 if you go with paddock boots. You may also want to consider riding gloves and your own crop. (about $15 each).

Unforunately, it's not just the horse and upkeep that's expensive, it's all the STUFF that goes with him\her.

If you find the right place, you may also be able to negotiate working at the stables to pay for some of the lessons. At least two of the barns that I knew in high school offered programs like that. But I don't think you should start off asking that, or they may not take you seriously. Go out and see the place and get a lesson or two under your belt, then maybe broach the topic of trying to save a little money and see if they have any suggestions.

Lastly, just because you think you find the right PRICE for taking lessons doesn't mean you'll be happy with that instructor or that barn. I'm nto trying to scare you, it' sjust that you shouldn't continue taking lessons at any place where you are not completely comfortable with them fitting the lesson to your skill level, and them making everything as safe as possible for you and the horse.

[EquineAlberta]

Although more than I charge, $50.00 for a private lesson on a lesson horse, isn't all that out of line, after all she is likely expecting to spend about 2 hours with you; 30 min tacking up, 30 min untacking and 1 hour riding, so really that is only $25.00 an hour. Ask if it will go down when you are able to do all that yourself.

Even $35.00 on your own horse is reasonible for a private lesson at a show barn.

As per my insurance, I am not supposed to lend out helmets, and riders have to have proper riding helmets and footwear, although they can sign a waiver and use one of my helmets or a bike helmet, so I can kinda see on that point too. Just too many liability issues.

Really, it sounds like you are at the wrong stable though. Maybe you need to shop around and find one that caters more to people who are learning and have a string of lesson horses where you can ride in a group or semi-private lesson.

Good luck...it is an expensive sport, but I am sure you will be able to make it work if you shop around a little!

karen2

[Lady_MCSE]

PS: Almost every barn I've been to has had a variety of people there. Sometimes I put off by a first encounter because I came or called when they were in the middle of something, or because I happened upon the wrong person who isn't used to dealing with the public. But usually the more I hang around at any barn, the more I get to know everyone there, the better they seem. Don't take this one exchange with this lady dissuade you from even considering her . . . maybe go out in person as well.

[Fawn Lane Farm]

When I still taught for a big lesson barn, we charged 30.00 a half hour for lessons wether it was on our horse, or yours. We did provide helmets, but riders were responsible for having thier own boots (or shoe with appropraite heel) and long pants. Most people eventually bought thier own helmet, since they are fairly inexpensive (ASTM approved run around 35.00).

We also offered safety vests free of charge.

I am sure different areas have different prices, but around here even an hour lesson on my own horse would cost upwards of $55.00- 60.00. Lesson barns have huge expenses, what with insurances, horses, safety gear, tack, feed, good instructors,arenas and equipment.

You may be as well off to find a smaller stable, or individual owner who wouldn't mind "teaching" you the basics. Just make sure they are a stickler for safety! Then once you get the basics, you move on to different instructors

[taelesean]

I pay $170 for six group lessons (one and a half hours each). My son and I are usually the entire group. Brushing and tacking are included in the 1 1/2 hours, but she doesn't include the time for untacking, etc.

The ranch we take lessons at charges $180 for four private riding lessons, and $150 for three training lessons (where she teaches you how to train your horse, she requires that training students bring the horse they are trying to train and show up three time a week)

A little west of here, lessons can be gotten for $25 an hour.

Except for training, the ranch provides horses, saddles and bridles. Students are expected to have thier own helmets and boots or sign a waiver stating that they don't want to use them, and recocnize the danger inherent in that. (my son has both and wears them...I ride bareheaded in sneakers!)

A big part of the reason that lessons in VA are so inexpensive is the Equine Liability Limitation Law...basically, when you are on a horse or at an equine event, you are responsible for yourself and are there mostly at your own risk. Only gross negligence or worse would get an instructor or event producer in serious trouble.

[abigail91101]

If you are new to horses then try to look on horse sites and find horses for sale within say 25 miles from you house. Call these people and tell them you live in the area and are new to horses. See if they know anyone who has horses and enough experience to teach you basic horsemanship. Grooming, lungeing, tacking, reading body language, etc.
You should not have to pay $50 to learn these beginning basics. Although that is a fair price for actual lessons. I am sure you can find someone who will do this in exchange for barn help or at a much lower rate. I have a few teens that I do this for. They learn to work the horses in a round pen and learn to teach them their manners.

[A J]

Around here, $50 for a single lesson is pretty average - packages may drop that down to around $40 a lesson, but you have to pay up front. A friend who's willing to help teach you the basics may be the way to go for you at this point.

I know it cam seem like a lot of money, especially when you're in college (I'm in school right now, too), but something that many people don't take into consideration is everything the person teaching you has spend of their own money, sweat, time etc to get the knowledge to teach others. I keep track of my expenses and right now I am barely making any money over and above expenses (I train and give lessons - I would probably make more at a $6.25/hour job that had no overhead) - horses, insurance, and gear for riders is very expensive, but I do it because I love it and I love getting to help others learn. Also consider this - each barn is differant, but where I am, 1/2 of the lesson price goes straight to the barn for use of their facilities and horses (I get an extra $5 if I use my own horse). The cost of running such a facility is VERY high (granted, a little worse up here in the fridgid north due to heating bills), but the costs are very high.

If the $50 lessons are all you can find, then try to spread them out - you may not be able to go as often, but at full price, you should be assured of the quality. Perhaps, like a few others said, once you get the basics down, maybe you could work off part of the cost - I know I would love to have someone get horses ready for me and help out with some of the grunt work in exchange for free/cheaper lessons!