One would think that student compatibility has absolutely nothing to do with buying lesson horses. One would think, but one would be wrong.
At least in my opinion.
You will discover as a riding instructor that certain patterns emerge among students. You’ve got the pullers, who never seem able to stay out of their horses’ faces. Then you have the timids, which is the group of kids who won’t assert themselves regardless of provocation.
As with books and movies, there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to people who ride horses.
With that in mind, student compatibility should be a high priority in the search for lesson horses. If your students and horses don’t get along, or if the horses can’t teach your students anything, what is the meaning of it all?
A Bold Suggestion
Some riding instructors will take issue with this particular tactic, but I’m going to put it out there anyway.
If you want to accurately gauge student compatibility in potential lesson horses, the best solution is to take students with you when you try horses out. I don’t mean that you should take the seven-year-old girl who started lessons three weeks ago; take a couple veteran kids who can help you make a selection.
A few things about this tip:
- Get permission from the kids’ parents, and explain exactly what it’s for.
- Ride the first horse to determine that he or she is safe.
- Let kids try out potential lesson horses only in a controlled, safe environment.
- Teach them safety about riding new horses before you leave.
As long as you cover those bases, you should be absolutely fine.
My advice is to take three to five of your students with you on every sojourn to look at potential lesson horses. Watch the owners ride their horses first, and let the kids tell you what they think. Listen carefully to what they point out, because they can be surprisingly intuitive.
Then you ride the horse, taking in his qualities and responsiveness. Give him every opportunity to spook, buck, rear and take off, and only if he remains a perfect gentleman should you allow a child on his back.
If you let all the kids ride the horse, you’ll be surprised what comes out about his physical abilities, his disposition and his ability to teach. The kids will tell you whether he is comfortable to ride, whether they have trouble urging him into the canter. An experienced adult rider can’t always accurately gauge these qualities.
An Alternative
If you aren’t comfortable judging student compatibility with actual students, there is an alternative to this tactic. You can learn to ride like a kid.
If you’re like most riding instructors, you’re a strong rider with natural and instinctive riding habits. You automatically apply more leg when it is needed, pick up the contact when warranted, shift your hips as required.
Stop it. In order to judge student compatibility from the top of the horse, you must turn off auto-pilot.
Ride as though you were a rank beginner with no knowledge of how to communicate effectively with a horse. You must learn how to give weaker aids and steer with less authority. You must ride like a sack of potatoes.
Only then will you be able to feel what your students will feel on top of this lesson horse.
More in the Lesson Horse Evaluation Series:
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Vet Check
About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.
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