Letters

2 min read

COST CONSTRICTIONS

IN response to Pammy Hutton’s comment (28 March), I don’t know what the answer is for riding schools but as a consumer, having ridden off and on since childhood, I feel at times the same frustrations as in my youth.

**Do riding schools have sufficient capacity for adult learners?**

I’d watch my peers getting more accomplished and moving on to their own ponies; their own four-legged friends to love and further their equestrian journeys. But I was at a stalemate – if I could afford regular lessons I always wanted more… I loved it, but how far can you go with one lesson a week? I would fall in and out of love with horses as I always felt I wasn’t getting anywhere fast in terms of becoming a better rider.

Topics

Topics

Now in adulthood I face a different set of problems.

Having never had the money to have my own I’m classed as novice or intermediate, but riding schools often cater chiefly for children. Plus I need to ride a medium- to heavyweight carrier – a kind horse somewhere between a riding school horse and a private one.

The equestrians I know are competitive and their horses aren’t suitable for me. Most riding schools local to me cater for children, as that’s where they make their money, and don’t have a horse of suitable size and temperament for me.

Even if they do, both cost and rides scheduled during the working day can be prohibitive. I feel that there may be many riding establishments that fall by the wayside as they can’t afford to cater for all, which is such a shame.

WEYMOUTH WISDOM

IN reply to Dr Sarah Proctor’s letter (11 April) asking why she can’t ride her horse in a Weymouth in British Dressage (BD) events, it is because the Weymouth was never designed to be used without a bridoon.

She seems to suggest it’s either a double bridle or a strong jointed snaffle. There are hundreds of bits on the market (I have tried most of them!) and a wide selection can be tried before you buy. So it’s not just either/or – there will be a bit to suit out there if you persevere.