How to Teach Confident Riding With the Use of Your Lesson Horses

That being said, if your horse-owning students are up for it, I would suggest having them switch it up and ride a school horse every once in a while. Especially if they are stuck in a rut with something with their horse, riding one of the school horses might be able to give them the feeling they need to take back and get it with their own horse.

Explain Your Program and Be Open to Questions

Teaching kids to ride is a challenge. If you are lucky like me, you have a great variety of horses in your barn to help you get the job done. Knowing how to use those horses and when is just as important, though. It has been a learning curve for me and continues to be each time we get a new horse at the barn or one of my students buys a horse of their own.

Over time, you will get to know your customers and what their goals are, which will help you decide which horse they should be riding. Teach in a progressive manner, taking small steps that make it easy for your students and their parents to see them making progress.

Remember that it is just important for their parents to understand the program and teachings as well. This isn't just because they are the ones that pay the bill, but because at some point, their child might be unsure, and you will need to have a professional relationship with them so that they trust your judgment. The parents will also help to give your student a needed push when necessary.

If you are a parent and you don't understand why your child is on a certain horse, or you are disappointed when they struggle with something in a lesson, don't be afraid to talk to your instructor about it.

Parents, students, and instructors need to communicate so that everyone understands the method behind the madness and trusts what is going on is best for all involved.