Advice on Adult Lessons

ace_irl

Hi Guys,

Was wondering if I could get a bit of advice on beginners lessons.

I recently took back up horse riding in January having not been riding in over 10 years.

Unfortunately when I was younger I never got to get very far with my training as transport wasn't readily available so I would still class myself as a beginner.

Since January I have been riding in one of the centers near me which is highly recommend however the problem I am having is the classes are mixed with children, some very young (under 10) even though they are advertised as adult classes.

As I am 25, I have found this to make for an uncomfortable experience so much so that I have stopped going altogether.

I tried to contact another riding school that came highly recommended but they've said they have no space available and won't allow me to join group lessons until the can asses me (which I completely understand) however they never get back to me when I try organise a private lesson so I can be assessed.

Has anybody got any advice on this situation at all?

I feel that the classes should be kept separate but I'm not sure if this is a bigger deal to me then it should be?

Finally, can anyone recommend good adult beginner classes in Dublin that would be on at the weekend?

I don't mind driving over to the North side of the city for classes, but I am based on the south side of the city.

Apologies if I have been a bit vague on the riding centers, I did not want to mention any names.


Thank you for any help!

bob1984

I think your concerns are very normal to be fair - a lot of adults do not like learning alongside children - that is just the way it is

Most AIRE established riding schools will provide lessons tailored especially for adults for that reason.

Kilronan Equestrian Centre in North Dublin have Adult only riding classes - usually on a Sunday afternoon from what I can remember.

Other centres in the area are Thornton Park & Monksfield and they would both have similar set-ups too.

ace_irl

Hi Bob1984,

Thank you for your reply. I feel a bit better now!

I had a quick look for Kilronan Equestrian Centre there and I couldn't find a website?

I'll give them a call at the weekend and I can pop over and have a look at the place.

Thank you for your help! It's greatly appreciated!

bob1984

ace_irl wrote: »

Thank you for your reply. I feel a bit better now!

I had a quick look for Kilronan Equestrian Centre there and I couldn't find a website?

Yes unfortunately I think the website has been taken offline - you can find contact details via facebook or on the AIRE site if you need them

LINK

ace_irl

Thank you! I will have a look at lunch time! That's fantastic!

Ah_Yeah

You could try Brennanstown Riding School, they're quite professional and do adult only lessons.

ace_irl

Thank you! I was looking at them actually, will start sending some emails off tonight!

Fluorescence

Curious to know where you ended up going in the end? I've been considering taking a few adult beginner lessons but my absolute nightmare would to be lumped in with a class of kids :pac: All of the riding schools in Dublin I've been looking at advertise adult only group classes, so I'd rather not book an intro session if it ends up being your infamous example!

lyoness

Fluorescence wrote: »

Curious to know where you ended up going in the end? I've been considering taking a few adult beginner lessons but my absolute nightmare would to be lumped in with a class of kids :pac: All of the riding schools in Dublin I've been looking at advertise adult only group classes, so I'd rather not book an intro session if it ends up being your infamous example!

What's wrong with lessons with kids? When I got back into riding 8 years ago I did lessons with adults & kids -really enjoyable lessons! They can be fearless and get you out of your own comfort zone! Also I used to "fight" with an eight year old over our favourite horse..she was allowed him one week me the next. Don't let lessons with kids put you off.

convert

lyoness wrote: »

What's wrong with lessons with kids? When I got back into riding 8 years ago I did lessons with adults & kids -really enjoyable lessons! They can be fearless and get you out of your own comfort zone! Also I used to "fight" with an eight year old over our favourite horse..she was allowed him one week me the next. Don't let lessons with kids put you off.

It really depends on the individual; you seemed to really enjoy lessons with children, whereas others, like me, would find it awful.

Personally, I'd be in the latter group. I wouldn't enjoy being put in a very mixed-age group to learn something new, especially horse riding. The teaching methods would be very different, as would the tone in voice which the instructor would have to employ, let alone the explanations given.

I've taken up a few new sports and activities recently and can honestly say that I wouldn't have joined the classes/gone to the venue if it had been a mixed adult/child group.

Fluorescence

lyoness wrote: »

What's wrong with lessons with kids? When I got back into riding 8 years ago I did lessons with adults & kids -really enjoyable lessons! They can be fearless and get you out of your own comfort zone! Also I used to "fight" with an eight year old over our favourite horse..she was allowed him one week me the next. Don't let lessons with kids put you off.

I'm glad that it worked for you but from past experience, I don't think I learn optimally in a group that contains children. Too much time spent correcting behaviour and demanding attention. Ideally I'd go to individual lessons but they're not really within the budget right now!

convert

Have you tried Brennanstown? A lot of people really seem to have enjoyed their experiences there, as they have in Killegar, Spruce Lodge, and Kilronan.

The Association of Irish Riding Establishments (AIRE) have a list of approved riding centres on their website which you may find useful, and here are the links for Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.

It might be worthwhile contacting those you'd be interested in using and see if they offer adult only lessons and won't put children in the lesson. At least that way you would hopefully be saved an unnecessary trip and expense for a lesson you won't feel comfortable in.

Fluorescence

convert wrote: »

Have you tried Brennanstown? A lot of people really seem to have enjoyed their experiences there, as they have in Killegar, Spruce Lodge, and Kilronan.

The Association of Irish Riding Establishments (AIRE) have a list of approved riding centres on their website which you may find useful, and here are the links for Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.

It might be worthwhile contacting those you'd be interested in using and see if they offer adult only lessons and won't put children in the lesson. At least that way you would hopefully be saved an unnecessary trip and expense for a lesson you won't feel comfortable in.

I'll ring around this weekend and try to arrange something. Thanks for the advice

lyoness

Fluorescence wrote: »

I'm glad that it worked for you but from past experience, I don't think I learn optimally in a group that contains children. Too much time spent correcting behaviour and demanding attention. Ideally I'd go to individual lessons but they're not really within the budget right now!

Well i see where you are coming from being a beginner I wasn't when I started back. I was just happy to be back riding? There were other adults in the lesson not just me and a load of kids

convert

Fluorescence wrote: »

I'll ring around this weekend and try to arrange something. Thanks for the advice

Did you have any luck in finding somewhere that sounds like it fits what you're looking for, Flourescence?

Fluorescence

convert wrote: »

Did you have any luck in finding somewhere that sounds like it fits what you're looking for, Flourescence?

A lot of places wouldn't answer the phone today, busy with pony camps perhaps! I've booked an introductory lesson anyway in Brennanstown, will see how we go from there Thanks for all the advice here on thread, it was very helpful!