do people take private xc lessons?

[max72]

finally got a chance to bring my horse to school xc a couple of times- so much fun! I think she liked it too; very brave, jumped everything we asked her to. Both times we were with a friend and so there were 2 horses.

I have a chance to sign up for a xc lesson in a couple of weeks but I don't think I'll have a riding partner for the lesson.

Do folks do xc lessons by themselves (I'm new to this and have no clue)? I'm worried my horse might be more worried about this new stuff if we're by ourselves. Any reason to be concerned?

[Ajierene]

It is generally easier for a trainer to have a group of people to teach at a schooling, than driving all the way there for one person. I have, however, had private cross country lessons when I have been the only one of my trainer's students who happened to be going to that schooling.

You will see large groups, small groups, private lessons and people out there without trainers watching them. There are not 'protocols' for cross country schoolings.

What I am talking about are the eventing venues that offer schoolings. I am sure a private facility would have private cross country lessons, as well as group lessons. The only difference is usually the price.

[Flipper]

It's more fun for you & your horse to do an xc lesson with others. My horse is a total chicken by himself, but in the 1 occasion that we had an xc lesson by ourselves, he was actually fine. I think having the instructor there (on the ground) gave him 'someone' to focus on, so it didn't seem like he was totally alone. If that makes sense!

[asterix]

As Aijerene said, there is no "set protocol" for how it's done. There's a xc course at my barn (!! such a luxury!) -- so certainly sometimes my trainer and I just head out for a lesson. I've also gone schooling off property with her as a twosome -- she has a horse and I have a horse.

If you and your horse are new to this I wouldn't worry about what will work better for your horse -- you don't really know yet!
There are a lot of horses who are actually worse in a group -- as they wait their turn, they get more and more excited/unfocussed -- or if they are the first or last, they get very antsy being "along" at one end of the sequence. On the other hand, some horses really need company or a lead. Just take advantage of the opportunity and as you get more experience you can figure out what configuration works for you and your horse.

[Jazzy Lady]

I'm in the lucky group. I always have private lessons and the barn I'm at has full courses from BN to intermediate right there. So we usually do everything in a lesson if the weather is nice.

[WakeRider]

normally group xc lessons are easier for you and the instructor..... as are any group lessons. I typically favor group lessons because, while you have a chance to catch your breath in-between courses, you have the opportunity to critically watch what the other rider is doing. Makes my job twice as hard, constantly focusing on each student's particular difficulties..... but i think in the end its worth it.... you learn so much just watching!

However, i strongly recommend for my students to have a private, off the farm, cross country lesson before a competition, especially for the first-timers (horse or rider)..... that way they can have a practice run through! :D

[deltawave]

I would if the opportunity arose, but usually XC schooling days are so difficult to orchestrate that there's a group of us going, or nobody.

There's something to be said about having an event horse out in the open by itself, to learn that it's "all alone time" out on XC. A lot of young/green ones have a hard time getting used to this. It's really good for them to get the idea that yes, they CAN go out there all by themselves. :)

OTOH, the rhythm of XC schooling in a small group is pretty logical--do your 3-4 fences, sit for a minute or two while the others go, then do it again. You can learn a lot by watching. Plus having a lead horse for spooky stuff is helpful, and some horses do settle better if they're in a group.

[RAyers]

I sometimes get private lessons simply because I am the only one going at a certain level. Other times my trainer will ride their horse with me so it is still a "private" lesson.

Don't worry, a lesson is a lesson and so lang as you, your horse and the trainer all have a bit of fun, it is all good.

Reed

[Janet]

I quite frequently have a "private" cross country lesson.

It is particularly useful for the horse to learn to jump WITHOUT any other horses around, as that is how it works in competition.

[max72]

this is great, thanks so much for all the fast responses. I love riding with Don and he'll be a a course nearby so I will just see if it works out to get there.

[Catalina]

My XC schools are almost always private. I usually bring both of my horses and my trainer rides one while I school the other and then we switch off. I have had group lessons before and, while I enjoyed it, I much prefer the private session because I feel like I get a lot more feedback during the one on one time.

[Whisper]

I've had one private XC schooling lesson, and occasionally we work one or two XC-type fences into our regular lessons. In the past, I'd only done group XC lessons.

[crosscreeksh]

We have the luxury of our own, new, private cross country course - 28+ jumps from BABY BABY to Novice height. We built it as a "play gound" for our own use since CC is what I like to do best and here in Oklahoma there are hardly any cc courses at all - the nearest to us is almost 4 hours away...which people DO travel to. I also do some private cc lessons. (I only have a handful of regular students.) I think being alone is fine and educational for a brave or experienced horse. If I have a real greenie, I will do the lesson mounted on one of my own packers. A buddy is a big help to the greener horses and it cuts down on my walking mileage. We've done open schooling days the past two weekends - one on a Saturday and the last on Sunday. We were loaded with wonderful and very grateful riders. One trainer brought nine students and their horses and plans to come on a monthly schedule. I allow schooling by appointment while the weather is good...ya never know what the wind will blow in here for weather!!!

[TripleC]

I XC school privately wherever possible. Neither of my horses do very well stopping & starting in a group situation. They are trained and when they are in the XC mode, ready to go do their job. It all depends on the horse, but I do know some that have had their brains fried a bit in a group school, so some of it also depends on how the instructor runs the lesson/clinic and how the horse deals mentally with other horses galloping away, coming back.

[Mach Two]

Since you have to compete by yourself, it's good to learn by yourself....however, there are times when a more experienced horse may be good to give your horse a "lead" over a fence that seems daunting.
I had lessons both ways back in the day, and learned much from both...but one of my horses tended to become agitated at the waiting for others to do the exercises....and would go "dull" on me from all the standing around.

If you have a private lesson, your instructor can focus specifically on what you need, and that can be so helpful.

[flypony74]

I've done semi-privates but normally it is a group for the sake of efficiency. I generally enjoy group lessons as long as everyone is riding at about the same level (and hey, you get to laugh at your friends). My horse will very willing hack out alone, so it is not imperative that we practice "getting out by ourselves" during an x-c lesson. I can practice that on my friend's 600 acre farm without the big $$ of a lesson.

Now dressage? Definitely prefer a private.

[KBG Eventer]

I can't think of a time I have done a private cross country lesson at another barn. When I lived in another state I would do some of the variety of cross country jumps in private lessons once in awhile, but it was not a multiple level, huge course like at an event facility. I have schooled pretty much doing one jump at a time, a small group of jumps, or schooling a couple one at a time and then doing most of a course and maybe finished a couple of questions at the next level up. It depends on how my horse and I feel that day, but I like both ways. The ponies and horses I have ridden never mind leaving the group too much at events, and they usually are 100% patient waiting around although sometimes I feel like I could get a better rhythm and have my adrenaline start a bit if I do mini or full courses.

[LookinSouth]

I've taken quite a few private XC lessons. The event trainer I ride with has a course at her own small private facility and when I do a XC lesson it is no different than a Dressage and/or stadium lessson which usually is private as well. She also s teaches at a large barn with a rated XC course so privates there are possible as well.If I am trucking out to another facility to lesson with said trainer or attend a clinic with another trainer it is usually in a group setting.

[LookinSouth]

It is particularly useful for the horse to learn to jump WITHOUT any other horses around, as that is how it works in competition.

My thoughts as well and I think it pays off to lesson XC alone when you can. How else do you develop a brave, independent thinking horse?

[HOH]

I love individual xc lessons! We travel the course with the instructor riding on a 4 wheeler pointing to jumps to try and we can immediately re-school any problem situations. Interestingly enough, my horse is somewhat "herd dependent", but when he is totally by himself, he couldn't be better! He has trouble leaving a group or being left by a group, which is why I agree with the posters that recommend taking both individual and group lessons.