Proper Lesson Turnout

[Blue Domino]

Have my first dressage lesson in 6 or 7 years next weekend! Have been out of it for so long, don't know if I remember how to ride on an english saddle.

Have ridden on my western saddle a couple of times the past month, don't even remember for sure what I did with my dressage saddle last time we moved, but I'm sure it's around here somewhere. The western saddle has a nice big flat seat and fits the mare well, actually puts the rider in pretty decent dressage position.

This new instructor is a real, honest to goodness German! Speaks with an accent even, and goes aback and forth from U.S. to Germany!

Do you think she'd be offended if I show up in my western saddle for my first lesson? Is it alright if I show up in jeans and cowboy boots?

I'm a fat old man, and have no vanity left whatsoever, but am on a diet for my poor old mares sake. Don't want to gross the poor woman out.

Aim is to show the old mare training level in the coming year.

[Beasmom]

I think you'll be fine in the Western saddle as long as it puts you in a balanced position. Just explain to the instructor that your dressage saddle is packed away somewhere and until you find it, the Western will have to do. Otherwise, clean jeans and a bit of polish on the boots and you're good to go! You'll find out right away a lot of things about your new instructor... sense of humor, willingness to work with someone in "unconventional" gear, and so forth. The DESIRE to ride well and improve is more important than the britches you're wearing.

Do wear a hard hat -- I know it's optional at some dressage barns, and even more so with adults, but it's always a good idea even if the coach doesn't insist on it.

I find your post refreshing -- I have a student, originally from Germany, who has excellent dressage basics and a very good seat. She decided to start riding Western, and although my primary discipline is dressage, I find myself guiding my classically trained German student through the basics of Western. It's been fun!

Hope your lesson goes well and you both enjoy it!

[Surviving the Dramas]

:lol::lol:

As an instructor myself I would laugh (with you!) at how rare and unique it is to have someone in a western saddle for a dressage lesson, and then move on with the lesson.

Sometimes we all have to make allowances for particular circumstances. If we didn't I'm sure we would lose customers, and lose the chance to turn someone from a different discipline to "the dark side".;)

Once I had to do my lesson with breeches/ tall boot socks (which btw were chocolate squares and not that tidy :eek:), and my short Ariat paddock boots as I had left my long boots at home (NEVER AGAIN!:no:).
My instructor laughed at me for being so blonde and we moved on with the lesson. It is not so much how you look, as how you act. You turn up ready and willing to learn, and your attire becomes irrelevant.

Enjoy your lesson ;)

[slc2]

I don't think it would be real professional to joke with someone or to 'laugh with them' about their western saddle or how 'unique' it is to show up at a lesson with a western saddle - people tend to be awful sensitive about things like that and that would be pretty likely to go the wrong way. there have been enough very shrill discussions here about how western saddles are just fine and dandy for dressage and any other point of view is elite snobbism. To a trained German instructor, a western saddle is most likely simply viewed as the equipment for a western riding lesson rather than a dressage lesson.

I would suggest you work out what equipment the horse should have with the person you're going to take lessons from. The clothes for the rider also.

Some trainers may state that jeans and a western saddle would not allow you to have the same position or use or legs and seat to communicate with the horse in the way dressage works, and actually i would be concerned that you might not get thru too many dressage lessons in jeans without winding up with some pretty raw rubs on your legs, but I can't imagine someone objecting to teaching you basics for a while with a western saddle and jeans, especially if you haven't done this recently or you or horse aren't fit enough to have a real intense lesson, it's pretty unlikely your lessons would be real intense or that the equipment would be a problem - but you really should ask that instructor what equipment and gear she expects. YOu also might want to ask about wearing a helmet. Some barns require everyone taking lessons to wear a helmet these days.

[ironbessflint]

As my trainer would say, it's about the training, not the tack ;) So long as it fits you and fits the horse, I'd go with it.

Been there done that...and she's still a dressage pony ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/ironbessflint/snow/10_31_07/2.jpg

[pintopiaffe]

Have you asked the trainer? That would be the first step.

It would be presumptuous and perhaps a waste of money to show up not knowing if it would offend the instructor, or if the instructor will even teach you in a western saddle.

The clothing should be less of an issue, especially if riding in your own saddle. (many folks don't allow jeans in their saddles because of the wear and tear on the leather.) Jeans need to be quite loose in the hips and thighs (and stretch is ideal) in order to allow proper position without restriction.

Ask.

FWIW, I schooled up until the day before my guy's first show in a wonderful old Crates. Superb classical balance and position. So I'm not a snob. BUT, I would never, ever presume to show up for a lesson in it unless I'd already cleared it with the instructor.

[Sandy M]

I would ask first, but other than probably asking you to use a snaffle and not a western curb, I wouldn't think it would be a major problem, especially since from what you say, it is only a temporary one, until you unearth your dressage saddle from its hiding place. LOL

FWIW, my regular instructor happily worked with a woman who intended to continue riding western and showed up with western saddle and curb bit for a 'dressage' lesson. She sought the dressage instruction because of "issues" the horse (she, actually, of course) was having. My instructor "fixed" her hands, refined her aids, etc. and she continued lessons for a couple of months and then returned to her trail riding, happy that her problems had been fixed. Don't know if she continued to use what she had learned, but she seems happy with her horse whenever I run into her on the trail.

The colt starter who started my then 3 year old for me has taken her star ranch work QH mare to my instructor for dressage lessons to refine her horse's ytraining. I don't know what tack she used, but my instructor told me she really enjoyed working with her.

[FancyFree]

You might want to discuss it with the trainer beforehand to avoid an awkwardness. Where I'm currently training, with a German trainer, that would be a big no-no. They want students to be in the appropriate tack and apparel. They are very strict about it. Perhaps your trainer is more lenient. I'd definitely ask around though before you show up.

[aiken4horses]

When my SO started riding he took some dressage lessons in black jeans and paddock boots, an AP saddle, on a little QH/cross rescue. The trainer NEVER made any negative comments on his attire, tack or horse. She saw how "into" it he was and made the lessons appropriate for his level.

A few years down the road, he's riding a SWB, has all the "right" clothes and gear and still raves about his first instructor.

I've had western trainers start my show horses and seen BN Dressage and H/J trainers teach other disciplines.

If the trainer can only see the "clothes" and not the rider or their level of interest - look for another trainer!

[AmericaRunsOnDunkin]

Good for you for taking a dressage lesson. I agree that you should have the conversation with the trainer. See what he/she wants to see from you - maybe the trainer would like to see what kind of rider you are now. In that case, the Western saddle is great. Get out there and show your stuff.

But maybe, the trainer would like to start you from scratch in a english saddle and the traditional breeches. The clothing isn't just for looks, more importantly, it is worn so the trainer can better evaluate your position and your aids.

So, the answer is - it depends. Hope this helps you have a productive conversation with the trainer. :) Good luck! Hope you have fun.

[Blue Domino]

Thankyou all for you kind replies. Went and dug my dressage saddle out of the horse trailer, Wintec 500 synthetic, so even after all these years of neglect, it still looks good. Even found my wedge pad! Still, the tree has the extra-narrow fork thingie in it, have the other tree forks for wider somewhere, but have no idea where. Will have to order a wider tree fork if I can't find the ones I used to have.

The trainer is suppose to call and give me a time and location for this week-end, as the location changes with the weather. Will be sure and ask her if the western saddle is ok before showing up with it.

[Blue Domino]

With instructors permission, lesson went well in a western saddle, though it was instructors first lesson with a western saddled student. Was requested to bring my dressage saddle along though, just to prove we had one I guess.

Finally, a knowledgable instructor, whose methods I can live with.

Went out last night poked my mare in the back with my fingers all over, trying to find if she was sore from our lesson Sunday. She showed no reaction whatsoever, which pleases me no end. She certainly knows how to let a guy know if she's got a sore back, pinned ears and bared teeth leave no doubt.:)

Hopefully we'll get the dressage saddle pommel forks replaced for our next lesson.