Who here goes it alone...with little instruction?

[NutterButter]

In my current situation I just don't have the time or inclination to take a lot of lessons. I really like to clinic and take lessons but to be honest there is no one in my area that I am interested in spending too much time with. I would rather save up a bit of vacation to use on a couple of weekends away or whatever. I have not worked out exactly how I will incorporate professional instruction but I do know that I want to do most of the lower lever work of getting my mare back to work on my own. I was wondering what resources those of you that work alone use. What do you find most helpful. Which books or videos have had the most useful exercises and did you find that video taping yourself was very useful. Thanks in advance for any info. BTW I am not a beginner and have had many many lessons in the past.

[fizzyfuzzybuzzy]

I find the most helpful is videotaping. You can watch yourself and your horse and see where the holes are. I also find eyes on the ground helpful. They don't even need to know a LOT about horses, but you can ask them, is she tracking up, is her nose in the middle of her chest, is her tail swinging, etc. I also read Tug of War, GREAT book, really helpful, great pictures!!

[18handsoffury]

After being told that if I'm serious about dressage, I'd buy myself a serious dressage horse (I.E. One of her $$$$$ warmbloods), I've taken the training of my tb gelding and saddlebred mare into my own hands. Videoing yourself is the best tool.Also, invest in some videos from european trainers. The entire Phillipe Karl video series is pure gold. Also I have a great Anky video from years ago (vhs!)That is helpful for green, sensitive, and hot horses.My favorite book is De Kunffy's Dressage principles Illuminated.
I fully reccomend self-training! The difference in my gelding's gaits, suppleness, and even physical appearance is amazing-he looks like a different horse after 6 months of just me and him and my dressage library. I took him to a h/j show 2 weeks ago and I had to show everyone his lip tat to prove that he's really a Tb!

[slc2]

Well I love videos and am a 'visual learner' and get alot out of them. But there are very very good things about taking lessons one misses if one doesn't get lessons.

Self training is good but has its limits because often what feels comfortable is more just what one is used to rather than progressive or correct.

The big problem with videos is they don't give one any feedback. I can watch a video and try something and think, wow, this is great when really nothing at all is different, but the video isn't giving me any feedback as to how it's really going. 'Feeling' without feedback can be very, very deceptive.

'How much' is a huge thing in dressage. One may go a little more forward, or get a little more connection, and it's really not enough, or it's too much. For example, rein length. The video talks about rein length, but no one is there saying to you, 'that's what i mean, that's right' or 'that's not quite enough', or 'good try, but this other element is missing and needs to be there'. If one has never done something before, if one doesn't know how it should feel (or feel with that horse) a video doesn't help a person feel something is enough or too much, because there is no feedback.

Too, that evaluation of your horse is missing with a video. Something isn't working with your horse, yet it seems you're doing it right-why? What's missing? What do I need to go back to? Etc. A video can't cover every possibility.

Videos are often actually very uneven in quality - the riding shown is not always good, the techniques aren't always right. I have seen some dressage videos made by people who have written a lot of books that sounded real good, but watching the videos, I was like, oh my lord what's going on here.

Ideally, a person gets lessons, reads, watches others ride (videos and in person), rides different horses - green and schooled. One of the best things is having an experienced trainer get on one's horse from time to time and get feedback on how he feels and what one can do different. Ideally, one's riding education is really diverse, not relying 100% on any one type of input. Riding alone and figuring things out, riding with instruction and being guided, all of the above. Over many years I've seen that with myself and many other people - being willing to get instruction helps, and so does everything else. Ideally learning is holistic and coming at you from all sorts of inputs, one reinforcing the other.

People do get jaded with local trainers sometimes but often they are not as bad as one thinks, and the alternative, the occasional session with an outside clinician, may or may not work well. Local trainers are uneven - some are certified and have shown and trained a lot of horses and riders and are always moving forward and learning new things. Others are in a rut and taking short cuts and not really understanding dressage even after years.

I would really caution, though, against believing too much of what one hears about local trainers. Familiarity tends to breed contempt, there is always some dissatisfied customer who hates some trainer and tells everyone about that, and they often aren't as bad as all that.

[cuonxc]

I only get a lesson 3-4 X a year.

I LOVE books...and try to study every day.

Videos of me riding help a great deal...training videos help to a lesser extent (I am sure that has to do with my learning style).
Auditing clinics (I take copious notes) also helps.

Have you considered Jane Savoie's home study course?

[magickmeadow]

I don't take a lot of lessons but do try and participate in clinics whenever I can. I videotape and have my daughter or son-in-law help me out. I signed up for Jane Savoie's newsletters and check out her website on a regular basis. I buy DVD's and read. Granted for the most part there isn't feedback unless I go to a clinic, lesson or show but I have ridden a really long time. I am not an expert by any means but I still retain a lot of what I learned in Germany. My daughter has a good eye as does her husband. They help me a lot. I get a lot of pleasure out of accomplishing things on my own. I think the key to success is knowing when you need to get help. Good luck.

[merrygoround]

In the past, due to limited time/finances, there have been periods when I "went it alone".
Would I want to do it again? No way. videos are good, so are eyes on the ground. But nothing can take the place of a knowledgeable instructor, who can see things in the round, and enlarge your perspective and make sure that your horse is moving evenly on both reins, that your lateral work is absolutly correct in tempo, and bend, that your canter is reaching thru on both reins, and that your half halts are half as good as you think they are.
;) ;)

My preference is for a steady course with one instructor, with an occasional clinic, as a check for progress. :yes:

[CatOnLap]

well, I ride for fun. I have about 6 lessons a year with the same clinician.

There was a time when I trained 3 times a week with a coach.

I prefer it this way.
I come to several BB's first thing in the morning. I often am inspired by what I read. Sometimes just to get the utter stupidity of what is posted out of my head.
Occassionally because there is a gem of wisdom that clarifies a problem I have been working on.
Mostly because my arthritis/stiffness makes it too hard to ride in the morning and it takes about an hour with a warm cuppa before I can face going out and being physical.

[NJRider]

In the past, due to limited time/finances, there have been periods when I "went it alone".
Would I want to do it again? No way. videos are good, so are eyes on the ground. But nothing can take the place of a knowledgeable instructor, who can see things in the round, and enlarge your perspective and make sure that your horse is moving evenly on both reins, that your lateral work is absolutly correct in tempo, and bend, that your canter is reaching thru on both reins, and that your half halts are half as good as you think they are.
;) ;)

My preference is for a steady course with one instructor, with an occasional clinic, as a check for progress. :yes:

This is absolutely correct.... but monthly or so lessons or clinics with a great instruction is better than weekly instruction with mediocre or the type where it is really just a social hour, not a lesson.
Where I live I have to drive 3 hours for a good lesson. But, boy is it worth it! I tried the "local instructor" thing, total waste of time and money. Big fish on little puddles that have never accomplished anything. I learned that convenience is not worth it.
I have some very good friends that are not instructors, but very good horseman. We gang up on each other and help, offer feedback, videotape, etc.

[Kathy Johnson]

I'm pretty kinesthetic so videos don't help me as much as they might others. I do audit clinics, but only with clinicians who share the same philosophies. I only clinic with the very best. At this point, I find that getting out, riding and making use of my few lessons will improve my riding and my horses more than anything else.

When I do clinic, for me the key is getting the most out of every ride. It means really listening and asking questions if something is not clear. It means taking little breaks in the lesson, red flagging what doesn't feel right and trying to clear up my misunderstanding. It also means taking little breaks in the lesson to highlight what feels right and to bookmark those great moments so I can re-ride them later, both in my mind and on my horse.

After the lesson, I ask the coach what the most important things to work on are (usually it's very clear and I don't have to ask).

Then I go home and take notes. At night, before I go to sleep, I re-ride the best parts of the lesson. I do a lot of visualization, and I've trained myself to watch for the "AHA" moments in my rides so I can repeat them.

I break down things into pieces and incorporate them into my next sessions. That's when the real work starts. It is a lot of effort, mentally and physically. I get lost sometimes. I putter sometimes. I lose my drive sometimes. When that happens frequently, I know it's time for another clinic.

I can not stress how important it is to have the right clinicians if this method is going to work at all. I do NOT trainer hop. I've ridden with the same clinicians for years, and often host the clinics in order to have access to the people who help me the most. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have these clinicians who understand my goals and perspectives. They know that I may not show, they know I won't be taking lessons weekly and they understand that I am deadly serious about dressage: learning, teaching and training.

[pintopiaffe]

I can't tell you how grateful I am to have these clinicians who understand my goals and perspectives. They know that I may not show, they know I won't be taking lessons weekly and they understand that I am deadly serious about dressage: learning, teaching and training.

I travel 5 hrs one way with the trailer for a lesson. It's about a week's take home pay now, between gas and the lesson. I try to audit for several hours--as many as possible--to make the trip worthwhile. This year I have had 3 lessons, and made more progress than ever. And that includes the fact that I wrecked my knee the first of August and was off ALL of Aug/Sept.

Some years I've been able to go 1x/mo May through Oct. Other years it's more like 1x/quarter. This year I moved heaven and earth and am still catching up from doing the 3rd lesson the beginning of this month.

Been with the same teacher now for 8 years. Only done 2 outside clinics/lessons. Unless I know100% that another teacher is not going to be in conflict with my teacher, I audit. I get a lot out of auditing.

My horse would be easily in the FEI levels right now with another rider or in full training. He's stuck with me. I've LEARNED from him, and it makes every horse after him easier... but I never seem to be able to push thruogh to the next level without a lesson. I am just not sure enough of the correctness.

I think you *can* do it, but it'll cost you a decade or so. <shrugs>

[Ashby]

I know perfectly well that I need lessons, as I've hit a bit of a brick wall in advancing my horse's training. But I just can't afford them right now.

Last year I did set aside some money for lessons, but wasted it all, thus:

I arranged to lesson from a woman in my area who came quite highly recommended. She has a cute little facility, has some nice Andys to use as school horses, and supposedly trains with one of America's finest and most classical riders. She talked the talk well enough, so I signed on.

I took time off in the middle of my work day, which was a sacrifice in itself. She spent much of the time during my lessons arguing on the cell phone with her husband. Much of the lesson consisted of talking about Indian mysticism, chakras, reincarnation, past lives, the spirits of the dead, and how she is a psychic and a medium. When she started pressuring me to come to seances so I could talk to my dead relatives, I told her I wanted to learn about dressage, and was told I was insufficiently respectful. That was the end. What a waste.

[didgery]

I just got a package of five lessons as an early Christmas present from my mom. Took the first one last weekend and - WOW - what a difference! I thought I was doing OK, but it turns out that all my OLD bad habits have morphed into opposite, new, counterproductive bad habits. My horse, who was having some attitude issues before the weekend, is now being a perfect angel. Goes to show it's rarely the horse's fault . . .

I haven't been able to regularly take lessons since 1996. Took one in 2005, took one from a different instructor in 2007, and now I've taken one this year from a third (and favorite) instructor. I'm hoping to get a lot out of my ten weeks of every other Saturday!

[2DogsFarm]

Depends on what your final goal is.
Like Kathy J I learn by doing, watching a video doesn't help me and reading takes too darn long to penetrate my sorry, old, brain (although Podhajsky's Training of Horse and Rider is my bible - dry as dust, but oh so correct)

In my Perfect World I'd have a trainer out once a month, twice would be ideal, to polish up what I've been working on. For me there is no substitute for a pair of educated eyes on the ground. A mirror in the indoor is a good aid, but I want the human interaction too.

My goals are simple and not at all far-reaching.
With one 26yo TB who was schooling 3rd Level...10 years ago, and one teenaged TWH who is just learning I am not the abuser (I bought him at age 10, I was owner #5) they are not geared towards showing at all.
I just want to have the best, most pleasant ride on my horses that I can.
And the harmony between horse & rider that dressage exemplifies appeals to me.
Sometimes I get "stuck" and need a pro to get me motivated again.
Fortunately there is a local trainer who is willing to come to my place but Life intereferes and scheduling is problematical.
I was able to fit in a clinic this year and hopefully the homework from that will get me through until the next one.

So if you don't need ImmediateRightNow progress and can be satisifed with a snail's pace then Yes, you can certainly self-train.

If you want more, sooner, I think you need to get help from whatever works for you - videos, books, auditing, trailer-in somewhere.

[Boomer]

I travel 5 hrs one way with the trailer for a lesson. It's about a week's take home pay now, between gas and the lesson. I try to audit for several hours--as many as possible--to make the trip worthwhile. This year I have had 3 lessons, and made more progress than ever.......

My horse would be easily in the FEI levels right now with another rider or in full training. He's stuck with me. I've LEARNED from him, and it makes every horse after him easier... but I never seem to be able to push thruogh to the next level without a lesson. I am just not sure enough of the correctness.

I think you *can* do it, but it'll cost you a decade or so. <shrugs>

I totally know where you are coming from. I am 3 hours one way to a trainer. Until 2 years ago, I was 4+ hours from a trainer! Diesel is terribly expensive (although at least it's just under $3 USD / gallon now) - and hauling to the clinician that comes 6x / year to the 3 hour away location can cost as much as the lessons! Plus I spend the night to get an extra ride the next day - so, now I have a hook-up fee and stable fee.

So, I am on my own most of the time. There is usually no one around (like 99% of the time) when I ride. My very talented now not-so-young horse has been mostly trained by me - for better or worse. He would be MUCH farther along if I was a rich mommy at a boarding barn with regular training. But he's not and I'm not... so, that's what it is.

The good thing is that I have to think a lot more when I get on and ride. When I get on, I'm either training or untraining him/myself.

I've finally gotten a camcorder and can't wait to tape myself riding as I think a "digital eye" is better than none - even though it will not be real time correction. Altho I am dreading seeing myself on tape :o

I may check out some of the videos too. I love getting videos of top shows just for inspiration. I learn better by watching. I try to audit clinics if I don't ride and can afford the fuel to get there. Especially if the clinic will have horses/riders in it at my level. Some times clinics are restricted to "x level and above".

I agree with PintoPiaffe - you can do it yourself but it will generally take longer than if you have regular help.

[okggo]

Me, for now. I have a greenie I just started and am slowly bringing along. I have no problem getting him through the basics of riding solo, but I do anticipate reaching a point where I get 'stuck'. When I get there I fully intend to find a local professional to help me go to the next level.

That said, I haven't had regular lessons in many many years, and while I'm still a competent rider, I've picked up some annoying habits and lost some of the finesse having pro-eyes watching tends to better etch.

[magnum]

If we are honest with ourselves, I think we'd all admit that *any AA really who wishes to PROGRESS really needs lessons 2-4x per month, minimum!*

Yes, you can go it alone, but then you get in to bad habits, habits which are terribly frightful to fix after the fact~! Friends on the ground are GREAT ... but only to a point... then they remember their manners and tighten one's lips! :yes:

If Olympic riders feel *they* need weekly lessons in order to stay on track, and lessons a few times a week to MAKE PROGRESS ... Surely we earthbound creatures need at least that much, again, at least if we wish to *progress.*

Even if, in the past, you trained ONE or two horses to, oh, say, 4th level, each horse can prompt differing approaches at different levels of development. It TRULY takes the experienced eye of a pro to prescribe the best Rx for a developing athlete (be it you, the horse or both) at any given stage the pair's progress.

While I don't get daily lessons, I do video tape and review. My husband also has a SPECTACULAR eye ... after being with me since 1989, he's good if I have questions or get stuck.

We've had SO many conversations that go like this: ME: "This feels pretty good. What does it look like?"

HUBBY: "Well, he isn't overstriding like he does in your lessons. Is he supposed to?"

(DOH!) :eek: :lol:

Bottom line is, STAY IN REGULAR LESSONS, but also do not panic if things don't go just perfectly every day. This is the way it goes when you work alone. You sometimes discover for yourself what works best ... and that is a HUGE contributor to your development as a horse person. But, don't go to the other extreme and get out of the habit of taking lessons, either! As with all things, moderation is key!

Happy (now winter) riding!

Magnum

[slc2]

Well I think that alot of people can't get into more frequent lessons, either because they don't have the time (transport, etc), can't afford it or they just don't like to be in a situation where they're getting critiqued and pushed to work on things.

[Kathy Johnson]

I think those are all perfectly good reasons not to do the lessoning thing. It is just a different journey, and there is very much to be be learned from riding alone. In fact, it's the only way for training to begin. Until a rider can apply what is taught in lessons without being told what to do, they are riders not trainers. And I think we all buy into the idea that we are either training or untraining every step.

I see both sides of the discussion. I see people who ride by themselves for years who never advance in dressage. They do learn to ride. I see people who ride in lessons year after year and advance in the levels of dressage, and never learn to ride. They are helpless without the trainer.

It's easy on both sides to say, "this is what works for me." But it isn't necessarily what is going to work for the next person. There is no one right way to do things, not for every AA, not for every pro. I think in these economic times, many, many people are going to be riding alone for awhile. It should be viewed as an opportunity of necessity, not the end of the world.