How and why should you take on a riding instructor?

A riding instructor is a professional whose job is to give you riding lessons. You need to choose the right person, a true professional. If you have already considered it without knowing how or why to go about it, the information below will be very useful.

How do you go about finding an instructor?

Before calling on an instructor's services, you first need to ask yourself the right questions. When you are sitting down with the professional, they will need answers to certain questions. You should have those answers ready before getting in touch.

First steps

To begin with, take stock of your riding background. Broadly speaking, being in good physical shape is an advantage for riding and for progressing quickly. In the equestrian world specifically, a beginner needs more guided freedom than a professional or an experienced amateur.

Next, you need to work out how much time you have in your diary and what lesson schedule is feasible. That way, the instructor can plan the lessons so that you reach the level you want in record time. The learner should also tell their future instructor what they are aiming for in the short, medium and long term.

Finally, the budget needs to be discussed. It is the central point, without which nothing else can be addressed.

What to do next

Once this preliminary work is done, you can ask a riding club for an instructor. Clubs are places where plenty of professionals work. You can also ask a professional rider directly to recommend their own instructor. In addition, some expert instructors offer lessons online through their own platforms; how good they are can be judged from reviews and from recommendations by friends or family who have already tried them.

Why take on an instructor?

Taking on an instructor is often seen as something reserved for the wealthy. Far from it! Working with an instructor brings plenty of benefits.

Benefits for your learning

Calling on a professional means bringing in an expert to correct all the flaws in your riding, whether you are an amateur or a professional. For a beginner, it is the best way to build solid, realistic foundations in riding. With that, steady and rapid progress is assured.

Long-term benefits

By taking on an instructor, the learner also secures expert advice on looking after their horse. Since the instructor is used to horses, they can spot problems early, before they turn into something far more serious. Thanks to them, choices of equipment, products, routes and trends are far better thought through. Their expertise is always valuable in shedding light on the various decisions to be made.

Competitions are also plentiful in riding. It is therefore fertile ground for anyone who wants to make a career of it. For that, you need a very experienced guide who already knows all the stages and has the right connections. That way, as soon as the talent shows, they can present their protégé at the most sought-after clubs. Little by little, you also build your own network of professionals.

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