Getting your child into horseback riding comes with a lot of questions. Our industry is still not well understood by outsiders. Parents and children can become overwhelmed when trainers push strong opinions about horses and training methods, and throw out huge dollar signs. While horseback riding is definitely not an inexpensive sport, we do try to make every child’s goal a reality with the budget they have available. Here are some answers to questions we frequently hear from our parents about english riding lessons at Cyr Point Stable.
1. Do I need to set up a meeting before booking a lesson?
You're welcome to schedule your first lesson without the need for a meeting first. We do not lock our clients into nonrefundable packages. If you don't enjoy your lesson, then you're free to not return. Scheduling your first lesson gives you a specific time to ask any questions you might have that weren't answered over the phone or here in this FAQ. Every rider is different and we can better answer your questions once we see the style of the rider in question.
2. Should I have group or a private lesson?
Your child's first lesson will be used to evaluate your their learning style and skill level. After that we will be able to decide what time slot is appropriate for your child. Private lessons are generally only necessary for children who lease or own a horse and are actively showing. Small group lessons have many benefits, such as learning from example for visual learners. Children also get the opportunity to make friends with like-minded peers and have the camaraderie of being part of the barn community.
We do service special needs learners in private time slots that allow them the one-on-one instruction they need. All of our parents will be asked if their child is a special needs learner, and this important conversation helps us to better manage our entire program and keep all the children safe.
3. Why doesn’t my child ride like the other children or jump as high?
Answering this is not always simple. First of all, each child learns and moves forward in the sport at their own pace. Second, and more importantly, this is not an easy sport that can be quickly mastered in a few months. Core muscles, general fitness, and balance can take a long time to develop. Also, riding and jumping involves both major muscle control and motor skills. Presenting a child with a challenge that is too much for them can be discouraging, or worse, result in injury.
Our lesson program is not a competition between the children in our arena. Both parents and children are best served by not comparing themselves to others. Your child will be learning in the same arena as children and adults who have been riding for years. There is a lot to be gained by watching those seasoned riders. We develop children as far as they want to go in a safe and professional way. Having respect for the difficulty of this sport is key to understand. As with all sports, some people do have natural talent, but absolutely no one jumps their first time in the saddle. We want your child to enjoy riding as they learn.
4. My child LOVES this and wants to go further, but I do not know anything about horses. What is the next step?
Many parents get dragged into the world of horses by their horse-crazy children, not knowing anything about it. We understand this can be nerve wracking, but remember, this is what we do and we're here to help!
When thinking about the next step for your child, we start by having a realistic conversation of what your budget is. Once we establish realistic options we can come up with a plan.
We aim to give parents options. For some families, extra lessons and showing a farm-owned horse is all the budget allows and that's okay. Our lesson horses are perfectly suited for the local level circuits and let children meet reasonable goals.
Leasing is the next best option for families who aren't ready to commit to horse ownership. There are many different types of leases and we do our best to make magic happen even with the smallest of budgets.
Eventually, most children who are very serious about this sport and excel rapidly start to face the big question: should we buy our own horse? The answer to that is typically yes. Owning a horse allows the rider to find the perfect match within their budget, and a partner well suited for their needs. It provides the security of riding and working with the same pony/horse on a regular basis.
Our lesson programs offer a full service training board for children’s show horses. This means that mom and dad don't have to know anything, but they do learn a lot as the months go on. We provide 24/7 care of the horse and stand for all the vet and farrier appointments. Our professionals ride your child’s horse in the morning while they are at school and help the training process. If there are road-blocks along your child’s journey with their partner we're here to help smooth the road.
We strongly advise that before buying a horse your child has been riding long enough to experience the inevitable ups and downs that go along with riding. This ensures a better outcome for everyone, including the pony/horse.
To learn more, go to our What We Offer page, download our Lesson Program Flyer or arrange your first lesson by contacting Robin at 407-810-6293!