Should I take Hunter/Jumper lessons?

I have three horses that I ride western, purely for pleasure. I don't have any desire to ever show any of my horses. The first two (actually my parents horses) I can do anything on, and I am completely confident in my ability to ride them. But the horse that I just brought in April is a different story. He is a 6 year old QH that has been finished but defiantly needs some refreshing and attitude ajustments. I have been working with him on the ground alot and he has come a long way, and I am confident working with him on the ground. I have just started to ride him and things aren't going to well. I feel like I need to become more confident in myself as a rider before I go and try to correct him. I never really learned proper seat postition or leg cues, etc. I would really like to do things right with Andy and not just bounce around on his back like an idiot just confusing him.

Now that is a simple decision, but heres the problem. I live in a area where there's not alot of "horsey people". The closest place to take western lessons is almost two hours away and I just can't do that with my schedule (full time job, full time college student, etc). There is a new place that just opened up about a hour away but they only do Hunter/Jumper and Dressage lessons. I have never ridden english and know absolutely nothing about it. Do you think it would be benefical for me to take the english lessons to improve my seat and confidence or would it be to hard for me to take english lessons and transition them to my western riding at home?

Thankyou for your opinions and for reading my novel lol

Absolutely! If it is a good stable with quality instruction they should definitely be teaching you things that will cross over to riding at home. they might be able to give you some pointers with your horse as well. I'm always a fan of learning more and having someone on the ground watching you ride.

I think the dressage lessons would be especially helpful unless you would really like to get into the whole jumping thing. Dressage will improve your western riding and your horse's training, so I think that's a win-win. And you might even decide you really like English riding and want to continue with it.

Well if dressage would be better then thats what I would do, I don't really care about jumping. Thankyou guys for your input .

I've still got to think about it for awhile... I really don't have the time or the money to do it but I might be able to go every other week.

This is the barn if anyone is curious - Pleasant Oaks Equestrian Center

Well, their prices aren't bad. :)

You can always try out 2 or 3 lessons and then decide.
But dressage is the foundation of riding so of course that will help.


I'd give jumping a try too, if you're into it ;) its exciting.
Always good to try new things.

There prices aren't bad but when you have a horse, a dog, three cats, a car payment, a cell phone, and are paying for your college off a minimum wage job it's kind of hard lol.

I really think it would be helpful to take the dressage lessons but the jumping would be very exciting

I am mainly worried about time. I don't get days off work and I have no control over my schedule which I find out the week of. I don't know if my boss would be willing to give me a shift once a week around the lessons and school, shes kind of a (opps can't say that) about the schedule.