[HorseCrazyGirlForever]

The only equine experience I have under my belt is from a friend... She is teaching me to ride. She is VERY knowledgable and has taught me a LOT! But all my friends think I should quit and take lessons... What to do? And I plan on getting my own horse someday.... Should I take lessons before then?:?

 

[Bridgertrot]

It's spelled taught by the way. And yes you should definitely take lessons before owning a horse. That way you can get a large knowledge base of horse ownership. There's a lot more to horses than just riding them. Be sure to take the lessons from a professional trainer as some people can seem knowledgeable but in reality know nothing. After that you can even lease a horse so you can figure out if it's something you want to stick with.
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[HorseCrazyGirlForever]

She has taught several about horses, and she makes me take care of them. I really can't afford lessons though.... Know of any people in Indiana?

 

[equiniphile]

If you can't afford lessons, you won't be able to afford a horse, which is the blunt truth of it. I'm a firm believer in lessons; save up for them and they will be extremely helpful to you.

 

[Saskia]

No one is perfect, so when a friend teaches you what she knows, she is also teaching you all her faults. Not the mention that there is a lot she could miss. Pretty much all horse owners know a lot about horses, but that doesn't mean they should be teaching.

At a riding school, the instructor isn't just teaching what they have experienced, but what they have been taught to teach. They, if they are correctly qualified, would have learned about a lot methods to use, and things to watch out for and teach.

Additionally, you will be riding horses that are suitable for lessons - where as you don't know what you are learning from your friends horse.

Lessons aren't cheap, but they are much cheaper than horse ownership. I recommend a bare minimum of a year of weekly lessons before considering owning your own horse, preferably more, and preferably more hands on care experience.

 

[greenbryerfarms]

I agree. I teach my friends how to ride my horses but when the mention buying one I tell them to take lessons and direct them to some teachers I know that are also friends, were lucky here because the teachers I know will do this for bare minimum due to them having other jobs so its just money on the side! But im sure if it wasnt for me telling them to go somewhere else they would be in a world of trouble! I didnt have anyone to take me to lessons my lesson was my horse and that was hard I have had to retrain him completly due to my lack of knowledge and ability of thinking i knew it all. wed probably already be tearing up the barrel pattern if i had taken lessons.

please you will get much further then your friend. more knowledgable and be able to take better care of your horse then if you were to just buy one. let alone buying a horse that is "bomb" proof is a few thousand. if its the real deal thats a lot of money and youd want to know how to take care of your pet.

 

[Cintillate]

I think lessons would help. Might save you from making costly mistakes. I survived without lessons but I think I might have had more of an edge if I did have lessons and would have appreciated having some one to ask questions and learn from. Reading books is another good source of information but don't think it can replace lessons.