enismirdal: (Default)
[personal profile] enismirdal
My riding school looks, on the surface, like a lovely place; they're always getting new buildings, and they recently spent an extertionate amount on a giant indoor school. But under the surface, it's not so shiny.

The yard owner is always trying to cut costs, so is gradually reducing the amount of food the livery horses receive unless the owners pay extra.
The yard owner is actually a pain in the ass who overworks his staff and everyone seems to hate him.
He buys in horses from dodgy dealers, and they have god-only-knows what history. And some have very odd personalities.
And then they let stupid kids ride the good horses, and get people who just don't get the horses' brains to work with them, which screws them up more.
And unless everything is clearly marked with the owner's name, it gets nicked. All the time. Whatever it is - even just currycombs. So the riding school tack, which I have to use in lessons, is practically falling to pieces sometimes. With every set of reins disappearing at such a rate, several bridles have reins with broken buckles, so are knotted together and therefore impractically short. There are girth straps nearly worn through, nosebands missing, bits atached asymmetrically... I wonder if it's safe sometimes.

Why do we keep going? Because the instructor is really good, and I really like his teaching style. He knows my limits, and he understands that they are actually higher than the limits I think I have, so will push me past what I think I can do, but no further than I can actually go.

I got back from today's lesson to find that all the work without stuirrups had somehow worn a hole in my jodphurs. How embarrassing :S

Girly is ski-ing.

My parents are in Sheffield. So I'm engaging in late-night spodding, lurking and general time-wasting. Yay!!!

Date: 3 Apr 2004 00:09 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tienelle.livejournal.com
That sounds rather poor. Can't you persuade the instructor to be somewhere else? Or get some half-decent reins (and reiny bits), mark them clearly with your name, and hold onto them. While plotting to effect a regime change.

Alas!!! :(

Date: 3 Apr 2004 00:24 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] enismirdal.livejournal.com
He could switch, but it'd also mean a longer travelling distance for us, him having to build up a whole new rapport with his students and employers...and I think many riding schools are much the same :(

Reins are expensive. Also, attaching to the bit is a pain in the backside, and I'd have to attach them to each new bridle depending on the horse I was riding, and take them off again afterwards. Doh!

I guess this is the kind of problem where people moan but do nothing :\

Re: Alas!!! :(

Date: 3 Apr 2004 01:29 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tienelle.livejournal.com
I guess this is the kind of problem where people moan but do nothing

Your only choice, then, is to change the situation. The revolution starts tomorrow, if we can be bothered!

Date: 3 Apr 2004 02:04 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gyre.livejournal.com
Sorry I missed you :(

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