Post by horseguy on Sept 16, 2015 21:25:53 GMT
I am starting a new topic with Jacki's question about finding an instructor/lesson barn for her daughter. The short answer is it can be difficult unless you are in a true horse area like Ocala FL, Aiken SC, Tryon NC, Bucks, Montgomery or Chester Co. PA, etc. I will give the example of Bucks Co. PA where I had a barn 20 years ago. I would go t the Bucks Co. Horse Park and run into one of many former Olympic riders. Bruce & Buck Davidson, Michael Matz, even George Morris, Sam Campbell an Aussie Olympian, and other international competitors could be seen schooling horses. Having riders of this level in a locale elevates the standard of riding, teaching and training.
However, in a place like Central Pennsylvania, where I am now, the equestrian landscape is dominated by back yard horses, typically with little or no training, and self taught riders. In this environment, literally anyone can essentially pretend to be a riding instructor and many do. I was in a tack shop near Harrisburg one day and a young girl, maybe 17, was chatting at the counter and said she was an instructor. To make conversation, I asked her what kind? She said "English". To continue the conversation I asked, Hunter/jumper, or dressage, eventing, what kind? The girl's face got red and she stormed out of the shop. The owner, who I knew, got perturbed at me for running off a customer. I defended myself saying I was just asking.
Bottom line, the young "instructor" and many others in the area, simply don't know what aspect of English riding they are teaching. They typically do not even know all the sub disciplines because it is not a horse area. In Bucks County, PA, only an hour away, every aspect of English riding is strong and active, and the instructors in each discipline can't fake it because the overall level of equestrian awareness is so much higher.
The question, "is there anything we can look for on a website or "buzzwords" to look out for; what questions can we ask, etc? Does membership in USEF mean anything?" a good question. I personally do not think any connection to the USEF has qualitative meaning. Hopefully someday it will. There are many instructor credentialing and certification programs in the US, but most are shams with little or no credibility. The US Dressage Federation has a respected program of certification, and I feel the Sally Swift's Centered Riding program certified instructors are of measurably higher quality. After that, I come up pretty empty. Perhaps others here can add to my short list.
I do not know any buzzwords to look for either. I would suggest asking about the instructors education history. First, who taught them to ride? What tradition did that first instructor come from? As the instructor grew as a rider, what clinics, what instructors did the learn from? What competitions have they participated in, and at what level? What different equestrian sports have the been involved with? There I personally look for diversity. Red flags for me are they worked/ridden at the race track, although there are notable exceptions to this. I am also prone to deeply discount the quality of an instructor who has only done one thing with horses, and equestrian cult members like Parelli followers. Basically, I like a riding/training resume that demonstrates long term commitment (not "I was a farrier, then a saddle fitter, then an instructor, then a judge..." etc.) to riding and training with some diversity of disciplines, and some competition at a decent level.
If you cannot find an instructor in your area, then traveling to clinics, as a rider or auditor, is an option. It is risky to rely on the internet, DVD cook book programs, and other methods that do not involve a live human being watching you or someone else ride, are suspect. It's not easy finding a well qualified instructor. Lastly, there are some great riders. like the Irish hunt staff people who have come over to America to work for a US Hunt Club. These Europeans often come from a formidable tradition of great riding, but the question is, can they teach? Some can, others cannot even thought they are fantastic riders.
I hope tis is helpful. My answer is too long and I apologize for that. It's a simple but difficult question. 
