How many horseback riding lessons do you usually take for the basics?

Question

So.. I'm going to try and save up money to take horse-riding lessons. Don't tell me I can't do it, I will even if it takes me years. I want to get an idea of how much money I should save up though. How many lessons does a person usually take? Or is it nearly impossible to estimate?

Please don't say anything rude or discouraging, I've been having an extremely rough time lately, I've even thought about self-harm in the past. So please just answer my question and don't be rude.

Answer 1

The average lesson in my area costs $35. It's nearly impossible to say how many lessons a person takes. You may only take a few; you may never stop.



Save up a few hundred now. And keep at whatever you're doing to earn your money while you're taking lessons. You may only be able to afford a couple lessons a month, but that's still time in the saddle.

Answer 2

I think that's a great goal, and don't let anyone discourage you from reaching it.



I think if you plan on at least 10 lessons, that will give you a good idea of what riding is all about, and you can decide if you really do like riding.



Lessons can be group, semi-private or private. Your first couple of lessons should be private. Prices range anywhere from$10 (a cheap group rate) on up to well over $100 for a private with an Olympic level instructor.



When you're looking for an instructor, ask around, talk to lots of people, and watch your prospective instructor teach some beginner lessons. In the meantime, get as many books about riding as you can find and start reading them.



Best of luck to you. Life gets better once you get on track.



PS Even Olympic level riders take lessons, so the fact is, no one ever reaches perfection! We all just keep aiming toward it.

Answer 3

I'm sorry to hear that you have been having a rough time. Hang in there kiddo-things do get better.



As far as your question,

"The basics" itself is a very subjective term. There really is no solid demarkation between riding levels. While one might be a beginner, and intermediate, or advanced, there really is not a clear point at which they advanced from one to the next.



A couple months of weekly lessons with a good instructor should have you confident at the walk and trot and beginning the canter on a well trained horse. You really need a couple of years around horses to be ready to own one, maybe less if the horse will be boarded and you will have a lot of guidance from a frequently present instructor.



While horse back riding isn't entirely like riding a bike, you won't forget what you have learned if you have to stop and start with your lessons as you can afford them. You may be sore for a ride or two and take a few minutes to get settled, but it's ok if you can just do a lesson from time to time. A little time around horses is great for the soul:)

Answer 4

Horseback Riding Basics

Answer 5

it really just depends on you. Riders progress at different levels. Have you ever been riding before (like trail rides or something simple like that), are you confident with new things, not being completely in control? The first lesson I actually paid for, she put me up on a real trusty horse, and had me go over jumps, but that was the level I was at before I went there, I had been riding for years and want to learn to jump. Same instructor has a boy taking lessons there for 3 years who she rarely lets canter on the horse because he has trouble with it and needs more work on trotting first.



You just kinda save up and take them when you can. Find a good instructor that's cheap. My area lessons range from $35 to $60 for an hour, and the price isn't really a reflection of the quality. I went to a few different instructors and watched them give lessons to see which one gave the type of instruction I prefer. Also, I suggest you watch a lot of lessons, even if you're not up on the horse you can learn a lot, there are quite a few drills you can do at home with no horse that will help you with your riding, things like that make you progress a lot further for your money. Some instructors will also let you be a "working student," you muck stalls or clean tack for them and you get say, 1 hr lesson for every 5 hours worked or whatever the exchange is, it makes lessons affordable for people with time but very tight on funds.

Answer 6

The saddles I work at charge $70 for an hour lesson, which is pretty cheap for our area. I can't say how many lessons it will take you. I have seen people pick it up in a few lessons and other that take many but end up as amazing riders.

So I would look at saving a few hundred dollars to start with, as it depends how often you have lessons on how much you need. Good Luck

Answer 7

What I'VE paid for lessons:

Dressage: $40

Hunter/Jumper: $35 ($30 for group lessons)



Most people just starting take one lesson a week. I have my own horse now, and I've been riding for about 2 1/2 years (you should ride longer before you get a horse, but there were extenuating circumstances) and I take 3 lessons a week. Back when I half-leased my old pony, I took 2 lessons a week.



You should also save money to buy some riding tights/breeches and paddock boots. Good riding tights/breeches run about $60 (unless you get them on sale!) and I paid about $80 for my last pair of paddock boots (Ariats are the best).



Good luck :)

Answer 8

Well, it depends on where you go to ride because the prices vary. I have been taking horse lessons for almost six years and am still going strong. Most lessons cost between 15-35 dollars. Mine are $30. I also work three small jobs. So I suggest you get a job. Your best bet is to get a weekly lesson so it should cost around $80 per month. To raise money you could babysitt, mow mawns, shovel snow, etc. or even work on a farm. Good luck to you. You will be a fantastic rider!!!!!

Answer 9

You can probably afford group lessons pretty easily. Some are as low as $15 per hour. Private lessons will cost more, $25-$60+ an hour. As for how many lessons you will need it is hard to say. If you take one every week I think within 6 months you will be have a pretty solid grasp of the basics and would likely be starting more advanced things.



Riding can be very therapeutic. Maybe if you talk to your parents or your doctor about it they can give you some extra support.

Answer 10

It's really hard to give you an actually number or even close. The price of the lessons differ from barn to barn, also, everyone is different with the amount of lessons they take. People learn at different paces.



My suggestion to actually help you pay for the lessons, is ask about working off some of your lessons by doing the dirty jobs in the barn. I know plenty of places that actually give free lessons as long as the person helps, feed, muck stalls, and do a bit of cleaning. I would go to local barns and see if you can work something out so you don't have to pay for the full lesson or not pay at all.



Good luck

Answer 11

Well usually people take lessons all their lives or atleast for years and years. However if you just want to know the basics, it took me about 2-3 months to get the hang of loping and stuff. My lessons are $30 per time and they are once a week. So $120 a month X3 would be around $360 to learn the basics in my area. Hope I helped!

Answer 12

It varies for each instructor, and how far you want to go. Where I ride, it's $30 for a 30 minute private lesson, or the same amount for an hour with 2-3 people. Check with the place you're planning on taking lessons at to see how much they charge.



Hope this helps!

Answer 13

Its impossible to say how many lessons it will take to "learn the basics"

Firstly because what are the basics? Do you consider riding independently the basics? Walk trot cantering? Jumping? low level showing? walking by yourself? caring for the horse before and after riding? What are the basics? Everyone has a different definition of that.

Secondly because people vary massively in ability. I teach, and some people, regardless of age are posting like pros after 3 lessons. Other, regardless of age, may ride consistently for a year and still not have it down.

Just do what you can and accept what you cant. Good luck

Answer 14

I believe you very much can earn enough to take lessons, and it might not take as long as you think! Lessons are easy to afford when compared with the cost of buying and owning a horse for the first time.



As far as the basics (beyond what most people would call raw beginner), I think it takes about 3-6 months of once a week lessons to get to a good, serviceable level of knowledge. You would not be an expert or an advanced rider by any means, but to generally know how to ride at all 3 gaits comfortably, groom and tack up, basic horse care, and how to handle common riding problems as they arise and handle horses comfortably.



Everyone is different, and you might progress faster or slower compared to someone else. The key to this is finding a good instructor you are comfortable with, and who has teaching methods that you work well with. This person knows how to encourage you without babying you, and how to give constructive criticism without making you feel like you're three inches tall. They also know how to challenge you when you need to be challenged so you gain confidence.



As far as how much money you need to save up, it pays to shop around, and it will depend on where you are in the country and what discipline you want to pursue. If you just want to learn enough to ride and go on trail rides, you'll pay less than someone who wants to show seriously. Start thinking about these things:



-What type of teachers do I get along best with?

- What sort of riding do I want to pursue? Do I just want to ride and be around horses, or do I want to be competitive? (If you don't know, just go with learning the basics- you can always change your mind later on).

- Look at the different disciplines (Western, English) and see what speaks to you. You can always learn both, but I'd recommend starting English because if you decide to go Western later, the transition is much easier than going from Western to English.

- How much is a reasonable price to pay for the type of instruction I need? Do some research and look at trainers that offer the services you are looking for. Every trainer is different. You might pay $25 for a lesson someplace, then someone else might charge $55.



Start talking to horse people now. Go to tack stores, feed stores, horse shows, anywhere horse people gather, and talk to people about learning to ride. They can recommend someone, or you might meet a trainer you really love and want to work with. Some farms will even let you work to partially pay off your lessons, but not every barn offers this.



Go for individual lessons first. Group lessons are difficult when you are a raw beginner, even if they do save money. You will learn and progress much faster when you have the instructor's whole attention- you can go for group lessons later when you have the basics down.



Good luck!

Answer 15

go for it girl!! I dont doubt you, you can do it! So I take 1 hr lessons once a week 500 dollars for one season (Spring, etc).



it depends though. It could be way more, or way less depending on where you live :)



EDIT: I havent stopped yet, I just keep re-signing up as well are riding my own horse in addition. I dont want to ever stop, but you may stop after 2 weeks. it's up to you :)

Answer 16

Go to your local barns and find out costs of group lessons.



p.s. everyone has it rough right now. self harm really? ever watch the news? the starving people in Kenya Africa? or the people who lost their entire house or a loved one in the flooding in eastern US? count yourself blessed that you're not among those people and grow a thick skin. you can't be touchy and ride horses. it just doesn't work.

Answer 17

im having lessons since about a year and a half and i absolutely love it, i will never stop!

and i pay 280 every 2 months. =)

um for basics.. i dont know. it depends of what your doing but when i started i started at my cousins and i was scared of horses ! :3 so she lunged me and eventually i was controlling the horse, and trotting, and rising trot, and then i went to a ranch and i lope and gallop. =) so fun!

Answer 18

I go to lessons once a week and pay $35 for a one hour group lesson.



GOOD LUCK!!!