lesson while gaining valuable experience among their peers. The novelty of a combined class helps sell the notion, particularly for barns that are not competitive or who have predominantly youth riders. You can use such an event to boost your bottom
Group Think! When Bigger is Actually Better
line for the month, or to condense your regular schedule so you can take some time off without losing income or making up missed classes at a later date.
Schedule for Success If you are using a group event to create time
By Lydia Fairchok
off for yourself, clearly communicate that
Illustration by Susan Harris
this session is in lieu of normal classes so no one shows up at the wrong time. Most
My early exposure to group instruction was
sis, occasionally bringing your students to-
importantly, post classes well enough in ad-
far from inspiring. The “lesson” was really
gether in large groups is an effective way to:
vance that the right number of people can plan to attend. A large group isn’t much of a
nothing more than a glorified execution of the children’s game red light/green light.
• build community at your barn
“large group” if only four riders show up! If
A swarm of nearly twenty riders in various
• teach your students to learn from one
you have a broad spectrum of student ages
states of control trooped around the ring
another
and experience levels, you may want to of-
while the trainer hollered out directions like
• foster independence
fer multiple sessions to keep compatible
a traffic cop: “Sitting trot!...Walk!...Posting
• boost income
riders together, but don’t be afraid to com-
trot!...Halt!” There was no room for indi-
• give yourself time away from the arena
bine diverse categories with appropriate
vidualized instruction, asking questions,
• challenge yourself as an instructor
forethought.
clearing up misunderstandings, or for refin-
• and of course, have fun!
ing cues. A few particularly competent rid-
Group size will depend on the experience
ers--the ones that could also afford private
Always vs. Sometimes
lessons on the side, as it so happened--were
The rules of group instruction are depen-
and assistants you have access to, how many
pointed out as the gold standard to strive
dent on the intended sustainability of the
riders can comfortably operate in your ring
for, and the hapless stragglers were pulled
arrangement. Just because a certain for-
space, and any insurance limitations on
to the center for correction, then sent back
mat isn’t an effective way to conduct a
headcounts. Your span of control—how
into the fray to “try again”. I vowed that this
rider’s whole education does not mean it
many people you can safely and effectively
brand of chaos would have no place in my
is not valuable to part of their education.
manage at one time—increases with the ex-
teaching methodology.
Permanent groups should be small enough
perience level and self-sufficiency of your
level of those involved, how many horses
to maintain individual attention and partic-
riders. Remember that you do not necessar-
Unfortunately, even though the lesson mill
ipants should be chosen based on common
ily need to have a horse for every rider if you
approach leaves everything to be desired
goals and experiences. “Sometimes” groups,
utilize team-based activities with shared
in the way of proper instruction, it sells.
on the other hand, do not have the expec-
horses, although this may require extra time
Children and their parents are especially
tation of riding together week after week,
and coordination of tack, as well as being
drawn to the affordability, social atmo-
which increases the workable class capacity
sure that every person on the team is com-
sphere, and artificially accelerated pace of
and makes the session accessible to a wider
petent with the assigned horse.
mass group lessons. This is a frustrating
range of clients. The more horses and riders you have in mo-
truth to those of us who offer an arguably better education with smaller classes and
Occasional arrangements also have the ap-
tion, the more opportunities there are for
higher price tags. But are large group les-
pealing air of a “special event”. Students
things to go awry, so plan your class time-
sons always bad? While it may be true that
who normally prefer private or semi-private
frame to accommodate surprises. Adding
private and small group classes are ideal
settings can enjoy the temporary change
thirty minutes not only gives your clients
for truly developing riders on a regular ba-
of pace and broader focus of a large group
the feeling that they are getting additional
6
Fall 2020 | Riding Instructor
