How to Get the Most Out of Your Riding Lessons: Step Two - Give Yourself Plenty of Time

Lesson and competition horses live a peaceful and orderly life.

We live in a fast-paced world. Between work, family, and endless to-do lists, adult riders are often masters of scheduling their days down to the very last minute. It is incredibly tempting to pull into the barn parking lot exactly sixty seconds before your lesson is scheduled to start, change your shoes in a rush, and head out to the arena. Some years ago a client sped into my barn with a police car, lights flashing and siren blaring, right behind her. When she finally stopped and got out of her car, the officer asked her, " Why didn't you pull over a couple of miles back?" She replied, " I had to get here for my riding lesson, was running late, and figured I'd be better off to get to the barn first and then find out what you wanted." Needless to say she was given a huge speeding ticket, and I asked the officer to please spread the word to his fellow officers to not enter the property with lights and sirens on!

But if you want to get the absolute most out of your investment and your time in the saddle, the best thing you can give yourself is a time buffer.

Arriving early isn't just a matter of barn etiquette; it is a fundamental tool for better horsemanship. Here is why giving yourself plenty of time changes everything for you and your horse.

1. The Vital "Mental Transition"

Horses are incredibly intuitive animals. They don't read our minds, but they absolutely read our bodies. If you rush out of your car with your heart rate elevated, stress sweating from traffic, and your mind still reviewing an office email, your horse will pick up on that chaotic energy immediately. They may become tense, distracted, or anxious before you even mount.

• Example 1: A rider arrived late, allowing herself just 10 minutes to groom and tack up her horse. She literally ran to the paddock, grabbed the horse, hurriedly cross tied her, and jogged into the tack room to get her grooming tools, saddle and bridle. In the short time that she had left the mare unattended, the mare had urinated all over the rubber mats and barn aisle. Because the rider was in such a hurry, she had failed to leave the mare in her stall for a few minutes to do her business. Cleaning up the mess added another 10 minutes, leaving the rider irritated and in a terrible state of mind for working with her horse.

• Example 2: Another student decided she didn't need the 30 minutes allotted to groom and tack up. She rushed around frantically, not paying attention to how the horse was reacting. The horse, picking up on her frantic pace, began pawing and dancing in the cross ties. When the student grabbed the cross tie and shouted, "Stop That!" the horse panicked and pulled back. A quick release of the panic snap avoided an accident, but the horse may now feel uneasy in the cross ties next time,

• Give yourself 20 to 30 minutes before your lesson to decompress.

• Take a few deep breaths, leave the outside world at the front gate, and slow your internal clock down to "horse time."

• Use the gate as a mental marker to relax and prepare for the lesson.

2. Observing and Learning on the Ground

Some of the most valuable lessons you will ever learn don't happen in the saddle—they happen in the aisle. Arriving early gives you the chance to :

• Watch the end of the previous lesson.

• Observe how advanced riders handle specific exercises.

• Watch professionals like farriers, vets, or chiropractors working on horses.

• Observe grooming skills like braiding, bathing, or bandaging.

For a horseman, being in the barn aisle can feel as natural as breathing.

3. Developing True Horsemanship

A riding lesson shouldn't just be about your position and guiding your horse. True horsemanship involves horse care, grooming, and tacking up. Even if your school horse is already tacked up for you, arriving early allows you to check over your horse and equipment.

Checklist for True Horsemanship:

Horse Check:

• Is the horse relaxed or in distress?

• Are there any scratches, swelling, or a loose shoe?

Tack Check:

• Is the saddle pad protecting the horse's withers and back?

• Is the girth properly adjusted?

• Does the bridle fit comfortably, and the reins untwisted?

Boot Check:

• Are the splint boots on and buckled correctly?

• Avoid common mistakes like boots put on backward or girths improperly sized.

Warm-Up:

• Hand-walk the horse for 5 minutes to warm up both the horse and yourself.

Taking ownership of these details before you mount builds your confidence and makes you an active partner in the process, rather than just a passenger. All of these things add up to how well your horse can do what you are asking of him.

4. The Takeaway

Think of your lesson time as starting the moment you drive onto the property, not just when your foot hits the stirrup. By giving yourself a generous time cushion you:

• protect your mental peace so you can enjoy your lesson.

• Show respect and care for your horse.

• Prepare your mind for learning both on the ground and in the saddle.

Action Step: Next week, try leaving the house just 15 minutes earlier than usual. You might be surprised by how much better your entire ride feels.