Spoilers: I did eventually find a riding instructor from this rough start and now I know a lot more about the topic. I'm writing this post in hopes that it will help someone else in my situation find the promise land of horsey joy!
More after the break.
Google isn't a bad place to start
To my surprise, Googling "horseback riding lessons in X" actually turned out to be a half-decent method. However, the pro tip here is to execute this search in Google Maps rather than plain ol' web search. Google Maps will turn up any businesses (mostly various barns) that offer riding lessons.In a similar vein, you can also try Yelp.com or even Yellowpages.com. In Pittsburgh, Google Maps turned up the most results for me as well as the most reviews. However, a better option might be...
Certification organizations
There are several organizations that offer certification for riding instructors. I found in my search that many instructors forgo the certification process. An instructor without certification isn't necessarily a bad instructor; certification processes are optional and can cost quite a bit of time and money. However, an instructor with certification obviously has met some level of quality. Also, organization listings can point you towards people who are not quite as Internet-savvy.Here are some links for organizations that offer instructor certifications:
- Certified Horsemanship Association
- American Riding Instructors Association
- United States Dressage Federation
Getting more information
Easiest way to filter out your short list is to Google the lesson barns or instructor and see what turns up. If you're lucky, you'll be able to find online reviews that other users have posted to get a sense of what to expect.Another method that is easily overlooked is Facebook! Businesses often create a Facebook page that does not always make its way into Google's search rankings. Try searching for your potential instructor on Facebook to see if there is a Facebook page. Again, if you're lucky, there might even be some reviews.
Now, if you're looking for dressage instructors in particular, I have a great resource to share with you: http://www.centerlinescores.com/
This website is ran by a kind-hearted individual who made dressage test scores from USDF sanctioned shows available in an easily searchable format. Just type in the name of your potential instructor to see their show record and their medal status!
In-person visits
Of course, even after all this research, nothing beats an in-person visit to the facilities for a meet-and-greet with your potential instructor. I won't beleaguer the point here, but here are some things to look out for:- Make sure to call ahead. Some barns and instructors will require you to make appointments.
- Try to observe a lesson session if you can. This will give you an idea of what the instructor's teaching methods are like.
- Talk to your instructor about your goals and their teaching philosophy. Do you have a good match?
- Make sure the facilities look well-maintained and horses clean and happy.
- If you're at a lesson barn, try to chat up people that board their horses there. They will give you all sorts of
gossipuseful information about barns around the area that you may not have found from your online research!
The decision
In the end, who you go with is a personal decision. If you're in luck, you'll have a hard time deciding between many good options. Here are some things that factored into my decision-making:- Availability of lesson horses. Some private instructors lease lesson horses from other owners. This sometimes causes uncertainty; what if the owner are taking a trip with their horse? Lesson barns specializing in instruction will have an advantage here.
- The commute. Nothing makes me hate life more than a long, painful commute. I wanted to look forward to my lessons rather than dreading the commute there.
- Opportunity for showing. Again, lesson barns will have an advantage here as they will generally hold schooling shows regularly. If you're a competitive person, this might be important to you!
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