How can you possibly school, without a school??

[Kerbeck]

The answer = easily! I made the move to a small yard with no facilites at the end of last summer, It was the first time I haven't had a school and I was aprehensive and worried that my ponies would suddenly forget everything they had learnt, in fact it has been the best horse related decision I have ever made! They are both really really happy, i was able to give them a nice winter holiday which I really enjoyed (so did they!) without the pressure of needing to ride because I was paying for facilities! I am lucky enough to have a massive well draining, flat field to ride in and the view is breathtaking especially when the sun is coming up / down. I have finally been able to get a proper gallop out of my fell andwe have off road hacking.

At the old yard I went in the school about 5 times a week! (my instructors advice!) I was bored rigid, pony was bored rigid now I school on the land once or twice, pessoa once and hack 3 - 4 times a week much better for the both of us! I made the move for financial and welfare raesons, the yards near me with good facilities are very very expensive and do not offer good turnout. It is already light enough for me to hack after work (I finish at 3) I am won't go back to riding in a school!

[gallopingfairy]

I've never had a school. Only used one when I took my horse for a jumping lesson! I used to show jump twice a week through winter and hack out in between and always managed! In summer would just ride in one end of my field.

No disrespect meant at all towards people lucky to have a school but I've seen people with schools who get lazy and ride in there day in day out, and the horses get really bored and start playing up. Same as horse walkers. They can be handy but then get really over used. And people who are reliant on them don't know what to do without them!

[BettyBo]

I want to ride I haven't got a school but fields are muddy boggy slippy and they are also on a hill so frustrating :-(

[victor98]

I do have a school, and use it daily, yet my most successful years of showing was when I did all my summer time schooling in a field. I get the best from my ponies, by having a varied work program, hacking, field riding, sand school riding, and I'm also very lucky to have 100 acres of open mountain terrain, for building bums, and learning how to be sure footed. Beach riding has become very popular with some people. Varied work is always best, keeps brains fresh, and work interesting.

[mara]

Only time any of mine have ever, in over 30 years of riding seen a school is for dressage competions or pony club rallies a long time ago & quite often they've been on unlevel grass fields!

Other than that it's been flat & not so flat fields or out hacking.

I've schooled to elementary level out hacking & have only stopped there because I'm not up to going further. I see no reason why piaffe and passage can't be taught on a hack other than it's useful to have someone on the ground to check you're getting it right - there's no reason a decent trainer couldn't do this hacking out with you.

My horses will all do flying changes, shoulder in, leg yielding, collecting & lengthening without any issues out on hacks & they also know how to do free walks which earn them consistent 8's & 9's. They learn turns on the forehand opening gates, they learn turns on the quarter at suitable places on the tracks.

I can do a sitting trot without stirrups for as long as I want on a hack as well when I'm fit enough.

They also all know how to produce a good gallop & have brakes at the end of it & are forward going & fun to ride, not switched off & brain numb.

I find you can work them better as you're not having to constantly set them up for a corner as you're just about to get a certain movement right to spoil the flow.

It can take them a while to get used to the boards around an arena but usually after a few weekends of dressaging they've stopped spooking at them, urns, markers etc.

[Linzi]

I don't have a ménage at where my horses are kept (yet) but there is one that I have access to 5 mins ride away, I do however have access to a paddock to ride/lunge in and access to miles and miles of hacking so yes, my horses are schooled out hacking - transitions, leg yield etc and if we come across a field on our route we pop a few figures of 8/ circles in too. I'm often found in summer schooling on stubble fields (as well as galloping up them )etc. I really think a ménage is a luxury/convenience but in no way a necessity

[elvenkeep]

never had a school for about 15 years! did all my schooling in the open fields, with other horses milling about....never stopped me qualifying for Nationals every year! Teaches a horse to ignore others around it. Once took my oldest (now retired) arab mare to the local County show (Royal Lancashire) and we were in a big ring with helicopters taking off and landing at one side, and hot air balloons at the other side....every other arab in the class was going nuts..my girl never even bothered..just went past them without batting an eyelid! Mind you, she is a very sensible old lady..except for butterflies, baby rabbits, horse eating squirrels and killer leaves!

My younger mare....well, she just has knicker attacks at anything! the other day, taking advantage of the nice weather..thought I would lunge her.........we got to the outdoor arena (we're lucky have 2 outdoor arenas and an indoor now..tis a huge luxury!) and she was fine..till the sun came out..and she saw her shadow on the floor...I've never seen anything so funny!!!! she took off trying to get away, snorting like a train with her tail up.....couldn't understand why the 'thing' was moving with her I was on the end of the lunge line creasing up with laughter!

She's a very typical chestnut arab mare with 4 white socks...and yes, when she has a mane (sweet itch!) she IS blonde...and from Essex!!!!

Emma xx