Choosing A Riding Instructor and/or School

Not all people are cut out to be instructors, some are better at it than others and some are just better horse trainers than instructors.  Sometimes even the best instructors have customers whose personalities just don’t mesh with theirs.

When shopping for and instructor, there are some important considerations:
What are your goals? 

Look for someone who has successfully trained students to the level you want to reach.
What is their program like? 

Ask if you can visit them to observe a lesson being taught and speak with some of their students.
Is the instructor enthusiastic, attentive, and positive? 

Riding style, level, and instructor are not the only criteria you need in selecting a well fitting lesson program:
You also need to assess the quality of the stable by the care and attention given to the animals. The “fanciness” of the facility does not always have anything to do with the quality of the work done there.  It does not have to be fancy - just safe. 
 
How do the horses look?  Are they healthy?  Do the horses look well cared for, sleek, and fit? 
 
Are the saddles and bridles clean and in good repair and condition?

Are riders required to wear safety helmets and shoes with a heel?

Such conditions and requirements will give you a good idea as to whether you or your child will gain good stable management and riding skills in a safe environment.

Please remember that your instructor is running a business. Treat them with respect, pay your bills on time and, if things work out you could build a fulfilling long-term relationship.  If thing don’t work out, move on, gracefully.

Also try to keep in mind as you are progressing in your lessons horses are animals, they're not automatic, you cannot turn them on and off like a machine.

Lesson horses are incredible beasts of burden -
If you feel that learning to ride safely and proper enough so that the horses you ride understand what it is that you are asking of them to do, is not as easy as you thought and that you are making many mistakes while you are practicing your new skills; just think how the horse feels after three to five students, five to six days a week.  Please look upon and treat your lesson horse with respect and empathy.

However, with that said, if your lesson horse is appears to be burned out and fed up with humans than request a different horse at the same skill level or start shopping for a new facility with better lesson horse management skills.

I feel the following is good rider philosophy: 
"It is the job of the rider to ensure the horse they get off of, is not the same as the horse they got on, and that the change is for the better."

The #1 question I get is “How long will it take for me to learn to ride?”
My answer is to always consider yourself a work in progress.  Even Olympic and world champion riders take lessons.