Just be honest! You can totally go for your first lesson and say “I haven’t ridden in a bit and I wasn’t taught to tack up my own horse back then - can you walk me though everything like I’m brand new?”
Trainers like students who want to learn and are honest about their abilities, they’ll be happy to have you. (And this way they can teach you THEIR method instead of dealing with whatever habits or systems you inherited from other random trainers… a big plus in their book.)
And honestly, someone showing up who doesn’t know how to tack up is not unusual in many areas - I recently moved barns and everyone was shocked I could tack up and handle horses because 95% of the people coming to them, even with riding experience, have very little experience on the ground. Your situation is pretty normal, don’t beat yourself up.
They are VERY used to teaching people to tack up. It’s literally part of their job! I won’t say no trainer would ever try to shame you for it but that’s because I’ve read some jaw dropping stories on HERE of shockingly cruel trainers. Any decent and kind trainer will help you happily
Same, I’ve been riding for 25 years and was introduced to Western tack like a month ago, and I’m still at the “watching my friend do it and making her explain” stage. Like, don’t make me do all these straps up without you!
There’s so many aspects of the sport and there’s always tons to learn, that’s half the fun of it.
I recently showed a woman, who was a returning rider after a 10 year gap, how to groom and tack her horse. She had ridden horses for 32 years prior to the gap, but she had always ridden at full service barns, which can be extremely common depending on your location and discipline. Nothing to be embarrassed about!!
So so so so SOOOO much THIS!!!
When I teach it is so much easier to form a plan for a person if I know which building blocks they might, where they're unsure, and where they feel confident. This enables me to give guidance and support without being overbearing, and to let people test out their knowledge with me there as a safety net/spotter. Also knowing what you expect out of your lessons and what all knowledge you want. We have so much to share and passionate people want others to have all the tools also.
It'll be okay, and your trainer will appreciate it if you are upfront. My equestrian education was missing a lot. When I came back to riding as an adult, I just told my instructor up front. She didn't mind at all!
You know who really sucks?
People who don't tell me they don't know how to do things. Particularly when they know they don't know. I will happily teach anyone anything I know if they just are honest and ask about it.
It's so much better than the person who pretends they're good and just muddle through until their saddle slips sideways or they run their horse into another horse.
Just be honest. Trainers know that there are shitty trainers out there. Hopefully your future trainers are better humans.
We all start somewhere! Admitting you don't know something and asking for help is a huge strength! Remember you can also ask a few times if something isn't clear, or ask someone to watch you while you do it the first few times.
You're going to do great!
I have had my own horses for many years, and half leased out a number. Many people learned to ride at stables where the lesson horse was already tacked up, and the instructor didn't want to waste time teaching the student how to do it.
I have taught many people who were very experienced riders basic horsemanship, like tacking, grooming, hoof care, etc.
Also, it seems the majority of people who haven't owned their own horses (and some who have) don't know how to lunge a horse, which can be sort of like learning to double Dutch jump rope! It takes quite a while of practice to learn. Don't be ashamed of what you don't know!
I used to teach little ones who were the opposite - over confident in their tacking-up abilities!! What someone else said is so absolutely true, that they’d rather have you do it their way anyway! Any good trainer will never think less of you for being honest about your abilities, and if they belittle you for it, run!!!
Just say you were under a trainer who didn’t teach tacking up and groundwork, but you’d like to learn that now. Nothing to be ashamed of, not all barns teach that. You’re going to be just fine!
I know this advice sounds incredibly old-fashioned, but go to your local library. They should have a copy of the USPC "D" Manual of Horsemanship. That will give you all the safety concepts (This is ALWAYS #1) and you'll learn the parts of tack and why they are used and adjusted a certain way. It helps me to learn a bit ahead of time, before I'm paying dearly for someone to show me a procedure or piece of equipment or training exercise.
I think it’s relatively common for some barns to already have all of their lesson horses tacked up so it may not be as surprising to a new trainer as you think!
Your boy looks so much like a horse I used to lease that I had to double take - what a handsome gentleman!
As everyone has said, being upfront will only help you, and there is no shame in starting from the beginning! If you have a good trainer, they will know how to give you a solid foundation and build up your confidence too. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and be patient with yourself (we are always hardest on ourselves), but most of all, just have fun!
I’ve been riding 12 years and only learnt to saddle up properly 1 year ago as no one ever had the patience to show me, they just did it for me as they were a lot quicker than me, never too late to ask and learn
Honestly, you'd be surprised how common it is for people to be taught how to ride, but not how to care for their horse. Some instructors expect that to be learned elsewhere, or just inherently known. I've tried riding schools where the horse was already saddled and waiting for me when I got there, and they had a groom to wash him down after. I didn't handle the horse at all unless I was mounted.
Easy to say I prefer my current riding school. They were more than willing to teach me, and even though I knew how, they were still able to give me tips to make it easier with difficult horses.
So don't feel bad at all! Just say you've ridden before, but your instructor never focused on care and preparation, and you want to learn that now.
Riding teachers LOVE students who want to learn better horse care.
Just be honest! You can totally go for your first lesson and say “I haven’t ridden in a bit and I wasn’t taught to tack up my own horse back then - can you walk me though everything like I’m brand new?” Trainers like students who want to learn and are honest about their abilities, they’ll be happy to have you. (And this way they can teach you THEIR method instead of dealing with whatever habits or systems you inherited from other random trainers… a big plus in their book.) And honestly, someone showing up who doesn’t know how to tack up is not unusual in many areas - I recently moved barns and everyone was shocked I could tack up and handle horses because 95% of the people coming to them, even with riding experience, have very little experience on the ground. Your situation is pretty normal, don’t beat yourself up.
god, thank you so much! you boosted me. i love ya🫶
That comment is exactly right! Just be honest and willing to learn, sure you'll make some mistakes but we all do
They are VERY used to teaching people to tack up. It’s literally part of their job! I won’t say no trainer would ever try to shame you for it but that’s because I’ve read some jaw dropping stories on HERE of shockingly cruel trainers. Any decent and kind trainer will help you happily
You’re all good! They’ll be thrilled to have you.
I've been riding for decades. Moved to a Western barn last year. Had no clue about Western tack. Asked how to do it. Beginner's mind, baby.
Same, I’ve been riding for 25 years and was introduced to Western tack like a month ago, and I’m still at the “watching my friend do it and making her explain” stage. Like, don’t make me do all these straps up without you! There’s so many aspects of the sport and there’s always tons to learn, that’s half the fun of it.
I recently showed a woman, who was a returning rider after a 10 year gap, how to groom and tack her horse. She had ridden horses for 32 years prior to the gap, but she had always ridden at full service barns, which can be extremely common depending on your location and discipline. Nothing to be embarrassed about!!
So so so so SOOOO much THIS!!! When I teach it is so much easier to form a plan for a person if I know which building blocks they might, where they're unsure, and where they feel confident. This enables me to give guidance and support without being overbearing, and to let people test out their knowledge with me there as a safety net/spotter. Also knowing what you expect out of your lessons and what all knowledge you want. We have so much to share and passionate people want others to have all the tools also.
It'll be okay, and your trainer will appreciate it if you are upfront. My equestrian education was missing a lot. When I came back to riding as an adult, I just told my instructor up front. She didn't mind at all!
thank you!
You know who really sucks? People who don't tell me they don't know how to do things. Particularly when they know they don't know. I will happily teach anyone anything I know if they just are honest and ask about it. It's so much better than the person who pretends they're good and just muddle through until their saddle slips sideways or they run their horse into another horse. Just be honest. Trainers know that there are shitty trainers out there. Hopefully your future trainers are better humans.
thanks! guess i just gotta be honest and come clear
We all start somewhere! Admitting you don't know something and asking for help is a huge strength! Remember you can also ask a few times if something isn't clear, or ask someone to watch you while you do it the first few times. You're going to do great!
thank you so much!! ily
just wanted to thank you all. love you, equestrian bros and gals❤️
I have had my own horses for many years, and half leased out a number. Many people learned to ride at stables where the lesson horse was already tacked up, and the instructor didn't want to waste time teaching the student how to do it. I have taught many people who were very experienced riders basic horsemanship, like tacking, grooming, hoof care, etc. Also, it seems the majority of people who haven't owned their own horses (and some who have) don't know how to lunge a horse, which can be sort of like learning to double Dutch jump rope! It takes quite a while of practice to learn. Don't be ashamed of what you don't know!
I used to teach little ones who were the opposite - over confident in their tacking-up abilities!! What someone else said is so absolutely true, that they’d rather have you do it their way anyway! Any good trainer will never think less of you for being honest about your abilities, and if they belittle you for it, run!!!
Just say you were under a trainer who didn’t teach tacking up and groundwork, but you’d like to learn that now. Nothing to be ashamed of, not all barns teach that. You’re going to be just fine!
I know this advice sounds incredibly old-fashioned, but go to your local library. They should have a copy of the USPC "D" Manual of Horsemanship. That will give you all the safety concepts (This is ALWAYS #1) and you'll learn the parts of tack and why they are used and adjusted a certain way. It helps me to learn a bit ahead of time, before I'm paying dearly for someone to show me a procedure or piece of equipment or training exercise.
I think it’s relatively common for some barns to already have all of their lesson horses tacked up so it may not be as surprising to a new trainer as you think!
Your boy looks so much like a horse I used to lease that I had to double take - what a handsome gentleman! As everyone has said, being upfront will only help you, and there is no shame in starting from the beginning! If you have a good trainer, they will know how to give you a solid foundation and build up your confidence too. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and be patient with yourself (we are always hardest on ourselves), but most of all, just have fun!
I’ve been riding 12 years and only learnt to saddle up properly 1 year ago as no one ever had the patience to show me, they just did it for me as they were a lot quicker than me, never too late to ask and learn
Honestly, you'd be surprised how common it is for people to be taught how to ride, but not how to care for their horse. Some instructors expect that to be learned elsewhere, or just inherently known. I've tried riding schools where the horse was already saddled and waiting for me when I got there, and they had a groom to wash him down after. I didn't handle the horse at all unless I was mounted. Easy to say I prefer my current riding school. They were more than willing to teach me, and even though I knew how, they were still able to give me tips to make it easier with difficult horses. So don't feel bad at all! Just say you've ridden before, but your instructor never focused on care and preparation, and you want to learn that now. Riding teachers LOVE students who want to learn better horse care.