Four Star Equestrian covering the South Shore of Boston MA areas, an organized hunt seat riding program catering to the equestrian, accessible from Cape Cod and Southeastern MA areas of Bristol and Plymouth Counties, located in Lakeville MA.

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Questions and Answers

Why Choose FSE?

Questions and Answers:

I have compiled a list of common questions and problems that may help you to make an informed decision when choosing the right place for you or your child to ride. There is so much to learn in this wonderful world of horses that sometimes it is hard to know if you are choosing or currently in the right situation for you.

What is the difference between an Instructor and a Trainer?

The main differences between the two is that an Instructor can “tell” you what you are doing right or wrong within the context of a lesson while a Trainer has the ability to train or “teach” technique and skills with a clear program to assist in obtaining goals. A Trainer has many years of experience and dedication gaining skills and knowledge of the many different facets that go along with the sport. They have the ability to train horses and some Trainers can teach the students how to train them as well.

How do you know if you need a Trainer?

First you need to establish a goal. If your riding goal is anything other than a leisurely activity for you or your child and you want to specialize in something such as jumping than you should be riding with a Trainer. If you have goals to show and you want it to be a rewarding and positive experience than enlist in the help of a Trainer.

How do I know I have chosen the right Trainer for my goals?

If you have found the right Trainer to work with than the majority of your experiences both in lessons and showing should feel rewarding, positive, and allow you to gain confidence. Your technique and skill level should be improving consistently. Your goals should be met most of the time within reason. You should feel like you can communicate easily with your Trainer and have any problems addressed in a timely and effective manner.

I know falling off horses is a part of riding, but how much falling off is normal?

In a good training program that is teaching a solid foundation a student should not be falling off more than once in a great while. Being thrown from a horse is a different story and the management or program the horse is in should be taken very seriously by the Trainer if that is happening.

My daughter has been riding for three years and hasn’t cantered yet. Is this normal?

No, not if she has been in a good consistent program with kind safe school horses. Every student is different and age and confidence are very big factors. Most students in a good training program can learn cantering within six months when riding once per week. Like anything, the more you do it the faster you learn.

My 5 year old has never been off of the lead line. Is she too young to ride?

Five years old is very young to be off a lead line especially if she is small. She will need a saintly pony to accommodate her tiny size. Height is a big advantage to young children learning how to ride as they have more leverage. Just make sure she is having fun and keep things simple. She will have a huge learning curve as she turns 7 and another at 9 years old. If she has lofty goals like The Pony Finals than find her the best pony proven to babysit young riders.

Is it normal to get screamed at while in a lesson?

It should not be necessary for a Trainer to scream at a student ever. Positive reinforcement works best and at times a Trainer will need to speak loudly to get the attention of a student but it should never be done in a condescending way.

When my daughter jumps she is always being told by her current Trainer that her “eye” is off or that “she just missed a distance”. Is this something that can be helped?

While everyone has their “off” days there is ALWAYS a reason for a missed distance. Riders can learn how to find, feel and see good distances most of the time through proper training and education. It takes a very skilled eye from the Trainer to see what problem or problems arose resulting in a missed distance. The jumping student should be taught repeatedly balance, straightness, and tract to assist in the development of a good “eye” to a fence.

Our daughter’s show horse used to do flying lead changes and now he doesn’t. Do I need to get a new horse?

Most show horses need to be expertly “maintained” to stay in top showing condition. This includes addressing physical needs as well as training so the horse can stay confident in his job. Your horse could just need the help of an expert Veterinarian and/or a very skilled Blacksmith to get him back in top show form.

My son does well in the Equitation Medals but usually comes in last in Equitation on the flat. His Trainer says it is because he cannot put his horse “on the bit” or “on the aids”. He has been riding for 10 years. When will he get this?

Teaching a student how to put their horse “on the aids” is very tedious and time consuming. It involves one on one training by a Trainer that is patient and has lots of experience both teaching and riding many different horses.

Most students need to be taught this skill and the average student can start to work on it when they have at least 1000 hours of time in the saddle. FSE students are introduced to this while they are in Short Stirrup, have the ability to do it while being coached at Mini Medal Level, and most can effectively put their horse on the aids while advancing into the 3’ Medals. The 3’6” and higher levels are for advanced riders and I would expect a student to have the ability to put many different horses “on the aids” at that point.