Sheesh

Yes, I'm still here.
We've been flooding.
Then there's been a writing direction crisis.
Lots of family and health stuff.
Have to admit, just a touch of hand wringing and maybe a small pity party.
Am soooooo over it.

So, I figure, I'll make fun of somebody else and vent my irritation on their stupidity. Guess I'm missing FHOTD. She always got my irate-o-meter ticking.

Western Riding Lessons Available (South Colorado Springs )

Have you always wanted to learn to ride but dont have a horse or space then give me a call and I'll be Glad to teach you. Western riding lessons available for anyone that can sit on their own and follow directions. I live outside Colorado Springs area in Hanover. I have a kid broke horse that my 1yr old and 5 year old can sit on and ride with no problems. She can handle adults as well. If you have a horse that's fine too. We have pasture boarding available. I start with the basics of care and then work into riding. I firmly believe no one should just start riding until you know how to take care of your horse first. I have time for a couple of trainees. If you would like to learn give me a call at xxx-xxx-xxxx or text xxx-xxx-xxxx. Rates are $25hr per person. All lessons are individual.

OK. Here I go.
As you all know, I don't care about all the petty crap, like poor sentence structure, bad spelling, or tattoos.
I'm more interested in the stuff that is bad for horses and the people involved with them.

I also like to start with finding a few good things.

The little girl seems very happy. She's a brave little mite, facing her imminent doom with such pluck.

These are a couple of great horses, soft eyed, clean and apparently well fed..They have not only tolerated, but encouraged the boob who owns them. So much so, she now has the confidence to call herself a riding instructor.

If at all possible, somebody with some sense needs to swoop in and buy both horses for themselves. They  are those rare gems that make searching the ads written by the under-educated worth while.
I completely understand she is not offering her horses for sale, but I'm guessing, pretty soon here, somebody will be suing her ass and she'll be needing the dough. The property looks nice too, so you might want to stop by and look it over too.

I like the fact she's got a well fitted snaffle bit on the horse I can see. The horse is undoubtedly grateful too.

Let's get the lack of helmets out of the way -- there's a given -- even with my own eternally stubborn and helmetless ways, I think kids should be kept helmeted until they are legally old enough to make their own bad decisions. I'm kind of fond of safe, reachable stirrups too, and footwear that won't leave my littleun's wearing said stirrups around their ankles.

 Personally, I'm not taking lessons from anybody who rides with their baby in front of them. Although, I could be wrong, since she states, "I have a kid broke horse that my 1yr old and 5 year old can sit on and ride with no problems." I have never succeeded in teaching a one-year-old to ride alone, so maybe I need to be listening and learning here, not judging. That baby might have learned to ride by himself just so he could quit getting mashed into the saddle horn. Self-preservation can be a strong teacher.

She's on the right track though. "I start with the basics of care and then work into riding. I firmly believe no one should just start riding until you know how to take care of your horse first." 

I agree 100% with her. It's just that I taught, and was taught, these things a little differently. When I covered saddle fit, I encouraged avoiding a cheap, poorly made saddle that mashed straight onto my horse's withers. I also considered it not only embarrassing, but hard on my horse's loins, when my butt hung 2 inches over my cantle. Of course, that's just me. 

Last but not least, for a riding instructor who has lead ropes attached to both horses, I'm a little confused when it comes to her purpose. The blue lead rope in the first photo appears to be tied to the fence. I have more than one story to tell about riders on horses that are tied to stationary objects. It's not pretty.

The white pony rope in the second photo is attached to the horse carrying the little girl. But nobody seems to be holding the other end...hmmmm.

Last, but not least, is the classy horn and cantle bag. OK, I got nothing, having done the same more than once. Again, these horses are saints and need to be finagled away from this crazy person. But, I stand by the fact that I NEVER advertised for business while using my Wal-mart bag horse gear. Never, if I was having my picture taken, I'd at least reach for a Target gift bag.

Here's the thing. I walk a fine line when I get all critical, because I did things during my years as an instructor and trainer that make me cringe today. I have a photo of the kidlet on a trail ride I just might share...
I also believe that as long as you know more than the person you're instructing, you can still be of help. But man, this woman needs lots more help before she's anything but dangerous. 

Help she could have gotten from:

or:

or even:

Until she gets even the most rudimentary equine education, I'd say she might want to wait to start giving lessons. Maybe I should take her a copy.