some suggestions for HSS

[TCF42]

well we had like young girl in our class she just wasnt experienced and it waisted time...

Actually, there was one small child on a large horse (which is who I think you were talking about) who DOES actively take lessons and who DID write their appropriate skill on the registration form: beginner.

Riyad made it a point to touch base on everything and everyone, which was nice. He even did some switching around of the students in the jumping classes so that he could categorize them better.

It gets complicated when there are so many riders, so little time, and a limited amount of instructors/classes. The point is that they have to cater to EVERYBODY'S needs, and find a way to do so efficiently. Given that there are usually only a handful of students out of the 50 who actually jump well and regularly, what do you expect? I felt like there were more experienced people/horses this year than in previous years, in terms of english riding and jumping. But still, there were only a handful that could competently jump 2'6". I feel like they manage the time and efforts well. If you want a more experienced camp, go somewhere else where you'll learn more (not being nasty, just stating). I don't feel like they have enough participation and resources to break down the jumping class even more though (heights, riding style). If they could, they would I'm sure.

[happyappygirl]

it is very difficult to do. there is a limited amount of time to arrange kids with instructors, and ability levels. This year the jumping classes were the largest they've ever been. Those who divide kids into the right classes often are familiar with the attending kids, and can place them appropriately, however, this year, there were a LOT of newbies, which is GREAT but makes the task at hand that much harder.

Add that to the limited number of instructors, and potentially only one or two students at a particular level...it's hard to accomodate. My kid has always excelled by riding with kids above her skillset. It encouraged her to try harder and ride better. She's now better than most adult riders at only 12 years old. The fact that she's been riding since I was preggie with her not withstanding of course

So please exhibit some tolerance for those you could mentor, and get what you can out of what you have available to you. The instructor will see the ones who are ready for more, and will often accomodate those kids the best way he can. Especially Riyad. He was an awesome addition to this year's HSS and has agreed to come back again next year! Maybe someday you will be lucky enough to apprentice with him or take lessons from him as a result of being introduced to him at HSS.

[CountryLady]

Originally Posted by TCF42

Actually, there was one small child on a large horse (which is who I think you were talking about) who DOES actively take lessons and who DID write their appropriate skill on the registration form: beginner.

Riyad made it a point to touch base on everything and everyone, which was nice. He even did some switching around of the students in the jumping classes so that he could categorize them better.

It gets complicated when there are so many riders, so little time, and a limited amount of instructors/classes. The point is that they have to cater to EVERYBODY'S needs, and find a way to do so efficiently. Given that there are usually only a handful of students out of the 50 who actually jump well and regularly, what do you expect? I felt like there were more experienced people/horses this year than in previous years, in terms of English riding and jumping. But still, there were only a handful that could competently jump 2'6". I feel like they manage the time and efforts well. If you want a more experienced camp, go somewhere else where you'll learn more (not being nasty, just stating). I don't feel like they have enough participation and resources to break down the jumping class even more though (heights, riding style). If they could, they would I'm sure.

Personally, I think those comments are (border-line)out of line. Sorry!
I don't feel that you should EVER "UNWELCOME" a child.
And although that may not have been your intent, It kinda has that Flavor.
I guess I really don't understand why people think it is ok to be mean, nasty or rude but saying "I don't mean to do so" following their statement.
(Or, maybe you could point out to us where this "more experienced" camp you refer to is. )



I beg to differ with you about the participation. Here’s why!
#1:
When I signed my kids up, I was told that "JUMPING classes filled up first."
EVERYBODY wanted to learn to jump" and that it was one of the largest classes. It is in fact a clinic, and there SHOULD be a beginner/intermediate class and an intermediate/advanced class. HSS is an opportunity for kids of all riding levels to come together and learn new skills, meet friends doing the thing they love, riding and being with horses. The participation is there.

Trail class has beginning and advanced, Jumping should too, especially given the amount of participation.
I think it is the Instructor volunteer types, where we are lacking participation.

DO WE HAVE ANY VOLUNTEERS?

Riyad was exceptionally AWESOME. But he could have used (at the very least) an assistant. If I am remembering correctly, he even said so himself that he had never had to deal with such a large class. But having said that he adapted and over came. But he could have used an assistant. Or the class should have been broken up.

I BELIEVE THAT EVERY KID SHOULD GET THERE MONEYS WORTH!!! Kids (groups) standing in lines with their mounts waiting (in the HOT sun) for (what seems like) long periods of time while other kids get INDIVIDUAL attention is difficult to digest.

It is all lessons learned. And there were some extenuating circumstances this year with regard getting HSS 2009 of the ground due to the aforementioned health issues of a board official. Let’s hope that 2010 will be a better year.

Lovemyber135 thanks for your input because it is POSITIVE forward looking comments like these that will tune up HSS 2010 to be better for ALL.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE IT BETTER???

[buddyboii]

Having attended HSS this past year as my first time ever going i thought that it was so tightt, but the jumping classes were packed with different skill levels which did slow things down a bit, but Rhyiad handled it really well and did a fantastic job:) I think that having an assistant in the ring with him (or any instructor) would be a really good idea just as another set of eyes that can help the riders out with the basic things. I really like the idea of having the skills demostration or whatever at oakridge prior to attending HSS, that way the instructors have an idea of what skill level they are working with and dont have to spend the whole first day trying to figure it out. just some thoughts :)

[CountryLady]

Originally Posted by buddyboii

Having attended HSS this past year as my first time ever going i thought that it was so tightt, but the jumping classes were packed with different skill levels which did slow things down a bit, but Rhyiad handled it really well and did a fantastic job:) I think that having an assistant in the ring with him (or any instructor) would be a really good idea just as another set of eyes that can help the riders out with the basic things. I really like the idea of having the skills demostration or whatever at oakridge prior to attending HSS, that way the instructors have an idea of what skill level they are working with and dont have to spend the whole first day trying to figure it out. just some thoughts :)

JUST WANT ALL OF THE KIDS TO HAVE A GOOD (SAFE) TIME!!!!

[TCF42]

I think there was also a situation where the kid was experienced and the horses weren't, right.

well we had like young girl in our class she just wasnt experienced and it waisted time...

Then can you tell me what kind of flavor this holds? Check yourself before you check on others. I don't unwelcome anybody, and neither should you.

The camp is made to cater to EVERYONE'S needs, as I stated before. Did you miss that? Therefore everyone is probably not going to be 100% satisfied. Obviously the OP isn't 100% satisfied, and that's fine. It's because she is more experienced and HSS has always been a beginner/intermediate type of deal. She posted a few suggestions, and that's fine. What I was trying to do was state a friendly rebuttal, as someone who has attended and helped out with the camp for a few years. I'm not trying to put the OP down at all.

The participation is there.

The particpation to create more advanced jumping classes is not there, that's just it. It never has been really, and that is what I meant. You could make a whole separate camp on different riding styles and heights! That's how detailed it could get, which is why a generalized "you're experienced, you're not" benefits HSS.

it is very difficult to do. there is a limited amount of time to arrange kids with instructors, and ability levels. This year the jumping classes were the largest they've ever been. Those who divide kids into the right classes often are familiar with the attending kids, and can place them appropriately, however, this year, there were a LOT of newbies, which is GREAT but makes the task at hand that much harder.

See?

Oh, and there are tons of more experienced camps and clinics out there. Summer Riding Programs - The Equiery Here's a huge list of the majority of summer horse camps in Maryland. Pick one.

[happyappygirl]

tcf42! Looking forward to Seeing you and your girlie next year!!

[CountryLady]

Originally Posted by TCF42

Then can you tell me what kind of flavor this holds? Check yourself before you check on others. I don't unwelcome anybody, and neither should you.

The camp is made to cater to EVERYONE'S needs, as I stated before. Did you miss that? Therefore everyone is probably not going to be 100% satisfied. Obviously the OP isn't 100% satisfied, and that's fine. It's because she is more experienced and HSS has always been a beginner/intermediate type of deal. She posted a few suggestions, and that's fine. What I was trying to do was state a friendly rebuttal, as someone who has attended and helped out with the camp for a few years. I'm not trying to put the OP down at all.


The particpation to create more advanced jumping classes is not there, that's just it. It never has been really, and that is what I meant. You could make a whole separate camp on different riding styles and heights! That's how detailed it could get, which is why a generalized "you're experienced, you're not" benefits HSS.

See?

Oh, and there are tons of more experienced camps and clinics out there. Summer Riding Programs - The Equiery Here's a huge list of the majority of summer horse camps in Maryland. Pick one.

WOW! Relax; my statement regarding the rider being experienced and horse not, still goes back to proper placement of the kid in the class with their given mount. So I believe you have misinterpreted the intent. I am not unwelcoming anyone (nor would I ever), just stating that there needs to be a proper evaluation prior.

But given your position (parent/volunteer/etc...), I think it is of bad taste to tell a kid to go somewhere else for camp. I am sorry you took offense. You had a chance to clarify your statement, and I believe you did just that. I personally don’t believe in solving issues as they arise by uninviting them.

“Lovemyber135” brought up a good point, how are we going to solve it? Certainly not by excluding your daughter or son (or anybody elses child) cause they don’t jump 2’6”. It should be solved by making sure the class size is appropriate via instructor/assistant to camper ratio. Or to split up the class into levels as with trail, speed, and other classes.

What I said previously was :

Originally Posted by CountryLady

It is in fact a clinic, and there SHOULD be a beginner/intermediate class and an intermediate/advanced class.
Trail class has beginning and advanced, Jumping should too, especially given the amount of participation

That way the beginners could learn from the intermediate students and the intermediate could learn from the advanced students. That way (being conservative) if you had only three advanced students matched with three intermediate, the class should run smoothly. The same way as if you had just a few beginners with a few intermediate.

JUMPING, IMO, takes far more training, and presents far more safety issues than some of the others, yet there, we combine all levels of ability of riders and their mounts. WHY? If it was your child that had to wait for the advanced riders, sitting in the hot sun on their mounts, would you think that would be fun for them? NO, of course not. But an assistant would be able to have them work on level appropriate skills (basic). Mean while the instructor could work with the more advanced students. I fail to see where the bad is in that!

I do not remember the SELF EVALUATION stating horse ability or training level. I do not have an e-copy handy. But the kids themselves brought it up to me. One girl told me that her mount was not at all trained in a specific area but selected the higher level classes any way and she spent the four days training her mount. GOOD for her! But not all kids have the where-with-all to do that. I didn't slow down the clinic in that case, but if it had been a jumper clinic, I could see where it could. That is why I suggested a rider mount evaluation. It would solve a lot of these issues before hand, and wouldn't waste time during the clinic. And some others here agree.

TEENAGERS THESE DAYS NEED TO BE WELCOMED!
lovemyber135 gives teenagers a good name.
I for one appreciate her input.
Her heart is in the right place and she trying to take on a little responsibility by growing up and making suggestions for HSS 2010, and if handeled correctly could very well make it better! WHATS WRONG WITH THAT!

Yes there are other riding programs out there for summer, BUT THEY ARE NOT "HORSE SCIENCE SCHOOL!"
A lot of the local programs that are listed in the EQUIRY, cater to the younger crowd (7-12).

[TCF42]

Oookay, forget it. Half of my posts are lost in translation, the other half in ignorance. Good bye!

[DFSquare]

OK, so what is HSS??? <still learning here>