After last weekend's travel debacle, my instructor told me I could come Tuesday for a lesson. I went to town to do some Uni errands, went to the yard and found it was Own a Pony Day, meaning it was always going to be too manic for RI to be free to teach. So, 3.5hrs round trip for two short messages and no riding. I wasn't best pleased.
Then, came Saturday when I have my usual 5pm lesson. I went in and a new customer who I've seen ride on Thursdays was in my slot - I didn't have a good feeling, but last time RI put me in a group lesson to make up for it somewhat. Not this time: in fact, all she did was ask me to take 2 mini lessons for kids that had helped out and deserved a free pop on a pony, and to build some jumps. To not even mention to me that I might not be able to ride/ask would I like to etc I just thought was the height of rudeness. That was literally my whole day and £9 down the drain. Troy's leaser, RI' right hand girl at the weekend, asked me if I was riding. In a disappointed tone I just said "I don't think so: someone's in my slot, with Sharon to follow so there's no time before my bus. All this way and no riding 80(". I wasn't rude or snidey in tone - I said it in a glum, disappointed one. Once I'd said it though, I realised there was no point in hanging around, checked my bus timetable and found that if I left immediately, I'd make it on time for the next bus. That, or wait an hour. I decided to go without goodbyes, rather than bid farewell and miss my bus.
I'm not easily annoyed - in fact, I'm quite an easy going person but it really irked me to have wasted so much of my time and money for nothing. I'd much rather get a phone call to say "I'm double booked - can we arrange for another day?" than to waste potential quality time with Tom for nothing. I love being at the yard for the horse's sake and did it a lot when I was 5mins away by bus and it cost a couple of quid. However, 1hr 45mins is a long way to go to do nothing (and with no income, the £9 isn't exactly well invested). I think this is where the problem stems from: the ever-flexible Debbie who'll fit in around whatever schedule no longer can, but is still being treated as such.
I seriously thought on the way home about leaving the yard and never coming back. If the two riding schools in the city turned out to be that bad, then I'd just give up riding all together until I'm in work, get my driving license and have my own car to drive out to some of the great but difficult-to-access yards in the region. I even took the photo of Guinness off the screen on my phone.
So, it's now two days later and how do I feel? Still annoyed: things haven't been great in terms of service since I moved, and to have such poor treatment twice in one week really upset me. However, I've decided to paint a smile on and have a go at resolving it. If I get a regular slot that doesn't get mucked around with, I'll happily stay. For all its faults I'm happy there, or at least when I get to ride (like every other customer does) I am! So I sent this to my instructor:
"Hi RI. How are you? I was just wondering that if the Saturday 5pm slot has been filled permanently while I was out injured, when we could set up my weekly lesson for? Unfortunately because of the buses I can't be as flexible any more and just fit in as the day unfolds: I need a fixed time (ish) so I can be off the yard for 6:45 to catch the bus from Guardbridge. Weekend's are still best for me, with Thursdays at a push (though preferably not as it's my office day and while I'd rather be at the yard, need to do some work. Boo)! Just let me know what suits 80)
Hope the the half-term week isn't too manic, and that the weather picks up a bit!
Debz 80)
x"
Hopefully it sounds light hearted and jovial, but it does make the point I need a lesson time and I need it to be stuck to. I tried ringing to catch her beside the lesson book and failed, but hopefully she'll check it and get back to me rather than giving me a 'come down and ride anytime' response. That just doesn't work with a 3.5hr round trip 80(
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