Here is a question. How do you know that the advice you are reading, or being given, is good and sound advice? There are a lot of different books, riding schools, and people willing to give advice. How do you really KNOW that it is good?
Misti
Interesting question. Likely lots of parts to the answer too....
Their history both in riding and in teaching. This is important because on one hand you want someone who was successfull at riding well, but on the other the ability to transfer information... to see what someone is doing being able to identify and impart to the rider correct feedback is more usefull as an instructor than just being good yourself.
The joke of those who can't
do, teach, works both ways, because some very very skilled people have no ability to explain what they are doing or see what someone else is doing at all.
Talk to riders whose skill you admire/seek to emulate, and ask them their thoughts on a book or school. There are some great new people out there, but a lengthy history in a profession is usually a good sign.
Try it.... Nothing better than reading something or going to school and then trying it yourself. Some people like to push the bar, some like to pull the other. Is one wrong? maybe for one person one is better (can't imagine pulling outside bar, but some visualize it that way). Trail braking is the biggie...some say never some say allways... etc.etc. If an instructor makes no sense to you and how you think, not much progress is going to happen. Try someone else and see.