.jpg) |
| We look good |
Riding, teaching, and training are three completely unrelated and highly precise skill sets. Being one does make necessarily make you another and rarely is someone a master of all three. Hell,
SOME OF US like to point out that even George Morris, that esteemed rider and teacher and god of US show jumping didn't make his own horses. Someone else did all the training for him.
And there's nothing wrong with that. We need people in all three capacities and they certainly don't all have to be the same person. Besides, it's not like you can master "training" and then automatically fail at "teaching" and "riding". Everyone is a mix of the three, but some are stronger in one area or another.
 |
| Not the face of a broke horse |
What it means for amateurs like me is that when we are being advocates for our horses, we need to realize just what sort of help it is that they need. With Cuna (very broke), I had a huge range of options available because he was a made horse. I could work on me and screw things up wily nilly and it wouldn't bother him. Moreover, I didn't have to worry too much about who I rode with, because Cuna already knew what he was doing. It wasn't like one bad lesson would set him back months.
Enter Courage. Not only does Courage face wholly different challenges in his life, he's bright, flaming, neon green (like if a gas station caught on fire. Bear with me.). That definitely changes the game in what we need for an instructor.
 |
| Just because I'm happy doesn't mean I'm good |
In general, I'm perfectly happy to do almost all the riding on him because we get along well and I'm fairly confident in my skills at this point. Because of that, I'm not worried about finding a really competitive rider. If they can ride, great, if not, no worries. I'll ride him through most things. I really like having a great teacher for my own sake, but the #1 MOST IMPORTANT CAN NOT COMPROMISE issue right now is that I need a trainer.
 |
| This needed to happen |
Not in the generic "random person yelling instructions from the middle of the arena", but in the very specific "someone who truly understands my horse and how to help him progress" sense of the word. Don't get me wrong--I'm not knocking the people we have worked with.
Redheadlins was invaluable getting us from the track to here (and you bet your britches I'll snag her any time she can come out) and our beloved S was beyond helpful and hopefully will continue to work with us when our schedules mesh again.
 |
| Also this |
Which brings us to now. Yes, I moved to the new facility for the indoor, but the truth is, I've been wanting to ride with this trainer for months now. She's a great rider, but not a big competitor. Her focus is on calm, happy horses and her program is full of adult ammies enjoying their quiet, well-adjusted, diversely-bred horses.
She's a trainer of horses, through and through.
This is where we need to be.
I 100% agree with this! My Trainer doesn't ride beyond hunter paces and trail rides anymore. In fact, she's never one time ridden Miles. But that doesn't bother me because I need a teacher right now.
ReplyDeleteI am truly excited to see where you go with her, I think this was a very smart move
ReplyDeleteSo happy you found someone who is right for you and Courage at this stage in the game! Super excited to see where you two are at come spring.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a smart move. Finding the right trainer can be such a pain! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat point! In fact, a lot of good instructors are people who are NOT naturally good at riding. They had to struggle a little more to learn, and therefore are more able to explain the process. And a lot of trainers are probably aren't that great at teaching people, because being great at horses takes a level of innate instinct that can be difficult to explain to people. I think that's why it's so hard to find someone who is both good at training horses, and good at training people.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention you have instructors for every level of horse and rider. There is something to be said for the trainer who specializes in taking a horse from unbacked to solidly green and ready for training. And an instructor who can teach any rider solid basics. Those people are just as valuable as trainers who can teach a rider from the basics to the upper levels, or a horse from the basics to schoolmaster.
You have to do what is best for you and your horse. At the end of the day, that is what it's all about.
ReplyDeletevery cool - and glad the training is working out the way you hoped! i ride with a variety of trainers who each have different focuses. our weekly bread-n-butter lessons are with a trainer who wants the 'calm happy confident' horse - but also competes herself. our monthly clinic-style lessons are with both top level competitors who aren't really *teachers* and with trainers who focus on the horse itself. it's definitely important to balance!
ReplyDeleteso happy you found a good trainer for you.. it is so important! Hope everything continues to go well :-)
ReplyDeleteI had a trainer/teacher that couldn't ride. Physically wasn't gonna happen. But her experience and her eye was amazing. She churned our some lovely soft riders, always able to find appropriate matches. Was great. Would ride with her again in a heartbeat. But if you saw her. You wouldn't know any of that. People can do one or two without being all three. However it works out.
ReplyDeleteSounds like move is paying off in many ways. New trainer sounds fab & previous lesson report is awesome. Relish it & thrive dear SB ☺
ReplyDeleteLove this! Enjoy the learning :)
ReplyDeleteYes yes yes. I've been thinking about this lately, as Hemie has gotten broke enough that *my* riding skills are holding us back. Need to shift focus from a trainer to instructor/coach. Can't wait to hear more about your lessons with the trainer!
ReplyDeleteHaving an instructor that motivates and inspires you is absolutely crucial in my opinion. Maybe I'm just lazy but unless I know there's someone there who expects me to make progress and believes I can make progress I mostly meander around and get nothing done.
ReplyDeleteI think you're going to have a GREAT time with new trainer! Sounds like a good match so far!
ReplyDeleteYou already sound like you're in an awesome place with Courage and this training will bring you and your relationship with C to a WHOLE new level.
ReplyDeleteI meant *trainer
DeleteThis post made me feel better about life. I am not a natural rider (and never will be) but I am an instructor.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to more lesson posts!
C is such an awesome person! I love how kind she is to the horses and the riders. I'm glad that you can ride with her so that you and Courage can continue to become even more awesome :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you've found someone that knows you and can provide the fit you need!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Hope everything continues to improve :)
ReplyDeleteso glad for you! I can't wait to see all the progress you two make now :) my goal for 2015 is definitely more lessons. I had like... 5 this last year, because of law school and money and blah, and it definitely can be difficult. I have my first lesson in forever saturday, where trainer and I are going to discuss wiz... apparently he's being good, and she does think it's the epm, but she thinks we can work through it... ahh I sure hope so! but point being sometimes that more educated/experienced eye is really necessary when you do inevitably hit a bump in the road!
ReplyDeleteVery good points! I never really separated out the three roles in my head before. Makes sense!
ReplyDeleteA good trainer who you and your horse jive with is most important. So happy you have found that!
ReplyDelete