Trusting Your Coach

Photo credit: Click Thompson Photography

If you have someone in your corner who truly cares about your future, studies the discipline and knows their stuff, stick with them!

A coach will build a foundation for your rider and pony. They've studied, practiced and seen what works long term and what doesn't. They watch every footfall of the horse and the body position of the riders. A coach implements strategies for long term success that can be used on many different horse's and ponies. They're looking for more than one or two fast runs that quickly fall apart and bring you back to ground zero.

Most coaches believe "winning doesn't always mean being first. Winning means you're doing better than you've done before." We like to include that your pony is also doing better and that you have a better understanding of WHY things are happening so you can carry those lessons on from your ponies to your horses in the future.

Too often in the horse world we see people want quick results. They ditch the lessons and strategies of their coach as soon as people at the shows start giving advice. People at the show, having mostly good intentions, don't see the behind the scenes things that your coach does. They haven't studied your specific riding style and what works for your horse. They don't know what kind of foundation your coach is working to build with you and your horse. They don't know WHY you're doing what you're doing and rarely ask you before giving unsolicited advice.

We recommend build a trusting relationship with your coach by:

• Asking LOTS of questions.

• Knowing WHY they're asking you to do what your doing.

• Making sure they understand your riders goals and your goals for your child. They're often different. Make sure to talk through the differences so you're on common ground.

• Listening when they recommend trying new tack/adjustments/vet work/a different mount.

• Putting in the practice.

• Staying consistent with lessons.

• Sending them videos first.

• Being transparent.

• Giving yourself space from the "bleacher teachers."

• Respectfully decline unwanted help.

If any of these areas don't align with your goals, it's okay to search for a different coach. But if you truly believe they're working for your rider, stay hooked and let them do their job!

The horse world is different than most sports. At a basketball, soccer, baseball or football games it's known that the opposing team's coach isn't going to come up to one of the other team's players and start giving them pointers. If they did, it would be highly frowned upon and questioned. We need to have the same protection for coaches and their athletes in the horse world.

PARENTS: If you see someone giving your child unwanted advice, respectfully STEP IN! If it's someone respected, by all means have a conversation with them, take some notes and run it by the coach. Just don't let it confuse your rider or mess with the solid foundation they're building. If your coach is doing their job, they'll either have a reason with solid explanation why they aren't implementing that concept. Or, they'll be happy to explain how it benefits the rider and horse and will implement it into the foundation they're working on building.

Learn more tips and suggestions at www.performancepony.com/blog