In my mind, a good riding instructor is someone who helps you set and reach your riding goals, whatever they may be. A good riding instructor is someone who encourages you when you are struggling, who celebrates with you when you succeed, and has the knowledge and ability to teach you the skills that you need to improve as a horse person. Whether your goal is to ride bareback in your backyard or to compete at the national level, a good instructor helps you to see the steps along the way.

Setting and attaining riding goals

I think most people have an overall goal of becoming a better horse person, but have a hard time defining what “better” means to them. My job is to help students evaluate where they are now, set challenging yet obtainable goals for themselves, and then show them the steps on the path to get there. It is the student’s responsibility to actually take those steps. It is the instructor’s job to encourage and support the effort toward these goals. What goals have you set for yourself with your horse?

Relationships

My goal as a professional horse trainer and riding instructor is to develop strong, long-term relationships between horses and their humans. Our training program allows horses to develop their athletic ability and become calm, willing partners.  Our riding lessons and classes teach people to become confident leaders and allow them to understand and communicate with their horses more effectively. Really getting to know your horse is essential to building a strong foundation of trust and understanding that lasts. I don’t believe in short cuts or gimmicks. I believe that good horse training takes time, understanding, patience, and repetition.

Physical fitness

Horses and riders are athletes. We use a combination of stretching and strength building exercises to expand upon natural talent. Physical fitness requires hours of steady work. There are no short cuts. Horses that are not properly conditioned get sore, tired, and cranky (riders too!). Many of the horses that start our program have training “problems” that are just lack of muscle development.  Many riding “problems” go back to basic riding position errors. By focusing on the basics of good form and balance, horses and riders will become more athletic and success will come easier.

Mental Preparation

Good riding is more mental than physical, yet most programs focus only on the physical end of things. We teach riders to be prepared, analyze situations, and create solutions to problems before they arise. We teach our riders (and our horses!) to think their way through situations. This allows the horses to become confident and able to perform to their full potential.

Health

We have an intensive care schedule to maintain a horse’s health. We combine use of conventional medical practices (vaccinations, de-worming, routine hoof care, dental maintenance, nutritional analysis) with more alternative forms of care (chiropractic, massage, acupressure, energy work) to ensure our horses are receiving the attention they need. I believe daily turnout is essential for the mental health of a horse. Riders are responsible for maintaining their own health as well.

Competition

Many of our students like to compete with their horses. We support and encourage participation in local, regional, and national level horse shows, clinics, and events. Our students do very well in the show ring, however, winning is not our top priority. Our top priority is the relationship our riders have with their horses. Competition is a test of how well your relationship with your horse is developing and what you need more work on. Getting a ribbon or trophy is just a bonus! The REAL judge of how you rode at the show is your horse. How do you think your horse would place YOU at the show?