Welcome to Trainer Tuesday! Each week we ask trainers a question and gather their answers for you. These trainers have a range of experience, backgrounds, and focus points of their programs, so the answers have as much variation as you would expect and also probably much more similarity.
This week’s question posed is: What is your policy on cell phone use in the ring and around the barn?
Here are their answers:
“Faces stuck in cell phones drive me crazy! Now, I’ll let them bring their phones to the ring so I can video them during a lesson. I find that watching their ride is a big teaching tool. I frequently pull out my phone, video a quick clip, and then show it back to them immediately, and that’s quite helpful. My students can have their phones in the barn to reach their parents, etc. BUT they are not allowed to be sitting on their tack trucks watching TikTok while at the barn.
There is ALWAYS something constructive they can be doing! (Pick up a broom, deep clean their bridle, scrub a water bucket, hand graze a horse). When they are at home, I encourage them to listen to horse-related podcasts, watch ClipMyHorse, study the HQC study guide, etc.
Bottom line–as long as they are doing some constructive with their phones, I’m good. But all the social media FOMO is not good for their development.” -Jennifer Pigue
Read more from Jennifer here.
“My thoughts on cell phone usage in the barn are twofold: on one hand I feel that spending quality time with your horse and getting the most out of that relationship requires your full attention. Same with your barn friends. And in terms of barn safety, being fully aware and alert is crucial. On the other hand, as a trainer, I feel that my phone is an incredibly useful teaching tool. I take lots of videos during lessons and then create short edits to post or send raw clips directly to my clients. It’s so helpful to watch yourself ride and see the issues, corrections, and respective growth that we are working on from my perspective on the ground. So I don’t necessarily have a “no phones in the barn” rule like some trainers do. I do think it’s important to use your phone responsibly and for the purposes of education when possible.” -Ariel Univer
Read more from Ariel here.
“I allow cell phone usage as long as it’s not excessive and starts to get in the way of safety and being able to pay attention to the horse. I don’t allow them while mounted but clients can bring them to the arena and set them on the wall or standard but on silent mode or do not disturb. I prefer clients bring them with them while out hacking because if they’re alone or with one other person and something happens they need to be able to contact someone. I had that happen with one client and she had her phone and was able to contact me. Only use in emergencies!” -Cara Wheeler
Read more Trainer Tuesday responses from Cara here.
“They have replaced radios and even the pagers of earlier years with better communication tools. That being said, here are my ideal guidelines for phones in the stable and when riding:
. Turn it off while riding. Listen and communicate with the horse.
. Use the phone to take videos of others and to watch videos after the horse is cared for.
. No headphones.
.Group text with trainers for lesson communication and ring times, etc.
.Permitted for texting a parent
We all use cell phones when riding the horse is more important.” -Diane Carney
Read more from Diane and listen to her on The Plaidcast here.
