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 a trait, personality type, or skill in a rider that indicates they could be a great trainer?
Here are their answers:
“A lot of patience!” -Don Stewart
Read more from Don here.
“A trait, personality type, or skill in a rider that shows they could become a great trainer is a genuine curiosity about all aspects of the sport.
When I see a rider who puts in extra effort to understand not just the riding, but the horsemanship, the theory, and the “why” behind everything we do, it stands out. Someone who asks thoughtful questions, stays eager to learn, and seeks clarity–that’s the kind of person who often grows into a strong teacher.
Effective communication is another essential piece. A rider who can express their ideas in a clear, organized, and considerate way already shows the foundation of good coaching. Add empathy—the ability to read a person or horse and respond appropriately—and you have someone who can truly guide others. Honestly, a sense of humor goes a long way too; it keeps training approachable, helps riders relax, and reminds everyone that learning should be enjoyable.” -Tobey McWilliams
“The ability to explain how and why things happen under saddle is the key to being a good trainer. Not just saying do this, do that, but saying when you do this, that happens, or when you do that, this happens.” -Caroline Mercier
Read more from Caroline here.
“A great trait that indicates a great trainer in the making is a good student mentality. Why? We always have something to learn and improve on. If you are always trying to learn something new each day about the horse world or industry, you will go farther than most.
I always want to learn something new each day. It gives a great outlook on things, plus a better understanding of how the horse world continues to reinvent itself.” -Jay Moore
Read more from Jay here.
“I like to watch a rider communicate with the horse through feel. That is something that can’t be taught, so if they figure that out, they have the ability to put that to use on any horse they ride.
Training horses is about listening to the animal and how they communicate with body language. If a rider can figure that out, they are on the way to doing great things with training.” –April Sangiorgio
“Crazy great work ethic, empathy, patience, and natural care and understanding to figure out each and every horse!” -Dana Hart-Callanan
Read more from Dana here.
“I think great students make great trainers. So, for a rider to be a great trainer, they need to love learning. It’s more than the ability to ride, which does help, but without understanding the learning process and how people and horses learn, it is difficult to be a great trainer.” -Schuyler Riley
Read more from Schuyler here.
“Traits that pop into my head are patience, empathy, love for horses, and love for people. They must be hard workers and forever learners who pay close attention to all details. Future teachers need the same traits.” -Beverly Jovais
“A rider that is a good/great instructor would have excellent observation skills, aka ” a good eye,” and the ability to articulate their thoughts at the level of the student. Really good timing of information and the ability to make small changes that have an exponential effect. Easy to say, very hard to do!” –
“Back when I was recruiting student athletes to the Dartmouth equestrian team, I often was asked to make decisions based on a student’s riding video and resume alone. While these tools told me about her equestrian skills, I was also interested in learning about her activities and volunteerism outside of the saddle. In particular, I looked for signs of growth; for example, as a freshman, she was a member of an organization, but by the time she became an upperclassman, she was a leader.
What did this information tell me about her chances of being successful on the equestrian team? More than anything, it showed me her inner drive.
My favorite riders of all time possess three essential qualities: a desire to learn, a desire to improve and a desire to continuously progress. When these riders were done with their team practice and had five minutes to spare before heading back to campus, they could be found ringside watching the next lesson. These riders bought into what I was teaching them and applied every lesson to their practice, every ride.
This is the kind of rider that will make a great trainer—one with an insatiable desire to grow and learn, one who will transition over time from an ‘interested follower’ to a true leader in the sport.” -Excerpt from The Athletic Equestrian by Sally Batton and Christina Keim published by Trafalgar Square Books
