AS A HUNTER/JUMPER COACH
It is an equestrian coaches job to provide students with a safe and fun environment in which to
develop their horseback riding skills. From Beginner
thru advanced levels we want to reinforce to students that they
need to develop an understanding with the horse and that this is
essential in achieving a successful partnership between the two
of them. This process helps to reinforce life skills by developing
of important character traits, such as confidence, decisiveness
and pride as well as the ability to handle oneself, with maturity,
in stressful or pressured situations.
We believe that students should
advance at their own rate and without the pressure to compete
unless that is their own desire. Competition quickly advances the skills of horse and rider alike. If a competitive path is chosen
we strive to instill in our students that gauging success is better
applied to the improvement in the horse-rider team thna by comparisons
of oneself with others. We want our students to develop their strengths,
improve on their weaknesses and judge their success on these improvements.
The competitive riding field is a balance of a riders training and ability, their horse’s training, and their horse’s natural
ability. Comparisons of ones success in the show ring needs to be kept in perspective.
AS A TRAINER
Just like people, horses
learn at their own rate and need individualized
programs in order to maximize their abilities - some require patience while others need to be pushed. We ask a lot of our
equine friends and they in turn should be treated with the utmost
of care and respect. We customize each horse’s training program
to suit the horses temperament and build confidence in the horse
so that it will perform it’s job to the best of it’s
ability. We want to keep the horse healthy, happy and confident
so that it can have a successful and lasting career. As a hunter/jumper trainer I feel that I owe my equine partners the best care and attention possible.
ON HORSE COMMERCE
It is more
important to make a successful match between horse and rider, than
it is to simply make a sale. If the
partnership between the horse and rider is not harmonious then the
sale is not a success. We want people to be happy with their purchase
and if we cannot provide a horse suited to the buyer then we are
happy to help find an appropriate horse or put the buyer in contact
with someone who has a horse better suited to the buyer’s
needs.
I always recommend that an amateur
purchaser should obtain the help a reputable trainer and should
get a veterinarian’s evaluation of the horse. This not only
protects the purchaser, but it protects us from damage to our reputation
should a problem develop in the future.
