Finding the Right Instructor
No one, not even Olympic level riders, can go it alone. We all need a pair of eyes on the ground at the very least to give us feedback on our riding. Novice riders probably also need help with horsemanship skills in general, like how to tack and what to feed. That's why finding the right instructor is so important to your riding enjoyment, advancement and safety. Unfortunately, anyone can claim to be a riding instructor so how to you know which is the right one for you?
Trainer vs. Instructor: Know the difference:
A trainer both rides your horse on days you aren't there and teaches you a set number of lessons a week. They generally charge a monthly fee for this service that usually starts at around $500 dollars and goes up, depending on the services offered and experience of the trainer. The services could include additional feed for your horse, arranging for the farrier and routine vet calls, blanketing in the wintertime, etc.
An instructor typically only teaches the student. While they may get on the horse to gain a greater understanding of what the student is facing, they don't typically train or "teach" the horse anything new. Their focus is solely on the rider. Instructors typically charge by the lesson, although they may give a discount rate if you buy a "package" including a certain number of lessons all at once.
The first thing you need to do is figure out which is right for you. If your horse is already well trained at the discipline you are pursuing, or your goals mostly involve just having a good time, an instructor may be all you need.
What makes a good instructor?
Safety first!! No matter what level you ride, a good instructor is one whose first concern is the safety of you and your horse.
Keep in mind that a person who rides well isn't necessarily a good instructor and a brilliant teacher may not be a great rider. The trick is not just knowing what to do, but how to communicate it in a way that makes sense to a rider.
The level of rider you are makes a huge difference in finding the instructor that's right for you. Some instructors are great with the beginner or "up-down" classes but don't have the skills to help someone who is more advanced. Conversely, just because a clinician has been able to help Olympic level riders find gold doesn't mean that he can help you learn to feel the correct rein connection between you and your horse.
Some people like strict instructors who are very tough on them, while others learn better in a less formal setting. Try a few different types of instructors on for size - you may surprise yourself by finding out you like lessons harder/easier than you thought!
Riding school vs. Trainer vs. Show barn - know the difference:
Keep in mind as you are shopping around that there are distinctly different types of barns. There are riding schools, training barns, and show barns. If you are a rank beginner, a riding school is probably more appropriate. They have lesson horses that are used to dealing with beginner riders, which means they have the temperament to deal with your pulling, kicking and all around inexperience. Your instructor may never be headed to the Olympics, but like the horses they are used to the mistakes beginners make and are more likely to patiently talk you through them. Schools usually have fairly flexible schedules as well, with a number of instructors on staff that cover a variety of disciplines and offer lessons throughout the day and after work hours.
A training barn is usually run by one person - the trainer - and as such has less flexible hours. Typically trainers don't have school horses, though they may have one or two on hand, or clients who are willing to lease their horses out for lessons so it's worth asking. They normally only cover one discipline, though some smaller trainers will make an exception depending on their background and interest. Training barns vary vastly on the amount of horsemanship they encourage; some have grooms who take care of everything for you while others are too small to offer that service or prefer you do it yourself to build your confidence and skills as an all around horse person. Training barns a great place to learn more skills at a faster rate because of the individual attention a trainer can provide, but unless you have a bottomless wallet it may take some looking around to find one to match your budget and your needs. If you bring your own horse to a training barn, first and foremost make sure your trainer likes your horse! From there, you can figure out if you want them to actual train the horse - that is, ride it for you a set number of times during the week to improve your horse's skill as well as your own - or if you just want lessons.
A "show barn" is an upper level barn that almost certainly will NOT have school horses. As the name implies, these barns go to shows every weekend during the show season, which lasts most of the year. Typically, the trainers who own these barns have a string of well-bred, expensive horses of their own or that belong to owners who have the means to back them at shows every weekend. These horses represent their career and will be their main focus, not your beloved Widowmaker of questionable breeding. If your goal is to show at upper level competition and you have the horse to take you there, these barns are worth considering. If showing isn't your thing, there will still be assistant trainers available to help you while the trainer is on the road. They (hopefully) ride and teach in the same style as the trainer whose style and reputation probably brought you to that barn in the first place. The more famous the name, however, the more expensive it is to train with them so be sure this choice makes sense for you. If you aren't interested in showing at the top levels of competition, going to a show barn is like bringing a bazooka to a water gun fight - a little overkill for the situation.
Certification
There is no uniform, formal certification program in the U. S. that a person must pass before they can call themselves an instructor. There are, however, certification programs available such as through the American Riding Instructor's Association (ARIA) that represents a number of disciplines. Information is available on their website regarding certified trainers in your area.
There's also the Certified Horsemanship Association that focuses on overall horsemanship as well as riding. They have certification programs in a number of different disciplines, specialties and levels. Again, you can find information on certified trainers in your area on their website.
The U. S. Dressage Federation maintains an instructor certification program as well. A fairly new program, obviously its focus is on dressage instructors only.
The British Horse Society (BHS) has a qualification and registry program that is available to riding schools and instructors throughout the U.S.
Just because an instructor doesn't have a certification in any of the above programs doesn't mean they aren't a good instructor. Because of the lack of a traditional system, many instructors are either unaware of the available programs or doubt the usefulness of going through the long certification process.
Things to keep in mind:
- Do the horses in their care seem happy?
- Does their riding experience match up with your goals?
- Watch a lesson they teach - do they present ideas in a way that's easy for you to grasp? Do they adjust their teaching methods to suit different rider's personalities and abilities?
- Is the stable they work out of in good condition?
- Is their training barn in a location that's convenient for you? If you can only ride at night, does it have lights and security?
- Are they willing to answer your questions, no matter how trivial? Communication is key to an enjoyable, safe learning experience.
- Does their outlook match your own? If you like to have a silly day once in a while playing squirt gun tag on horseback while your instructor insists you wear show attire to every lesson, this is probably NOT a match made in heaven.
- If you are interested in competing, go to a horse show not only to see how an instructor's students place in the rankings, but also to see if the instructor's style in the warm up arena and even in the barn aisle at a show meshes with your own.
Horsemanship
Some barns encourage students just to get on and ride, leaving the tacking and care of the horse to the grooms. Personally, I think your missing out on the most rewarding part of your relationship with your horse if you do that but that approach is fine if it fits into your schedule, budget and level of interest. If you do want to learn more basic horsemanship skills, be sure to pick an instructor that teaches the basics in the ring and out.
If you're interested in learning more about how to take care of your horse yourself, find an instructor or riding school that has a working student program. It's a great way to become more comfortable with horses from the ground up, acquire general care knowledge and skills, as well as save some money on your lessons. Most barns can never find enough help so if your instructor doesn't have a formal working student program in place just ask; they'll probably be delighted to mentor you in exchange for chores.
Many stables also offer summer horse camps, where children are taught horsemanship for several hours a day in addition to riding. If you have a youngster who says they want to own a horse some day, summer camp programs are a good way to expose them to the joy as well as the labor involved in owning a horse.
Where to Look
- Personal recommendations
- Local clubs that are involved in your discipline
- Local publications
- Horse shows, particularly ones at the level you are riding or above
- Clinics - not only for the clinicians who are teaching, but often times local instructors are the ones attending as students. This gives you a chance to see how they ride and treat their own horses.
- The Internet
Whoever you choose, keep your relationship professional. These are highly skilled people with a very specialized talent and deserve just as much respect as your doctor, dentist or lawyer. IF you have to cancel a lesson, give them at least 24 hours notice. If you need to change your arrangement with them as far as time or money goes, try to give at least thirty days notice. Always address them with the same respect you want them to show you and if you ever have any problems or issues, sit down and talk with them immediately before you make a mountain out of a molehill. They're horse trainers, not The Amazing Kreskin; while they may be able to read your horse's mind, yours is infinitely more complex so tell them if there's a problem.
Lastly, once you have found an instructor don't assume this is a permanent arrangement. For instance, some day you may realize that, for whatever reason, you've gone as far as you can with that person. Or they change the location of their barn and it's no longer convenient for you. Or your instructor may decide that your horse is no longer suitable for their barn. There's no need for a lot of drama, people change trainers as often as they change hairstylists; both may seem like monumental tasks but with respect and polite communication you and your trainer will get through the transition with flying colors.
