My teaching objectives are
to provide the firm foundation for progress in the horse and the rider, and
to create a rider that is safe, competent, confident, and able to think creatively in any situation.
After all, I can't ride in their back pockets cross-country!
To achieve these objectives, I tailor my program to emphasize the strengths of each horse and rider,
and to overcome their weaknesses.
I do it for each of my students!
I harp on the basics.
There can be no progress without a firm foundation.
As we progress, we must continuously return to reaffirm the fundamentals - in both horse and rider.
From a firm foundation comes security and balance.
From security and balance comes relaxation.
With security, balance and relaxation in place, new skills can be developed.
With skill comes confidence in both horse and rider.
The long-term goal is to present a balanced, athletic pair.
I try to focus and refocus my students so that they remain aware of their accomplishments - on
what they do correctly. This allows them to progress to the next step with
confidence.
It's important that my students not only be able to do an exercise,
but understand
why we do it,
what it should accomplish,
when it should be done, and
how it should "feel" done correctly.
Both the foundation and the understanding of "why, what, when and how" are
accomplished by helping the student set short and long term goals.
Then short-term goals are broken down to even smaller steps.
Change comes slowly, and then you get an explosion of understanding.
Focusing on smaller steps allows the foundation to remain in place and the training to
be positive. This helps insure a positive experience for horse and rider.
It also teaches the student to do self-analysis and problem solving.
After all, the ultimate goal is to create a thinking rider.
Humor allows us to laugh at our mistakes, helping to
eliminate negativity. In my barn, "I can't do", must be followed by
"yet". We have quite a few other sayings, including:
"You can't rest on your laurels"
"Pity parties have a time limit".
"You ride as an individual, partnered with your horse, but it takes teamwork to get to an Event!"
"If all else fails, stay between the mane and tail!"
Riding is about having fun. Competing is about
sportsmanship. Ribbons are the icing on the cake.
