By Lindsay Grice

Q    I recently purchased a horse and would like to find a riding coach who will help us reach our potential. Where do I start?

A    Following are some questions to consider as you search for an instructor who will meet your needs.

What are your goals? Do you want to compete or simply learn to work in harmony with your horse by way of weekly lessons? If you wish to compete, choose an instructor who regularly attends the type of shows you wish to participate in. She can help you with everything from entries to your attire, to a game plan before you enter the ring. What is her track record? Are her students generally successful? If so, this may be an indication that what she preaches really works! If you don’t wish to compete it can be pretty frustrating if your instructor is away at horse shows so often that you can’t schedule regular lessons.

What is your learning style? Are you motivated by praise and positive comments? Are you sensitive to criticism, or does it stir you to push yourself harder? As a student, I didn’t care much for small talk during a lesson but wanted as much concrete, honest critique as I could glean to take home, process, and perfect until the next session. Some people prefer a more casual pace to their lessons. I don’t believe anyone likes to be yelled at or belittled. Watch different coaches in action and take note of their style. A good coach should be able to read their students and tailor their approach somewhat to meet their needs.

What is your best learning environment? Are you a people person or a loner? Do you prefer a coach with a busy, active barn or a quieter learning environment? Do you prefer group or private lessons? For many people, having other riders around with similar goals is a great asset. They like to stick around, socialize, and swap horse stories after the lessons, and be a part of a group at shows. Others like to have their instructor’s undivided attention.

Does the coach give good value for your lesson dollar? Ask to observe a lesson taught by a coach you are considering. Is each lesson well planned with a variety of exercises and skills taught? Is there a logical reason provided for a skill that is introduced as well as an application (in what situation would I use this skill?). Is there a summary at the end of the lesson and suggestions of what to work on in the week to come? The lessons should start on time and be mostly uninterrupted (by telephone calls, visitors, etc.). Make sure you can understand the terms the coach uses.

Does the coach ride and compete? Although there are some successful instructors who do not ride regularly, I know from personal experience that it’s helpful to have ridden a student’s horse myself so that I can tailor my instructions to fit their specific needs. Sometimes I will get on a client’s horse in the lesson to demonstrate a skill and give a step by step description of what I’m doing. It’s often quite an eye opener for me to experience from the saddle what couldn’t be seen from the ground! The drawback of having an instructor who competes is that sometimes their energies are divided at horse shows between their students and the horses that they are riding themselves.

Finally, try a lesson with a prospective coach and see what you think.

Main Article Photo: Robin Duncan Photography - Opt for a coach who suits your preferences in terms of teaching style and environment.

This article originally appeared in the April 2010 issue of Pacific & Prairie Horse Journal.