Be tidy and on time. Showing up late to your lesson wearing sweat pants and dirty paddock boots, and with a muddy horse, won’t cut it for some coaches. “I expect my students to be neatly dressed, horses well groomed and tack clean,” says Pippa Hambly, an advanced-level event rider and coach. Sherri Whitworth-Denouden, an A circuit judge, coach and steward, agrees. “I want my riders to show up in clean breeches, boots, a clean horse, hair in a net, and gloves on. Tidiness is a lifestyle choice. If a rider starts cutting corners in their lessons, that behaviour will transfer into the rider’s showing.”
Be prepared.
If you’ve got a lazy horse, for instance, don’t leave your whip in the barn. “If we are going cross-country, I expect that my students show up with the appropriate equipment,” says Hambly.
Get warmed up.
“Ideally, I would like a horse tacked up and walking,” says Annie Baird, a grand prix-level dressage rider and coach. “If the horse has issues the students and I have previously discussed – for example, it tends to be fresh or stiff when first coming out – it is best to have started some warm-up work before I arrive.” Baird acknowledged that for novice riders, however, she prefers they wait until she arrives for the sake of safety.
Have a good attitude.
“A positive attitude is a must,” stresses Whitworth-Denouden. “I expect my riders to arrive with positive energy.” Baird adds, “An important part of riding in general, but especially when showing, is the ability to control yourself mentally and emotionally. You need to leave your “’baggage” at home. It is unfair to the horse, who can’t tell the difference if you’re mad at him or just mad in general.”
Do your homework.
“I expect riders to learn their tests, so if they want to run through them in a lesson, they can do so with little calling from me,” Baird says. “If I have suggested an exercise to work on outside of the lesson, I would hope when I return they will have some feedback for me in regards to the exercise.”
Be willing to try.
“Signing up for lessons and not really wanting to learn is a waste of time for all parties,” Hambly says. “Learning to ride correctly isn’t always much fun and it is definitely hard work. The student must be eager to learn and must understand that riding can be hard work and frustrating at times.”
Leave the negative energy behind.
“It’s not your horse’s fault if you’ve had a bad day at the office or you’ve broken up with your boyfriend,” says Whitworth-Denouden. It’s unfair to your horse to come to a lesson in a bad mood, or worse, to take out that bad mood on them. “I don’t accept any poor behaviour,” Whitworth-Denoudeoun adds. “I remember one time at Palgrave a young rider was rude to her mother. I told that rider that she was done and to get off her pony and put it back in the barn.”
Be fit.
Whitworth-Denouden has riders jog to improve cardio fitness, and do leg lifts and calf stretches to help with getting their heels down. She believes that riding is a sport and fitness is a part of being an athlete. “I certainly wouldn’t expect an elderly person to be as supple and fit as a youngster,” Hambly says. “I take into consideration what they can or cannot do physically. The same applies to a very small child who will tire more quickly, as they are still developing their muscle tone.”
Keep your horse fit.
“Students need to keep their horses fit enough for the level they are competing at,” says Hambly. “If that means trot and gallop sets are required, they must fit that into their schedule. They need to work on homework I give them, practicing their flatwork to keep their horses supple and obedient.”
Be realistic about your goals.
A good coach will be honest with you about your goals, and should help you work toward them at a reasonable pace. “Riders need to know their ability and their horse’s ability, or else they will be over-faced and set themselves, and their horses, back in training,” warns Whitworth-Denouden.
Baird offered a slightly different perspective for her discipline. “In dressage, the risk of competing above your preparation is a matter of poor results, rather than safety, as is the case when jumping higher than one is ready for. I believe my clients are grownups who need to make their own informed decisions. I explain their current shortfalls, and they need to understand that a judge may echo my sentiments with less generosity.”
Hambly adds, “For students with unrealistic expectations, I discuss and explain all the deficiencies and reasons why I feel their expectations are unrealistic. If they are adamant that they want to proceed, competing at a level they are not ready for, as long as I feel they are in no danger to themselves or their horse, I will let them. If they succeed and prove me wrong, fantastic!”
Set mini-goals.
“Whenever you are setting goals, it is necessary to work backwards to a ladder-like set of mini-goals,” Baird suggests. “Focus on the things you can control. You can ride every transition with accuracy and balance – but you can’t guarantee a judge will give you an 8 for that transition. You can strive to ride a test where your horse stays soft and in front of your leg throughout, but you can’t say for certain that it will be the winning test. Focus on small goals you need to achieve to make these pieces come together, rather than the external result those achievements may bring.”
Respect your coach’s training plan.
Even if you feel you are capable of progressing faster or doing more on your own, a good coach knows what is best for your particular training program. “I have my riders lesson a minimum of twice a week,” Whitworth-Denouden says, as an example, “but there is absolutely no jumping outside of lessons.”
Be independent.
“Independence to a certain degree is greatly appreciated,” says Hambly. “At an event I’m there to answer your questions, give advice, walk courses and help you get into the dressage ring relaxed and feeling confident. However, sometimes it’s impossible to be at all three phases for every student, so a certain amount of confidence and independence is a helpful trait.”
Be a good role model.
“Stay humble and always present yourself with dignity, because you never know who is watching you,” says Whitworth-Denouden. “That little nine-year-old pony-loving girl or boy may be choosing you as their idol, and you don’t even know it. Your behaviour towards those around you and your horse is essential to be a positive role model.”
Go above and beyond.
“I like my riders to be learning the tests above what they are showing, so they have an idea of how the work progresses,” Baird explains. “I want my riders to crave knowledge,’ Whitworth-Denouden echoes. ‘I want them to read, to watch DVDs, to participate in clinics – anything that can help with their learning process.”
