Coaches Comment Part 1 of 5 Equestrian instructor, coach, or mentor what's the difference and does it matter?
Posted by Jeanette Garrett, 16 Feb, 2010
Riding Tutorials, Ponies, Performance Horses
Coach's Comment with Jeanette Garrett B.H.S.I. ESNZ Registered Performance Coach and Coach Educator' .
National Assessor for Equine ITO
When you have a lesson (or training session) are you instructed coached or mentored? We take lessons to learn more and improve our game, to get help with a schooling or competition problem. How does your coach impart knowledge and information to you? Do they understand your individual learning style and use it to get a better horse rider relationship?
Teacher, tutor, lecturer, course facilitator, instructor, coach, and mentor are all titles that have been used over the years for those who impart knowledge, denoting the change in education over the decades.
If we look at those more common to equitation :-
Instructor: Gives information and directions to be carried out on command. Riding instructors originate from military training for army soldiers where their job was to prepare men for war within just a few weeks. Instructors gave orders which were to be obeyed.
Aligned to the school days in the same era with rote learning and punishment by cane . Yesteryear riding schools in Europe ( and still a few today) had this teaching style with regimented procedures and obedience to commands do as I say no questions asked. The instructor was very much in control of what happened when telling riders what to do with set tried and tested movements and exercises from the army training manuals. These lessons focused predominantly on the riders. The instructor would pass knowledge on with a strong authoritarian approach just as the instructor had been taught.
Coach A trainer of riders and horses for competition and/or exams. The focus is on the horse/rider combination, rider driven goals to be achieved with the help support and direction of the coach, Some discovery learning supported by the coach, developing the riders self awareness, acting as the eyes on the ground to give feedback. Coaches are often successful riders themselves having been there and done what the rider wants to do. The coach taking a more holistic approach to the all round devolvement of the rider and their future riding career. The rider needs to be encouraged to analyze, think and make judgment calls when school alone and when competing and under exam pressure, a rider and coach relationship based on providing the rider with the tools' to coach themselves and gain autonomy.
Mentor Gives guidance and shares knowledge to those less experienced encourages reflective thinking. A mentor usually has a depth of knowledge and hands on experience. A mentor's totally holistic approach may have a wider circle of influences/ outside factors for the rider to be made aware of.
Being mentored is a valuable learning tool for us all, with an openness to learn and contribute it is a very effective way to progress and develop. This could be used for riders and coaches alike. Simply organize a coffee or supper with a few or just a couple likeminded people. Start by sharing some positive sessions you have had with your horse if you are a rider and coaching sessions if you are a coach share these and then talk about sessions that did not go so well you will come home with some fresh ideas from others as well as contributing to their training issues.
How much or how little mentoring one needs depends largely on the availability/access to the mentor/s and how steep a learning curve you are currently on! Mentoring can certainly encourage experimental learning, problem solving skills and create a support system to give things a try.
Does it matter if you have an instructor, coach or mentor?
Personally I think it matters a lot. Training with an instructor, coach or mentor often comes at financial cost whatever level you are. No one should be instructed' by being shouted at and ordered about let alone pay for the privilege!! One should never leave a lesson feeling undermined, lacking in ability and confused whatever teaching style the instructor, coach or mentor has.
Learning sound basics with a clear, logical progressive pathway enables the rider to see where it all fits into the big picture, and empowers the rider not just for the horse they ride now but gives them knowledge of the system for all the horses they may ride in the future.
The full time college students I worked with in the UK had two additional class room theory of equitation sessions each week. This gave them a balance between theoretical understanding and reviewing their own riding goals. In addition sound foundation for their future careers in the equine industry were also achieved.
Value for money is gained from a qualified coach who teaches from a rider focused approach. Holistic development of both horse and rider must be better than simply following directions of an instructor.
Why do I say qualified coach? A successful rider does not necessarily make a good coach. Their knowledge and experience is worth a lot. Compare it with a school teacher who brings life experience to the role yet in order to teach effectively he or she has trained for several years to become an effective teacher with an understanding of how to teach the syllabus/curriculum and a knowledge of peoples individual learning styles. Teachers regularly update and partake in staff development. A registered coach in New Zealand and overseas need a commitment to the same things to stay on the register ( including a current first aid certificate)
If you know of a good coach that is not qualified or registered encourage them to become one via the three equestrian training schemes we have in New Zealand Equestrian Sport NZ or NZ Pony Club Associations coaches training program or New Zealand National Qualifications Authority (NZQA) unit standards qualifications.
More about equestrian coach training in article no. 5.
For more information check out Jeanette's website
www.equinepositivelearning.co.nz
Copyright J A Garrett
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Contact: Jeanette Garrett
Website: www.equinepositivelearning.co.nz
Address: 'Alderney', 205 Lord Rutherford Road South, RD1, Brightwater, Nelson 7091
Phone: 03 542 3382
Equine Positive Learning (EPL) is an equine based company providing multiple services and products to equestrians and coaches nationwide in New Zealand and overseas. Jeanette Garrett BHSI and Equestrain Sport New Zealand Perfomance Coach and 'Coach Educator' is the principal of the company, is an internationally qualified coach and assessor, with vast competitive riding and training experience in Europe and the UK. Her accolades include qualifying... More Info
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Coaches Comment Part 1 of 5 Equestrian instructor, coach, or mentor what's the difference and does it matter?
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National Assessor... More »
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