When you ride and train horses for sport as opposed to recreation, it can get lonely. Dealing with all of your expectations and emotions on your own can be counterproductive. Friends and family, no matter how supportive, often don’t fully comprehend the immense commitment required to be competitive in this sport. You feel unrewarded, when results don’t follow on from hard work, and it can get to the stage where the dream goal, which once motivated and inspired you, no longer seems viable.
My family has always encouraged my riding aspirations and certainly, that kind of support makes the ‘work’ required to sustain the ‘habit’ more bearable. What it can’t provide though, is the experience and guidance necessary to develop as a horse trainer and eventing competitor. I have worked with many instructors over the years. None were able to fulfil the unique combination of trainer and mentor, but it is also unfair to expect that level of service within a 45 minute weekly or fortnightly lesson.
That’s why I work with a coach who is in a position to improve both my riding and horse training skills, as well as mentor my development as a competitor. They are an essential member of my team and are integral to my learning progression. They not only work on my technique, but are instrumental in targeting events for each season and offer vital support at competitions. My coach, combined with my own desire to achieve, is my recipe for success.
My coach recognises my ambition and drive because he experienced it himself as a rider.
My coach understands me as a competitior because he competed at an elite level himself.
My coach is there for me in competition as well as training and is therefore able to offer excellent feedback and perspective.
My coach is always honest, and has the best interests for myself and my horses at heart.
My coach truly wants to see me become the best rider and competitor that I can be.
My coach isn’t afraid to address problems, which may take time to resolve, because our work is progressive and not on a time limit.
The one thing that never changes, is that my coach is ALWAYS, on my team.
Without my coach, I would not be the rider I am today and I certainly wouldn’t be striving to become the rider I aim to be. My coach has allowed me to exceed even my own expectations and keeps pushing for more. So thank you, Tony. You’re support is priceless, and I am very fortunate to have such a great mentor to aspire to.