From: Cathy
have finally located a trainer/instructor in my area (got the name out of a newspaper ad) and would like input as to the types of questions I should ask and anything that would clue me not to use this person. I am a fearful beginner and my horse is an older hormonal mare set is her ways, but a sweetheart just the same. I would appreciate any input on this matter because I sure do not want to make matters with me or my horse any worse. Thanks in advance.
Cathy J
PS I appreciate all your help and advise and have learned so much. Keep it up!!!
You can ask a lot of questions! Here are some I would suggest:
1) Ask if she's a certified instructor, and if so, certified by which program and in what specialty area? If you're going to learn a particular style of riding, stock seat or hunt seat or dressage, it would be nice to know that your instructor was qualified and competent to teach it! You can also work backward from certification when you're looking for an instructor -- the American Riding Instructor Certification Program maintains a list of all currently certified instructors, together with their levels, specialties, and contact information, on the ARICP website at http://www.riding-instructor.com/
2) Ask if she carries insurance -- this, like certification from a reliable organization, is a good sign, because it tells you that the instructor takes herself and the subject seriously.
3) Ask if she has safety equipment rules -- a good instructor is going to require that you wear safe footgear on your feet and an ASTM/SEI approved equestrian helmet on your head, even if she doesn't care what you wear elsewhere on your body. ;-)
4) Ask if you can have the names and telephone numbers of some of her adult students? You can learn a lot by listening to other riders talk about their instructors -- if you listen carefully! For instance, "She's great, she doesn't make us wear helmets" or "She's so much fun, we get to do anything we want in lessons" would be warning signals, not recommendations.
5) Ask when you can come and watch a lesson -- specifically, ask when you can watch this instructor teach a lesson to another beginner rider of your age. You'll learn more by watching the lesson than you'll ever learn by asking questions, because this will answer questions you wouldn't even think to ask! You'll find out the instructor's teaching techniques and philosophy, as well as her attitude toward riders and horses and teaching. You can ask yourself questions:
If you watch and you really enjoy the lesson and can easily imagine yourself in the student's place, this may be the right instructor for you. If you watch the lesson and you are very glad that you're NOT the rider, then this probably ISN'T the instructor for you.
A good instructor will know the subject -- and that means knowing a LOT. She'll need to know about that particular style of riding, and she'll need to know about riding and horses and horsemanship in general, as well as something about human learning styles. A good instructor will be effective and will make herself understood. And, above all, a good instructor will ALWAYS speak for the horse.
Good luck -- I hope this instructor proves to be a truly good one!
Jessica
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