As a younger rider, my coach failed to take the training wheels off. I was taught some valuable skills, but never learned to think by myself until I became a professional and had sink or swim.
Now, as a certified coach, I’m always asking how I can be a better communicator and mentor.
I think Equine Canada says it well in a recent “Coaches Corner”…
The goal of teaching is to transmit knowledge: facts, steps, processes.
The goal of coaching is to facilitate the participant’s learning process.
The coach helps a rider to-
- combine skills, and facts making decisions appropriate to the moment,
- to make judgement calls without waiting for precise direction from their instructor
- learn from multiple sources: the horse, the situation, their own mistakes, and observation of others.