Rate My Riding’s judges have years of experience as riders, trainers, coaches and clinicians. You name it; they’ve probably done it. But, believe it or not, they were all amateurs at one time. So, we’ve decided to ask them what their tips to today’s amateurs would be, with their experiences as both amateurs and professionals in mind. Here’s what they had to say:
Experiencing life on the back of a horse
Rate My Riding's judges have years of experience as riders, trainers, coaches and clinicians. You name it; they've probably done it, but, believe it or not, they were all amateurs at one time.
Coach Gayle Lampe: “I’m so old that I barely remember being an amateur! From a professional’s point of view I wish the amateurs would listen to what the trainers tell them to do. ‘A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing’ and that is very true when dealing with horses. You wouldn’t tell a brain surgeon how to operate on your brain, so amateurs should respect the knowledge that their trainers have and not try to tell them how to train their horses.
Also, I hope amateurs are in this business for the right reasons…the love of a horse and not the glory of a blue ribbon! The process of showing should be the thrill, and if that results in a blue ribbon then that is the icing on the cake. And amateurs should do their horse justice by staying fit by exercising in other ways in addition to riding and they should practice their riding often enough (perhaps on lesson horses some of the time) to be a help and not a hindrance to their horse. The horse deserves that!!”
Coach Dale Brown: “I’m not sure I can even recall my days as a youth rider! But from a trainer’s perspective, I wish they would understand that there are a million factors to riding and showing. They need to be proud of every single accomplishment they make. I also wish they would know there is no need to rush.
Take your time and enjoy all that the relationship has to offer. Don't rush to get the perfect headset, lope, transitions, class, lesson, trailer loading.....whatever it might be. Just slow down and gain something from what is in front of you. I gain knowledge every day from my horses.
It might be patience, trust, acceptance, compassion or hundreds of other things but I do my best to keep my mouth shut and my ears open. It is amazing how much a horse can teach a human!”
Coach Gigi Nutter: “Take the time to enjoy the journey while you are working on getting to your destination. Remember, there can be detours along the way. Sometimes the back roads take a little longer but in the long run enjoy the scenery and allow your mind to process your work. Don’t lose sight that the horse wants just as much to enjoy the journey with you aboard.”
Coach Jamie Price: “I wish I knew how important rhythm is. From the swinging rhythm of the canter down to a jump to the swing of the hips in the sitting trot, rhythm is the force behind the beauty and elegance between horse and rider.
I also wish that I knew that tomorrow would always bring another horse show and that it is, in fact, just a horse show.
Another thing—I wish that back when I used to get serious show nerves I knew the solution was as easy as some visualization tools I take myself through now. I love visualizing an empty arena, inside and out, with nothing but just my horse and I presenting ourselves at the best of our game in front of the judge. Those are a few things that really would have helped me as an amateur.”
Coach Karen Evans Mundy: “In my early years as an amateur, I wish I had known that winning wasn't everything. Learning to be happy with a great ride and/or the progress you have made with your horse is very rewarding.
Also, I did learn later that winning on a national level was not as easy as most people think. It takes years and years to be trained and then there is the factor of having your horse trained perfectly, which also takes years, and then for everything to come together at that one moment while you are in the ring.
Now, as a professional, trying to relay that to clients that haven't been showing very long and expect to win almost instantly is something that is hard as a professional to make them understand. Some people think you can buy success in the show ring, but it doesn't work that way.”
Coach James Hale: “I wish Amateurs realized that it's about the journey, not the destination. It’s about what you learn (good or bad) each time you ride and enjoying the process of reaching the goal. That is what is valuable—not just attaining the goal.”
Take it from the pros and keep these tips in mind when you’re riding—whether it’s at your home base or in the show ring. Rate My Riding’s coaches have lived the dream and can help make yours a reality. Happy Riding!
Article provided by Dani Moritz