Riding Instructor magazine Spring 2020

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Spring 2020

Summer Camps Book Excerpt:

Eventing Explained

by Liza Randall

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The Official Publication of The American Riding Instructors Association

What Have You Learned Lately?

By Lydia Fairchok

9

Be Teachable

By Didi Arias

10 Curb the Cost with Consignment

Contents

By Christine Olsen

12 18 21

Summer Camps 2020 Safety Showcase 2020 Omega-3s & Melatonin: What Riders Should Know About TBI

By Anne-Marie Chalmers, MD

23 Book excerpt:

Eventing Explained

By Liza Randall

24 Sport Psychology

Tips for Thinking About— and Handling—Burnout

By Laura King , CHt, NLP & Performance Coach

27 Legal Focus

Children and Horses— Legal Considerations for Equine Professionals

By Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law

28 Sponsor Spotlight

By Donna Hartshorn

30 Business Matters

Is it Tax Time Again?

By Carol Gordon, CPA

32 Never Say, “What I Should Have Said…”

Use Scripts For Smoother Business Conversations

By Doug Emerson, The Profitable Horseman

34 Cameo’s Cauldron

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Spring 2020 | Riding Instructor

A Light in the Darkness

By Cameo Miller

Summer 2013 Published by American Riding Instructors Association 28801 Trenton Court Bonita Springs, FL 34134-3337 Tel 239-948-3232 Fax 239-948-5053 Spring 2020 E-mail aria@riding-instructor.com Published by Web site riding-instructor.com American Riding Instructors Association Editor 28801 Trenton Court Charlotte BraileyBonita Kneeland Springs, FL 34134-3337 editor@riding-instructor.com Tel 239-948-3232 Manager of Corporate Sponsorship Fax 239-948-5053 and Advertising E-mail aria@riding-instructor.com Donna HartshornWebsite riding-instructor.com Tel 407-927-3578; Donna@riding-instructor.com Editor Charlotte Brailey Kneeland Art Director Peter Fryns, PearTree Graphics aria@riding-instructor.com peter@peartreegraphics.ca Member Manager of Corporate Sponsorship American Horse Council and Advertising Donna Hartshorn Horse Donna@riding-instructor.com Publications Tel American 407-927-3578; United States Equestrian Federation Art Director Peter Fryns, PearTree Graphics peter@peartreegraphics.ca Illustrator Susan E. Harris

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Riding Instructor The does not for hold herself responsible for, assumes noEditor responsibility loss or damage to nor does she necessarily agree with, the opinions unsolicited photographs or manuscripts. expressed in Riding Instructor. Riding Instructor Reproductions permission are assumeswithout no responsibility for strictly loss or prodamage to hibited unsolicited by copyright laws.

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What Have You Learned Lately?

By Lydia Fairchok

Fortunately, it doesn’t matter to my students if I can’t find middle C or remember the difference between the black keys and the white keys. What does matter is firing up my neurons to learn, particularly in an area I know nothing about, because as a teacher I ought to have a love for learning.

Perhaps you are nodding along with me and thinking, “Exactly! That is why I went to a clinic last month, ordered a book of new arena exercises just yesterday, and am reading Riding Instructor cover to cover right now!” There’s no doubt that continuing education benefits you professionally.

But when is the last time you ventured out to try something completely unrelated to instructing, riding, or even horses? The benefits of learning are not limited to our chosen field, nor should they be. If you truly want to revitalize and expand your teaching game, get out of the saddle and into the student’s seat in something you have never touched. Here’s why:

You’re incapable of being a beginner in the horse world

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ome people are musically gifted. Many more are at least musically literate. Others are...well, let’s just say the old adage ‘can’t carry a tune in a bucket’ is an accurate assessment in some cases. I count myself in the final category. I struggle to hear the difference between similar notes, only sing with gusto when there are no witnesses, and my sense of rhythm is such that clapping to a beat takes concentration. It is a safe bet to say that I am not the next pop star, church soloist, or viral YouTube video (unless it is for the hilarity of my poor performance). However, none of these things seemed insurmountable to my friend’s son, who has been a weekly student of piano from a young age. “C’mon!” he enthused while I visited one afternoon. “I’ll teach you to play ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’. It’s so easy.” Soon afterwards I found myself inexpertly torturing the ivories, under the tutelage of a ten-year-old who had much more faith in my potential than I did. My final rendition of the piece was certainly no herald of a gifted musical career, but it was at least a testament to my willingness to concentrate, take instruction, and put in some effort.

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Spring 2020 | Riding Instructor

No matter what equine discipline you try your hand at, you are de facto light-years ahead of an entry-level student. You already possess the baseline ability to ride a horse; a new discipline is merely an adjustment of application and style. Even if your switch is radical (Western pleasure to side-saddle, reining to driving, etc.), your years of hands-on experience equip you with intuition and confidence with the horse as a creature, not to mention familiarity with the universal terms and tenants of equine management. When horses are a way of life, it is easy to forget how overwhelming the deluge of information is to someone who doesn’t set foot in a barn every day.

Starting from scratch in a completely new territory puts you back in the position of a brand-new rider: memorizing vernacular, equipment, rules, concepts and goals that are utterly foreign.

No one expects you to be bad at horse-related ventures We are certainly not perfect, and our students sometimes see us get pitched,

squashed, or otherwise humbled by the very creatures to whom we devote our livelihoods. At the end of the day, however, you are still the expert in your students’ eyes.

Even when you submit to the examination of those who are far more expert than yourself, you are instructed as a fellow professional and experienced rider.

With such an honor comes a certain amount of pressure to be competent. It might take you some time to get truly good at a new skill in the saddle, but no one expects you to be laughably bad at it. The unspoken prediction is that you will catch on quicker and better than a casual rider.

When you take yourself out of your element, though, and you suddenly have a world of freedom! Freedom to fail miserably at something that has zero impact on your livelihood, client retention, or professional success; freedom to laugh at yourself without questioning your ability to do your job; freedom to ask the dumbest questions you can think of without wondering if you should already know the answer, and freedom

for no one to care about your opinion. No one wants to be awful at anything, and you probably won’t actually be all that bad at whatever you attempt, but when the stakes are nonexistent and expectations are low, it’s much easier to cut Being loose and have fun.

because I don’t know what that horse can do to me”) whereas the fears of an experienced horseperson are based on the known (“I am scared because that horse can do these specific things to me, and I know because I have seen or expetaught rienced them”).

These different oriThe fear reminds you that gins of fear require is not the same different pathways for resoyou love to help lution. An experienced ridWhen was the last time you looked at pokey old Gentle er can draw on a rich histoJoe the lesson horse— others learn—and ry of past positives, logical gnashing hay with his data, and informed mental keeps you from imagery to overcome appreenormous teeth, swatting flies from his skyscraper hension that a true beginner burning out cannot. You may be aware of back, puffing smoke from how wrong something can his cavernous nostrils—and go, but you can also articufelt afraid? Even if you are late how right it should go, struggling with confidence which means you are able to issues—and we all do from take knowledgeable steps towards success time to time, “expert” or not--you operate from a different context. The fears of a nov- by choosing appropriate horses, environice are based on the unknown (“I am scared ments, equipment, and ground support ➢

“ ”

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to walk you through your personal setbacks. Conversely, the inexperienced rider must forge ahead with only their own determination and the assurances of someone who knows more than they do. By placing yourself in the dependent shoes of a beginner, you exercise courage, gain empathy for your most nascent of riders, and appreciate the value of a skilled coach.

The successes are not the same Do you remember when your biggest achievement was simply coaxing a trot— any trot—out of Gentle Joe in all his sluggish glory? Bonus points if you happened to get the correct diagonal without looking!

And never mind such mysteries as engaging the hindquarters, flexing at the poll, and helping the horse carry himself; it was enough that he was carrying you. Growing out of the simplicity of beginner-hood means that today’s victories are now intricate combinations of yesterday’s concepts.

That’s certainly not a bad thing, but there is something uniquely delightful about “getting” something that is not built on

previously mastered skills. It is a totally new accomplishment, a glimpse into a new frontier—and that in and of itself is a cause for celebration.

Being taught reminds you that you love to help others learn— and keeps you from burning out Sometimes continuing education can feel like an extension of work. It’s fun, it’s interesting, and you should stick with it, but it’s okay that there are days when you don’t want to ride, read a horse article, or “talk horse” with anyone. It is healthy and necessary to have aspects of your life that do not directly overlap with the barn. When you embrace other areas of learning, you not only refresh yourself with a proverbial change of scenery, but you also give yourself a reason to get excited about what you are doing and therefore insulate yourself against burnout. The process of learning is thrilling; the triumphs are satisfying. When you experience these things for yourself anew, you will be eager to help your riders of all levels achieve new increments of success.

Accidents happen.

Learning is completely scalable There is no “proper” way to go about complementary education. You can certainly invest hundreds of hours and hundreds of dollars learning something as tremendous as flying an airplane—or you can spend less than ten dollars and an evening in front of your favorite TV show with a crochet hook and a ball of yarn figuring out how to make a hat. (It doesn’t even have to be a good hat.) You can seek out singular experiences or develop a new long-term skill. You can choose something that requires hands-on coaching or that can be self-taught from books or YouTube tutorials. You can try woodburning, skydiving, weightlifting, refinishing furniture, running or cooking unfamiliar cuisine. Anything is fair game so long as it is fun, attainable, and sparks your love of learning.

When you are a teacher who also learns, you cultivate empathy, freedom, insight, delight and resilience as you show your students that you are not above being in their shoes. Your adventures will empower you with new word pictures, entertaining anecdotes, and a greater ability to create memorable, relatable lessons. You will also lead by example as you demonstrate that a wellrounded horseman or horsewoman is also a well-rounded person who gains experiences in a variety of areas and applies them to their riding. I have tried all of the activities named above at least once and have incorporated some of them into my ongoing skillset. I am better because of it, and when I am better, my students are better. So I ask you—what have you learned lately?

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Liability • Mortality • Farm owners • Care, custody & control • Umbrella liability 8

Spring 2020 | Riding Instructor

About the author: Lydia Fairchok is certified in Recreational Riding Level 1, and lives and teaches with her three horses in Central Indiana. Lydia segued from a full time instruction career to the field of public safety in 2014 and continues to teach a small number of students while working as a police officer and 9-1-1 dispatcher.

Be Teachable

by Didi Arias Illustration by Susan E. Harris

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pening up my social media feed early one morning while enjoying a cup of hot tea, the first post to pop in to my feed simply read “Be Teachable”. Eureka! With an article due date coming up, these two words prompted the brain wheels to spin and recognizing it as a call to take action, I reached for a pen and pad.

Having taught lots of students over lots of years, one of the things that I have found rather perplexing and frustrating are the students who show up for the ride physically, but who put up mental attitude barriers of unreceptiveness, which can seem as solid as a sturdy fence. They may do this consciously or unconsciously, but either way, when a student puts on the “Unteachable” t-shirt, it makes for unsatisfactory and unsuccessful sessions where nobody is having a good time.

To be teachable is an attitude and a skill that all can learn to adopt, and, like developing any skill, you just have to work at it. Above all, one must be willing. When I think of a student´s attitude towards learning, I am reminded of a wonderful Zen story entitled “Empty Your Cup”. You may even know it, but in brief, it goes like this: There was once a scholar who came to a great Zen master to seek further knowledge, but every time the master spoke, the scholar always interjected with his own knowledge and thoughts. The master then served some tea, and poured until the teacup was overfull, the tea spilling over.

“Stop!” said the scholar. “The cup is full!”

“You are like this teacup”, replied the Zen master, “too full that I cannot put any more in. Before I can teach you, your cup must be empty”.

While it is not necessary for our students´ minds to be completely empty

vessels, there does have to be available space • Be slow to speak, but ready to listen (this enough (i.e., be receptive) so that we can is so Zen!). This is also important when pour the information in. How we deal with you ask questions: listen, then think students with teachable about the answers.

• Be willing to get out of barriers depends on the situation, and we rely on your comfort zone. You Show up and put in our own experience and might be surprised what wisdom to problem solve. you find. the time. The student • Take criticism bravely Being a big believer in conversationally workand use it to your advaning problems out when who does not show up tage.

• Be ready to learn from needed, I got together for class or practice your mistakes (surely you with some of my regular students and togethhave heard this before in between is not er we compiled a list of and that is because it is “tips” to help keep them good wisdom!). allowing themselves • Focus on solutions mentally solid in the learning game. We call when faced with a probto properly learn this “Padewan´s Tips on lem. Your teacher is there Being More Teachable”: to help you with this. and only cheats • Have an open atti• Show up and put in tude. You may spend the time. The student themselves. the money or make the who does not show up time for the lesson, but for class or practice in that makes no matter if between is not allowing the right attitude is not herself to properly learn there. What are you willing to give up to and only cheats herself.

• Set your mind to the task. Leave all of learn?

• Resist the urge to always be right; learn your junk at home, such as your worries, to accept another´s opinion. shopping list, other appointments. Turn • Be willing to learn something new, or a difoff your phone. Arrive with time to fully ferent approach to achieve the same goal. ➢ Continued on page 33

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Curb the Cost with Consignment

By Christine Olsen

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here is no denying the automatic expense that comes with the participation in horse-related activities. This cost is an issue that affects all levels and disciplines with no easy solution in sight. As a riding instructor, you have probably heard clients ask, “Why are lessons so expensive?” or say, “I have to take a break from lessons to save money.”

Each client is an individual and has their own unique needs; this includes financials.

When asking a rider to increase frequency of lessons or update riding gear there is always a question of cost. Offering in-house consignment is an option in helping offset some of the cost concerns.

A Place to Buy The consignment rack will be a great place for your clients to shop for numerous reasons. When shopping for new riding attire in the tack store some riders may experience sticker shock. Buying second hand will save big bucks, thus saving money for lessons or other services.

How many times have your riders come to the stable with the wrong type of boots, riding pants, or other equipment? By knowing your consignment items are suitable for your discipline of riding, the headache of

shopping and returning clothes is spared. I have found that the less burdened customers feel on cost the most secure they feel on spending.

A Place to Sell Many parents hold back on buying proper riding boots for their kids because they know they will be outgrown by years end.

To pinch some pennies, parents will settle for less expensive tennis shoes or worse, slippery bottomed fashion boots. As always, it is our job to educate that the importance of a riding boot is not for fashion but for safety. Many parents have found comfort knowing that as their child grows, they can sell their old boots (as long as they are well kept!) to help pay for new ones. This applies not only to boots, but riding pants and show accessories as well.

Some clients might be attracted to the

Find your strengths and pursue your passions 10

Spring 2020 | Riding Instructor

ease of cleaning out their closet when necessary. Horse items might be a difficult sell at a garage sale, and they are also too costly an investment to toss away. Consignment gives a hassle-free way to clear out the clutter.

Help for the Lesson Program Sales from our consignment rack are divided 80/20%, with 80% going to the seller, and 20% going to the lesson program. The running total will never reach an outstanding amount that will support major activities, but the contribution does fund the small things that we believe are important. Pizza and movie night, ribbons for in-house fun shows, and team t-shirts are examples of things that can be funded by the consignment rack. Don’t forget to use some of those funds to keep the lesson horses well supplied in treats!

The Rules ™

The consignment rack does adhere to some basic rules: • Keep this area clean. No one likes to look at dust and dirt when

considering a purchase. The area and organization of consignment items must look attractive. This might sound like an extra chore, but consider this an opportunity for a working student or other barn volunteer to manage.

• Be selective in items available. The items that go into the con-

OFFICIAL FOOTING SUPPLIER OF THE The secret is in the sand

AMERICAN RIDING INSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION! www.ggt-footing.com

signment rack must be safe and be lightly used. Safety should always be promoted. Any items to be sold on consignment must be considered safe for use. Broken items are not acceptable. Items that have extreme wear should be prohibited.

• Available items should match the discipline or riding style of

the stable. Providing a variety of items may be confusing. For example, if you are a riding stable focusing on reining, hunt seat apparel would not serve your clients very well. Offer only what they would need, hold back the extras that they don’t. After all, this is a money-saving opportunity.

Does a Consignment Rack Fit in Your Program?

Well, that’s for you to decide. Do you have the appropriate space Call BARB at 864-804-8664 to devote to it? You’ll need to decide if the consignment area will or AMANDA at 864-415-2526 only be open on certain days/hours and if it will be staffed. How will you handle the situation if an item goes missing? Who will www.ggtfooting.com be responsible?

If a consignment rack sounds attractive for your program, consider your population. Do you have the volume to support conAD Amanda ARIA.indd 1 27.01.2020 signment? In other words, do you have enough clientele to both Mortality, Liability sell and purchase items? Asking your riders directly about the and Farm coverages topic might give you some insight into if they would use it or even Let our experienced, knowledgeable staff find the right insurance product for you. would like to have one available to them. You could always try it Payment Plans Available Visa MasterCard Discover on a trial basis, too.

Consignment may provide benefits for you and your clients; with the proper planning, it could be a win-win for everybody.

12:05:50

Hallmar

Equine Insurance Agency

800.734.0598

About the author: Christine Olsen has 15 years of experience in the industry as a rider, trainer, clinician, and instructor. She manages a private farm in Richmond, Illinois and enjoys sharing her passion for horses with her students.

www.hallmarkhorse.com

© Catherine Knight

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If you’re not sure, write to us at aria@riding-instructor.com and let us know your current e-mail address.

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Summer Camps 2020

S

ometimes your students want to go to an “away” summer camp. These camps provide a variety of activities for your students. Many are also looking for instructors for their summer classes. Check out the ARIA E-news for more instructor opportunities!

Alfred University Summer Equestrian Camps Alfred University equestrian camps offer a wonderful opportunity for all levels of riders from beginners through advanced, to define and achieve their personal riding goals during an exciting, fun-filled week.

Campers may bring their own horses or use AU’s great lesson horses. They’ll ride and care for the horse throughout the week as they refine their skills - with an emphasis on having fun and enjoying our beautiful natural surroundings. Our camps accommodate both hunt seat riding and western riding, based on the gifts and needs of the participants. Campers have plenty of time to get to know the horses as well as the other campers during their week here at AU.

Contact information:

Contact information:

Phone: 607-871-2616

https://www.alfred.edu/about/community/ summer-camps/residential-camps/sportscamps/index.cfm

Sarah Seaward, Director/Owner Winter: 978-486-8236 Summer: 207-655-7170 Email: info@campnashoba.com www.CampNashoba.com

Camp Nashoba North

East Valley Ranch at Frost Valley YMCA

Located in the Sebago Lake region of southern Maine since the mid 1920’s, Nashoba North is a warm and inviting place where kids get to be themselves and try new activities of their choice. We offer a handson approach to learning and enjoy having campers from all across the U.S. and abroad. At camp riders get to fulfill their dreams of riding every day AND get to participate in a wide host of activities on the water and on land. Some of the activities besides riding that are offered include watersports, soccer, tennis, farm animal care, creative arts (pottery, photography, weaving, cooking) and performing arts (theatre, dance, piano, singing.)

Frost Valley’s East Valley Ranch summer camp program provides an all-girls equestrian experience unlike any other. This program is unique in that young girls have an opportunity to bond with one another, their horses, and the positive female role models on our staff. Studies have shown that when girls learn equestrian skills and spend meaningful time with horses, it builds vital traits of character and strengthens leadership skills. While our campers do return home with improved riding abilities thanks to our expert instructors and our well-trained horses, we know that the real gift of attending East Valley Ranch is in the lifelong val-

Email: summerpro@alfred.edu

Equestrian Camps R e si d e n t i al E n g l i sh Cam p – J u ly 5-1 0, 2020 R e si d e n t i al We st e r n Cam p – J u ly 1 2-1 7, 2020

· Expert instruction based on the gifts and needs of the campers · Lessons directed toward helping campers achieve their own personal goals · Our spacious Equestrian Center with its modern classrooms, viewing areas, indoor and outdoor arenas, and scenic riding paths

Helpful tip(s) to share with other instructors on running a successful camp: While safety and learning are of the utmost importance, so is having fun, so make sure your programs are age-specific and have lots of fun activities thrown in the mix.

Ask the campers what they enjoy and mix that in with already-set activities so they feel they’ve had some input. We want our campers to remember Alfred University as a nice, fun, safe place to be, so that when they are looking for colleges, AU is one that comes to mind.

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· A student show at the end of the week so riders can demonstrate the skills they’ve learned · Fun evening activities such as hay rides, campfire by the lake, movies, and more · Campers can use our wonderful lesson horses or bring their own horses · Beautiful countryside and peaceful surroundings

For all levels of riders ages 14-17

Alfred University Summer Programs 1 Saxon Drive, Alfred, NY 14802 · 607-871-2612

www.alfred.edu/about/community/summercamps/residential-camps/index.cfm

While it’s crucial to build an equestrian curriculum that emphasizes skill and safety, it’s also vital not to lose sight of the young person in the saddle. At East Valley Ranch, all programs are guided by our signature 8 core values: caring, community, diversity, honesty, inclusiveness, respect, responsibility and stewardship, as well as a mission to serve all. ➢

Red Pine Camp for Girls Riding instructors needed for summer 2020. Pre-camp training provided. English balance seat riding, beginner through advanced.

Campers learn horsemanship, riding skills and horse care. Riding in the ring and on the trails; some jumping as well. Competitive salary based on experience, plus room & board.

Photo courtesy Red Pine Camp for Girls.

Helpful tip(s) to share with other instructors on running a successful camp:

Photo courtesy Camp Nashoba North.

ues our campers build while here. Frost Valley is a Certified Horsemanship Association accredited camp and hires summer staff both with and without riding experience (depending on their role) who place an emphasis on youth development, diversity, and inclusiveness. Campers stay in Mongolian yurts with their counselors and many of our equestrian staff live in a beautifully appointed nearby inn-style lodge. Each camper is assigned their very own horse that will help them reach their riding goals, and whom they’ll learn to care for properly. Meals are served family style in our dining room and can cater to a variety of nutritional requirements (such as gluten free and vegan). Often the food served comes directly from our educational farm, just down the road! When not in the saddle or at the barn, our campers enjoy traditional camp activities like swimming, arts and crafts, teambuilding games, and more. Contact us about applying for a position at East Valley Ranch today!

Check out our website http://www.redpinecamp.com Questions? Email Connie at rpc@redpinecamp.com

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Contact information: Phone: 845-985-2291 Email: info@frostvalley.org

www.frostvalley.org

Red Pine Camp for Girls

Photo courtesy Frost Valley YMCA.

At Red Pine Camp we place emphasis on the individual and a ratio of at least one counselor to every 4 campers makes possible the small groups and close camper-counselor relationship that keeps this goal in focus. At Red Pine you do not just ride on a horse, you are taught how to ride properly and confidently and so it is with all of our activities. Your daughter will have the opportunity to grow in skills and confidence throughout a fun filled summer. We pride ourselves on professional staff, safety, quality food, excellent maintenance and a warm, happy and most importantly fun atmosphere. Our staff is trained and certified in the various activities that they teach from riding to swimming, sailing, canoeing, backpacking and more! They are trained to handle the physical, social, emotional and intellectual characteristics of the various age

LEARN EDUCATE

INSPIRE

groups, with some of them pursuing careers in teaching. We also meet with or talk to our camp parents and listen to their concerns and discuss ways to help their child have a successful camp experience.

Contact information:

Constance H. Scholfield Phone: 952-270-0579 Email: rpc@redpinecamp.com www.redpinecamp.com

Rockbrook Camp As part of its all-around summer camps, Rockbrook offers an extensive horseback riding program. It combines qualified staff, experienced horses, and excellent facilities to create an atmosphere where campers can advance their riding skills, expand their horsemanship knowledge, and enjoy riding with friends.

Our equestrian instructors, who are recruited from college equestrian programs, are qualified to teach a wide range of riders. Young beginners play mounted games and get to learn all about their

Certified Horsemanship Association Clinic May 11-15, 2020 • East Valley Ranch - Frost Valley YMCA Become a CHA certified riding instructor in English and/or Western disciplines. Five levels of certification can be achieved in the clinic, ranging from assistant instructor to CHA clinician.

This year we welcome Clinician Heidi Potter.

She is an internationally known and respected Trainer, Clinician, Instructor and Author, sharing over 50 years of horse experience.

All meals and lodging are included!

REGISTER TODAY! TEL: 845-985-2291 EMAIL: info@frostvalley.org WEB: frostvalley.org

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favorite horses, while others may learn to post the trot, or canter or jump. More advanced riders jump through gymnastics or over natural obstacles.

Rockbrook’s horseback riding facilities include a state-of-the-art barn, outdoor rings and jump course, 30 horse stalls, 40 acres of pasture, and a 90΄ × 180΄ covered riding arena, complete with lights and engineered sand/fiber footing.

The Rockbrook summer camp horseback riding program is based on the American system of forward riding. When campers select horseback riding as an activity at camp, the equestrian director considers their skill, confidence, and size in assigning appropriate mounts, riding groups, and instructors.

The overall priorities of the Rockbrook riding program are safety, fun, and skill advancement.

Other activities include Outdoor Adventure, Arts and Crafts, Sports, and the Performing Arts.

Helpful tip(s) to share with other instructors on running a successful camp: “Keep it fun.” That means first building student-instructor relationships based on kindness, generosity of character, and compassion, and second mixing things up with the general silliness of camp life. Sure, the riding can be serious, but celebrate a little more, take a dip in the lake once a day, and pause for a good laugh now and then. Keep it safe; keep it fun, and the learning will follow. ➢

Photo courtesy Valley View Ranch.

SUMMER FUN THIS GOOD

Visit our website to Learn more about our Riding and Instructor Opportunities.

Brevard, NC | www.rockbrookcamp.com | 828-884-6151

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Photo courtesy Rockbrook Camp.

Contact information: Phone: 828-884-6151 Email: office@rockbrookcamp.com

Show your true colors!

Let people know you support the work and ideals of the American Riding Instructors Association by wearing this attractive ARIA logo lapel pin.

A great gift to send along with a new membership in ARIA. $12.00 each which includes shipping.

• Add an ARIA logo decal—only $5.00 ea.

Riding Instructor Magazine Back Issues Did you miss a few issues? You can order some of our past issues with a simple phone call.

Prices include shipping and handling via USPS Media Mail.

4 Issues—$25.95 10 Issues—$54.95 15 issues—$75.00 Visit www.riding-instructor.com, e-mail aria@riding-instructor.com, or call 239-948-3232 to order.

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www.rockbrookcamp.com https://www.rockbrookcamp.com/horsecamp/

Valley View Ranch Equestrian Camp Horse-lovers paradise! Since 1954, the purpose of Valley View Ranch has been to help each rancher have the full opportunity of horsemanship through instruction, time in the saddle on trails, and the care and responsibility of having her own horse, a’top Lookout Mountain in Cloudland, Georgia.

We offer several riding programs and encourage each camper to participate in all of them: English and Hunt Seat; Western Stock Seat and Barrels (Gymkhana); Trails and Vaulting. CHA instructors teach beginner to advanced riders. Each girl can spend as much time as she likes with

her favorite ranch horse during her stay, or she can bring her own. Ranchers will find the facility comfortable, safe, and spacious. Located on 600 acres of lush pastures, wooded trails, and panoramic views.

Girls from 8-17 years of age are eligible and enrollment is limited to 50. The Jones family are third generation horse lovers, camp administrators, and equine educators making girls’ dreams come true!

Contact information:

Nancy Jones Phone: 706-862-2231 Email: info@valleyviewranch.com www.valleyviewranch.com

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Safety Showcase

2020

Trauma Void Lynx Trauma Void’s Lynx riding helmet is perfect for you and your students! Parents love the safety rating (see Folksam’s 2018 Study on 15 Riding Helmets https://mipsprotection.com/news-room/folksams-test-ofequestrian-helmets-show-major-differences-in-levels-of-protection/), kids love the comfort, and instructors love the look. This best-selling and award-winning helmet is designed with the MIPS Brain Protection System, an easy-to-remove washable liner, and an adjustable dial for a custom fit.

Priced at $199, this helmet checks all the boxes. Available in sizes Small – Large.

Visit www.traumavoid.com for more details.

Troxel Spirit

O

ver 4 million riders have trusted Troxel since they launched the very first ASTM certified lightweight and ventilated equestrian helmet in 1992. With a safety record that is second to none and over 30 years of helmet research and development, Troxel has earned its place as the most trusted equestrian helmet brand in the US. As standards continue to evolve and new technologies and materials are being developed, Troxel keeps continuing to improve their helmet models. If you are looking for a safe, great looking and durable schooling helmet that won’t break the bank, they have just what you are looking for! Their redesigned Spirit delivers all that and more. Riders love the low profile design and DialFit™ comfort technology that work together to create the most comfortable and secure fit for a variety of head shapes. With a fuller coverage shape, excellent ventilation and a FlexVisor™ that is shatterproof, the Spirit is one of the best helmet values you can find. It meets and exceeds ASTM standards as certified by SEI for equestrian helmets. The XS size fits great on very young riders with its drop back design that gives a nice stable fit. Offered in a wide size range the Spirit accommodates the smallest to largest head sizes not to mention all the fun colors it comes in.

MSRP $54.99 18

www.Troxelhelmets.com

Spring 2020 | Riding Instructor

One K™ Defender Helmet One K™ Defender Riding Helmets boast the perfect synergy between advanced technology and aesthetically pleasing design.

The Defender features a glossy or matte Polycarbonate and Advanced ABS Composite outer shell and injection molded shell design. In the interior of the helmet you’ll find a washable quick-dry, moisture wicking, anti-microbial liner. Stainlesssteel mesh vents (two side, two front, one back, and two center stripes) help keep the helmet ventilated.

A comfortable padded harness with synthetic suede lining, hook & loop adjustment, and Fastex buckle complete the look.

With enough features to appeal to those seeking everything a helmet could possibly offer, wrapped in a package that traditionalists can appreciate, One K™ has the best of both worlds. Certified to ASTM standards.

Visit www.onekhelmets.com to learn more about their many styles, colors and pricing.

 Words of Wisdom Did You Know?

A 10–20 minute walk warm-up at the beginning of your ride decreases stiffness of the tendons.

This allows tendons to withstand higher loads and minimizes the chance of injury.

To which Susan Harris added: This is so important, and even more so for older or unfit horses! It also gradually increases the circulation and raises the temperature in the muscles (hence the term warm-up), making them less prone to muscle fiber tears. I tell my students, “You can either walk your horse for 10–20 minutes to warm up for every ride, or you can end up hand-walking your horse for weeks while he recovers from a (preventable) injury.”

ARIA is requesting testimonials from riders who have fallen off their horse, been kicked by their horse, or had an accident of any sort where wearing their helmet and/or protective vest lessened the severity of their injuries.

Please share with us your experiences where wearing a helmet or safety vest lessened your injuries in an accident you were in.

Please email your experience to aria@riding-instructor.com



SAFETY - INNOVATION - STYLE Over 4 million riders have chosen a Troxel helmet to protect themselves. With a safety record second to none, Troxel is the most trusted brand of ASTM/SEI certified equestrian helmets. Pioneering helmet safety with the first certified and highly ventilated equestrian helmet, there is over 30 years of experience in helmet development and innovation behind every Troxel helmet today.

TROXELHELMETS.COM

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T R A U M A™

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Our selection of helmets include: • MIPS® Brain Protection System • Removable, washable Coolmax® lining designed to keep your head cool and wick away sweat • A variety of sizing options to accommodate different shapes and sizes of heads Our microfiber EQ3’s come in black, blue, and brown in sizes 53-61.

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THIS IS MIPS • MIPS is a Brain Protection System • Rotational motion can cause brain injuries • The low friction layer allows a sliding movement of 10–15 mm, in all directions, reducing rotational motion to the brain during impact.

• MIPS adds protection.

To shop online or to find a tack store near you, visit www.traumavoid.com or call 844-309-1888.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on our products.

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Spring 2020 | Riding Instructor

Omega-3s & Melatonin: What Riders Should Know About TBI

By Anne-Marie Chalmers, MD Contact sports, like football, or riding horses (especially without a helmet) put you at risk for getting a TBI.

She was lying in the emergency room with a scruffy, cracked helmet perched on her stomach.

“I guess it could have been a cracked skull instead of a holey helmet,” she joked.

Helene, age 16, had flown, head first, onto the ground when her horse refused the jump. It was estimated that she laid there unconscious for about 1 minute before her riding partner found her by the side of the path.

“It’s easier to buy a new helmet than a new head,” I replied, after examining her neck and head. “But we still have work to do to get you well.”

Reckoning with Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI for short, is one of those frightening medical con-

ditions you hope you never experience.

Unfortunately though, TBI is more common than many people realize.

In the US alone, more than 3 million people get a TBI annually.¹ Equestrians, military members, or people who participate in contact sports are at higher risk for injury. But other activities—like driving a car and getting in an accident, or taking a fall—might also result in TBI.

What Happens When You Get A TBI? When we think of brain injuries, we often picture the initial accident and the immediate aftermath: Losing consciousness, blurred vision, headache, etc.² These are all outwards symptoms of TBI. But even after these initial symptoms pass, the trauma has often just begun.

Initial brain damage can cause a secondary impact on the brain or spinal cord, which can continue for hours, days, and weeks after the primary head injury. These secondary brain injuries occur because of the brain’s unique positioning in the body: The brain is enclosed in a bony encasement and has no room to expand.

When the brain gets inflamed, heat and swelling cause a whole cascade of cellular and molecular events, which can damage brain cells. In addition, bleeding or fluid buildup in the brain will increase pressure on the remaining brain cells.

Secondary injuries can cause mitochondrial damage, cell death, inflammation, and—in layman’s terms—an inability of the nerve cells to communicate with one another. It’s the breakdown of the nerve cell communication system that can lead to many of the symptoms connected with brain injuries: Headaches, sleep disturbances, sensitivity to light, or even some behavioral changes, like mood swings, anxiety, etc.

The Brain Benefits of Omega-3 + Melatonin The good news is that both omega-3 and melatonin seem especially effective at controlling these secondary injuries. Let’s examine the neuroprotective abilities of both omega-3 and melatonin:

Reducing Oxidative Stress As discussed above, one of the key issues with TBI is brain cell injury. How do brain cells become injured? One culprit is oxidative stress—a phenomenon that is increased when you have a brain injury.³ Oxidative stress occurs when oxidants get the upper hand over antioxidants. It changes the forms of lipids and proteins so they no longer are able to perform their duties.

Oxidative stress can also cause DNA and RNA to fragment.

Both omega-3s and melatonin are effective at reducing oxidative stress. You can think of them as helping protect your car engine from getting rusty…except in this case, the car engine is your brain.

Instead of letting single oxygen molecules and lipid peroxide radicals steal ➢

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electrons from other molecules and create “rust” in your brain, the melatonin hunts down these nasty free oxygen radicals. This helps protect the omega-3 molecules, which in turn allows the omega-3s to carry out their anti-inflammatory work in the cell. It is also important for protecting organelles in the cell, like the mitochondria.

The omega-3s also do their part in fighting oxidative stress. A July 2017 study from China concluded that EPA and DHA help protect brain cells from oxidative stress and also assist in preventing mitochondrial death. The researchers noted, however, that the neuroprotective benefits of EPA and DHA seemed to depend on the molecular form and the dose administered.⁴

Reducing Inflammation in the Brain Melatonin and omega-3 also help reduce the inflammation response in the brain.

Melatonin suppresses signaling pathways that play a big role in oxidative stress-induced inflammation. Melatonin also down regulates the expression of pro-inflammatory genes, essentially telling genes that create inflammation to hold up for a while.

As for the omega-3 fatty acids, they work together with melatonin to help fight ongoing inflammation. EPA and DHA (and also probably DPA) act as substrates for important neuroprotective molecules called protectins and resolvins. Protectins and resolvins do exactly what their names say: They resolve/restore brain tissue back to its original state and protect the brain from oxidative stress.

Getting the Right Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratio When we talk about omega-3, it’s worth noting that the benefits depend somewhat on the totality of our diet. When we eat a diet rich with the vegetable oils found in most of our processed foods, we are getting a surplus of omega-6 fatty acids. The omega-6 fatty acids are proinflammatory, forming the building blocks for the inflammation-stimulating eicosanoids.

The omega-3 fatty acid EPA puts a damper on the production of eicosanoids—yet 22

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another way that this type of omega-3 reduces inflammation in the body.

Protecting Memory and the Neurons in the Brain Besides fighting inflammation and oxidative stress, omega-3s also help normalize the levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). BDNF is important for protecting long-term memory and helps promote the growth and survival of neurons in the brain. Moreover, BDNF improves the transmission of signals between brain cells.

By helping normalize the BDNF levels, the omega-3s indirectly relieve the effects of lasting brain damage.⁵

Does Timing Matter?

The research on omega-3 and melatonin for TBI looks very promising. One big question though is at what stage you need to start administering omega-3 in order to make a difference.

Some studies have shown that the effects of TBI were more dramatic in animals with omega-3 deficient diets.⁶ Other studies have shown that clinical outcomes were improved when omega-3s were supplemented before injury.⁷ This research suggests that having a good dietary foundation of omega-3 fatty acids is important for recovery.

Other studies and reviews recommend the using of fish oil as soon as possible after injury, even in the Emergency Department, if possible. For instance, one study on Spinal Cord Injury found that when DHA was given within an hour of the injury, neuromotor function was maintained. However, when DHA supplementation was delayed by four hours, the researchers did not observe the same beneficial effects.⁷ That’s not to say that if you have a TBI, starting fish oil and melatonin at a later date won’t help. But it is possible that early administration or having a regular intake of fresh omega-3 is important for protecting your brain and minimizing damage in the event of an injury.

Using Omega-3 and Melatonin in Practice In the event of a TBI, supplementing with

melatonin and omega-3 combined have the potential to do a lot of good without many side effects. But in order to use them effectively, a trip to your nearest Walgreens is not enough.

For omega-3s, you have to be aware of the quality you are getting. Research shows that if the omega-3 fatty acids become oxidized (or turn rancid), they are not able to provide protective brain benefits and can instead increase oxidative stress and inflammation.⁸ It is also important to get an effective omega-3 and melatonin dose. For more on that, visit these two articles: https://omega3innovations.com/blog/howmuch-omega-3-fish-oil-daily-will-produceresults/ https://omega3innovations.com/blog/findingyour-optimal-melatonin-dose/

Thoughts for Equestrians It has been over two decades since I saw Helene. Thinking back to her and knowing what I know today, here’s what I would say: Rest and get plenty of sleep so the brain can recover. Avoid exacerbating activities such as vigorous athletics or any sport where you might be at risk of getting a second head injury. Also, avoid alcohol.

Consult with your doctor to create a comprehensive plan for your recovery. And yes, do consider your daily omega-3 intake and how your lifestyle impacts your body’s melatonin production.

It’s not just important for you in this period of recovery; it’s crucial for your brain health going forward. And just like wearing a helmet safeguards you in the case of an accident, melatonin and omega-3 make all the difference when life has you tumbling to the ground.

References: 1. Hasadsri, L. et al. Omega-3 fatty acids as a putative treatment for traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neurotrauma (2013) Jun 1. 30(11): 897–906. doi: 10.1089/neu.2012.2672.

2. Duke Medicine. Blasts may cause brain injury even without symptoms: Veteran study Science Daily.

March 3, 2014.

3. Toklu, H.Z., Tümer, N. Oxidative stress, brain edema, blood–brain barrier permeability, and autonomic dysfunction from traumatic brain injury. ➢

Book Excerpt:

Eventing Explained

By Liza Randall Published in association with British Eventing Published by Trafalgar Square books at www.horseandriderbooks.com

Body Protectors Designed to absorb a fall or a kick from a horse, body protectors are compulsory for the cross country phase of eventing. Make sure you buy a British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Approved Standard body protector and have it fitted by a qualified fitter as, importantly for eventing, it shouldn’t impair your flexibility or balance.

The BETA Standard sets criteria for shock-absorption, controls the area of the body that must be covered and ensures that there are minimal gaps between the protective foam panels. It encompasses three levels, each designed for different activities and denoted by a colour-coded label on the garment.

You must have a Level 3 body protector for eventing, with the current mandatory year Standard on the level, which is located clearly on the outside for ease of inspection when at an event. Check the BE Brain Neurotrauma: Molecular, Neuropsychological, and Rehabilitation Aspects. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2015. Chapter 5.

4. Che, H. et al. Neuroprotective effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-enriched phosphatidylserine against oxidative damage in PC12 cells. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (2017) Jul 8. doi: 10.1007/ s10571-017-0516-y.

5. Kumar, P. R., Essa, M. M., Al-Adawi, S., Dradekh, G., Memon, M. A., Akbar, M., & Manivasagam, T. Omega-3 fatty acids could alleviate the risks of traumatic brain injury—A mini review. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (2014) 4(2), 89–92. http://doi.org/10.4103/2225-4110.130374 6. Ying, Z., Feng, C., Agrawal, R., Zhuang, Y., and Gomez-Pinilla, F. Dietary omega-3 deficiency from gestation increases spinal cord vulnerability to traumatic brain injury-induced damage. PLoS One (2012) Dec 28. 7(12):e52998. doi: 10.1371/journal. pone.0052998.

7. Lewis, M., Ghassemi, P., Hibbeln, J. Therapeutic use of omega-3 fatty acids in severe head trauma.

American Journal of Emergency Medicine (2013) Jan. 31(1): 273.e5-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2012.05.014.

Members’ Handbook for the current Level and Standard required. For the most up to date product information and advice, visit the safety pages on www. beta-uk.org.

Most body protectors are made from heat-sensitive foam, so they’ll feel increasingly comfortable as they soften and mold to your body. Store your protector in a warm (but not artificially hot) place to ensure that it’s nice and flexible for your cross country round.

If you choose to wear an air jacket, you must wear it over the top of your BETAapproved body protector. If you fall on course and your air jacket inflates but you want to continue, you must remove your air jacket. If it is a combined jacket, you can continue once you have removed the cannister, which deflates the air jacket.

a dent is evident, then it’s likely that this part of the protector has lost its impact absorption properties and should be replaced.

Some manufacturers sell replacement panels, so if your body protector is fairly new it may be worth making a call to ask.

Shoulder protectors Research into eventing falls has shown that wearing BETA Level 3 shoulders can reduce the risk of breaking a collarbone by up to 80 per cent. Once fitted to your body protector, you don’t have to re-fit them every time you ride, but they can easily be replaced if damaged as they are usually fitted with Velcro.

Top Tips Getting the right fit • Wear the body protector for about five minutes in the warmth to let the heat of your body soften the foam and allow it to mold to the contours of your body.

• It should fit securely and reasonably tightly to avoid movement during activity and to stay in place in the event of an accident.

• Practice your forward and jumping seat, also leaning back during a drop, and your sitting deep position for comfort and fit while on a saddle horse.

• The top of the body protector should just reach the top of your breastbone at the front and the prominent bone at the base of the back of your neck.

• The front of the body protector should be not less than 25 mm below the ribcage.

• The body protector must fit all the way round your torso.

• The body protector and shoulder protector should cover the whole collarbone between them.

• The bottom of the back of the body protector should not touch the saddle when mounted, so try the protector sitting on the saddle horse in the shop.

(Some manufacturers offer a short version or a shortening service.)

Following a fall

Generally, think about replacing your body protector every three to five years as the impact absorption properties of the foam may decline.

After a fall, check your body protector for dents. The foam will expand back to its original shape within thirty minutes, but if 8. Grimm, M.O. et al. Oxidized docosahexaenoic acid species and lipid peroxidation products increase amyloidogenic amyloid precursor protein processing. Neurodegenerative Diseases (2016). 16(1-2):4454. doi: 10.1159/000440839

About the Author: Anne-Marie Chalmers, MD, is the co-founder and president of Wellpride LLLP and Omega3 Innovations.

Born and raised in the United States, Dr. Chalmers graduated from Brown University and completed her medical training at the University of Oslo in Norway.

In Norway, Dr. Chalmers practiced emergency, family, and preventive medicine for many years. Her research and development work has included nutraceuticals (especially omega-3) and medical delivery device systems to facilitate ingestion of multiple medication combinations.

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Sport psychology

Tips for Thinking About— and Handling— Burnout

By Laura King, CHt, NLP & Life Coach

T

here’s a lot of talk about burnout lately. And although most of the articles and studies I’ve seen pertain to the corporate workplace, I see many similarities in my own work and in the equestrian world. The essence is that the individual (hereafter, the trainer) has long been the responsible party regarding their burnout. They shoulder the responsibility; it’s their “fault.” Now, individuals of course do have some control over their workloads.

The refreshing part of the conversation is about context. Training doesn’t occur in a vacuum. It occurs in a societal, economic, and personal context that influences the individual. Why is this so important?

Trainers are under a profound amount of pressure and they frequently develop anxiety as a result. They have to manage barns, riders, and horses, and the work is physical and mental and emotional. They wear—and are expected to wear—so many hats. The load the industry puts on them is enormous and if they become exhausted, stressed out and burned out, it’s unfair to see that as some kind of personal weakness or failure.

Trainers are in a culture that is about getting in the ring and performing at peak levels and they are constantly being judged— and I’m not just talking about by judges.

The culture is so competitive and judgmental that trainers can’t help but internalize that pressure and pass it along to their riders and horses.

Three Tips for Handling Burnout 1. Give Your Self-Talk a Makeover As a hypnotherapist, you’d think I do most of the talking. And I do at one point— 24

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the hypnosis part. But in order for me to determine exactly what the trainer in my chair needs, I have to listen first. Every person is unique. I have to listen for how the trainer talks about their job, their relationships, their industry, their routines, their thoughts . . . themselves.

What I hear most in burnout cases is a person who frames what they do as “stressful,” “difficult.” And they do it in an industry with “impossible standards.” Now, if you know anything about self-talk and/ or about framing, you know that how you speak about things—how you name them— is a crucial component to how your mind and body responds or reacts to them. If you speak about your job as stressful, difficult, and having impossible standards, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage before you leave the house in the morning.

Language creates a shift in the way we respond. The simple act of replacing negative words with positive ones goes a long way to changing our experience. Believe it or not, I swap out the word “easy” in the sentences of many trainers and that alone creates positive change.

2. Self-Care The language we use when we speak about our jobs and our conditions is part of selfcare in that it influences our experience and we can be more or less at ease depending on the language we use. Other crucial aspects of self-care are:

a. Nutrition. Remember to enjoy plenty of protein! b. Good sleep habits. c. Allow yourself to be authentic with friends and let them support you! d. Exercise in a restorative way. Your work can be very physical. How about including some gentle movement into your daily routine? e. Self-compassion. This can be challenging. When you spend most of your day judging yourself and others, it’s can be difficult to have compassion. Like sleep and good nutrition, though, self-compassion is a habit that can be cultivated.

3. Self-Examination I could count this as self-care, but it’s so important that I want to address is on its own. All of us—not just trainers—all of us need to develop a habit of examining what we do, what we think, how we speak, and our underlying intentions for our work and relationships. This is a colossal practice to ask anyone to do if they’re not already used to it. It can be facilitated through talk, writing, and even meditation. But if you don’t have clarity about all of the Whys of what you are doing, your life is just passing by without your intention. You’re just a passenger and not the driver.

Go back to your original Why for training. You might be surprised by what you find. When I do this with trainers a variety of things happen, but none of them are

Sport psychology

ever bad. It’s never a mistake to examine what you are doing, who you are with, and why. It’s never a mistake to take a long, hard look at your habit patterns and your language and your self-care practices.

Looking inward is instructive for burnout especially because although all kinds of tweaks or even overhauls of an individual’s routines and language often result, what also happens is that the individual realizes they are not the source of all of their pressure and stress. And once they have improved their inner personal resources, they are in a better position to make changes outside of themselves About the author: that might improve the envi- For more on how Laura can help you become a better, more positive trainer, ronment for others in their care go to www.laurakinghypnosis.com or call 561-841-7603. and others around them.

dream up.

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Eventing Explained

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Association American Riding Instructors 28801 Trenton Ct. Bonita Springs, FL 34134-3337

by Liza Randall

Safety Showcase

Don’t miss a single issue…

Phone or e-mail us with your new address.

(239) 948-3232 aria@riding-instructor.com

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Congratulations Joni Fitts on an incredible 40 years!

You have inspired many generations with your passion for safety and your education and wisdom in the field of education in horsemanship!

Through your safety-first approach, your ARIA certified instructors and your accredited riding school, JFSH stands apart from the rest!

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Spring 2020  |  Riding Instructor

Legal focus

Children and Horses— Legal Considerations for Equine Professionals

• Keep incident reports that provide details

that you may need years into the future such as: date, time, and location of the accident; stable staff involved (instructor, supervisor); a clear and understandable description of the accident; names and contact information for witnesses; which horse was involved (and information regarding the horse, age, breed, and history), a sequence of the accident; equipment (if any) worn by the student; injuries; first aid given at the scene, if any, and who gave it; and procedures that followed, if any.

By Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law

Many equine industry professionals have students and customers who are minors (children under the age of majority). Misunderstandings and myths have existed for years when it comes to liabilities involving minors. This article exposes three common myths. Make sure to separate fact from fiction.

Plan ahead and protect yourself.

Waivers/Releases Myth: All states enforce waivers/releases

signed by parents on behalf of their minor children.

Myth: Equine businesses, such as riding instructors, can require their minor students to sign liability waivers/release forms, with no parent signing, and these documents will be enforced.

Where minors are involved, the law of waivers/releases can be complicated. Never assume that the applicable state law allows a minor’s claims to be waived or released away by a parent. Nationwide, in fact, states have disagreed on whether a properly worded waiver/release, signed by a parent or legally appointed guardian can bar the injured child’s personal injury claim. Consequently, a waiver/release that might be enforced under Colorado law might fail under Michigan law. Check the law in your state and where you do business.

Also, it is practically universal that contracts entered into by minors are void or voidable. Make sure to contract with the minor’s parent or legally appointed guardian. The relative, babysitter, or family friend who drove the minor to your stable for his or her lesson is rarely the legal guardian.

• Store your original reports and docu-

ments securely, preferably out of the barn office (so that nobody can steal the documents). Also, consider scanning and storing good-quality back-up copies.

Statute of Limitations— It’s Different With Minors Scenario: A 10 year-old student is injured in

a lesson, and your staff prepare an incident report. Someone told you the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in your state was three (3) years so after three years passed, you threw away all of your paperwork. Nine years after the accident, to your surprise, you are served with a lawsuit arising from the accident, but your records are gone and nobody recalls anything about the accident. How could this happen?

If a minor is injured, don’t expect your state’s typical personal injury statute of limitations to apply. It may surprise you to learn that in many states, the statute of limitations is “tolled” (paused) for minors to allow them an opportunity to file a lawsuit when they reach the age of majority (usually age 18), with an added year or more, depending on state law. As a result, in some states a childhood accident sustained by a 5 year-old could result in a lawsuit 16 years later when he or she is 21! In Pennsylvania, for example, minors have two years after reaching age 18 to sue for childhood accidents.

Because of the lengthened statute of limitations for injured minors, equine professionals can consider the following:

• Don’t discard your incident reports and

waiver/release forms until you have confirmed with your lawyer that they are no longer necessary.

Negligence of a Child Scenario: Your 6 year-old riding lesson stu-

dent wasn’t paying attention and failed to steer the pony away from the gatepost, as you clearly instructed. The pony tried to exit the gate, but the child’s leg collided with the gatepost, causing injuries. You believe the child should bear some responsibility for this accident based on his inattentiveness during the lesson. Can he?

Probably not. Legal concepts of “comparative negligence” and “contributory negligence,” which can apply in defense of lawsuits when an argument is made that the injured person bears legal responsibility, are inapplicable with a minor of age 6.

When minors are under age seven, several state laws provide that they are too young to be negligent.

Risk Management Stables, instructors, and even individual horse owners looking to protect themselves from liability from claims involving injured minors can consider the following: •

Liability insurance. Insurance cannot pre-

vent problems from happening, but it ➢ continued on page 29

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Sponsor Spotlight

By Donna Hartshorn

Wellpride We would like to welcome Wellpride/Omega3 Innovations as the Official Fish Oil Supplier of ARIA! At Wellpride, we focus on making the best equine fish oil so that you and your horse get results. In contrast to many omega-3 supplements for horses, Wellpride contains high levels of EPA and DHA (which have potent anti-inflammatory benefits). And, because we work to preserve freshness during production and handling, our Wellpride has a great taste and smell that even picky eaters love!

Founded in 2003, Wellpride has been used by horses competing at Devon, Rolex/Land Rover Kentucky, Breeder’s Cup, the Pan American Games, World Equestrian Games and the Olympics. Wellpride has also been a favorite with older horses and rescue horses needing extra care for their hooves, joints and digestive health.

Whether you’re a competitive horseperson, a pleasure rider, or someone who runs a sanctuary, choose Wellpride—America’s No.1 Fresh Fish Oil for Horses. https://wellpride.com

GGT-FOOTING GGT Arena Footing Sponsors EAGALA in 2020 In 2020 GGT sponsors the EAGALA organization, whose Global Standard is to provide Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Personal Development programs in a variety of modalities. In these settings, the horses aren’t ridden but still there is a need for a safe and supportive surface under the joints and tendons of the key player, the horse himself, as well as the Mental Health Professional and Equine Specialist, and the client too! It’s a lot easier to walk across the surface, rather than trudge through it, so it’s beneficial for everyone to have the additional support of a fiber blend additive to any arena!

GGT-Footing understands that equestrian arena surfaces are a major investment for stable owners, riding clubs and private horse owners. GGT footing uses the highest quality nonwoven geotextile and polyester fiber available, with a high tensile strength and UV rating. This assures that your arena footing will last longer and not break down. GGT can be used for a variety of disciplines, from Liberty Work to Colt Starting, to Gymkhana and Barrel Racing, to Dressage and Jumping: we have fiber and geo-textile blends to fit your needs and arena use.

Contact Barb DiPalma, ARIA Certified Instructor, and East Coast Retail Sales Representative for GGT at 860-804-8664 or email Barb.Dipalma@polysols.com for a comprehensive consultation and quote. For more information on EAGALA see their website at www.eagala.org. To learn more about GGT-Footing for Equestrian Arenas see www.ggtfooting.com. Our West Coast Sales Representative is also available at Amanda. wild@polysols.com.

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Wintec Wintec Saddles—time for fun!

The new and improved range of easy-care, weatherproof Wintec Saddles are ideal for riding in all climates.

Snow-proof, mud-proof and rain-proof— these saddles are great for students who want to keep training all year long!

Unlike leather saddles, you can just give these a quick wipe-down when you get back to the barn, or, for really dirty saddles, give them a hose-off and a scrub-down with a brush; then leave them to dry out of the sun.

Wintec Saddles feature all the benefits of Horse and Rider Technology … we call this HART. The technology that makes up HART has been proven to be transformative for both horse and rider. Find out more at horseandridertechnology.com Visit wintec-saddles.com to view the complete range, find your nearest stockist and for tips on caring for your Wintec saddle.

We thank these Official Suppliers and Corporate Sponsors for renewing their support of ARIA for 2020.

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➢ Legal focus continued from page 27 can respond to a claim or suit (assuming proper coverage and policy limits).

Discuss with your insurance agent whether your coverage is “occurrence-based” and will offer protection years later for an occurrence within the policy period. If not, find out how you can protect yourself against claims that may arrive years later, such as purchasing “extended reporting” coverage or “tail coverage.”

•

Notify your insurer. Keep your insurance

company notified promptly of incidents that might result in claims. Your insurer may want to undertake its own investigation right away. Your policy documents will provide information on whom your insurer wants you to notify. When in doubt, ask your insurance agent.

•

Stables sometimes include indemnification clauses within their contracts and waivers/releases.

These clauses generally provide that a customer agrees to indemnify the stable if a claim is asserted against the stable relating to actions or inactions on the customer’s part. States differ in how they enforce indemnification clauses.

Indemnification.

For those who sign contracts containing indemnification clauses, be aware that your own liability insurance policy might exclude coverage for liabilities that you may “assume in a contract,” such as indemnification clauses. Whether you are the stable or the customer, you can discuss your coverage with your insurance agent or attorney.

•

American Riding Instructor Certification Program

Stable rules. Stables can post rules

regarding children. As one example, a stable rule can prevent minors under a specified age from being unattended on the stable property.

This article does not constitute legal advice.

When questions arise based on specific situations, direct them to a knowledgeable attorney.

Nationally recognized certification for 35 years 2 National standards of e­ xcellence and integrity

About the Author: Julie Fershtman, one of the nation’s most experienced Equine Law practitioners, is a Shareholder with Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, in Michigan.

She has successfully litigated equine cases in 18 jurisdictions nationwide and has tried equine cases in 4 states. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and received the American Bar Association (ABA) “Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award.” Her speaking engagements span 29 states. Her new 372-page book, “Equine Law & Horse Sense,” has just been published by the ABA and is available for purchase! For more information, please visit www.equinelaw.net.

American Riding Instructors Association 28801 Trenton Ct., Bonita Springs, FL 34134-3337 Phone (239) 948-3232 Fax (239) 948-5053 e-mail aria@riding-instructor.com web www.riding-instructor.com

riding-instructor.com | Spring 2020

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Business matters

Is it Tax Time Again?

By Carol Gordon, CPA

F

or those of you who are getting your tax information together to give to your tax preparer, here’s a “hit list” that will make the experience a little less painful.

1. Choose a tax preparer with the same diligence as you’d choose an instructor or trainer. Do some research by asking trusted advisors and friends. The IRS website offers tips on choosing a preparer and includes a directory of preparers by zip code.

2. Schedule an appointment ASAP. If you wait until the last minute, you dramatically increase the probability of errors on the return.

3. Gather your documents. By January 31, you should have received most of the common forms that you’ll need such as W2 and 1099 (MISC—as an outside contractor, INT—for interest, DIV—dividends, etc.)

Round up your receipts. Some common documents that you’ll need for the personal portion of your return are property tax, mortgage interest, charitable contributions, medical costs not covered by insurance, etc.

If you operate your own business, you’ll need documents for all of your businessrelated income and expenses. Make sure that you haven’t included any personal expenses in your business finances. That’s a big IRS no-no.

Don’t give your tax preparer receipts and ask them to calculate the totals. Most will charge for this service and if you haven’t calculated the totals yourself, how will you know if the totals the preparer uses are correct? Once you have the totals, compare them to the prior year for reasonableness.

4. List all of your personal information such as address, Social Security numbers for you and your dependents so the prepare can compare to the prior year. Notify the preparer of any changes in your life that may impact your tax situation and any significant plans for the future. Inform your

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Spring 2020 | Riding Instructor

preparer of any sales of business property including the dates acquired and sold and cost to acquire and selling price.

5. If this is the first time that you’ve used this preparer, provide them with the prior year return. You can also use it yourself as a checklist to be sure you haven’t forgotten any types of income and expense. And when the current return is prepared and provided to you for review, you can use the prior year return to check this year’s for reasonableness.

6. If you don’t feel that you have adequate time to collect all of the documents or adequate time to review the return, discuss the option of filing an extension with your preparer. If you file an application for extension prior to the April 15 deadline, you have until Oct 15 to file your return. but (cue the flashing red lights!!!), you are still required to pay most of your tax liability by April 15 in order to avoid a penalty.

The extension is an extension to file your

return, not an extension to pay your tax liability.

7. If you are receiving a refund, plan what to do with the money (no, not a vacation in the Bahamas). You have several options— applying the refund to your next year’s tax liability, purchasing US Savings bonds or receiving the refund (either via direct deposit—much quicker—or via check). And if there is a “significant” amount due, discuss with your preparer whether you should consider increasing your withholding or making quarterly estimated payments.

If you prepare in advance, each year gets easier so that pretty soon, you won’t feel the need to hide in the closet when you realize that it’s that time again!

About the author: Carol Gordon is a CPA with an MBA from Boston College and the owner of Carol Gordon, CPA, which provides consulting services to equine-based businesses. You can contact her at cgordoncpa@gmail. com. If you have any questions that you’d like covered here, please email her with your suggestions.

Application for ARIA Membership Name American Riding Instructors Association 28801 Trenton Ct., Bonita Springs, FL 34134-3337 Address Phone (239) 948-3232 • Fax (239) 948-5053 e-mail aria@riding-instructor.com Telephone www.riding-instructor.com Membership Benefits • Riding Instructor magazine • Monthly ARIA E-News • Insurance Discounts!

• Free classified ads in the E-News!

• Membership card to carry in your wallet • ARIA color logo decal for your car window

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Membership is available to individuals only. $35 for one full year from the date of application or $75 for three full years!

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riding-instructor.com | Spring 2020

31

Business matters

Never Say, “What I Should Have Said…”

Use Scripts For Smoother Business Conversations

By Doug Emerson, The Profitable Horseman

H

ow many times have you been at a loss for words in stressful situations when dealing with students and clients, and thought later, I wish I would have said this…? Finding the right words when you’re feeling angry, frustrated or fearful is a challenge. If you’re not prepared for what to say, a conversation can become an emotional catastrophe and be ineffective.

You may have noticed that business call center employees responding to orders for products, tracking information and customer service use scripts to be efficient and communicate appropriately. Imagine if the customer service reps were given a loose rein to handle communication. It would look like a comedy skit for Saturday Night Live! What to say and how to say it is important for every business.

A mental script for your business communication is helpful in handling common stressful situations. There is no need to memorize a script word-for-word and deliver it sounding like a robotic Verizon call center employee. A few key ideas in your head will work best.

Here are five common situations deserving of thought as to the best choice of words for you to use. When you know what you want to say with specific language and in specific order, it will make a difficult conversation much easier.

affected and this creates a hardship for me meeting my expenses. What plan do you have for paying the delinquent amount and staying current each month? You enjoy being here and I’d hate to see you leave.”

1. Late payment on board, lessons, training

3. Students with bad attitudes

“I understand there are one time situations causing payments to be late. I can work with that. When payments are frequently late or delinquent, my business cash flow is

You’ve heard “my horse is stupid, I’m stupid, I suck at this” many times. Even the beginning riding instructor knows students with bad attitudes are difficult

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Spring 2020 | Riding Instructor

2. Ringside coaching

Relatives and friends observing lessons genuinely want to help riding students from the edge of the arena. This happens in all sports and is a result of human nature. It’s also highly annoying to you as the instructor as well as annoying and confusing to the student.

“During a riding lesson, there is a student, an instructor and spectators. The student is there to listen and learn. The instructor is there to teach and spectators are there to spectate. Your enthusiasm and desire to help the student are commendable, but not productive. The student, horse and instructor need their full focus on the lesson and you can be most helpful observing silently with respect to show your support.”

(maybe impossible) to teach. An attitude change for the better is the responsibility of the student.While your job title is riding instructor and not therapist, perhaps your influence will help the student improve his attitude.

“You are not stupid and neither is the horse you are riding. You are not riding today to be judged. All of us learn at different rates. If you constantly compare yourself with other riders, you are being unkind to yourself and to your horse. Each lesson builds on the previous lesson and you are improving. I want you to evaluate each lesson on the amount of fun you are having learning; not everything you perceive as wrong.”

4. Late or missed lesson time

The riding instructor has a single product on the store shelf. All you have to sell is time.

And each day has a limit to the amount of time available to sell. A missed lesson has an opportunity cost to you for earning income and an opportunity cost for the student for improvement. A late arrival for a lesson causes anxiety for the student before and during the lesson and anxiety for the instructor who has to shorten the lesson to stay on schedule for the day.

“Your progress as a riding student is important to me. When you are late I have to shorten the lesson to be on time for others following you. A shortened lesson slows you down from becoming the better rider you want to be.

You’ll be charged for missed lessons. I reserved your time slot and can’t refill it without prior notice from you. I know you want to improve your riding and that will happen with consistent lessons.”

5. Rebuttal artists

Unlike the unconfident student, the rebuttal artist lives in a self-protection world thinking I’m right. You’re wrong. Challenges and excuses abound. When you say sit up, the response is “I am sitting up.” When you say more outside rein, the response is “I am giving more outside rein” and when you say slow your trot, you hear “he won’t go slower.”

“A riding instructor’s job is to teach and I am confident that which I say and teach is the truth. If a history teacher tells you the War of 1812 began in 1812 you wouldn’t dispute it. When I tell you you’re holding back on the reins, it’s the truth. You’ve invested in riding lessons to become a better rider. I can help you advance only if you do what I ask you to do during the lesson.”

The time you invest in creating your own scripts for responses to students will pay off for you with better communication and less stress. Your delivery of the words in the script will be natural since you already know what you want to say. You’ll avoid regretting what you did or didn’t say later on. Like every skill, you’ll get better and better at this with practice.

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About the author: Doug Emerson, the Profitable Horseman, consults, writes and speaks about the business half of the horse business. He enjoys working with small groups of professional horsemen and women in one day workshops to help them organize their business for profit and less stress. Find out more at www.ProfitableHorseman.com

➢ Continued from page 9 prepare, participate and end your class.

• Avoid being the shy one that gets lost

at the back of the class, hiding from the work and hoping that it will never be your turn.

• Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses and also, recognize if fear is something that is holding your learning back.

• What´s good for life is good for riding, so meditate! Meditation prepares yourself to be relaxed, less anxious and brings awareness to your thoughts in advance of your lessons. Sessions can be short and if there is no time before you arrive, then a brief moment in the car or in a quiet place at the stable while you wait can be enough.

And so, my final words are simple: May all of our teacups always have room for more knowledge and enlightenment.

“Wherever you are, be there totally.”

—Eckhart Tolle

www.eartec.com 800.399.5994 ➢ Cameo’s cauldron cont’d from page 34 high temperatures and humidity because animals need care every day, but we can gallop down a lane in the woods or along a beach and it makes all of that drudgery worth it.

We are blessed because we have so much that is positive around us to balance all the craziness. We are blessed by all the things that put so much more back into us than we give away. We are blessed because we can look at what is close around us and see

reason for hope and happiness. I am thankful for all of you who contribute to that shining hope that is so needed in our world right now. So if you’re getting downhearted and discouraged, look around, open yourself up to all the good energy around you, take a deep breath, and be thankful you are part of such a wonderful profession.

About the author: Cameo Miller is a Masters-level clinical psychologist and a Level IV ARIA Certified Instructor based in Michigan. She is a member of the ARIA Evaluation Panel and National Riding Instructors Convention Staff.

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Cameo’s cauldron

… in which Cameo Miller stirs her thoughts and ideas to see what rises to the top.

A Light in the Darkness

By Cameo Miller

I

Illustration by Bethany Caskey

am one of the oldest members of this group so I can truthfully say that I have lived through a lot of turbulent times and seen a lot of changes. There have been natural disasters where people from all different countries have come together to help those affected. There have been wars and regime changes. But the only times I can compare the current one to are in history books—further back than any now alive can remember. Times when such catastrophic things occurred that there was a major shift in the earth’s climate and geographical features. Times when regimes did not take care of the people, so civilizations fell and the direction of the lives of whole populations changed. We, as a total people, do not seem to be able to remember and thus learn from history. We seem to be doomed to repeat it every few generations. And the earth cycles through its own changes.

Sometimes it’s hard not to get pessimistic or so frightened by the current situation around us. But there are always bright spots 34

Spring 2020 | Riding Instructor

in every situation, areas that lead towards hope for the future. That is what I see in those of us who are in our profession.

We are people who intimately connect with animals and nature every day. So we pay attention to things like clean water and healthy food sources (often more so for our animals than ourselves, but most of us recognize the need for these things in our own lives and the lives of our families too). Most of us are not extravagantly rich so recognize the need to conserve resources, reuse what we can, and take good care of what we have. We are noted for sharing with each other when in need—even at competitive events. We may be a bit biased towards certain breeds or disciplines, but when push comes to shove, we will defend and protect any equine (and most other animals as well). Taking good care of people (whether our students or not), animals (ours and any that happen to be around us), and the environment (it’s where we live and work after all) is nothing new, not something we have to think to do or work on doing. It’s just who we are all the time.

There are a few bad apples in the horse world, but think about it; you can name them. They aren’t working in the shadows, they don’t go unseen. For the most part they are ostracized and denounced by the vast majority of people in our horse world. Maybe this is because, as far as I know, all the people running equine organizations are people who are part of that group, people who are intimately connected to the decisions they are making. They may also have expertise in areas like business, finance, law, etc., but they are first and foremost horse people. This is very different from many of our truly broken systems in the world right now. Horse people are not immune to not learning from history— Xenophon wrote about how to train horses gently and humanely in 300 BCE. But that knowledge was forgotten and it became the fashion to “break” horses, literally. We have only just recently relearned how much better it is to work with the horse. We, in this profession, are not perfect, but we have so many good qualities. So if you are starting to get discouraged, just take a good look

around you—not in the distance, but close to home, to those you know and work with every day, be they human or animal.

We are intimately connected to animals and nature, but so very many people nowadays are not. Whether it is because they live in cities, only work with devices, only play in a virtual world instead of a real one, or for some other reasons, they have lost their understanding about why and how the environment is important. One of the things we can do to improve the world today is to speak up and denounce practices and people who are not taking care of people, animals, the environment, our earth. People see things that are wrong, but don’t want to be the focus of attention if they actively point out the wrong. If someone is brave enough to be first, there are often many who agree and add their voices. If you aren’t comfortable being the one who is first, look for places where you can add your voice or actions. Wherever you see craziness around you, do what you can to mitigate it. Think one voice won’t be heard— look at Greta Thunberg. I’m not saying we should all join a movement of some sort— just that we should speak up for what is important to us. To make it known to those around us who may not know what we know.

Don’t you feel better when you see someone doing something good in a Facebook post?

Don’t you feel uplifted by a heartwarming story on the news? We can also be part of the positive balance to the chaos around us.

We can let others know there is reason for hope and optimism because we see it all the time. We can share some of the light that is us and let it shine into the darkness.

We work really hard all the time, and there may be many things we don’t have, but we are blessed to have so much positive energy around us every day. We may be totally exhausted at the end of a day, but we can sit in the barn, listening to contented horses munching on hay, and be replenished ourselves. We may be having a lot of trouble with a particular student or parent, but there are lots more ‘aha’ moments from our students to bring us joy. We may curse having to go out in snow or ice or really ➢ continued on page 33

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