Riding Instructor magazine Summer 2023

by Lydia Fairchok

by Carol Gordon, CPA

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Summer 2023

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5 Building Proactive Riders

By Lydia Fairchok

Sport psychology

10 How to Deal with Barn Drama: Creating a Peaceful Environment at Home and Away Laura King CHt, NLP, Life & Performance Coach

Legal focus

14 Practical and Legal Issues When Equine Businesses Raise Rates

Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law

Business matters

16 Obstacles for Everyone

By Carol Gordon, CPA

17 I´d Rather Be Outstandingly Good

By Didi Arias

Business matters

19 Branding 101: Are You an Instructor, Coach, or Trainer?

By Shya Beth

21 Gas Riding and Handling Stallions

By Janet Forster

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23 CLIMATE CHANGE

By Cameo Miller

24 Sponsor Spotlight

Building Proactive Riders

By Lydia Fairchok

Have you ever heard of a pre-attack indicator? Cops have. Pre-attack indicators are any warning signs that precede a violent assault. They could be obvious, like squaring up into a fighting stance, drawing a weapon, or clenching hands into fists. Or they could be inconspicuous, like a person shifting their weight, reaching into their pockets, or unconsciously touching a place on the body where a weapon is concealed. Pre-attack indicators, taken in context, give law enforcement critical clues that a situation is about to escalate.

Sadly, officers do not always perceive that an attack is forthcoming. The disconnect happens for a variety of reasons: officers can be distracted, uneducated, or unprepared. They may be afraid of using too much force, or unsure how to apply it properly. They may be caught in a moment of disbelief that the bad situation is actually happening, or there may simply not be enough time to respond.

Keeping an eye out for violent assaults is probably not a part of your daily routine

(at least I hope not!) but does this concept remind you of horses and riders? Have you ever seen a horse whose every move indicated he was an explosion waiting to happen, but the rider didn’t seem to be aware? Or a handler who is so preoccupied she doesn’t realize her horse is misbehaving? While "attack" is typically too strong a word for things horses do that take humans by surprise, it is fair to say that pre-action indicators from our fourlegged friends are regularly overlooked.

Izzy Lawson with Diva

From grabbing grass to running out at fences, there are very few true ambushes in equine body language—mainly missed messages. Helping our students tune into those messages is a critical piece of building proactive horse handlers who can correctly anticipate and divert unwanted behaviors before they become a problem.

This process starts with correctly identifying why each individual student is caught off guard. Different factors may come to bear in each situation, but the reasons can generally be grouped into one of three broad categories: information deficits, attention deficits, and confidence deficits. Knowing what causes each pitfall and how to overcome them will empower you to help your students to think ahead and get better results from their equine partnerships.

Information deficits

Information deficits are usually the easiest to correct. They are simply a matter of filling the rider’s toolbox with the knowledge and skills to address problems they are already noticing. People can encounter information deficits regardless of their level of experience, but they are especially common with earlystage students and those who lack structured horsemanship education.

For example, a young rider may be aware that his pony pulls the reins and veers to the side before grabbing grass, but without guidance he will likely default to the ineffective response of hauling back on both reins and water-skiing in the stirrups. The rider is already aware of the pre-action indicators— pulling and veering—but without education his game plan is doomed to failure. A good instructor will help him overcome the immediate problem with proper corrective aids, then guide him to notice sooner and more subtle versions of the precursors so he can apply sooner and more subtle corrections. Eventually the pony will cease the problematic behavior because the rider is so attuned to the pre-action indicators

that he can now proactively anticipate and redirect whenever the pony is about to engage in them.

Outcomes like this should be a regular, intentional part of your riders’ education, and should apply to both mounted and unmounted interactions. One way to accomplish this is through an empathycentered teaching approach that equips students to seek the reasons behind their horses’ behaviors. (See my Spring 2023 article, Building Empathetic Riders, for ways to incorporate this awareness training through positive anthropomorphism.) Additional options such as groundwork lessons, equine role playing, and pasturewatching parties to observe herd dynamics are fun ways to open conversations about why horses do what they do. As your students absorb knowledge about the ways of the horse, their information deficit shrinks and their ability to think ahead of the horse grows.

Attention deficits

In the age of mental health awareness, “attention deficit” has strong connotations. In this context, I mean the distraction issues that impact all riders (and instructors!) regardless of age, experience level, or brain type. After all, when our work, school, home, and even driving routines are saturated with doing more than one thing at once, why would we expect the barn to be any different? Lack of focus allows tiny tensions and subtle weight transfers to go unnoticed until they erupt in unwanted behaviors, placing the handler in a reactive problem-solving mode. This is the very opposite of proactivity!

Unfortunately, students often arrive to lessons with attentional bandwidths that are already stretched thin. They may be feeling the effects of difficult days at work or school, chaotic home lives, or even anxiety about riding itself. You can help your students step away from their stressors by creating an intentional culture of focus at your barn. Model the message that handling horses is a wholeminded activity and take steps to create an environment in which this is possible.

First, separate students from their phones. This should be mandatory for youth and strongly recommended for adults. If an adult has an extenuating reason to want their phone nearby while they ride, it should not be carried on their person and should be placed in silent or “do not disturb” mode. If someone must take an urgent call, they should do so at the halt while maintaining the reins in one hand.

Once digital distractions are minimized, practice mindfulness or meditative exercises to help riders leave their burdens outside the arena. Even a few moments at the beginning of a ride or before a challenging exercise can have a valuable grounding effect. While some people may initially balk at the idea of being away from their devices or “wasting” riding time on relaxation techniques, most will find the habits refreshing after they give them a fair chance.

“

When focus, rather than distraction, is the norm, riders learn much more from horses than you could ever teach them with words alone. ”

Of course, reducing distractions is only part of the equation. You must also create lessons that engage the students’ minds throughout their lesson. This does not mean that every pair has to be moving at all times; if riders are running patterns individually, set the expectation that those waiting their turn will not devolve into chit-chatting arena clutter. Instead, ask them to find a compliment and a critique about their classmate’s exercise, or give them small missions to complete amongst themselves. Even ‘silly’ objectives such as counting tail swishes or noticing which leg their horse rests first are actually cultivating a mindset of attunement to the horse and their surroundings. When focus, rather than distraction, is the norm, riders learn much more from horses than you could ever teach them with words alone.

Confidence deficits

Unlike those whose minds have wandered elsewhere, or those who can identify an issue without knowing how to prevent it, the confidence-deficient rider sees a problem coming and can generally describe what should be done about it. They simply don’t…do it. These are the riders who sense that their horse is about to run out at a jump and rather than working to correct it, they seize up in preparation for the realization of their fear. They know their horse is about to break to the walk from the trot, but their leg cues are far too late and far too weak because they don’t want to kick him before he has “actually done something wrong”. They are forever wondering if they have hurt or bothered their horses with the aids, apply the same cues over and over without changing intensity, and release pressure as an apology instead of reward.

This is the most difficult deficit to work with because you cannot explain this student into improvement; she already has memorized the correct answer. Neither can you mentally engage her into fixing it, because she is already devoting every bit of her anxious energy towards the situation. Confidencedeficient riders cannot improve unless they are empowered.

Empowerment comes in different forms for different riders. For those who worry about making the horse uncomfortable, having appropriate aids demonstrated physically may convince them that the horse is quite able to tolerate the pressure, and actually needs a tangible cue to understand what he is supposed to be doing. For example, a rider who delivers unconvincing leg cues may benefit from having the instructor physically press her leg into the horse’s side. Unmounted and standing side by side, you might use your own leg to demonstrate bumping the student’s leg (ask permission and give warning first!), or you could take their place in the saddle and have them put their hand between the horse and your leg as you apply the aid. Emphasize the idea that one clear, compelling cue is much kinder than perpetually nagging the horse with half-hearted kicks. Remind her that you would not ask or allow her to do something that would harm the horse.

For those who worry about doing something incorrectly, low-stakes repetition is key. Use a longe line to allow the rider to isolate the problem without having to be the sole manager of speed and direction. Sometimes this focused environment is enough to bring out more assertiveness. If not, or if the issue is not one that can be addressed on a line, break the response down into slow-motion segments and rehearse the movements at lower intensities until they are smooth and secure. This could start with gently acting out the cues at the halt, then the walk, all while making a mental “video” of what the signal should feel like at full strength. When the student is very sure in their own mind that they are able to properly communicate the aid to the horse, they are more likely to follow through under pressure.

Remember that confidence-deficient riders may be quite balanced, sensitive, and skilled, which can make it surprising when they fail to nip an unwanted behavior in the bud.

Your verbal response to these incidents has tremendous power to undermine or support their confidence levels, so be careful not to say anything that could be misconstrued as criticism or teasing. Take a problemsolving approach by asking questions and encouraging self-reflection to discover the individual basis of their hesitation. It may be different than the examples given, and you may have to get creative to address it.

Diagnosing the deficit

Asking questions and using self-reflection is actually useful for figuring out what is behind any horse-human communication deficit you observe in your students. Discerning the root of the problem will not only help you develop a targeted solution; it will also keep you from discouraging your students with an ineffective solution. For example, riders who lack informational guidance will not benefit from merely being pushed through

an incident without explanations. A rider who is generally knowledgeable but suffered a lapse in confidence or attention may feel belittled if you over-explain the mechanics of the mishap. By the same token, a mentally engaged rider who struggles with or has never really learned the correct response to a problem might be frustrated if you imply their issue is due to distraction.

Unfortunately for us instructors, diagnosing a deficit is not always straightforward. The categories discussed here are general themes only, not an exhaustive list. They are also not mutually exclusive. A rider may be both underconfident and underinformed, or distraction may amplify an underlying cause. Someone who is bold in the trot may experience a confidence deficit at the canter, then fall into distraction while “just” walking. You must be prepared to identify what is causing your student’s

struggle at the time it is occurring, and act accordingly. When in doubt, assess the following factors:

• Has the rider definitely been taught how to respond to this issue?

• Can the rider articulate what happened?

• Can they explain the solution?

• Have they ever actually had an opportunity to practice the solution?

• When did the rider realize there was a problem?

• Did they feel surprised?

• How did they feel about correcting the horse?

• Was their correction effective?

Remember that not all fumbled situations are born out of deficits. Horses bring their own emotional baggage to the table, environmental factors throw curveballs, and sometimes even the most educated,

confident, and alert riders simply don’t have enough time to react to a sudden situation. Most often, though, equine mishaps are heralded by pre-action indicators, no matter

how fleeting or subtle they may be, and proactive riding can keep any number of unwanted or dangerous behaviors at bay. Therefore, we have a duty to build into our students the importance of what the horse is communicating and how to intervene at the earliest signs.

With this duty comes a host of benefits for you and your students alike: You can provide tailored solutions without risking discouragement. You can identify and repair gaps or fallacies in the student’s thought processes. You will create riders who understand the “why” behind their own perceived failures, which allows them to have both grace for the moment and goals for the future. Most importantly, when you make pre-action indicators a central part of your instruction you give your riders the necessary factors they need in order to be safe, effective, and proactive equestrians.

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.

$5,000,000.

“

Unfortunately for us instructors, diagnosing a deficit is not always straightforward. ”

How to Deal with Barn Drama: Creating a Peaceful Environment at Home and Away

Laura King

CHt, NLP, Life & Performance Coach

Dealing with drama in the barn – and at shows – can be challenging and stressful. Whether it’s conflicts between boarders, disagreements with the barn manager, issues with horse care, or show nerve blowups, these issues can quickly escalate and create a toxic environment for everyone involved. However, there are steps you can take to manage and diffuse these Drama Mama (and Drama Daddy) situations.

One of the most important things you can do is to stay calm. Take a deep breath

and try to approach the situation with a clear and rational mind. This will help you communicate effectively and find a solution that works for everyone. Remember: focus on the issue at hand rather than the people involved.

Your first step is to figure out the source of the conflict. This can help keep the conversation constructive and prevent it from devolving into a shouting match or blame game.

Common Causes of Drama

Barn drama can stem from various sources, including:

• Disagreements over horse care or training methods

• Conflicting schedules and sharing of resources (such as arena time, wash racks or equipment)

• Misunderstandings/lack of proper communication among barn members

• Parental involvement (enough said)

• Gossipers and cliques

• Mean girls and bullies

• Show nerves and jealously

I know you can deal with drama – after all, you deal with wild beasts every day (I mean the four-legged kind). Read on to learn some tips and strategies to help you deal with the two-legged varieties.

Managing Your Emotions

Dealing with different personalities and opinions can be challenging. When criticism comes your way, remember to stay calm. Don’t take it personally, but instead view it as an opportunity for growth. Ask yourself if the advice is based on facts and valid observations, or if it’s just a matter of personal preference. If it’s the former, consider the critique and see how you can improve. If it’s the latter, politely thank the person for their opinion and move on.

Practice resilience and confidence in the face of criticism. By trusting your own instincts and knowledge, you can keep your focus on what truly matters.

Creating a Positive Barn Culture

One of the best ways to avoid drama in your barn is to create a positive and supportive team culture. By fostering an environment of respect, kindness, and open communication, you can help prevent conflicts from arising in the first place. Try these tips for creating a positive barn environment:

Lead by example: It’s important to model the behavior you want to see in your barn. This means treating everyone with respect, communicating clearly and openly, and setting clear expectations for behavior. Be friendly and courteous to everyone you encounter. A warm greeting or a simple smile can go a long way in fostering goodwill.

Encourage open communication: Make it clear to everyone in the barn that they can come to you or other barn staff with any concerns or issues.

Celebrate successes: When someone in the barn achieves a goal or has a success, make sure to celebrate it! This can be as simple as a shout-out on social media or a small party (and who doesn’t like an excuse for a party).

Address conflicts quickly: If a conflict does arise, address it quickly and calmly. Listen to both sides of the story, and work with everyone involved to find a solution.

Encourage teamwork: Encourage everyone in the barn to work together and support each other. This can mean helping each other with chores or offering support during a tough lesson or competition.

Focus on the bigger picture. Instead of getting caught up in drama and allowing it to cause you stress, direct your energy toward balancing all areas of your life from career to fun to finances.

Need help with that? Check out the link to my new book, “Figuring It Out; Balancing the Wheel of Life,” at the end of this article. It can help you construct a more balanced life, be happier and achieve greater success.

Practice gratitude. Take time to appreciate the wonderful opportunity you have to work with horses and engage in a sport you love.

By fostering a community based on respect

and open communication, you can create an environment everyone will cherish as their “happy place.”

Dealing with Barn Managers and Staff

It’s crucial to maintain open and honest communication with your co-workers. Ensure that staff feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, opinions, and concerns without fear of ridicule or retaliation. Consider regular meetings to discuss barn operations, event schedules, and policy updates or use an accessible message board in the barn.

Establish clear expectations for everyone’s roles and responsibilities. Provide timely feedback and address any concerns or issues before they escalate. If conflicts or misunderstandings arise, keep the focus on problem-solving; resist the urge to assign blame or fuel gossip.

You can build a sense of camaraderie and communication by showing appreciation for your team members’ hard work. Order pizza, bring morning doughnuts or write personalized thank-you notes recognizing a specific skillset or effort each team member brings to the barn.

Communicating with Students, Boarders and Horse Owners

It’s important to convey the value of your relationship. Take the time to build rapport and establish trust, so that when conflicts arise, you can work through them together. Try to understand the other person’s position and put yourself in their shoes.

It may be beneficial to craft a document outlining your barn’s policies and procedures to establish a clear understanding and expectation for all parties involved. This document should cover topics such as:

• General rules and etiquette

• Care and feeding of horses

• Riding and training guidelines

• Facility use and maintenance

“ You can create an environment everyone will cherish as their “happy place.”

Have everyone at the barn, including staff, boarders, students, and parents, read and sign the document and make a copy for everyone to take home. Keep the tone neutral, clear, and confident.

How to Deal with Mean Girls and Bullies

As much as I hate to say it, it’s essential to have a plan to handle mean girls and bullies. Competitive sports can be a breeding ground for mean girls, and they can affect others’ self-esteem, performance, and stress levels. Be aware that sometimes the bad actors are adept at disguising themselves but it’s helpful to identify who’s at the root of the problems. Often the person creating the most drama wants it this way; if the actual problem were to be resolved, the attention would no longer be lavished on the drama queen or king. Consider these tips on how to deal with your resident mean girls, bullies, and drama llamas:

• Set boundaries: Be clear about what kind of behavior you will and will not tolerate. If someone tries to engage you in gossip or make derogatory comments, refuse to participate, and kindly remind them of your boundaries.

• Be assertive: Be firm but non-confrontational.

• Address the issue directly: Stick to factual statements; avoid personal attacks or blame. The bullies may not realize the impact their actions have on others and an honest conversation might be enough to help them change.

• Foster an inclusive environment: Make efforts to involve everyone in activities and social events. This could help break down the barriers between groups and reduce the influence of mean individuals.

ful of spreading gossip. The horse world is a very small place and word gets around quickly.

• Consider working with a professional: I help people create positive and lasting change using a combination of hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and life coaching. You can contact me at laurakinghypnosis.com to learn more about developing the mental toughness and resilience needed to succeed.

Dealing with Competition Drama

Barn drama can negatively impact your experience at competitions. Emotions can run high when stress levels increase. To create a positive atmosphere during shows, consider the following strategies:

• Make your teaching moments positive learning experiences instead of listing off what your student did wrong.

• Resist the urge to negatively critique your students’ performance in public.

• Encourage and compliment your students and fellow competitors, celebrating their achievements. Model good sportsmanship and lead by example.

• Create a positive barn culture. Encourage teamwork and mutual respect.

demeanor in the barn, you can help create a positive and supportive training environment for yourself and others.

Need help figuring out how to balance your life and your goals? Check out my interactive and experiential guide to self-improvement, “Figuring It Out; Balancing Your Wheel of Life.” Using the same process I use in my practice, I help you figure out what’s working and what needs improvement in eight areas of life: family, fun and happiness, health, purpose and meaning, lifelong learning, relationships, finances, and position in life and career. Check it out at www.laurakinghypnosis.com/ product/figuring-it-out.

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• Build your own support system: Find a trusted coach or another trainer who can provide guidance and support, but be care-

Remember, it’s important to stay focused and not let negative behavior affect your end goal. By using these strategies, you can effectively handle the situation and continue to create a positive barn atmosphere. As a trainer, take proactive steps to address any negative behavior and promote respect, fairness, and teamwork. It’s important to remember that boundaries are not static. Be willing to reevaluate as needed and make adjustments. Finally, it’s essential to create a safe and supportive environment where team members feel comfortable speaking up about any negative behavior or concerns. By maintaining a professional attitude and

About the author:

Laura King is the Director and Founder of Summit Hypnosis and Wellness and is a Certified Hypnotist, NLP Practitioner, Life Coach, and Sports Performance Coach. Laura has written and published several books and workbooks, including ”Power To Win” for equestrians and “Perfect Enough,” a guide to help you evaluate your perceptions and experiences around vital areas of your life.

Equestrian Studies

Ellen

(573) 876-7207 | stephens.edu | apply@stephens.edu Huntseat, Saddle Seat, Western and Driving Four Disciplines, One Family

The equine program is so incredibly unique, and there is nothing that will prepare an aspiring equestrian for their future better than Stephens!

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Erchul ’19 Assistant Trainer, Grey Ridge Farm, Versailles, Ky.

Practical and Legal Issues When Equine Businesses Raise Rates

Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law

www.equinelaw.net

Professionals in the equine industry want to be accommodating and affordable, yet the increasing cost of doing business makes that difficult. Prices continue to climb for just about everything – fuel, hay, feed, and workers. Unfortunately, professionals are often reluctant to seek rate increases. The question is how to raise rates in a manner that is both fair and legal. This article offers some suggestions.

Can You Legally Raise Rates?

For equine professionals considering a rate increase, an immediate question is whether they can legally raise their rates. Their contracts might hold the answer. Possibly, contract terms will delay rate increases. This

was the case with one boarding stable’s contract that had a year-to-year term; while the stable saw benefit in committing its boarders for a full year, the stable took a financial risk by locking in its fees for a long duration. Contracts of that type may force stables to wait out the expiration of the term before they can seek higher rates.

Practical Realities

The next question is not necessarily legal but practical in nature. That is, what is the proper amount of a rate increase? Chances are that no law limits the amount that a boarding stable or equine professional can charge as a basic fee. Equine professionals seeking profitable rates would be

wise to determine their “breakeven point” (the “breakeven point” is the amount of income needed to meet a business’s typical overhead expenses and compensation requirements).

Reserving the Right to Raise Rates

In the equine industry, businesses often encounter fluctuating expenses. Some price increases come without warning, such as a regional drought that affects the cost and availability of hay. Equine professionals, because of these realities of increased expenses, have every incentive to use contracts that allow some flexibility to raise rates. Here are some options for training or boarding contracts:

• Reserving the professional’s right to increase rates. Contracts can specify that the equine business is permitted to raise its rates by giving its customers at least 30 days advance notice of the increase.

• Policies and rules. If the equine business posts policies or rules, it can also reaffirm that the business reserves the right to change those policies, and even increase its rates, with advance notice to the owner as the contract allows.

• Giving customers the option to leave. While the contract can give the business discretion to raise rates with advance notice, the contract can also give customers the right to terminate before the new rates take effect. For example, if the equine business gives 45 days advance written notice of an upcoming rate increase, the contract can also allow clients to give the stable 30 days advance written notice that he or she is leaving and that the contract is terminated.

Imposing New Side Charges

Equine professionals might consider imposing new side charges. Here are examples of side charges that some equine businesses have assessed:

• Holding the horse for the veterinarian or farrier at the stable

• blanketing or un-blanketing (using the client’s blankets) depending on weather conditions

• putting on and removing splint and/or bell boots for turnout

• turning out the horse in an individual paddock rather than a group pasture

• extra stall bedding

• extra feed or hay

• emergency hauls of the boarded horse to a local veterinary facility or equine hospital

As professionals provide these or other services, and keep record of them, they can submit monthly invoices to clients itemizing the services provided and dates. To eliminate misunderstandings, the service contract, such as the boarding or training contract, can attach the most current list of additional services and charges and reserve the right to amend these charges with sufficient advance notice.

Late Payment Fees

In an effort to encourage timely payment, some boarding and training contracts allow the business to charge late payment fees (where allowed by law). For example, some contracts require boarders to pay the stable an extra $15 for every week in which board has not been timely paid. Contracts can also set forth a rate of interest that the professional or stable can charge on unpaid balances. (Please keep in mind that state laws vary as to what rate of interest is legal. The 18% per annum rate found in many equine industry form contracts might violate the laws of your state.)

Plan ahead and protect yourself from rising costs. Maintain profitability by using wellworded contracts that allow you to account for, adjust, and collect your fees.

This article does not constitute legal advice. When questions arise based on specific situations, direct them to a knowledgeable attorney.

About the Author

One of the nation’s best-known Equine Law practitioners, Julie Fershtman is a Shareholder with the law firm Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, in Michigan. A lawyer with 36 years of experience, she has handled cases in 20 jurisdictions nationwide and has tried equine cases before juries in 4 states. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. Her speaking engagements span 29 states. Her newest book is “Equine Law & Horse Sense,” published in 2019 by the ABA. Written for non-lawyers and lawyers, this book received 4 national book awards. Find it on Amazon and look for the horse on the cover. For more information, visit www.equinelaw.net

Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law

Obstacles for Everyone

By Carol Gordon, CPA

We generally think about obstacles in a negative way – a problem, something to be avoided or overcome. But many times, obstacles are opportunities in disguise. You can learn something about a situation, another person, or yourself by working your way through an obstacle. Working with your horse on physical obstacles are no different. By working your horse over tarps, bridges, and other trail/versatility type obstacles, you can learn a lot about your horse and yourself.

You may be an instructor that specializes in a discipline that operates exclusively in a ring and think that working obstacles may not integrate with your current program. But think about the last time that your student’s horse wouldn’t pass by the judges’ booth or wouldn’t jump over a particular in and out. Both the booth and the jump are obstacles and by purposefully introducing obstacles into your program, you are a step closer to avoiding those problems with the booth and the jump in the future.

You don’t need a big budget to create obstacles. There’s a lot you can do with what you already have. And once you get started with obstacles, your creative juices start to flow, and you can see potential obstacles in lots of places.

The primary goals of working obstacles should be as confidence building activities for both the horse and handler and to strengthen the relationship between them. So, you should always start working obstacles in-hand first before moving on to under-saddle and preferably in a contained area. Horses are herd animals and generally feel more confident with their handler beside them rather than on their back. And if the horse’s response to a particular obstacle puts the handler at risk, the handler can release the horse without fear of injury to either of them. Then the handler can collect the horse and attempt the obstacle again, using a different strategy.

Two other benefits to adding obstacles to your lesson program:

1. Obstacles are generally low impact so school horses that might be limited as to the number of lessons they can do would be able to be used in an inhand obstacle lesson. A horse that is rehabbing from an injury and can’t be ridden can be used for obstacles also.

2. In-hand obstacles are a great way to engage timid equestrians and ones that may be physically unable to ride, either temporarily or permanently.

You can add obstacles into your current camp program or offer obstacle clinics, using your school horses for additional revenue streams without much more investment. And offering clinics to handlers who truck in might be a good way to introduce them to your program and yourself.

Obstacles are part of many disciplines and are great introductions to Mountain Trail, Working Equitation, Versatility and Trail classes. If there aren’t a lot of programs that offer obstacles in your area, that’s another advantage for you.

Obstacles can be a low cost, easy way to engage your horses and clients in a new and fun way, as well as attract new clients and add something new to your instructor toolbox.

The next issue of Riding Instructor magazine will offer some practical advice about creating obstacles and strategies to navigate those obstacles.

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.

I´d Rather Be Outstandingly Good

By Didi Arias

Whether it be in looks, lifestyle, academics or sport, our society seems obsessed with the quest for the elusive: Perfection. The focus is so set on the end result, like one of those television shows where they are continually searching for some mythical treasure, but never seem to get it. And then…? Disappointment, discouragement, disinterest.

Age has a marvelous way of allowing you to see the entire forest (examining the leaves and ´thunking´ one´s head against trunks and branches are for the young). As a rider, an instructor and in the other half of my life, an artist, one “entire forest” I´ve learned to see is that there is no need to strive for perfection in anything I do. In fact, the only “perfect” involved is in being “perfectly content” at setting the process and outcome bar at the

“outstandingly good” notch.

By definition, “perfection” is something that cannot be improved upon. It is focused on the outcome. “Excellence”, on the other hand, is the quality of being extremely or outstandingly good, and focuses more on the process.

To strive for excellence is to work towards a higher standard while maintaining a more flexible approach. It allows for growth and selfimprovement, while acknowledging any flaws and imperfections that may need some tweaking. While looking to excel at tasks is important, if the rider ends up lost in the relentless pursuit of perfection, learning, enjoyment, and focus can be undermined. Don´t get me wrong, some

perfectionism, especially for the competitor, is a good thing and a sure motivator for high achievers. It is only problematic when it becomes pervasive. Consider the healthy positives versus the unhealthy negatives: when there is that spark to take up a challenge, to be concentrated and organized, and the ability to see the task through – those are healthy positive attributes. When frustration and impatience arise, or procrastination inhibits the work, and the inner critic begins its´ nagging assault, then things are tipping to the negative. It´s not all bad; one just has to keep it healthy and in-check.

I consider myself a bit of a “reformed semiperfectionist” and with the onset of years and through some (thankful) personal growth, I was able to see and acknowledge my traits and make those balance adjustments. I must admit that taking some pressure off to “be perfect” makes things a lot easier now. Plus, striving to be perfect a lot of the time was too tiring. Like anything, it is important to take note of the signs of these tendencies and prevent those unhealthy negatives from working their ways in. Nowadays, I much prefer to act as an oracle and dispense wisdom to anyone who would like some. In fact, I´ll share a few appropriate wisdoms on the subject right here.

About the author:

Didi Arias is a Level 3 ARIA Certified Instructor and national dressage judge and teacher, who resides in Almeria, Spain.

Softening the Perfectionist Within You

There are many perfect moments – enjoy them Think “mastering”, not “perfecting”

Tolerate imperfections. Be happy for the opportunity to learn from your mistakes. Artist Bob Ross called them “Happy Little Accidents”

Think in terms of progress. When frustrated on one area, move on and come back to it later

Be resilient like a duck´s back and let negative criticism from others roll right off

See the whole forest, not just the details

Don´t put things off – just start

Quit comparing yourself to others

Goals are good – just keep them realistic and honest

Now say something nice about yourself/your horse

I recently had a conversation with a colleague on her need to be perfect. It went like this:

“I keep practicing, but I feel that I´ll never get perfect.”

To which I quoted the standard wisdom about it “only being an illusion”.

“Oh, yeah, like in ´there is no perfect horse´”, was her reply

My inner Yoda kicked in with “No perfect horse, no perfect rider, no perfect instructor”. She paused, and then lamented “Oh, but I try SO hard to be perfect!”

“Will you settle for ´Outstandingly Good´?” I asked

After some thought, she laughed and replied “Yes! Thanks for giving me ´an out´!”

I could feel the pressure lifting.

ARIA communicates primarily by e-mail with its members. Please make sure we have a working e-mail address for you.

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

Branding 101:

Are You an Instructor, Coach, or Trainer?

Written By Shya Beth

Are you an instructor, coach, or trainer? This might seem like a question with an obvious answer: “All of the above!”. However, while all three terms refer to people who teach others, there are distinct differences. When it comes to labeling yourself as an instructor, coach, or trainer, each overlaps, but it’s important to know the difference and present yourself accordingly.

Let’s dive into what’s what, or more like, who’s who:

Instructor: The instructor’s focus is generally completely on the rider and developing the rider’s skills. Regardless if their student is showing on the A circuit or pops in for weekly lessons or even less frequently. The goal for the instructor is usually to “instruct” without the collaborative basis that a trainer would use, which is useful when students are starting out and are in need of clear-cut instruction in order to ride correctly. Instructors often work within a pony club or riding school setup, either on their

own, with a school or college, or working for another instructor.

Trainer: Unlike instructors, trainers tend to focus more on “training” the horse and use their own custom, tried-and-true method of training their clients horses. That’s not to say trainers do not actively train riders just as much as they do horses, but their methods can be seen as more collaborative than the stricter approach of instructors. Trainers are typically actively competing or

retired from the sport, after years of honing their skills through show horses and producing horses for sale.

Coach—Coaches tend to be a complete mixture of the two above, but reserved for riders who are activity completing and have the goal to advance to larger competitions. A riding coach will be nearly completely focused on competition geared clients and preparing them to win. Often retired from competing at the highest levels of the sport themselves, coaches share their experience from decades of practice—and winning.

This is not a strict guide, and many times different instructors will align more with the definition of coaches or trainers. However, it opens up a discussion of what you want your career to look like, what clients you would like to work with, and want clients can expect when working with you. Regardless of anything…

A deep understanding of riding is essential.

Many riding instructors teach their students at a very high level, and many instructors work with a string of school horses that their students learn on. While most instructors are employed rather than running their own establishment, trainers regularly teach their clients on their own horses and guide their clients through the horse shopping process.

The trainer tackles the objective of improving either the horse on its own or the horse and rider together. There has been growing discourse within the horse world for a number of years, arguing the point that trainers have an obligation to teach riders how to train their own horses, without relying solely on the trainer to “fix” and get the horse schooled before the rider gets on. It’s an important discussion, as there is a growing number of riders but not many that can instruct or train. To be a horseman or woman is to be a rider, but to be a rider is not to be a well-rounded horseman.

Another divergence between trainers and instructors is that instructors tend to clear the path for their students to focus solely on their riding skills and be able to progress from beginner to intermediate to a seasoned rider. Meaning that when horses need more time in the saddle for training or discussions about different tack to try and used to better allow the horse to follow the commands, students are generally not included in the discussion. Whereas a trainer may involve the rider, not only as it is often times their horse, but as a way to “train” the student and give them more knowledge on the training aspect of horses.

Coaches can sometimes work in tandem with trainers on the same student. Either as part of the same stable or coming together from different areas to help the student succeed, coaches take what is already there and fine tune it for the show ring. It’s important for both the trainer and coach to be in direct contact and actively go over the student’s rounds and results, not just talk solely with the student. Keeping a clear, simple plan for helping the rider achieve his or her goals in the ring requires clear communication amongst his or her team.

Oftentimes, coaches and trainers are the same person, just wearing different hats. There’s nothing incorrect with saying you are both an instructor, trainer, coach, or all three, or two! It’s completely up to your goals, ambitions, and lifestyle as to which path is correct for you.

Define your Goal, Then Focus on your Clients

Defining what and who you want to be as an equestrian professional—coach, instructor, trainer, or some mix of them— lays the foundation for the clients you want to attract to your business. A rider interested in riding only for pleasure and not competitively would most likely not want to work with a coach who travels to shows each weekend, and a rider whose

goals are to travel the country competing would likely not be a fit with an instructor whose clients do not travel extensively to horse shows.

Competition training requires its own mindset, therefore, it is easier when the student’s goal is to progress as a rider for pleasure without the constant pressure or polishing that the show ring expects. You can give your students the space they need to make mistakes, reflect, and reinforce the skills needed to progress. Either way, having compassion for students who are learning (regardless of whether they are competing or not) will help them build the confidence in themselves and their skills that they need in order to enjoy their time in the saddle.

About the author:

Shya Beth is a rider, artist writer and all around horse lover based in New Jersey, USA. Whether creating horses in art, riding in the fields on her farm or writing about horses, horses are a huge aspect of her life and inspire her every day.

Gas Riding and Handling Stallions

By Janet Forster

Dealing with stallions can be an intimidating experience. After all, they have an aura of power and virility, and an attitude to life that mares and geldings don’t typically have. This can make even the most experienced horse person feel uneasy! However, riding and handling stallions can be a very rewarding and enjoyable experience with the right training and approach.

Many stallion owners make the mistake of treating stallions very differently to mares and geldings, especially with respect to their environment and living conditions. However, whilst there are certain differences that do obviously do require specific management techniques, stallions are

still fundamentally ‘just horses’. The more they’re treated as a ‘normal horse’ and allowed to live like one as much as possible, the more likely they are to behave like a ‘normal’ horse.

Indeed, stallions that have been reared and handled as close to normal as possible are not inherently more difficult to handle than mares or geldings of the same breed. In fact, when they’ve been handled ‘normally’ and socialised properly, they’re often better behaved, and easier to handle! That said though – stallions do have qualities and instincts that must be understood and respected if you want to work with them effectively.

Stallions Are Instinctively Territorial

One of the first things to understand about stallions is that they can be very territorial. In the wild, a stallion’s primary role, apart from reproducing, is defending his mares and territory from other stallions. This instinct is still very much alive and well in domestic stallions. Therefore, they can get aggressive towards other horses - and even people - they feel are a threat. That means you need to make sure you’re confident and assertive in your interactions with the stallion without becoming aggressive or confrontational.

Stallions Are Not Normally The ‘Boss’ In A Herd

In wild herds, the stallion is not the boss. That role typically belongs to an alpha or head mare. She sets the boundaries with the stallion and other herd members, and usually leads the mob whilst the stallion guards and drives from the rear.

So, use this natural order of dominance to your advantage when working with stallions, and indeed with any horse –stallion, mare, or gelding. Make sure you are perceived to be the ‘alpha mare’ in any relationship with horses and be consistent in setting boundaries and expectations.

Understand The Stallion’s Body Language

A wise and competent stallion handler understands a stallion’s body language. Horses, including stallions, rely heavily on body language to communicate, both with each other and with humans. So…be aware of your body language. Your posture, movements, and tone of voice can all influence how any horse reacts to you but stallions can be particularly reactive!

Aggressive body language for example rarely works well with stallions because they’re hardwired by testosterone to return the aggression. Therefore, always make sure your body language is calm,

consistent, and confident when you’re dealing with a stallion, particularly when it comes to discipline.

Don’t Forget You’re Handling A Stallion

Never forget you’re handling a stallion when working with one. Their focus can very quickly move away from you and onto another horse! If you don’t pick up on this body language immediately and regain his attention, you can quickly lose control of the situation, and him. A stallion that is more focused on another horse than on his handler or rider is not only a nuisance but can also be dangerous.

Know The Signs Of Aggression In Stallions

Although most aggression signals are common to all genders, stallions have one or two up their sleeve that the others don’t have, and can be a lot more extreme with the others! Common signs of aggression in horses are:

• Flattened ears,

• Pinned or switching tail,

• Kicking.

Stallions may additionally:

• Stamp, strike, and rear,

• Bite and nip,

• Charge,

• Scream aggressively.

Stallions should NEVER be allowed to exhibit these behaviours when being handled.

However, if you are approaching a loose stallion in his paddock or yard, and he starts displaying any of these behaviours, give him space, and avoid approaching him directly. If the behaviour is, or becomes, habitual, either get professional help, or consider gelding him. At the end of the day, a naturally aggressive natured stallion is not worth breeding with because he’ll pass that temperament on to at least some of his offspring.

Manage A Stallion’s Breeding Instincts

Stallions obviously have very strong breeding instincts, and dealing with this can be challenging at times, particularly during breeding season. They can get quite agitated, and even aggressive, in the presence of an in-season mare, particularly if she is reacting to him.

To avoid these issues, owners may choose to initially train young stallions alone or in the company of geldings and other stallions. He can then focus on his training without getting sidetracked. Then, by the time he does have to work with mares around, he’s had enough training to keep his mind on the job. However, for some stallions, the presence of other stallions may also be a distraction if they’re particularly territorial.

Some stallion owners also use specific headgear on stallions when they are breeding mares. That way, the stallion knows what behaviour is expected of him when that particular bridle or halter goes on. At all other times, he is taught to behave like any other horse.

Respect A Stallion’s Personality, Physical Capabilities, And Tendencies

Working with stallions also requires an understanding of, and respect for, their physical capabilities and tendencies.

Many of the best equine athletes in the world are stallions and there’s good reason for that! Stallions are usually carefully chosen for their superior conformation, athletic ability, and pedigree. That means they’re often more muscular, agile, and athletic than mares and geldings of the same breed. As a result, they often also require a rider with similarly superior balance and control!

Courtesy of testosterone, stallions often also have a more dominant and independent personality than geldings in particular, and most mares. Therefore, you may need to

adopt a slightly different approach to training and handling them. It’s like the version of that saying that says whilst you can tell a gelding and ask a mare, you must discuss it with a stallion. It’s actually true, although you often need to discuss things with mares too!

Some stallions for example see discipline, or being ‘told’ to do something, as a challenge and will argue the point, particularly if it’s done in an aggressive or confrontational way. If you’re dealing with a stallion like this, stay calm, and use patience, and persistence.

Then there the stallions who will comply with whatever is required of them without a lot of fuss and ego, even in confrontational situations!

Ultimately, being able to successfully handle and ride stallions comes down to patience, consistency, and respect. By establishing clear boundaries, reading, and responding to the horse’s body language, understanding his personality and quirks, and tailoring your approach to suit, you can build a strong and rewarding relationship with your stallion. Indeed, a respectful stallion is a joy to handle, and be around. After all, there’s a good reason why knights and kings preferred to ride stallions!

About the author:

Janet Forster hails from sunny Perth in Western Australia. During a lifetime spent with horses, she has bred, competed, loved and written about them. She owns a collection of high percentage Tb crossbreds, most of which are palominos and registered Australian Stock Horses.

CLIMATE CHANGE

By Cameo Miller

Illustration by Bethany Caskey

Whether you believe in climate change or not, it is a fact that weather patterns are changing. I don’t get hysterical over this. After all, the earth has gone through multiple cycles of ice ages and eras when we know that the Sahara desert was once a thriving, green and watery land. But we can all agree that we are experiencing temperature, water and weather pattern changes around us. It is something that we need to adapt to for the sake of our business, our animals, and the land around us.

I grew up in Ohio where the Hinkley Buzzard Days was an annual celebration. Something akin to the swallows of Capistrano, the buzzards always returned to Hinkley, Ohio on March 15 each year. I now live in the middle of Michigan where I noticed the buzzards were in the skies this year prior to March 15 even this far further north. Articles I have read talk about plants consistently blooming three to five weeks earlier than previously, and what this means for the other plants, animals, and insects that rely on them. Snow melts in the mountains are occurring 3 or more weeks earlier. What changes are there in your area and in the regions near you— what are you noticing? You can be preparing to adjust for these changes if you pay attention.

This may effect how we need to think in terms of pasture management—will we need to add in different seeds that will survive in the changing conditions. If so, we should add them into traditional ones so the transition is gradual—for the fields and our horses’ dietary constitutions. Your vet may have already talked to you about the need for additional vaccinations to fight different diseases or parasites that are infiltrating. Or are there ones you no longer need due to the decrease in proliferation or severity of ones which are eradicated by the changes? Temperature changes are also changing and expanding the ranges of various species of ticks and the kinds of diseases that mosquitoes can carry (think trail ride issues, cross country rides, interval training, fox hunting, or anything else where you ride out in the country), as well as expanding the ranges of insects that infect trees, fields, and food crops. Do you need to do some research yourself into this for your area of the country?

Do you live in an area that’s beginning to experience dryer than normal conditions? Multiple areas of the country are experiencing serious to severe water shortages, and many others are seeing drier than normal stretches so this increased scarcity of water may need to be addressed. Do you need to begin collecting rain water for use in your plantings, your pastures, your fields? There are multiple catchment systems that can be used to collect water during times of extra rain so that it is available for use when the rains don’t come. Hint: these have been used all over the world for many thousands of years. We may need to RElearn old ways to cope with conditions which are new ‘again’. Climatologists tell us to expect “less frequent but heavier than normal rainfall events”—conditions that make catchment systems ideal.

Or maybe you live in an area that never has floods, but a near-by area has experienced a flood due to a torrential rainfall event. How could you reshape your existing landscape to channel water away from areas where it would be a serious problem to where it would be just an annoying problem? Are the “floods” around you smaller, but more frequent recently? How about putting in a rain garden which is designed

to catch significant amounts of storm water and deal with it safely and efficiently. This, or the catchment systems, could also be useful if you live in an area with clay soil or a higher water table so that something that may have been an occasional headache in the past doesn’t became a significant problem in the future.

We are being told that more extremes and more severe weather will be the norm—hotter, drier, more floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. Do your emergency plans, your emergency preparedness plan signs, any drills with staff and/or students need to be updated? You probably already have a fire emergency plan, but does it include area wide wild fires? Have you never needed a flood plan, but now need to add one? Do you know about the waterborne diseases and chemical hazards of post flood events? If you live in a previously cooler region, do those around you know how to deal with people or horses experiencing heat stroke? What is changing in your area that your staff and/or students need to be aware of and trained on how to react to? What changes do you need to have in place yourself such as alternate routes to safety, decisions about earlier evacuation, or different places to evacuate to? Or maybe things as simple as making sure all saddle racks and feed bins are permanently higher off the floor than was previously necessary.

Whether the change is gradual or accelerated, it would not be wise for us to just ignore it. Those who did not adapt over the past many thousands of years to ice ages or emerging deserts did not survive. No matter what you attribute it to, our weather patterns are changing. We can survive this. There is time to make plans and make changes. We just need to keep ahead of any potential problems from this just as we do with any other recognized challenges. Don’t wait until you are already effected. By making changes now, you keep your students, your animals, and your business safe during these changes.

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 an ARIA National Test Center Administrator.

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

Cameo’s cauldron

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