As the saying goes, and it’s true when it comes to horses, it takes a village. There are a few very important people in your equestrian circle that you will become very close with and will be some of your most trusted advisors.

Let’s talk about your coach.

First, let’s get specific about what a coach is. It’s important to note that a coach is different than a riding instructor.

A riding instructor is someone that teaches riding lessons in a riding school. We love our riding instructors! They taught us the basics, how to steer, how to stop, how to canter and maybe even how to jump. They taught us some of the most important lessons we’ll learn; the fundamentals that will carry through all our years of riding. They made it fun for us and they may have even been an influence in why we want to progress in our riding and take it more seriously.

Once you’ve decided you want to progress in your riding and are considering owning a horse, or you want to start showing, you’ll be on a path to find yourself a professional coach.

A coach is central to all aspects of your riding. They consider where you are today and will be your partner in helping you to achieve your goals both short and long term. They work on the partnership between you and your horse and develop a program to get you moving towards those goals.

Once you look towards working with a coach, you are entering into an elevated commitment to riding. Your skill level doesn’t matter as much as your commitment to your overall goals. This likely means you’re riding 4-5 times a week, 3+ of those times are lessons/sessions with your coach.

If showing / competing is a part of those goals, your coach will consider competition schedules for the year and make recommendations that align with your goals. This isn’t just what shows to attend, but what classes are appropriate and develop a strategy that considers different divisions, special classes, where/how you’re best accumulating points (if you have higher level competitive goals), and the overall rhythm to your showing season and rider development.  

At home, they quarterback things beyond your riding to include your horses overall fitness and conditioning. This might include pro rides (having a professional school your horse on days you’re not riding), general maintenance for your horses health like body work and preventative treatments, and scheduling veterinary care like vaccines and dental work. They will also manage more advanced maintenance if necessary like joint injections, scans, or rehab programs in the case of an injury. You are no longer just riding; you and your horse are a partnership and your coach nurtures and develops that partnership through a professional program.  

When it comes to buying a horse, your coach will have the knowledge, skill, expereince and network to help find horses that might be the right fit for you. Sure, you can window shop horse sales sites on the internet, and google “things to know before buying a horse” but pairing horses and riders is an art form and your coach will lead you to find suitable horses and help you to navigate the process of trials, pre purchase exams, negotiating and officially bringing your new partner home.

If you’re eager to take the leap into owning a horse, I can’t stress enough the importance of partnering with a seasoned and accomplished coach. Collaborating with a skilled and knowledgeable coach can undeniably elevate your riding and provide you with invaluable guidance throughout your equestrian journey.

So with all this in mind, if you’re ready to level up your riding and find yourself a professional coach, here are my 7 Ways to Find a Coach near you.

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