I view a riding instructor much like a life coach whose goals and ambitions
are to bring to the student a strong sense of self and purpose.
What ever age, riding ability, or goal, a student is a sacred trust that must be protected
against greed, indifference, self promotion, abuse, and negligence.
A riding instructor, especially one dealing with young hearts and minds can come into a child’
s life at a most vulnerable and impressionable time. To a re- entry rider, a instructors skillful
guidance and encouragement as a re entry student finds their confidence and comfort level, can
make the difference between making a successful comeback or limping along not knowing
whether to continue or not. A talented backyard rider can be brought out of the shadows with
a proper foundation given by a qualified instructor. A unruly horse can be bought into service
with a knowledgeable person looking for the basis of his problem. As a focal point of interest
and propelled by passion, horses can be an instrumental tool to teach the basic elements of
moral and ethical decision making. It is an opportunity to teach work ethics. It is about fair
play, good sportsmanship and caring about animals as more than vehicles to a destination.
It is learning by doing. It is learning by observation.
For these reasons I want to impact lives in a positive way through riding instruction. I am
personally offended by the sliding of standards in this industry and what I see daily as clear
abuses of the system. The only way to make a difference is to get involved. I feel that we can
take back the industry one student at a time with instructors who generally care about the well
being and success of their students and their horses. I will take pride in their
accomplishments and will stand by them in their failures as they learn from their mistakes. I
view my job, as a riding instructor, is through my own on going education, to turn out well
rounded horseman and woman who are as competent in ground activities as aboard a horse.
This would include but not limited to safety issues on and around a horse, proper equipment,
fit maintenance nutrition, soundness, safe ground manners of both horse and rider,
conditioning practices of both horse and rider, and the knowledge of the psychological,
emotional, and physical needs of their mounts.
As an instructor I will set the pace for my students and will put horse showing in a healthy
prospective. I want my students to follow their horse show ambitions with strength of purpose
and tenacity but not as an end all pursuit. I want them not to think of showing as competing
against others but as competing against themselves and their horse’s own record of
accomplishments.
As a riding instructor I will have the opportunity to give to my sport and to my horse
community through my commitment to ethics and sense of purpose. I look forward to the
challenge of making a difference.
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