Coaches?! Help? Please Answer!?

Question

Hi there,

Well im having o decide about some coaches?

My current coach is 45ish nd she rode english when she was in her teens then went to western and has not rode english in years... Also im finding with her that she is just focosed on my pony and not the rider! I know i Need ti fix a few things ( ie. release, heels, jumping position ect.) and i need to get better. ALso my current coach when we go over the jump she turns her back to us and was like umm that doesn't help us?! ALso at the show she came to with us she pretty much stood around and gave me 2 pointers and thats it :(

Now the coahc I am considering getting is only 18 and shows english hunte/jumper ( what im doing) on the A circuit and Trillium and schooling shows. She is also the barn manager and head coach at her barn! With her with my pony's first show she camer ( i didnt know her) and she was like " do you want some help?!" and she gave us a free warm up lesson and we ended up winning the class. Also she charges 15$ more but I can afford that.

So i was thinking bout switching?!

Also I dont want hard feelings with my other coach because I ride one of her foster horses and she has asked me to show her this upcoming weekend. ALso my current coach boards at my barn and i am buisness friends with her and outside of buisness friends with her.

If you think I should Switch please tell me how I should confront my current coach and if not please tell me why?!

Thanks!

Answer 1

Switch. Not a question! How...

Tell her that she's been great, but you want to try another coach who has more experience. Let her know you still want to ride her foster horse if she wants you to. Just tell her she's been great and that she really has helped you alot, blah blah blah... and don't talk too much about the other trainer unless she starts asking.

Answer 2

i would definitely switch...sounds like your current coaches can't teach you anything else! but they want you to show so they must think you are great....i would go with the younger coach. sounds like she has much more to teach, and she is eager to teach you! just tell your current coach the truth, that you have found someone that you understamd better. her teaching methods are more suitable for you. that should not hurt her feelings....good luck!

Answer 3

If you think that you need more training, get a better coach!

Answer 4

You should switch.  I don't know of any way to do it without some uncomfortable feelings happening.  Anything you say that is true could be interpreted as insulting by the first coach.

Some people are thicker skinned than others, but you never know until something like this happens.

You could write it all down and give it to her, telling her you want her to give it some thought and then you want to sit down with her to discuss it.  Let her know that it is hard for you to do, but that it is really what you want to do.  Try to minimize her flaws...just focus on the fact that the other coach is currently involved in showing and you feel you need that advantage if you are going to compete.

Or, you could just sit down with her and say it straight out and see what happens.  If she were to become angry and snub you, how would that affect you?  I think you have every right to switch to a coach that you feel is best for you, and a 45 year old woman should be mature enough to handle it.