“Feedback is the most important part of the learning cycle!” – this  was the take home message from a presentation a friend of mine gave at a Coach Training seminar I conducted several years ago.

Since that time I have explored this concept further and further, and made the “feedback sandwich” a core concept of my Coach Training.

The feedback sandwich comprises two pieces of bread (positives), with a filler (point for improvement), sandwiched in between.

One of our very talented students, Megan, created this wonderful video about my life teaching horse riding here in Sydney. Thanks Megan!

When I was young (er), I wanted to be either an artist or a horse rider.

I know now that both have a lot in common: you are nearly guaranteed never to make a fortune doing either.

For me, horses won out and I’ve been living a life with a *“Love of Horses” ever since.

This was also the title for a short video one of my students made about me. She did a lovely job.

Horses and art do have a lot in common in other ways, because a horse is a thing of beauty, and to work with them is a privilege and a joy.

It is often said that horse riding is both an art and a science. If a rider cannot be in awe of the beauty and the majesty of their horse, then they are rendered purely technicians, but it is when the technician becomes an artist that we see greatness!

I’ve been riding, training, competing and coaching horses and riders for a long time now, from Pony Club to racehorses, eventing, showjumping and dressage and still I want to know more. I’ve recently become fascinated with Clicker Training and love Georgia Bruce’s training. I’ve also become an Introductory Vaulting Coach in conjunction with my EA NCAS Level 2 Coaching and Coach Educator qualifications and love what vaulting has to offer riders of all levels.

Every coach should also be a student. When I’m not coaching, I have lessons myself, watch clinics and read. It seems the more you know the more you realise you don’t know.

We have some exciting clinics coming up in this area in the near future and I look forward to sharing my thoughts about them with you in my coming posts.

These include Gilbert Bockman, the National Showjumping Coach (German based) at Yandoo Equestrian Centre from 2nd to 4th Dec, George Morris (legendary American coach and Showjumping guru) at Diamond B Stud doing a coaches clinic on 21st and 22nd January 2014.

I’ll also be running an Orientation to Vaulting workshop with Level 2 Vaulting Coach, Lyn Lynch, here at Johnson Equestrian Centre, for people wanting to become vaulting coaches, on Sunday 12th January 2014.

As a coach of riders and a trainer of horses, in a lot of ways my job becomes an analysis of relationships and finding out how that relationship between horse and rider works (or doesn’t) and how I can make it better, and I how I can inspire them to be the best they can be (and enjoy themselves along the way).

At my Johnson Equestrian Centre, just out of Sydney in the peaceful bushland surrounds of Nelson, I work with my son George Johnson who is also a coach. George has stronger competition focus than I do now and he is often away competing throughout NSW.

I hope these varied aspects of my work and life will make for interesting blog reading for you in coming months and you will find something to enjoy and learn or identify with in your journey with horses.

I would like to thank Horseyard for their invitation for me to be a guest blogger for them.

If you want to see more about me and the many different aspects of  our life at Nelson, including my love of photography ( told you I was still artistic), my delight at the birdlife at Nelson and of course the beautiful horses and students that share  our world,  take a look at www.teamj.com.au

If you have questions or comments about topics in this blog please feel free to email me [email protected]

Until next time.

Cheers,

Chrissie

Jody Sloper is a highly respected Canadian Coach that we have been organising Clinics with for over twelve years. 

Jody's refreshing and insightful style never fails to inspire us. 

The short video clip opposite is a sample of Jody's coaching as she discusses Half Halts for jumpers. 

To join in a clinic when Jody is next in Sydney email [email protected] 

Is horse riding good for you?

Sir Winston Churchill is quoted as saying, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” (And a woman).    

Working with horses is hard work, but its good work, and its work that is good for you, just as Winston Churchill said.

Whether you are on the ground or on their backs, working with horses has many health and psychological benefits.

Working with horses is out doors work and the benefits of air and sunlight as opposed to artificial lighting, air-conditioning and sedentary work in front of computer screens is self evident.

Preparing your horse for riding, grooming and saddling, are strength and stretching activities, as well as a bonding exercise for horse and rider.

But it is the actual riding that has so many benefits for us on many levels, for horse riding is not only a sport, it is a partnership with countless health benefits.

It combines a physical workout with a mental challenge. It can increase self confidence, balance, focus, coordination, confidence, and social and motor skills.

Horse riding is a cardiovascular workout, conditioning the heart lungs and associated blood vessels. It is most effective in working the major muscle groups in the body, developing leg muscles, core body strength, deep postural control muscles, and strengthening arm and hand muscles.

The psychological benefits can include raised self esteem, lowering of stress levels, and has been proven to combat depression.

Horse riding is invaluable for young people to learn responsibility and accountability for another creature. Getting to know a horse, both on and off the horse, requires a sense of empathy and good observational skills. Being around horses sharpens your wits and makes you more aware of your own safety.

 Reading the subtle body language of a horse can not only prevent an accident but can make for a better understanding of unspoken cues and  the energy of interpersonal interactions.

A clever employer once told me that he would always hire a horse owner over another similarly qualified applicant, because the horse owner would know about hard work, routine and handling the unexpected.

Horse riders have to be good time managers and budgeters, they become networkers and researchers and they are passionate.

Rebecca Carrol said “A pony is a childhood dream; a horse is an adulthood treasure”.  

When I see young people who love their ponies and adults who treasure their horses, and I see that they are passionate about their sport, I know that horse riding IS good for you!

Coaching can be a very rewarding and enjoyable occupation and the Coach training system in Australia is one of the most admired in the world. However the path to Coach Accreditation can be arduous and the attrition rate is very high. So high in fact that figures released b y the EA National office show only a 17%completion rate for people who purchased the Intro Coach training package and only a 6% completion rate for the Level 1s.

Why these completion figures are so low reflects the lack of understanding many trainees bring to their Coach Training. They are often unprepared for the degree of difficulty of the many assessment tasks both practical & written,and for the high costs in money and time to complete the necessary assessment tasks.

While the Intro Coach is not externally assessed at a final assessment it still requires two Coach Educators to assess 6 activity tasks for Intro Horse Mgt,  3 activity tasks for Intro Riding, obtain your senior first aid certificate, complete the ASC Beginning Coaching Course, buy your EA Coach Insurance, attend a 16 hour Two Day Introductory Coaches course, then complete 7 Intro Coaching Activity tasks, then pay Coach Registration. The requirements then for Level 1 are repeated.  

The positive side to this degree of difficulty is that anyone who has completed their training and has achieved their EA Coach accreditation will be well prepared and trained to give prospective students confidence that they will conduct a safe and well planned lesson.

Equestrian Coaches in Australia are trained and accredited by the EA (Equestrian  Australia) via the Federal Government’s National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS). EA NCAS Coaches are endorsed by the Equine Industry, the Sports Industry and the Federal Government.

To commence coach training, coaches should make contact with a Coach Educator whocan guide them through their learning. A list of Coach Educators and accreditedCoaches can be found at the EA National website and all learning resources can be purchased there.www.efanational.com

At Johnson Equestrian Services we are proud to have had a 100% success rate in preparing    our Coach candidates for their Coaching assessments. Coaches commence at Introductory Coach level and can work their way up through levels 1, 2 and 3, with options to specialise along the way in dressage, showjumping or eventing.

Coach training is held weekly at our Nelson training centre in small friendly groups where learning is interactive and supportive. Through the attainment of individual and stand-alone certificates in Horse Management and Riding,candidates work their way towards the Coaching accreditation of their choice. 

Coach Training is a rewarding and enjoyable exercise but the paperwork and prerequisites can be daunting for those just starting out, which is why the advice of a good Coach Educator is strongly advised.

To enquire about how to enjoy your coach training with us contact me, Christine Johnson on 0412 405079 or email [email protected]  or complete a contact form