Trainer or instructor?

[Spottyappy]

Noticing a number of posts on here use the word “trainer”.
Is this a modern day term?
I have always called the person who came to teach/help/give me lessons an
“Instructor”.
Is there a difference?
Confused!

 

[Shay]

No difference. Instructor is probably slightly old fashioned now in that it implies a one way flow of information. Teaching - and training - these days is more collaborative generally. The term Coach is also now becoming more used since the BHS re-branded all their Instructors as Accredited Coaches!

 

[LeannePip]

I dont know, i use a combination of both with no 'reasoning' behind it . . .

'I have a flat lesson tonight' 'my flat instructor is coming over'

'I'm going jump training tonight' 'my jump instructor is . . .'

but for some reason i consider my XC instructor a 'trainer' instead . . .

 

[BeingKate]

I refer to myself as a "trainer" - the word instructor just sounds like someone who barks instructions whilst a trainer actually trains if that makes sense? However I have no objection when people refer to me as their instructor! Just what I call myself

 

[Archangel]

I use trainer for my family as if I say instructor, *heavy sigh* always, without fail, every single dammed time, they say...

"why do you still need lessons after you have been riding for 40 years"

and I am like
"oh please family just go away and do something urban"

 

[Pippity]

I think it's partly a status thing. To me, instructor implies somebody teaching you to ride. Trainer implies somebody finessing your competition skills.

I use instructor generally, but trainer with non-horsey folks to avoid the situation Archangel described!

 

[Mrs G]

I use trainer for my family as if I say instructor, *heavy sigh* always, without fail, every single dammed time, they say...

"why do you still need lessons after you have been riding for 40 years"

and I am like
"oh please family just go away and do something urban"

This rings so true!

 

[Mrs B]

I'd probably still use the word 'instructor' as a) it's what we always called them back in the last century and b) boy! do I still need one ... I wouldn't feel I was competent enough for a 'trainer'.

Actually, if I ever do pluck up the courage to have more lessons, 'Saint' might be a better word ...

 

[case895]

I think the term trainer started in dressage and has migrated to the other disciplines.

 

[Ambers Echo]

I'd never thought of it but I use both words interchangeably!

 

[HEM]

I have always thought of an instructor as someone who works with the rider and a trainer someone who works with the horse...I guess like Pippity said.

 

[Horsekaren]

I have one of each, my instructor is for teaching me how to ride and my trainer comes out when i am stuck with other aspects other than riding and lungeing, ie manners, space invasion, loading, leading, clipping ect
I think there is a difference for example one of our instructors attempted to load an unload able horse and tried his damnedest but failed after about 3 hours. A few days later a natural horsemanship trainer came and had him loaded within 30 mins, then 10mins... i guess spend their time teaching and trainers focus on more aspects besides riding...

 

[rabatsa]

I refer to my Instructor, or my horses Trainer. Coaches are the things that you go on day trips in. Unfortunately I have been rebranded as a coach when doing my RDA work. I supose it is easier to explain when the wheels fall off...

 

[Theocat]

I think it's partly a status thing. To me, instructor implies somebody teaching you to ride. Trainer implies somebody finessing your competition skills.

Agree with this, but because so many people use "trainer" to try to imply they're better than they are, I stick with instructor because I don't want to look like a kn0b

 

[Cortez]

They are both the same thing - a person who imparts knowledge. Don't understand the snobbery aspect; who cares?

 

[ester]

coach

 

[Rowreach]

coach

I think we are all meant to be coaches now. I'm sure I trained as a riding "instructor" back in the day though.

Interestingly (or maybe not) much of the training for sports coaching these days is exactly the same, whatever sport you are actually in. And in most sports you always had coaches and not instructors.

 

[hibshobby]

I have a teacher. Instructor is possible, although sounds authoritarian. Coach is good if you already have an idea and can "coach" you as to what is good. I have a teacher cos I need to learn.

 

[Identityincrisis]

I use trainer for my family as if I say instructor, *heavy sigh* always, without fail, every single dammed time, they say...

"why do you still need lessons after you have been riding for 40 years"

and I am like
"oh please family just go away and do something urban"

THIS!!!! Definitely this!! 😂

 

[Ceriann]

I use trainer for my family as if I say instructor, *heavy sigh* always, without fail, every single dammed time, they say...

"why do you still need lessons after you have been riding for 40 years"

and I am like
"oh please family just go away and do something urban"

That is soooo irritating! My oh says he'd be a brilliant rider if he'd had as many lessons as me!

 

[joosie]

They are both the same thing - a person who imparts knowledge. Don't understand the snobbery aspect; who cares?

This. They're just words. Why would you care what people think about your riding anyway? I think "trainer" has come from America really as that's what they call them over there. But I'd say the two words are interchangeable.

 

[Littlebear]

I am an instructor / trainer/ coach whatever you want to call me, the bhs have recently revamped everything so we are called coaches now and rather than the bhsai or bhsi being what people qualify for now you qualify to be different levels of coach plus the ukcc popularity emphasises coach now too, it’s relatively new as growing up the term was always instructor.

 

[JFTDWS]

I use coach, because it's technically correct in my current situation, but also:

'Saint' might be a better word ...

And, actually, any term denoting some kind of demi-god.

 

[milliepops]

Agree with this, but because so many people use "trainer" to try to imply they're better than they are, I stick with instructor because I don't want to look like a kn0b

I don't see a snobbery thing here at all... people ask who I "train" with, therefore I respond with my "trainer's" name