What does a trainer expect from a pupil

[carthorse]

After reading Partoows post, I would like to turn it round and ask trainers what they expect. I used to teach and it would drive me mad when I would go back a week later and be told they had been out for a hack and gone to a show but had no time to improve what we had been working on.

 

[FREESTYLER]

I also use to teach at a centre and I did not like people who did not listen, said "I cant do that", "it doesnt work", or I can ride and when are we going to gallop!!! One rider insisted she cantered and I knew she was not ready. I said no, I did not think she was ready, it was a group lesson, she proceeded to canter her horse, fall off and then blame me!!! I suppose you have to understand that there are "pleasure" riders who just want stickability; going on holiday and want to join in say western style, those who just want to hack and then those who really want to learn how to be at one with the horse!!! I think it is important for all of them though to let them know that the better they ride the more they will get out of their horses and the more pleasure they will too!!!

 

[CSYMolly]

I taught for a short while at a riding school and my worst was children who clearly didn't want to be there but their parents kept bringing them back insisting they 'enjoyed' it. One girl used to scream blue murder every time we tried to get her on board!

 

[Smash]

To leave their heckling parents at home.

 

[sillygillyhorse]

I dont teach but would suspect that the most rewarding pupils are those that want to learn therefore take on board what they are being told and actually try.

Must be soul destroying to feel that you are talking to someone who is not interested and then goes away and continues to do their own thing between lessons. IMO waste of everyones time and the clients money.

 

[DressageChick]

From my point of view - people who want to learn and want to improve.

 

[Gonetofrance]

I have two pet hates.
One when the rider ( a new client) says '' Last teacher X didn't tell me to do that, she said blah blah whatever'' in a tone of why am I criticising and changing their current (unsuccessful) way of going. And I then have to explain in my calmest voice that I am not Last teacher X, and to help them achieve what they want to, this is what I think is necessary.
Two, when rider tells me ''Oh but he/she/I can't do that because I've tried and it doesn't work....''
All I want when I'm teaching someone is that they want to learn, and to do that they have to listen and believe that what I'm saying will work.
I really love it when the riders start to feel the horse really moving underneath them, you can see the smile on their faces, and the horses relaxing as the rein grip and leglock diminish.
Oh, and another from yonks ago.....I gave up several hours over a week or two to help one of the RC team members settle her buzzy little mare so that when we went to team comps, she would be calm enough to jump clear. And she was so bright she was quiet and clean after three lessons.
I went to refresh her the day before, and she said she hadn't had time to ride her for a few days, so the day before she took her for a gallop to let the steam out........
Needless to say she had rails and a stop 'cos it was indoors.......and the poor wee mare developed a nasty stop soon after....

 

[mat]

I also would expect my pupils to work on what they had done in the lessons, before I come to teach them the next time...

I teach a girl who rides a very very hot pony, which I have got extremely calm and correct in lessons, but the day before her last lesson she jumped it, and told me that it was a bit fresh and feisty so she just let it gallop at the jumps until it was too tired to do it again!

It took the whole lesson, and me getting on, to calm this poor mare back down, by the time we had done this the lesson was over!

I expect feedback from my pupils too, I would hate to stand their trying to explain something, and for the pupil to not tell me that they dont understand what the hell I mean?!

I expect my pupils to trust my judgement and to persevere untill they get the result, or I decide that what we are trying needs a new approach..

Luckily most of my pupils are a joy to teach and are coming on in leaps and bounds!