As a younger rider, my coach failed to take the training wheels off. I was taught some valuable skills, but never learned to think by myself until I became a professional and had sink or swim. 

Now, as a certified coach, I’m always asking how I can be a better communicator and mentor. 

I think Equine Canada says it well in a recent “Coaches Corner”…
The goal of teaching is to transmit knowledge: facts, steps, processes.
The goal of coaching is to facilitate the participant’s learning process. 

The coach helps a rider to-

• combine skills, and facts making decisions appropriate to the moment,
• to make judgement calls without waiting for precise direction from their instructor
• learn from multiple sources: the horse, the situation, their own mistakes, and observation of others.

As coaches it’s tempting to want riders (or our own kids) to be dependant on us, but don’t you think the best gift is to give them wings and release them?