A good coach knows It's more than horse shows. Our students may take away a ribbon, year end title and "Congratulations!" from peers as they exit the ring. But if they don't take away life lessons learned from the pressure cooker of competition, we've failed as coaches. In 25 years of coaching, I smile as I look back at the clients who've been transformed through riding and showing. Negative qualities bubble up and are skimmed off, leaving the good stuff that was hiding underneath…

• The selfish teen girl learns to pick up a broom to help out in the barn, empathize with her horse, fellow riders and even her parents (truly a miracle!)
• The timid middle age woman develops confidence to risk failing in the fishbowl of the show ring. (Even the pluck to wear "nowhere to hide" riding pants!)
• The macho man sheds his cowboy image to learn to work smoothly and sympathetically with his horse (and take instruction from a woman!)
• Creative problem solving, humility, humour, perspective ("this too shall pass"). Lessons coaches teach alongside with riding without stirrups, Because its' more than horse shows.
  
  
  What Makes a Good Coach? Part 2
  
  
  About Lindsay
  Coach, trainer, equine behaviour lecturer and judge, Lindsay Grice, has prepared horses and riders for wins at major horse shows in the US and Canada for over 20 years. Starting her career on the hunter A circuit, she continues to actively compete in both english and western events, specializing now in the AQHA circuit.
  
  Lindsay teaches Equine Behaviour for the University of Guelph Performance Horse Handler course. In her popular clinics, she draws on the principles of equine psychology and sports psychology to bridge the communication gap between horses and riders and explains both the "hows" and "whys" of training and showing.
  
  Lindsay is an Equine Canada judge and AQHA specialized judge, and Provincial Hunter/Jumper judge. She's a certified Equine Canada and NCCP (multi event) coach. www.lgrice.com