I'm new at this, so I'm not sure if I already did this or not... I was wondering something today. What do you like most about your trainer, if you have one?
I love how my coach is so knowledgeable and helpful and also how she doesn't make me feel like a fool for asking silly questions. She is also a good friend of mine and she always seems to have so much more confidence in me than I have in myself, which is a big help and has actually helped me gain confidence. I also like how she likes to point out not only my faults (which of course is what I pay her to help me with) but always points out what I am doing well as well. She has really helped boost my confidence and I have become alot braver on horse back since riding with her.
It is indeed a big help. Actually she was a friend of mine in elementary and high school who I lost contact with when I went away to university. We got reconnected via facebook (gotta love facebook) and when I found out she was coaching, I asked her if she could teach me. It's been fabulous ever since and I am ever grateful to her for all her support and all her help so far.
My trainer has given me back the confidence that I lost from my first horse, who was the wrong fit for me. For that, I have a deep respect for her. I also like her because she adapts to each individual rider and their goals/fears/issues. The only time she yells is when she is really excited that one of her students has done something great.
This year will be my first year showing. I just sent in my entry form so I'm freaking out a little.
My trainer cracks me up. If you are doing a really good course she'll get all excited and then get a wild hair to have you do a few more jumps. So you'll think you are done going over the last fence and you hear "Can you do the red line?! Do the red line!" Haha.
And when I get a lead change, since that has been what we have been trying to achieve she yells "You got a LEAD CHANGE! Keep going!!!!"