05/09/2022
Hi all
Abit of a slightly emotional and boring post unfortunately but it's something that needs to be said
I would call myself a professional, because I am, I'm a professional accredited coach, I teach people to ride and I train horses but I would also call myself a small business owner and like all small business people - use us or lose us and that's what this post is about.
Now, it's no secret, I specialise in the nervous horse and rider combinations, people who have had their confidence knocked or they've overhorsed themselves or simply just started to doubt their ability. I help people off the horse with their confidence too, even with day to day activities and issues such as helping them through anxiety disorders and depression.
Maybe its my own fault for accidentally putting myself in a box but it seems as though that's all I am?
Anyway....
I noticed a while back a client of mine posting on social media pictures and videos of them at regular lessons with someone else ( I do encourage my clients to get out and do clinics, camps etc to get their confidence up - I'm not a gate keeper ) when I messaged this person, their reply was a teeny bit hurtful - they said " we are so grateful for all your help in the beginning seeing as we had exhausted all other routes and very nearly gave up completely but now I've got my confidence and really turned a corner we don't need you anymore as I want to compete"
Just to give everyone the heads up, I'm not a one trick pony. I might not be out there competing and riding regularly but I do know how to ride, I've ridden my whole life, I've been producing horses since I was 14yrs old, I've been on PC teams, competed for Dorset, done BE, ODEs, SJ, dressage, hunted, shown at County Level, done polo and I've schooled a huge variety of horses to high standards, quirky horses too, I've taken on horses that are on their last warning before facing the bullet and my qualifications didn't just fall into my lap, I worked my absolute backside off for them- I know what I'm talking about, so believe it or not I can still teach you once you're out of the stage where I'm leading you round the school while we chat about what you're cooking for dinner to try and calm your nerves.
I recently spoke to another instructor about my lull in teaching and she said she was in the same boat and was considering giving it up to concentrate on herself. She mentioned how hurt she felt when her clients would go out competing and get placed, they would say how pleased they were with themselves and their horses and thanked their vets, farrier and even hashtagged lemieux etc but no mention of her and the hard work she had put into the relationship. This rung pretty true to me too, producing a horse at any standard and even just getting out hacking on your own is a big deal and it is to a point a team effort and praise should be given where it is earnt.
So appreciate your farriers, vets, physio, feed advisors AND your instructor's please.
So, if you decide to go another direction then just drop them a message, don't leave them wondering if they've done something wrong or upset you. They have a living to make in what can be a pretty hard and stressful job
I have told myself that I will give my teaching until December and will make a decision on if to carry it on then 🐎🐎
