Sport Psychology: Responsible Coaching

Interviews

Sport Psychology for Dressage Riders

Question:My coach often pushes me really hard. Sometimes it is helpful in taking me to a new level, but more often I end up feeling afraid and inadequate. Recently this pushing resulted in an accident that left me with multiple broken bones. Do I need to learn to ride better, or do I need a new trainer?

Answer: I believe the number one responsibility of any coach, in any sport, is safety. That said, horses are big, unpredictable creatures and accidents do happen. However when an accident happens due to the rider being pushed too hard, too fast, then the coach must examine their teaching style and assumptions.

A coach has multiple responsibilities.

There must be an in depth understanding of the technical aspects of the sport. A good coach must have a clear concept of the progression of training, how to move forward, and most importantly, how to back up a step.
Safety and an awareness of potential danger is critical. This awareness must extend not only to the rider, but also the horse. Injury may occur from a single incident, or a chronic mode of overtraining and over demanding. Injury can be physical or emotional.
Once a coach has attained an adequate level of knowledge then they must also develop the ability to deliver this information in a productive way. Good communication skills are a must for any top coach.
A top coach must also be a sort of relationship therapist. The horse and rider team is a complex partnership that is constantly evolving. Attending to this relationship is part of the art of good training.

We will look at each of these factors in more detail, but first let us look at the student’s responsibilities.

As a student you are responsible for yourself and your horse. Never give away all of your power. Ultimately you are the only one who knows if the training is working for you.
Learn what teaching style works best for you. Some people do best with quiet, calm explanations. Some people like emphatic, energetic pushing. Pick a trainer that matches your personality and goals.
Communicate with your trainer. If you feel in danger then make that very clear. If there is something you don’t understand then ask for more explanation. When something works particularly well then let your trainer know that also. This information will give your coach a positive direction to build upon.
Good training may have moments of frustration, stress and discomfort. However if these experiences become chronic fear, anxiety and pain then carefully examine your path!
Respect your coach’s private time. Coaching dressage can require intense focus and energy. At the end of the day your trainer may need a little break and a little space.
Remember that you have the ultimate power of the pocketbook. If you do not trust your trainer to keep you safe and teach you well, then take your business elsewhere.

Here are some important aspects of good coaching as mentioned in the bullets above.

It is imperative that a coach has implicit technical knowledge of the building blocks required to attain each new level of training. Each level in dressage is built upon the foundation of the proceeding level. We all know that when there is a hole in the foundation of training, that hole will come back to haunt you throughout the levels. It is critical that a good trainer understands not only how to push forward, but also how to back up a step when a problem occurs. Sometimes backing up a step will be for the rider, sometimes it will be for the horse. A very good indication that you need to back up in your training is prolonged anxiety, frustration or resistance.
Injuries may occur from a single incident, or from prolonged stress applied over a long period of time. A good trainer can ride the fine line between balancing the stress of training, with the healing of recovery time. Too much recovery and the training will not progress, yet too much stressful training can lead to a variety of injuries, both mental and physical.
The use of language can be an important part of good training. The words we use translate into images in our mind. These images help our mind to communicate with our body. If a rider is pulling their leg up and the coach says “Don’t pull your leg up”, the image sent to the mind is of a leg pulling upward. This can exacerbate the problem. However if the coach says “Stretch your leg downward” then the image sent to the mind is of a downward stretching leg. A good coach will use language to suggest solutions, not just to point out problems. Every time the word “don’t” is used, it should be followed up with a “do”. “Don’t let your reins get too long” should be followed up with something like “Do close your fingers, set your shoulders and sit deeper”. Often it is important to explore why a problem is occurring, but that exploration must always be followed up with suggestions for solutions.
A good coach will be aware of the relationship between horse and rider. Boundaries, trust, past history and personality can all have an enormous impact on performance. The chemistry between trainer and student is also critical. Different trainers may work well with different types of students.
As a coach myself I try to be very aware any time I am experiencing frustration. If I am frustrated in the coaching process then I can almost guarantee the student is feeling frustrated too. This is not the time to yell louder! This is the time to stop, back up a step, or change your plan of attack.

These are just a few of the variables that can be involved in the progression of training. Remember, this is a three way relationship- horse, rider and trainer. While riding may involve moments of difficulty, the ultimate experience should be one of enjoyment for both horse and rider.

For more information on Sport Psychology for dressage, including past Eurodressage articles, visit the archive. You can also email me directly with questions or comments at seanaadams@aol.com. I enjoy hearing from you!