Why it’s so important to stick with your coach!

I can’t quite believe it’s already the middle of October as I write this! The summer quite simply flew by, and autumn so far hasn’t seen us slowing down. It’s been a whirlwind of competitions (thankfully with lots of very successful outings), working with our young horses and teaching. I can safely say on behalf of the whole team how grateful we all are for the indoor school as the weather starts to take a cooler and damper turn. I know once the deepest, darkest days of winter arrive it will be a godsend. Horses are always eminently rewarding to work with, but I find it does help if you can stay warm and dry while you work towards those goals!

The indoor school is also a real boon for my coaching clients when they visit. It’s a fantastic place for a lesson, with nothing to distract horse and rider from focusing on their partnership. I offer lessons here at Team Chapman Equestrian for all ages and abilities of rider, helping people get closer to their dreams and ambitions as a rider. I find it the most rewarding part of my job seeing people come across challenges and then overcome them with my help.

Of course, when pupils succeed it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling, but it can present a small issue. When some pupils achieve a goal, they are tempted to stop having lessons. I can understand the rationale behind that thinking - “I’ve worked hard to develop my horse and my riding, now I’m there I can relax a little bit”. But I always encourage my coaching clients to stick around and keep working with me. The consistency you get from working with the same coach who knows your journey and has helped you overcome challenges is invaluable. If you’re lucky enough to have achieved a longstanding goal in your chosen discipline, why not work with that coach to set a new one?

I’m lucky that I can help people who are competing in a wide range of disciplines, thanks to my eventing experience and now my achievements in pure dressage. So, if you’re hoping to polish up flatwork to help find those extra few seconds in the showjumping ring or you need to work on accuracy and control on the flat to help your cross-country, I can help! I also coach people who don’t have competitive aims in mind, but other reasons for wanting to tap into my expertise. For example, I have clients who are bringing on a youngster after backing them and others reschooling recently retired racehorses. They choose to work with me because they want to make sure they are setting the right foundations for the future.