The horse trainer picked up her microphone, announcing loudly, “I’m going to start singing!”
A distinct collective groan rang out from her students in the group lesson, as they realized they were, once again, too close to each other on the rail. As they scrambled to space themselves, fast but not quite fast enough, the trainer began to serenade them to the words of the classic song, “Together Again.” She didn’t relent with belting out her off-key ballad until they were spaced out correctly, just as show ring etiquette would dictate. She calmly clicked off her microphone and resumed the lesson.
Although trainer Ednabelle Ganser became legendary for coming up with creative ways to motivate her students and instill lifelong skills, she, like many others, faced a common challenge of helping clients learn the myriad of difficult elements in all-around competition.
How do the many industry trainers help their clients to remember a concept, become “unstuck,” or teach them to perform a component flawlessly every time? The industry is alive with fun and unique stories of methods trainers use to keep students inspired, help them to retain knowledge, or to assist them in relaxing; strategies like singing, counting, using humor, applying catch phrases or even physical calisthenics have been known to raise the bar for riders over the years.
Read on as some of the industry’s riders and halter exhibitors, from APHA to AQHA and ApHC, share strategies their trainers use to help them learn, stay motivated, or to simply relax and have fun!
Leonie Fischer (pictured above)–My trainer Jadasa Jablonowski (“Dasi”) used to put a cell phone playing the song “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke in my pocket while practicing a good showmanship walk. It has the right beat, so it gave me a perfect rhythm. That helped a lot. So everyone who wants to improve their showmanship walk – try this out!
Madison Malsch–My trainer, Chad Evans, motivates many of his clients by making us do push ups. If we are consistently doing something wrong, he will have us hop off our horse and “drop down and give him 20.” Other times, if we do something really well, he will make someone else “drop down and give him 20.” The latter is actually more of an incentive sometimes!
Jessica Wolf Hart–One thing that my trainer, Brian Ale, does that I think is pretty unique and definitely fun is making us ride around bridleless. He usually pulls this trick if we are getting a little too heavy with our hands and not using our leg as much as he would like. You have to use your legs, and you have no choice. It’s is always a fun exercise and at the end everyone laughs. It’s also a great self confidence booster as you are loping around without a bridle.
Linda Coakley–I can honestly say that Kip Larson does not break into song, but he does notice if I start to get frustrated about something. He will make us laugh by being silly about something, and the next thing I know, I’ve forgotten why I was frustrated. Then, the maneuver comes easier.
Robin Robinett–It’s not really what they say; it’s how they say it, or the words they use, or tone of voice and the way they make you laugh. When you laugh, you relax and show better because you can breathe.
Julie Hoelfing–My trainer, Christy Snyder, uses funny or thoughtful ways to keep us motivated. It varies from using a tiny microphone that echoed everything she said to make us laugh or to providing us with “angel wing” themed gifts because we are part of “Christy’s Angels.” Feeling part of a team and knowing your trainer is rooting you on is a huge motivator for me. The leg wrap tied around my elbows to make sure I hold my arms in the correct horsemanship position helps, too.
Kaitlyn Bowen–Ednabelle Ganser was my first trainer who had a few distinctive things that have helped me. The one thing that stands out in my mind is she wouldn’t let anyone have a saddle until they could lope around the arena four times without breaking gait. You would only get a bareback pad which really helped to develop balance and feel on the horse. Doug Huls was another very influential trainer in my life. I learned a lot from Doug. He taught me the ins and outs of trail, western riding, and horsemanship, among other classes. Trail and western riding always had me on edge with nerves. Doug would always say it’s not a big deal and to “just go out and do your job”. That has stuck with me, and whenever I get nervous I just tell myself it’s just another pattern and I have to go out and do my job. If I do my job right that’s all I can do.
Courtney Cruse–While I was showing youth and non pro, Arturo Maestas helped me a lot. The one thing that I can still remember is during western riding he used to tell me to sing, “Row row row your boat” to get my pace correct.
Marylyn Caliendo–There was an assistant trainer that made me lope around him in a circle while he pretended to beat a drum to the lope. He made me do this because I couldn’t get the feel of my horse’s lope. My horse was really deep hocked, and I have no rhythm to speak of.
Heather Meyer–The one thing I remember that always reminds me of my late trainer, Carol Brock, are quarters and Necco Candies, which are the old timer disk looking candy that looked like Sweet Tarts that came in a roll (before Sweet Tarts even existed). During our western group or horsemanship lessons, if we didn’t keep our free horsemanship hand with thumbs flat on top of our fist and the arm still, Carol Brock would yell, “Okay, stop, everyone!” Then, she’d start walking over to who wasn’t keeping their arm and hand in correct form and she would place a quarter on the top of your fist and make you balance the quarter without dropping it. Needless to say, after probably $50 was donated to the arena sand, Carol started using the Necco candy disks instead. Also, during my private lessons, she would yell out “chicken wings, chicken wings” if I had ever my elbows out. Every time I see a quarter or those candies, it reminds me of Carol and her training methods.
Andi Nelson–One thing comes to mind that my trainer, Sandi Morgan, often says. During showmanship practice when coming up to her for inspection she always says “aim for my fat friend”. This reminds everyone, especially young kids and those just learning showmanship, to aim for the side of the judge so as to line their horse up with the judge rather than themselves.
Blayne Bell–Before a show, I get stressed out and can’t concentrate, so my trainer, Kara Whitsell, tells the stories of me falling over my spurs in showmanship; or when I couldn’t get my hair in a bun for horsemanship; and any other embarrassing stories. It gets my mind off other things and makes me laugh. When she is done telling stories. I always have my motivation back and usually perform better because I am relaxed again.
Connie Robertson–My trainer motivates me by telling me to do the best I can do and not to pressure myself to win. Have fun and with that comes confidence. It is amazing how that works for me.
As only horse people know best, learning to ride is not always easy! Luckily, the creativity of our amazing trainers and instructors often help us down the path of learning and thriving as riders and exhibitors. What unique or fun methods has your trainer used to help you learn?
