As we continue to witness the growth and development of our young riders, it is crucial to foster an environment that promotes positivity, learning and sportsmanship.  With this in mind, we would like to address the matter that can significantly impact the overall experience for both riders, coaches and other parents – coaching from the sidelines.

We are blessed to have access to a team of dedicated coaches and we would hate to lose any of them due to the problem of intervention by parents from outside of the arena.  This is not a new problem, but we have recently had complaints from our coaches and other parents who have witnessed parents “coaching” from the sidelines.  It could be something as simple as comments like, “shorten your reins” to full on coaching throughout the session.

While we appreciate the enthusiasm and support you bring to branch activities, we kindly request that parents do not coach from the sidelines.  Our primary goal is to create an environment where riders can focus on their coach without distractions.  When multiple voices are heard, it can be confusing and overwhelming for the children, hindering their ability to concentrate on their pony and coach.  This first and foremost gives rise to the danger to your child of a potential accident caused by their distraction. Secondly, and just as important, it undermines the coach.

Allowing coaches to lead the coaching session ensures that the children receive consistent and constructive feedback.  This approach helps in building their confidence, independence and problem-solving skills.  It also enables our coaches to address specific areas of improvement in a systematic and organised manner.

We understand that many of you may be riders yourselves and that emotions can run high whilst they are riding, whether competitively or non-competitively, and it is only natural to feel invested in your child’s success.  However, we believe that a positive and supportive environment is essential for the development of not only their riding skills but also character and resilience.

To ensure a positive experience for everyone involved, we ask that you refrain from providing coaching instructions from the sidelines.  Once your child is under the care of the coach let the coaches do their job and applaud their efforts and celebrate their achievements.  Your encouragement, positivity and respect for the coaching process contribute significantly to the overall success of our coaching sessions.

If you have any concerns or suggestions, please feel free to speak with either Liz, Barbara or Ellie.

From the Committee