Author Archives: hisvzmg

Reflection of the HPCTL Graduate Certificate

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This year has been transformative, reflective and impactful.

I tell my riders when one door closes another one opens, you just have to be willing to find it and brave enough to open it.  As a well established coach and athlete in dressage sport, with experience that spans 30 years, and qualifying for the Pan American Games on my trajectory, I was motivated and focused.  So when my top competition horse was injured and I was no longer able to campaign him it was a heavy blow, and very disappointing.  I felt deflated, 6 years of careful, methodical training and preparation down the drain.  Logically, I know this is sport, and no matter how diligent you are in your training processes, horses still get hurt, but for some reason this hit me really hard.  Perhaps it was the realization that at this time in my life, the window to be competitive at the international level is shortened, due to the time and effort and physical toll it takes to develop a horse to the Grand Prix.  I was in the final phase of a multi-year plan, had my year strategically mapped out and then needed to completely change paths, regroup and set new goals.  I needed a challenge.  Being accepted into the High Performance and Technical Leadership program was the silver lining in the dark cloud, it was the focus and challenge I needed.

The HPCTL program formalized many of my coaching processes and provided a more in depth understanding of how other sport organizations function.  The insights and experiences shared by my cohort and the knowledge imparted to me by the professors provided me with innovative ideas, and inspired me to search for ways to make a difference in my own sport.  I realized immediately the value and impact that this program could have on my life and career.  I was again motivate and inspired.

The assignments challenged me to critically reflect and formally articulate who I was, who I am, and who I want to be as a coach and leader.  They required me to take inventory of the current state of dressage both provincially and nationally, identify gaps, assess strengths and weaknesses and develop action plans to influence change.

Through the program I redesigned my vision and core values, making a commitment to uphold and live them not only professionally, but personally as well.  I restated my endeavour to create safe, fun, and effective programs with a focus on teamwork and respect, promoting a continuum of learning, horsemanship, and sportsmanship.   I approach my coaching, training, competing and mentoring roles in alignment with my core STAIR values of Safety, Teamwork, Accountability, Integrity and Resilience, they consistently inform my decisions and guide my interactions.

“My vision is to serve as an ethical, knowledgeable and relevant resource for equestrian athletes and their equine partners to realize their full potential, and to exert a powerful, positive influence on the dressage industry in Canada”.

A building block in my coaching practice is valuing and respecting self, others, horses, and the rules of sport, as this contributes to more meaningful interactions and positive experiences in competition. I encourage riders to think critically and reflect on training sessions and competitive performances to improve problem solving skills, promote independence, and increase confidence in their abilities, building a mindset for continuous improvement.  I believe as coaches we have the platform and opportunity to create cohesive environments of trust, camaraderie, and sportsmanship through impactful, respectful interactions, which in turn, facilitate mentorship, guidance, and support both in sport and life.  It is a privilege to guide and impact others and we need to remain humble and vulnerable, while being strong and effective.  In my role as a coach developer, I encourage this mindset of humility and autonomy supported coaching in coach candidates as they work towards their certification goals.

The Leadership Practices Inventory and 360 Survey were valuable exercises, the results spurred me to ask for feedback from athletes and stakeholders, engage others through sharing my vision for the future, and collaborating to reach common goals.  The NCCP Coaching Competency Blogs challenged me to take inventory of my past and current coaching practices.  This process of reflection has increased my self awareness.  I am more purposeful and mindful in my interactions, recognizing the influence I have on others, while carefully considering how my decisions can contribute to more meaningful experiences, and affect our sport on a broader scale.

One of the highlights of the year was collaborating with CSI Pacific and Horse Council British Columbia to develop a Talent Identification criteria for dressage athletes.  This is a necessary stepping stone to support the development of more well-rounded athletes earlier in their competitive career, providing a solid foundation for continuation in sport towards high performance and potential national team selection. Further collaborations include working with Equestrian Canada on the development of their Gold Medal Profile and creating additional Professional Development courses for Horse Council BC.

Another program I am implementing this year is STAIRway to Horsemanship.  Aligning with my core values of STAIR I designed a horsemanship model to incorporate into my Fit To Ride Youth Dressage camp.  Currently, there is a lack of horsemanship understanding and training opportunities in our young riders and coach candidates.  Due to the importance of horsemanship both for horse well-being and successful competition, I feel strongly that this needs to be addressed.  With the STAIRway to Horsemanship model I seek to bridge this gap and implement it into future programs.

Inspired by the presentations and discussion of soft eye, I incorporated the use of camera sunglasses into some of my high performance athletes training sessions.  The goal was to improve accuracy of technical movements by developing awareness of focus points and eye line.  Due to the horse’s sensitivity to balance shifts in the rider’s body, the rider’s eye line directly affects the horse’s line of travel, which in turn affects performance accuracy and balance.  I am looking forward to using these more in the future and track the improvements.

Overall, this has been a productive, inspiring year, and I look forward to giving back to an industry that has provided me with so much throughout my career.  I’m grateful for the connections with my cohort, thank you all for your insight, feedback and sharing your experiences.  I admire each of you for the work that you do, and look forward to staying connected in the future.

Happy trails until we meet again!

Sandra

 

 

HP Project – BC Dressage Rider Talent Identification Criteria – 1st Draft

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DRAFT

Canadian Sport Institute / Horse Council British Columbia

Talent Identification Nomination

Equestrian – Dressage

Sandra Verda Zanatta

April 2024

PURPOSE:

Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, through a partnership with the Province of British Columbia (BC), viaSport, the network of PacificSport centres, and Horse Council British Columbia collaborates to deliver programs and services to place BC athletes on national teams, and ensure athletes and coaches have every advantage to win medals for Canada. The partners work jointly to encourage sport excellence and increase podium performances in communities throughout BC. This template provides a standardized process with which to identify current high performance athletes and coaches in the equestrian sport of dressage in BC as well as athletes who are tracking against key development pathway metrics toward national teams.

The levels within the targeted pathway seek to create a common standard across all sports; hence, the template must be used in its entirety. PSO’s are able to adapt the template to suit their own purposes (e.g. branding, application process, etc.) provided all relevant information is contained within.

Canadian Sport Institute/PacificSport athlete and coach support for the Sport Canada AAP Carded nomination focuses on athletes and teams 0-4 years from the international podium, identified by the sport specific Podium Pathway (Figure 1) and Gold Medal Profile.

These athletes and teams represent the current generation of national team athletes who are carded by the NSO through Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program. Canadian Sport Institute / PacificSport athlete and coach support for the Canadian Development and Provincial Development nomination focuses on athletes and teams 5-12 years from the international podium, identified by the sport-specific Podium Pathway (Figure 1) and Gold Medal Profile. These athletes and teams represent both the next generation (5-8 years away) and future generations (9-12 years away) of Olympic and Paralympic or World Championship medallists.

DETAILS:

Through the above partnership, and with the above purpose in mind, HCBC may nominate athletes and their coaches who meet specific criteria for Canadian Sport Institute Pacific / PacificSport athlete or coach enrollment.  Upon completion of enrollment and onboarding, athletes and coaches can engage in enhanced programs, benefits, and selected support services through Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and the network of PacificSport regional centres in BC.

Canadian Sport Institute / PacificSport athlete support is divided into four levels based on performance, each with a slate of designated benefits. Please see Appendix A for an outline of HCBC targeted athlete benefits, programs, and services as delivered through HCBC.

Targeted athletes are nominated by HCBC based on the athlete criteria below. As a general principle, all athletes are expected to demonstrate evidence of their ongoing performance progression and tracking toward HCBC/EC high performance program benchmarks to remain targeted. HCBC representative (Wendy Sewell/Sandra Verda) and the Canadian Sport Institute technical lead working with HCBC have the final authority over the Canadian Sport Institute nomination process.  Any inquiries regarding the sport-specific selection criteria can be made to Wendy Sewell/Sandra Verda.

The athlete and coach nomination cycle for Canadian Sport Institute / PacificSport / HCBC targeting runs January 1st to December 1st annually, and athletes are selected based on performances from the previous 12 months.  Athletes meeting criteria throughout the annual nomination cycle may be added to the HCBC targeted athlete list, on a case by case basis, by contacting the PSO Technical Representative Sandra Verda Zanatta at fit2ridesvz@icloud.ca

CORE CRITERIA

  1. For PSO nominations, athletes must be a member in good standing of Horse Council British Columbia and Equestrian Canada (EC) as a competitive athlete and meet the definition of a BC athlete.
  2. All athletes must hold a current sport license at either gold or platinum level.
  3. All athletes nominated should have a designated coach who is responsible for planned programming and who meets the specific coach criteria identified in coach nomination section.
  4. Athletes who fail to meet targeting criteria due to injury or absence, may remain on HCBC’s nomination list at the discretion of the PSO when:
  5. There is an expectation the athlete in question would have met criteria if no injury or absence had occurred AND; b. The athlete in question was nominated by HCBC in the previous 24 months

LEVEL-SPECIFIC CRITERIA

Please note both the Canadian Sport Institute criteria and the HCBC sport-specific criteria: Podium / Canadian Elite (Sport Canada AAP Carded) Canadian Sport Institute Criteria:

  • Athletes who appear on the Sport Canada AAP Carding List and verified by the NSO. These athletes are in the High Performance (HP/T2W) stage of the Podium Pathway.

o It is the responsibility of HCBC to consult with the NSO, identifying and nominating any Sport Canada AAP Carded athletes in the province of British Columbia

Canadian Development Canadian Sport Institute Criteria:

  • Athletes who compete on the senior national team in eligible events, but do not receive Sport Canada AAP funding, and verified by the NSO. These athletes are in the High Performance (HP/T2W) stage of the Podium Pathway; OR
  • Athletes who are in the HP Athlete Development (L2W/T2W) stage of the Podium Pathway (including Gold Medal Profile) and verified by the NSO. If the NSO does not have an approved Podium Pathway, the following criteria will be used:

o Athletes who have been targeted as “NextGen” defined as the expectation to be selected to the senior national team in eligible events within 24 months and verified by the NSO.

FEI Young Rider levels:

FEI Children/FEI Pony (12-14)    National Second Level                   L2C                 TID Level 1

FEI Junior (14-18)                                    National Third Level              L2C                 TID Level 1

FEI Young Rider (16-21)             National Fourth Level                        T2C                 TID Level 2

FEI U25 (14-25)                                                                                            L2W                TID Level 2

FEI Open Levels: (no age restrictions)

Small Tour

Prix St. Georges                                                                            L2W/T2W      TID Level 3

Intermediate 1

Medium Tour

Intermediate A & B                                                                      L2W/T2W      TID Level 3

Big Tour

Intermediate 2                                                                               L2W/T2W      TID Level 3

Grand Prix

Grand Prix Special

FEI YH 6 year old                        National Third Level              T2C                 TID Level 2

Score Requirements – Level Specific

Developing PSG                                 65%

PSG / Intermediare 1                         65%

Intermediate A/B                                65%

Intermediare 2

Grand Prix / Grand Prix Special     65%

FEI Children                                       65%

FEI Junior                                           67% technical tests – Individual, Team

FEI Young Rider                                67% in technical tests – Individual, Team

FEI U25 Grand Prix                           65%

FEI young Horse 6 yr old                   70%

Based on Equestrian Canada Long Term Equestrian Development, National Competition Score Guidelines

Compete to Win (C2W)  68% , Compete to Place (C2P) 64-68%

  • Average of 3 technical scores will be used to determine eligibility
  • Athlete combinations are expected to demonstrate evidence of ongoing performance and progression and tracking toward HCBC high-performance program benchmarks to remain in the program (technical scores indicated above)
  • Scores must be obtained from national level Equestrian Canada sanctioned Gold competitions or USEF national equivalent competition
  • Minimum of 3 scores from 2 different competitions and at least 2 different judges
  • Scores must be from Equestrian Canada or USEF technical tests
  • Freestyle scores are not eligible for nomination

Athletes must:

  • Be current EC Sport Licence Holder in good standing
  • Complete Safe Sport module
  • Complete Concussion Awareness module
  • Work with personal coach who is a minimum of NCCP/ EC Competition Coach certified

Coach Nomination Canadian Sport Institute Criteria:

Coaches are nominated when they are the coach of an athlete who achieves designated criteria. The PSO may nominate up to two coaches per athlete in cases where both the Provincial/National coach and a personal coach have a significant impact on the athlete’s training program.

PSO nominated coaches must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be a member in good standing with HCBC and EC
  • Be designated as athlete’s coach of record and the lead person designing and implementing and annual training plan for the athlete

PSO nominated Coaches must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Be Certified Competition Coach or higher
  • Be designated as Provincial or Regional coach by the PSO.
  • Be designated as a National Development / Senior National coach by the NSO.
  • Be NCCP Level 3, Comp-Dev “trained” or be enrolled in, or completed, the Advanced Coaching Diploma

 

 

 

High Performance Project Proposal – Talent Identification

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Option 2:  Proposal Objectives and Evidence – Talent Identification – Dressage

Sandra Verda Zanatta

  1. You must identify a minimum of 3 objectives that you wish to accomplish as a result of the project. Objectives must be action oriented and be specifically related to your purpose.  For each objective, identify evidence that you will gather to demonstrate the objective.   Evidence should be specific or tangible elements that can be posted as a portfolio of relevant experiences in your blog.
  2. Use the table below the objective and specific evidences sought.
  3. The table below will be part of your final submission where you will complete the last 2 columns.
Objective Evidence Completed (Y/N) Debrief Notes / Monitoring
1 To facilitate collaboration between Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and Horse Council BC to develop a clear, accessible Talent Identification criteria for dressage athletes in BC

 

 PDF rough draft – in process and waiting for HCBC feedback and input

Aligns with my leadership and coaching goals noted throughout blogs

and SLPI feedback

Meeting with WS and KC and HCBC to introduce TID idea and rough draft of framework May 14, 2 pm

Input from WS at HC will be added to document – additional feedback will be provided by May 20

HCBC will send their preferred application form to SVZ for review

Next meeting w/ WS week of May 27 to finalize

Email to Andrew Latham May 15 – with rough draft of criteria – waiting for his feedback –

Next meeting with AL – not confirmed yet.

 

 Y

In progress

 Meeting with Andrew Latham CSIP

Agreed to establish rough draft of criteria to present to HCBC following template from other sports and adapting to fit equestrian requirements.

Ronan meetings – accessible, limit road blocks – how do we build the base to draw from. Rising Stars / BC Games – generate interest in team competition – educate and promote TID process / pathway

Meeting Tues May 14 – Wendy Sewell HCBC

Successful meeting – HCBC is on board and willing to implement – SVZ will lead the program development and liase with CSI Pacific to complete criteria

 

 

 
2 To identify potential high performance equestrian athletes in BC, who satisfy the nomination criteria

 

 Start Rider list

1st show May

2nd show June

  

Complete @ end of 2024 season DEC 1 is deadline for application

 Start to establish a list based on 2024 competition results and plan to inform riders of the TID process being developed
3 To collaborate with HCBC to develop an action plan that generates interest and understanding of TID process with a goal of identifying and nominating riders to access CSI Pacific for 2025 based on their 2024 competition results

 

 SVZ – talk directly to riders at competitions who are currently competing in FEI levels and inform them of the process being developed

BC Games and Riding Stars – info session planned to introduce TID project in the works and provide riders/parents w/ understanding of rider pathways

HCBC – advertising campaign – website, direct email to athletes tracked this season

 In process Collaborating with Wendy Sewell / Kelly C. for promotion of TID, Advertising plan, rider contact etc.

 

Blog # 5 Interacting

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March 2024

 

Blog #5 – Impactful Interactions in Sport and Life

Sandra Verda Zanatta

University of British Columbia

 

The impact of interaction in sport extends beyond the physical aspects of competition, encompassing relationships between athletes, coaches, fellow competitors and the unique horse and rider relationship.  Its value and contribution to the emotional, psychological and social growth of athletes needs to be recognized and fostered.  Coaches have the opportunity to create cohesive environments of trust, camaraderie and sportsmanship through impactful, respectful interactions; which in turn, facilitate mentorship, guidance and support in both sport and life.  In my experience, athletes who have mutual respect for fellow competitors, and exhibit sportsmanship, are able to elevate their performance, maintain a positive mindset, and have meaningful competition experiences even when results or outcomes are not optimal.

 

Learning to facilitate positive, productive interactions requires an increased level of self-awareness, regulation and emotional control.  I recognize through my own career and observations as a coach developer, that young coaches need more guidance, earlier, to cultivate leadership abilities, conflict resolution strategies and communication adeptness.  As a mentor, I encourage the development of these skills through educational opportunities and modelling.  If I can impart some of my experiences and encourage open, honest, face to face communication, it will help not only with the future challenges they may encounter in sport, but also in other aspects of their lives.

 

The ability to communicate effectively and respectfully even in difficult, high intensity situations is gained through experience, time and maturity; it requires thorough, honest self-reflection.  My coaching context requires me to constantly interact with a diverse population of athletes and parents, competition officials and boards of directors, sponsors and horse owners, lawyers and business professionals.  At times, difficult discussions are warranted, and when significant financial investments are made expectations to perform and win can be high.  As a result, riders often impose extra pressure on themselves to meet these expectations.  There is a delicate balance that needs to be maintained to shield athletes and facilitate continuity of training, allowing them to remain focused on, while also respecting and appreciating the opportunities that sponsors and horse owners provide.  Often, my job is to navigate both sides so we can produce optimal performance and maintain healthy, appropriate relationships.

 

Discussions with parents and athletes around competition readiness, or not, explaining the reasons for a poor performance, or informing coach candidates the reasons they have not met the requirements for certification, can spark tension, fuel emotions and be disappointing.  Although it is crucial to approach these conversations with empathy and kindness, honesty and clarity are also equally important.  Having a clear objective that promotes effective communication with a focus on the work or goal without personal references is important to a obtaining a productive outcome.  Being specific and clear about the areas needed for improvement, the requirements to move forward, and establishing a plan is a positive way to bring recognition to the issues or weaknesses and ultimately supports future success through a systematic approach for further training.

 

Equestrian sport requires another level self-awareness that directly relates to how we interact with our equine partners.  Horses are complex, sensitive beings and highly perceptive to body language and external stimuli.  Human movements and intentions can affect horses’ reactions significantly whether riding, handling or ground training.  We have the ability to affect their tension levels and response to stimuli based on how we react and the level of energy we exude.  Rider emotional control and self-regulation are key performance factors both in training and competition.  Horses are social, herd animals who respond to fellow horses’ energy and excitement.  The ability for a rider to maintain composure, stay focused and interact with their horse in a way that promotes confidence, trust and relaxation is crucial, making it an important component of daily training.

 

As I reflect on my career, I am grateful for the path coaching has taken me on, for the lifelong friends and colleagues I have gained and the amazing athletes I have had the honour to work with.  I am proud of my riders, their sport accomplishments representing Canada, and medals won, but ultimately the most important aspect has been my opportunity to create safe, supportive environments, enabling riders of all levels to grow, be challenged, develop confidence, and recognize their self-worth and that of others.  It has been rewarding to watch them succeed as athletes and become kind, responsible young adults with a high standard of integrity and respect for others, who love horses and advocate for their welfare.  I am honoured to have been a small part of their journey to who they are today.

 

Maya Angelou’s quote “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” resonates with me and I will continue with the goal of approaching all interactions both personal and professional with clarity, honesty and respect.

 

 

 

 

 

Blog # 4 part 2 Problem Solving Sandra Verda Zanatta

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Blog Post #4 Part 2

Jan 12, 2024

Sandra Verda Zanatta

I decided to write an addition to my initial Blog Post #4 on Problem Solving after our meeting Thursday.

When I decided to take the plunge and apply for the HPCTL program, it was initially due to my goal of qualifying for the Pan Am Games coming to an abrupt end when my top competition horse was injured.  I looked into the program previously, however, the timing did not work with my travel and competition schedule.  The window of time became available, and being accepted into the program turned disappointment and derailment of my 2023 YTP into an opportunity for growth and challenge.  I know without hesitation, that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing right now.  The problem to solve was how to find the hours in my week to commit to the course, and so my YTP revamping started!

Having been out of school for 25+ years, and as I have mentioned, not having the strongest technical computer skills, I felt like a fish out of water!  It took a lot of extra time to learn programs correctly, I asked a lot of questions, used google extensively and called on some of you for help, I feel like I encountered a new problem everyday!  I can say without a doubt I have not only learned a great deal in our classes, but definitely about computers!

The past year was a time to shift gears and regroup, figuring out how I wanted to adjust my professional path and help facilitate changes necessary within Canada’s equestrian industry.  Across the board, we are facing significant challenges in rider and coach development, and producing high performance athletes with the ability to reach the podium.  Working through the assignments has inspired me to look for innovative strategies to affect change.  I recognize that as I present ideas, I will encounter resistance, so will need to be well-equipped and resilient, however, I believe that if logical pathways and potential solutions are brought forward, eventually, we can make positive steps towards the future.  Listening all of you, the issues and struggles within your sports, and the solutions you have come up with, has provided me with ideas for different approaches to address the ones I am currently facing.

A great problem solver is my mentor is Ronan Byrne of Stronger Mind Counselling.  Ronan holds his Masters in Clinical Counselling with a certification in trauma counselling.  He has 28 years in working in Correctional Service of Canada, has represented Canada in Triathlon, played professional Rugby and is a 5 x Ironman Triathlete.  Ronan has been a constant source of support, his guidance and input has been invaluable, providing an interesting perspective due to his diverse background.  He challenges me to consider different approaches, dig deeper and think outside the box.  We recently had an interesting meeting about the ability to problem solve under extreme stress and how to reign yourself back in, regain control and regulate your emotions so you can refocus and think critically. We discussed how anxiety is a key component required not only in sport but life, and it is healthy. The key is, can you relax and find solutions within it.  I appreciated his perspective about nerves, tension, anxiety and how they are often viewed as negative when in reality they are very necessary and it’s about how you regulate and put them to use to improve performance.  I gave a scenario using one of my athletes to brainstorm about potential strategies to improve her ability to regain emotional regulation quickly, within a competition setting.  Giving her tactics to be effective, plan for the next movement, and to improve the rest of the performance.  In general, teaching her how to regain composure and get back on track efficiently, a crucial skill in equestrian sport, as loss of focus, composure and regulation significantly affects human and horse athletic performance.

In closing, my journey in this course to date has exceeded my expectations, the camaraderie of our cohort, the guidance of the professors and the possibilities for the future have inspired and energized me.  Thanks to all of you, I hope you all achieve your personal and professional goals.

Blog #4 Problem Solving in Equestrian Sport

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December 28, 2023

Blog # 4 – Problem Solving in Equestrian Sport

Sandra Verda-Zanatta

Problem-solving in equestrian sport is an indispensable skill that coaches, trainers and riders must cultivate to ensure the safety and well-being of both horse and rider athletes, while promoting progress in training, leading to optimal performance in competitions.

My background in the therapeutic riding industry, and coaching para-equestrian athletes challenged me to develop my problem solving skills, improved my eye for identifying rider imbalance and asymmetry and provided me with a wealth of knowledge that I continue to use daily.

These skills were put to use extensively when I was scouting competitive dressage horses throughout Europe for riders with physical disabilities.  Training horses to accept adaptive equipment for a paraplegic rider with no use of her legs, or to handle the imbalance of a rider with a prosthetic leg, or to be less reactive to the spasticity in a rider’s limbs due to cerebral palsy, required clear, consistent repetition, careful analysis of horse reactions, and often experimentation and innovation to find the right training method.

In addition to horse training, it was necessary to help riders achieve the most effective, balanced position primarily for safety and comfort, as well as to achieve top performance.  Creativity and imagination were necessary to devise adaptive equipment that allowed riders to be secure, functional and effective.  With the expertise of saddle makers and input from athletes, I was able to design several unique, custom-made saddles to promote independence, freedom and safety, allowing riders to develop their skills and become accomplished equestrians competing at the top level of sport.  This process was tedious and often perplexing as we had to adapt the seat shape, depth and texture, thigh block size and position, adding hand holds, leg straps and stabilization stirrups. It was a creative process and we returned to the drawing board several times before we got it right.

Traveling to foreign countries with limited accessibility was often interesting and challenging! For instance, one adventure involved navigating down twenty steep, narrow stairs with one of my athletes in a wheelchair to a washroom in a Paris restaurant, only to find the doors too narrow to fit the wheelchair!  Keep in mind we had to go back up the twenty stairs too! This was just one of the many obstacles encountered and successfully conquered during our international adventures!

Fast forward 20+ years and problem solving is still a constant theme in my daily routine, whether it is caring for my horses, training or competing.  From figuring out the nutritional needs and correct shoeing techniques, to the exercise routines and environmental enrichment needs required for each horse to support their optimal mental and physical health, I am constantly evaluating and adapting their stable management and care plans.

In training, I consider several variables including the age, fitness, temperament, along with the physical and mental maturity of each horse to establish work load and rest requirements.  Topline muscle development, soundness and weight is evaluated and tracked regularly to identify and implement an effective, flexible, individual plan.

When pairing riders with horses, some of the factors considered are size, ability, temperament, training level, competition experience, movement quality and sensitivity.  Finding a suitable horse for a rider requires forethought and critical thinking, and even if you check all the boxes resulting in a compatible horse/rider combination you will still encounter speed bumps in training therefore, coach self-regulation and problem-solving skills are paramount in fostering a positive and effective partnership.

In my coaching role, I strive provide steady, solid leadership by regulating my own emotions, maintaining composure, and staying focused amid the challenges encountered in practice and competition.  I’m sure many of my fellow coaches can relate to the fact this can be difficult, especially when you are passionate about your sport and athletes!  As I reflect on my career as both an athlete and coach, I recognize the evolution that has taken place, as well as how much more there is to learn!

Being self-aware enables me to make sound decisions, communicate effectively, set high standards and be a positive example for my athletes and team members.  Staying focused and maintaining composure improves my ability to think critically, problem solve, and adapt strategies in crucial moments.  This is especially important because of the inherent high risk of equestrian sports, my decisions or directions to a rider can significantly affect the outcome of a dangerous situation or potential accident.  My athletes put their trust in me to safely challenge them and maintain composure under pressure allowing me to make strategic adjustments and navigate unforeseen obstacles that arise.

The partnership between a rider and horse is complex, demanding a clear understanding of the unique challenges during training or competition. Whether it’s addressing horse behavioral issues, refining rider techniques or navigating reactions to external stimuli or obstacles in and around the arena, effective problem-solving requires a combination of patience, empathy, and technical expertise. Innovative coaches who design practices to encourage independent thought and critical thinking, facilitate the development of problem solving-skills in their riders. I am committed to promoting these skills because they are essential, especially in competition where split second decisions have to be made by the rider without any external influence or coaching.

Riders must be attuned to their horse’s individual needs, employing a mindful approach to overcome challenges and enhance the overall harmony between rider and equine partner. Teaching riders how to anticipate and ride strategically to navigate potential problems is key, especially to set them up for competition success.  Once a rider is in the competition arena they are on their own, as a formal rule coaches can not intervene in any way, so riders must have the tools to deal with issues that may arise within their test. For example, if a horse becomes afraid or spooky at a certain spot in the arena there are specific techniques that can help reduce their reactions, so fewer marks are lost and composure can be regained for the next required movement.

Athlete self-regulation, problem-solving skills and ability to manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in the face of challenges and pressure are integral to competition success.  Their ability to maintain focus, stay composed under stress, and adapt to changing circumstances during competition is imperative to the partnership development and gaining horse’s confidence and trust.  These skills allow a rider to maintain a high level of performance regardless of external pressures, and turn setbacks into opportunities for growth. Together, these attributes create a resilient and adaptable athlete who can thrive in the dynamic and unpredictable nature of equestrian sport horses and competition.

I believe the combination of self-regulation and problem-solving creates a resilient and adaptable coaching approach, that fosters a positive, progressive learning environment, contributing not only to the development of skillful and confident riders but also to the welfare and contentment of the horses involved in these dynamic partnerships.