Thank goodness for the hose on the yard and Young Instructor Of The Year once again

Sweaty, sweaty day. Some nice breeze from time to time made it all bearable to a point. 

I am focusing on staying super positive and patient when teaching beginner riders and must say that I think I found the key to better that - what works for me is to really concentrate on how to improve the details and to let the riders make mistakes. 

Because of my background and how I was taught I sometimes forget that a lot people do it for fun only and they have no strict agenda of progress. I relaxed my demands a bit and it has been working a treat. What's even better, I noticed certain riders work better without too much pressure and we get the results that are of more quality! Go figure. Still lots for me to learn.

At lunch time I had my driving lesson and my instructor concluded it was my best drive to date. Good. I am looking forward to taking my driving test, and yes I was silly enough not to do it in my teens. 

So lots of fun today. I survived thanks to the hose which I duly used to hose myself down in between the lessons. Hacked the ex-race horse again and was tempted to test his speed but the ground is so hard at the moment that I chickened out. And good job I did as we came back to find he lost his shoe - again. You got to love Thoroughbred's feet...;)

Gave him a bath toes to ears and he loved it. 

Finished the day on teaching livery lesson and they voted for jumping so cue the fun of dragging heavy poles around the arena! I do like teaching them though, when they are focused they really try and that's worth the efforts.

I rewarded myself on the way back home reading today's Horse & Hound and catching up with feed time ;) 

Pic. above: my preferred way to travel: nice snacks and good reading materials :)

After some uhmming and ahhing I decided to apply for a place on this year's Young Instructor Of The Year (2009). If you read this blog regularly you will know I've done it last year and although it was a very good experience I knew straight away that I didn't have much chances going through further than the regional stage. The candidate who went to semi-finals from my region had his own yard, competed regularly and was a very good rider. 

BUT, it's the last year I'm eligible to enter so I decided to give it a go again. The South East qualifier is in September at Hadlow College. If my application is successful I shall do it there. All in all it's the experience that matters and it's always good to watch other coaches in action!

No Final

I got my official feedback from the BHS today and although it's positive I am not going to the final - I knew that really but I guess you shouldn't stop hoping for the best until the end ;)
I will still be able to apply next year so who knows, might get better results then :)

Young Instructor of the Year South East Qualifier - Report!

Just a quick line for now to say it was a fab day, I got some great feedback on my teaching and fantastic boost of confidence too! Although of course there was also some (constructive) criticisms it was a really good feeling to know my methods and way of teaching get thumbs up :)
Proper report will be put in place of this post very soon but now I have to revise to my exam on Monday !!
Results will be posted to us by post; only 1 person per qualifier (out of 8 at each qualifier) gets nominated to the final at Stoneleigh Park so I won't hold my breath...

Eek! Panic starts to hit ! ;)

The Young Instructor of The Year qualifier starts at 9.30am at Wildwoods Riding Centre tomorrow and I think I am starting to feel really nervous and wondering if I am going to make a total idiot of myself!
I know I am letting myself down if I am nervous especially that I seem to all of a sudden forget the easiest English words on the planet

I am also trying to drum into my head all the names for muscles and ligaments for my Stage III exam on Monday and even enlisted some help at work today so I could actually HEAR some words being said as it's not like you say everyday: "Give your horse a pat at his brachiocephalic and make sure the saddle lies well on latissumus dorsi" !! I should have paid more attention at my latin classes at school!

I wish it was 12th August now and I had both those days behind me I am sure I will enjoy them once I am there, I love the adrenaline and I love the challenge, but I cannot stand the waiting game!

Young Instructor of the Year - the schedule

My formal invitation to the regional qualifier arrived yesterday and here is what awaits me on the 7th of August:

Timetable

09:30 Introduction and explanation
10.00 Lunge lesson (each instructor will lunge for 30 minutes including changeover and discussion)
12.00 Lunch
12.40 Jumping lesson & feedback
13.20 Jumping lesson & feedback
14.00 Flatwork lesson & feedback
14.40 Flatwork lesson & feedback

(Two instructors will teach each lesson - one starting the lesson and one finishing)

15.20 Lessons Finish
16.00 Summary & highlights

The qualifier will be led by Tessa Martin-Bird FBHS.

My application has been accepted :)

I received an email today to say that my application for the BHS Young Instructor of The Year 2008 has been accepted and that the invitation to the South East Qualifier is being posted to me.
So - keep your fingers crossed for me on the 7th of August. Even if I don't go any further than the qualifier I am sure it will be an interesting coaching day.

Today I am filling in my application form...

...to take part in the qualifiers for the BHS Young Instructor Of The Year 2008. Here are the questions/subjects I need to write about:

1) What are your qualifications to date?
2) What training days have you attended in the last two years?
3) Teaching and Coaching Experience.
4) Teaching and Coaching Aims.
5) Why are you interested in Teaching & Coaching within the Equine Industry?
6) Career Aims.

I have heard various things about this competition, good and bad. One thing was constant though regardless of general opinion - it's a great training day that you don't have to pay for! In that respect, I would be happy to qualify :)