Alright, I have to say something here. I used to teach lessons, and I can see what the trainer is trying to do.

My last boss was an excellent H/J coach, but could not spell to save her life, let alone word sentences well. I cringed whenever she would write me emails. I bet some parents did too. But the thing is, she was good at what she did. The kids learned, the environment was safe, and everyone had a great time. Should she have been judged on her writing skills alone?

If Abby is a complete novice in the sport, I would not be terribly concerned. I often "dumb down" correct terminology and concepts to help a new student grasp them before we get into more complicated ideas. When talking about correct movement, I'll show them some pics from Practical Horseman and Horse Illustrated to show them how the horse is using themselves. Where all the different body parts are, including the head, are part of the discussion.

When you're learning for the first time, it makes much more sense to think about something you can SEE, like the head and neck, instead of more abstract concepts of "driving from behind" and "back to front". Once the student has a frame of reference, then I move on to these ideas and introduce the "real" point.

Right now, I wouldn't worry. Get a few copies of horse magazines at the bookstore and bring them to Abby's next lesson. Can't hurt, and she'll love the pictures. If, however, he's still prattling on about headset 3 months from now and talking in very general and "beginner" terms, I'd be concerned.

...............CherryHorse Blog..................