While your trainer or riding coach is working on developing you and your horse on the outside, a personal coach can help you develop on the inside. A personal coach will help you set better goals and strategize ways to meet your goals more quickly and with less stress. They offer a safe and supportive environment where you can “try on” new ideas or look at other areas in your life that may be holding you back from reaching your goal.
If you watched the Olympics (and who didn’t?), you often saw athletes with several coaches around them. Some help with nutrition, others with stress management and still others with performance. Coaches can be extremely helpful in helping one reach their goals. Now what about you and your goals?
Maybe you set some realistic riding goals for yourself for this year, but somehow your riding is not coming together the way you want. Or maybe your goal was starting a horse-related business, but you’re afraid to make the leap. You want to move forward, but you feel “stuck.” Maybe it’s time for you to have your own personal coach.
For example, do you feel you’re not able to get in as much practice time as you’d like due to commitments at work or at home? A personal coach can help you simplify your life, set boundaries and choose only those activities which help you reach your riding goal. Having a hard time finding the money to start or expand your business? There are personal coaches who specialize in business who can help get you on the right financial track for a new career. A personal coach can also you in other areas such as stress reduction, health and fitness issues, and career redirection.
Personal coaching is done on a one-on-one basis. While listening and strategizing are part of the personal coaching experience, the most important part of the process is developing an action plan. Even if it is only one small step, your personal coach will challenge you to take some action to help you meet your goal. And your coach will hold you accountable for the action you agree to take. Remember that the goal of the personal coach is to support you and help you succeed. As Tom Landry, the legendary football coach said, “A coach is someone who makes you do what you don’t want to do so you can be who you want to be.”
Personal coaching is often done by telephone, so you can be coached in the comfort of your own home! It can also be done via email. If you prefer and if distance is not a problem, it can also be done in person. A session usually lasts 45-60 minutes and most personal coaches follow-up with emails between sessions and/or are available by phone if you have a question, problem or just want to celebrate a victory! The cost for coaching varies, but typically costs no more than a private riding lesson.
Many personal coaches offer a complimentary session where you can find out more about coaching as well as the coach. During this introductory meeting, you will identify the areas on which you would most like to work and see if the coach’s style is a good fit for you. You may prefer someone who has an equestrian background, although the same coaching principals apply whether the client is a rider, a business owner or has career questions. If you wish, personal coaches are willing to work with other members of your support team, such as your riding coach or members of your family. However, you must give your personal coach permission to do so, as the coaching process is always kept strictly confidential.
While currently there are no requirements for using the title “coach”, the International Coaches Federation (ICF), a worldwide non-profit resource for coaching, has developed high professional standards of ethics and conduct for coaches, and a stringent accreditation process for coach training institutes. They offer a coach referral service on their website.
Good personal coaches give you straight advice and will challenge you to give your best. A good personal coach will let you use them as a sounding board or cheerleader. Finally, a good coach is always there for you.
