Every riding instructor, no matter how experienced, makes mistakes. Whether it’s in the heat of the moment during a lesson or simply falling into old habits, even the best of us can sometimes overlook critical elements of teaching. But mistakes aren’t something to be ashamed of—in fact, they’re opportunities for growth.
The good news is that by identifying these common mistakes and making small adjustments, you can greatly improve the quality of your lessons and help your students reach their full potential. So, let’s dive into 5 common mistakes riding instructors make and, more importantly, how to fix them.
1. Focusing Too Much on Skills, Not Enough on Confidence
One of the most common mistakes instructors make is focusing solely on teaching technical riding skills while neglecting their students' confidence levels. Of course, it’s important for students to develop proper techniques, but if they’re not feeling confident, they’re far less likely to succeed in the saddle.
The Fix:
Start incorporating confidence-building exercises into your lessons. Sometimes, students need to feel emotionally supported before they can handle more advanced skills. Consider adjusting your feedback to focus on the small victories your students achieve, even if they’re struggling with a bigger skill. By helping your students believe in themselves, you’ll find they start to make real progress in their riding.
Pro Tip: Instead of rushing to the next skill, spend a few minutes after each lesson reflecting with your student on what they did well and what they can improve on. This reflection builds trust and motivation.
2. Overloading Students With Information
We’ve all done it—offering rapid-fire instructions to our students as they ride, thinking more advice will lead to faster progress. Unfortunately, this often has the opposite effect. Bombarding students with too many corrections at once can lead to overwhelm and frustration, leaving them unsure of what to focus on first.
The Fix:
Break down complex skills into smaller, manageable steps. Focus on one aspect at a time until it’s mastered, rather than throwing all the information at your student at once. It’s much more effective to teach riding skills in layers—building on the previous lesson, rather than rushing through everything at once.
Pro Tip: Pick one focus point for each lesson. For example, if you’re working on transitions, make that the primary focus, rather than trying to fix every aspect of the rider’s position and timing all at once.
3. Not Having a Clear Lesson Structure
Have you ever found yourself winging a lesson? It happens! But without a clear structure or plan, lessons can become disjointed, leaving students confused about their progress. Instructors who lack structure in their lessons may also struggle to ensure that their students are building skills in the right order.
The Fix:
Using a structured lesson plan allows you to stay on track and ensure that each lesson has a clear goal and progression. This doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible in your approach, but having a plan in place will help your students build on their skills week after week. Think of your lessons as building blocks—each one should lay the foundation for the next.
Pro Tip: Create a simple lesson outline before each session that includes a warm-up, a primary skill to focus on, and a cool-down that reinforces what was learned. (Psst! If you need a lesson plan template, you can grab one from my resources section!)
4. Not Tailoring Lessons to Individual Students’ Needs
No two students are the same, yet many instructors fall into the trap of using a “one-size-fits-all” approach. While it’s important to teach core principles, failing to adapt lessons to the individual learning styles and personalities of your students can lead to frustration and slower progress.
The Fix:
Take time to assess each student’s learning style. Are they a more visual learner who benefits from demonstrations? Do they need more verbal encouragement? Or are they the type to learn through trial and error? Tailoring your feedback and instructions based on what works for each student can help them learn faster and stay engaged in lessons.
Pro Tip: Try starting each lesson by asking your student how they feel about their progress and what they want to work on. This allows you to meet them where they are and make the lesson more effective for their specific needs.
5. Not Addressing Fear or Frustration
As instructors, it’s easy to focus on the riding skills we’re teaching and forget to check in on our students’ emotional state. If your students are feeling fearful or frustrated, they won’t be able to perform at their best, no matter how many times you ask them to try a skill. Ignoring these emotions can lead to stalled progress or, worse, cause students to lose their love of riding altogether.
The Fix:
Take a step back and acknowledge your students’ emotions. Are they nervous about cantering for the first time? Are they frustrated because they can’t seem to get the hang of leg yielding? Rather than pushing them through the skill, break it down into smaller, more manageable steps and celebrate their small wins.
Pro Tip: Incorporate confidence-building exercises (like trot poles or simple serpentines) into lessons when a student seems stuck. These allow the rider to experience success, which can melt away frustration and fear over time.
Conclusion:
The truth is, we all make mistakes as instructors. But the good news is that each mistake provides an opportunity to refine your approach, improve your lessons, and ultimately create a better experience for your students. By focusing not just on skills, but on building trust, confidence, and personalized progress, you can ensure that your students develop not just as riders, but as confident, capable individuals.
Do you recognize any of these mistakes in your own teaching? Let me know in the comments! And if you’re looking for more ways to improve your lessons, be sure to check out my free lesson plan templates and additional teaching resources.
Can you think of a good fix for a common mistake? I love to read your comment below.
Until next time,
Alisha Van Harn
