Is two — or three — better than one?
Having multiple trainers can work, if it’s approached the right way
‘Some clients will always circulate. But if someone wants to try another trainer, you would expect them to tell you’
ALISON SHORT
“IKNEW intuitively that something was going on,” says an established dressage trainer, who would rather not be mentioned by name. “There was no evidence, but I just sensed it. A barrier went up.”
She is not talking about her marriage, but something she considers almost as meaningful and significant — a long-standing relationship with a pupil she has nurtured from unaffiliated novice to the national championships. A pupil who, she has just discovered, recently chose to go to a different trainer behind her back.
Another anonymous rider tells of her “secret trainer”. She’s based at a yard with a resident coach who won’t allow other instructors on his premises, so she makes her excuses and heads off for a “hack” — in other words, a clandestine lesson with a local trainer she much prefers.
The coach-rider relationship can become a strangely tangled web. Such is the bond that can develop between the two that there may not be room for an unwelcome third party. Cheat on your trainer and you risk undermining trust and creating turbulence. At worst, such disloyalty can lead to an acrimonious parting of the ways.
However, must it always be so? Some of our most successful riders are open and honest about having multiple trainers, who seem to coexist happily to bring out the best in their pupil. How are these riders able to navigate the potential politics of such a situation?
BEFORE deciding how you will introduce a new instructor into the mix, it’s worth considering why you might need one.
According to Alison Short, a British Dressage (BD) UKCC level three coach, quality is more important than quantity.
“If you’re clicking with your trainer and understanding them, why do you need another?” she says. “A good instructor will agree goals with you and help you work towards them. They will have an interest in you and will want you to do well.
“When lower-level riders skip from one trainer to another, the foundations can become very rocky,” she adds. “The client can soon become confused and demoralised. I see progression becoming slower when different methods are mixed together.”
Dressage rider and trainer Levi Hunt, who is also a UKCC level three coach, agrees that misunderstanding can arise if the lessexperienced rider is offered too many opinions.
“It would work if every trainer was saying the same thing regarding scales of training,” he says. “But if you’re at the lower levels and you’re told something contradictory, you don’t always have the knowledge and confidence to siphon off what you need. The horse may be up and tense one day and the trainer wants it lower, then on its forehand the next time and another trainer wants it up.
“As a professional rider, I can use different trainers at different times and keep continuity for the horse,” adds Levi. “But otherwise [if you’re an amateur or one-horse rider], I’d say find one trainer you get on with and stick closely to that — although there’s no harm in a test-riding clinic every now and then.”
According to international dressage rider Anna Ross, pupils should have a system in place before exploring other ideas.
“If you’re working with multiple trainers, ideally they need to be singing from the same hymn sheet,” she says. “Otherwise, although it can be interesting for the rider, it can get very confusing for the horse.
“Persistent ‘trainer hopping’ doesn’t tend to produce results,” adds Anna. “The good trainers are usually aiming for the same thing, it’s just that the delivery of information is different. It is important that pupils connect with their coach. Trust is essential — a highquality trainer will often push you slightly outside your natural comfort zone, and you may need to take a leap of faith that a system will work rather than keep jumping ship.”
CAN the more established rider reap rewards by diversifying their training programme?
“Certain trainers are good for certain horses,” says Levi, who trains with Glenys Hemming and Carl Hester. “One might be especially patient and will stay on one subject for as long as it takes, so I would have no qualms about going to someone like that — even if they weren’t my regular trainer. Some are fantastic at the mechanics of movement, which can be good for young horses, while others focus on test riding and are looking to turn a seven into an eight. It’s all about
ANNA ROSS ‘If you’re working with multiple trainers, ideally they need to be singing from the same hymn sheet. Persistent “trainer hopping” doesn’t tend
to produce results’
knowing what works best for the horse.
“Glenys keeps me in check and stops me from going crooked on a daily basis — she’s my eyes on the ground,” adds Levi. “I go to Carl every three to four weeks to top everything up. I’ll tell him about my next big competition with a horse and he’ll guide me towards it.”
Chloe Dawes has a similar story. She trains with both Isobel Wessels and Helen James.
“Isobel looks at the overall picture, from a judge’s point of view, and gives me something to go away with and work on rather than concentrating on the pernickety things,” says Chloe, who also attends squad sessions with BD Youth. “I’ve trained with Helen since I was about 13, for 10 years, so she knows me really well. Sometimes I need her to bully me a little and sort out my position.”
Dressage coach Islay Auty believes that it can be “hugely beneficial” for more experienced riders to seek different opinions.
“A lot of my clients have different trainers or input from squad and team advisers,” she says. “I feel very confident with that and will often go to watch their lessons. It’s fascinating to see a different trainer’s approach to someone I coach — interesting for the rider and good CPD [continuing professional development] for me.
“Event riders use trainers for different disciplines and I’ll often liaise with other coaches, asking whether the canter is forward enough, for example, or if I can do more with the dressage.”
British Eventing master coach Nick Turner says: “I work with some riders in all three eventing disciplines, some for the jumping and others for just cross-country or showjumping. I’m happy with any or all of the above, and open to the idea that a pupil may need more specific help. Sometimes, another pair of eyes or a different way of seeing things can make a breakthrough.”
FOR Islay, an open approach is vital to making a multiple coach situation productive. “I always talk to a pupil about what they got out of the other lesson, and encourage them to ask the trainer if they’re being told to do something differently,” she explains. “The important thing is that the rider is enlightened as to why a different trainer is taking a different approach.
“If they leave completely, you would hope they have the grace, courtesy or courage to say ‘I’m moving on’,” adds Islay, who points out that a coach also has a responsibility to be dignified about losing a client. “A client may move to find the quick fix but, with horses, there are none. You have to let people find that out for themselves. Some need to go out there and see that all good trainers are aiming for the same thing, rather than you telling them it is so.”
Alison advises being upfront with your trainer if you plan to try someone new.
“If you’re with the right trainer, they will be honest enough to tell you whether what you’re about to do will help or hinder your progress,” she says. “There are possessive trainers, but often a coach will genuinely feel that you are getting confused by contradictory tuition from different people.
“Some clients will always circulate and you don’t want to teach people who are afraid to go elsewhere. But if someone wants to try another trainer, you would expect them to tell you.”
As with any relationship, communication is key to making it work.
“You should feel relaxed enough to talk to your trainer,” says Levi, who feels that he can be honest with his own coaches — and expects honesty back. “If a client plans to try a different trainer or move on, I would encourage them to do what feels right for the horse. As long as the decision is made in the horse’s best interests, it can’t be a bad thing.”