40/ JUNE 2018 THE RIDER


The Science of how Horses Think & Learn Coaching vs. teaching. What’s the difference? Part 1


By Lindsay Grice Eques- trian Canada coach and judge.


As a younger rider, my


coach had a keen eye for horse talent and paired me with promising prospect. He taught me the technicalities of jumping and the steps to ride through a course but then, failed to take the train- ing wheels off! I never learned to be an


independent rider - to think by myself. Until I became a professional and had sink or swim. Years later, as a riding


coach, I strive to explain not only the hows but the whys of riding. To help riders problem-solve between les- sons, using the tools we’ve practiced. And I’m always asking


how I can be a better com- municator, even mentor, for those I teach. I like this distinction


between teacher and coach- ing and from an Equestrian Canada “Coaches Cor- ner”… The goal of teaching is


to transmit knowledge: facts, steps, processes. The goal of coaching is to facilitate the participant’s learning process. As coaches, it’s tempt-


ing to want riders (or our own kids) to be dependent on us, but don’t you think


the best gift is to give them the tools they need, take off the training wheels and re- lease them? This month we’ll


tackle the first idea – trans- mitting knowledge. The goals of a good teacher. Next month we’ll talk


about the bigger picture, life lessons and character build- ing.


So what makes a good coach?


1. A good coach has an analytical eye. As a coach I act as a mirror. Watching the rider.Watching the horse’s response. My eyes circle from the rider’s signals to the horse’s re- sponse, speaking back what I see, choosing words as de- scriptively and simply as I can. I’ve learned so much from watching horses and riders over the years. From different vantage points – the centre of an arena, the bleachers, the hub of a longeing circle, in the sad- dle, the judge’s stand. A keen coaching eye is devel- oped from watching hun- dreds of horses and riders and thinking about what we see.


2. A good coach gets to the source of the issue. Often the problem is


beneath the surface. Gifted coaches zero in on the glitch


What a privilege is coaching! Helping riders understand the technical skills, when and why to use them.


and source of it. Often the issue is deeper than a simple equi- tation-fix , but rooted in a com- munication issue. Timing, technique in using the aids. And a consideration of how the horse understands the aids.


3. A good coach has a tool kit of solutions. Horse professionals have


learned over the years what tends to work - often by discovering what doesn’t! Good coaches have a plan B or C in my their pockets, if correction A doesn’t solve the problem.


4. A good coach asks questions. I try to remind myself- seek


to understand before seeking to be understood. I’ve discovered a rider’s perception, goals and fears can be different than I pre- sume!


5. A good coach is always learning. Reading,


learning from


other riding disciplines and ex- perimenting. I ask lots of questions from


people smarter than me at what they do!


6, A good coach helps riders


enjoy the process as much as the result. Sport coaches are seeing the


research about the long term ben- efits in balancing practice ses- sions to competitions. It indicates that rider burn out comes from too much showing without soak- ing in enough practice in be- tween.


Next month - Coaching and mentoring. Fostering independ- ence in riders.


About Lindsay Grice: “Is it me or my horse?” Coach, trainer and show


judge Lindsay Grice in her 25 years as a professional horse- woman is a self-described “horse observer”. “I’ve learned so much by


watching horses – from the end of a longe line, the view from the saddle, or the judges’ booth – and I love helping riders solve their horse puzzles based on the sci- ence of how horses think and learn,” she says. Lindsay’s love of teaching


shows up as coach, clinician and even when judging – giving tips and encouragement as appropri- ate.


She’s taught classes and seminars on


Equine Behaviour and Learning for provincial equine associations, ther- apeutic riding fa- cilities and courses offered by Univer- sity of Guelph. She teaches clinics on showing,


training and judging for horse clubs and teaches riders at various farms. She is an AQHA specialized


Independent riders have learned to problem- solve in the warm up or show ring.


judge, Equine Canada judge and a Provincial Hunter/Jumper judge. Serving on an Equestrian Canada


judging committee, she teaches sem- inars in General Performance (multi discipline, multi breed) judging.


Canadian Grown Flax For Fantastic Omega-3 Oils


reads online or magazines about sup- plements, has heard of Omega-3 oils. These oils are an essential ingredient in human, equine, and canine diets. Besides affecting an animal’s coat, hoof, gastric system, joints and skin, Omega-3 oils can help reduce the fre- quency or severity of several condi- tions listed below.


source that has the highest concentra- tion of Omega -3 in the plant king- dom. Even, better, flax is Canadian grown which also makes it locally sourced and the lowest priced which pretty much makes it the perfect source of Omega-3. Other options do provide Omega-3 such as Hemp, which contains considerably less at 21% Omega-3 oil and is much more expensive than Flax oil. Camelina is


Obesity Heart disease Joint pain Inflammation Autoimmune disorders Crohn’s disease Cancers of the breast, colon, and prostate Mild hypertension Rheumatoid art Regulate heart anti-arrythmia Reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol Flax oil, at about 60%, is the


Anyone who watches TV or


modern feed mills use a LOT of Omega-6 laden oils. These come from inexpensive corn, sunflower and especially soy oil (a by-product of soy protein manufacturing) which they use to flavor animal feeds and human cookies, breads, cakes, etc. In contrast, the human diet work


Ontario to BC shows that the Omega- 3 to Omega-6 ratio is actually 1:20 which means these levels are 40 times out of balance. This would indicate that we need to pay more attention to the amount of Omega-6 dominant oils we feed our horses, our dogs and our- selves.


Send us all your news for the next issue of The Rider


best with equal amounts of Omega-3 and Omega-6 whilst natural grazing equine diets follow mother Nature’s recipe of twice as much Omega-3 as there is Omega-6. An annual survey of mills from


which can be beneficial, for example, right after an accident. The inflamma- tion helps the body stabilize tissue, bones, and blood vessels. And, Omega-6 is not a problem as long as it is balanced with Omega-3. The problem lies in the fact that


being highly promoted at the moment but it, too, is inferior to flax due to its high Omega-6 content (23%) and much higher cost at around $65 per gallon. Omega-6 is pro-inflammatory


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