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Monday, June 06 2022 / Published in Weekly Feature

Being an Empathic Professional to Equine Athletes

By Rob Jacobs

 

 

Equestrian sport is unique in that the athletes are both the horse and the rider. Having an animal as an athletic partner adds challenges that may differ compared to other sports with only human partners. As a trainer of both horses and riders, I have found it beneficial to incorporate empathy into my training methods. I have a direct yet calm style when I’m working with horses and riders. Through the years, I’ve found it beneficial to understand and share the feelings of the horses and riders. This is a skill not everyone has naturally, but may be strengthened once more aware and practiced.

 

As I work in the industry, I recognize there will be days when either athlete may not perform to the best of their ability for a variety of reasons, whether mental, physical or emotional. I take time to read body language and I listen to the types of questions asked. We should acknowledge that questions are both verbal and non-verbal. An example of a non-verbal question would be a horse slowing down cautiously to the first jump on course as the wind blows the flowers around. The horse is asking if it’s OK to jump given the way the flowers are blowing at the base of it. This is a question a rider with feel is able to promptly and accurately answer.

 

Having the capacity to understand and share the feelings of horses and riders I believe serves professionals well. I believe it fosters trust in the trainer-to-client partnership, as well as the trainer-to-horse partnership. Trust and confidence play a significant role in our industry. As human beings, we want to feel heard and understood, as do our equine athletes. There is short-term and long-term value in taking the time to hear and understand those whom we train. It may dictate the rate of progression an athlete will experience. Although as an equine professional we know each athlete will progress at their own speed, we do want consistency and growth.

 

A component of being empathic is being flexible. During training sessions, it’s possible that either horse or rider may perform less than expected. An empathic professional is able to pick up on this and also potentially understand why. Altering the original plan to suit the particular day is wise in those situations. Over the years, I’ve learned when and how hard to challenge an athlete. With this said, professionals still get it wrong and learn from each training session. I believe the continued learning is one of the main reasons many people become interested in horses for the duration of their lives.

 

Rob gives his horse a pat as they enter the warm up ring.

Photo by Sara Shier Photography

 

 

The main concern I have with unempathic equine professionals is the increased risk of improper training and safety methods. In my opinion, this may lead to loss of confidence or even injury. Professionals may either lack the skills needed to be empathetic, or their experiences may have led them to lose empathy for the equine and human athletes. Lack of fulfillment in their role is another possible reason a professional may become less empathic. This is something I have seen throughout my journey in the industry, and something I want to be aware of and work to protect myself from. We all have areas we can grow in, and I work at being aware of how I can make progress and serve the industry better each year.

 

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Tagged under: equestrian, horses, hunter-jumper, Rob Jacobs

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The June issue of Sidelines Magazine is here!!! G The June issue of Sidelines Magazine is here!!! 
Get ready to meet the cutest, funniest and very talented equestrian couple from California - Evan Donadt and Ashley Donadt. Thanks Jeni Brunner for the great cover photo! 

Evan is a Tik Tok and social media star, along with several of their horses and ponies. So get ready to laugh, and also be inspired by their relationship and Ashley's dressage goals - she's headed to the top! You will love them and their story will make you want to follow them on social media! 

We also feature hunter-jumper rider Will Baker who has a new farm near Ocala, Florida, complete with a cute donkey (and lots of amazing horses of course), equestrian artist Jan Lukens of Jan Lukens Fine Art (if you were a fan of Gem Twist you will love his paintings!), talented Texas dressage rider John Mason who has a great story, hunter-jumper rider Addison Reed who is now showing in the Grand Prix, and we catch up with the amazing Kate Egan and her larger-than-life horse and her story about how she won a car!

Former eventing groom Courtney Carson tells us about her new career, eventer Nicole Zardus shares her story of retraining racehorses for the eventing and foxhunting world, and we catch up with the very talented rider Luke Jensen who is now a professional rider for North Run's Missy Clark and John Brennan. Don't miss Luke's touching story about the horse Jamaica! 

We feature Robert Crandall in our Unbridled column, along with our great columnists who share their wisdom: eventing with Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing, dressage with George Williams, hunter-jumper with Rob Jacobs R.L. Jacobs and sports psychology with Margie Sugarman. Also enjoy the Show Time pages from The FEI World Cup Finals and the American Equestrians Got Talent competition. It's another great issue!!

Don't forget to visit our website and order a subscription - one year for $14.95 - you can't beat that! In the meantime, enjoy the June issue. Link in bio! 
#Sidelines #sidelines2023 #sidelinesmagazine #magazine #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople
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You can always count on Sidelines Magazine to deliver some of the most elite real estate properties! Follow for more!
A sawhorse and tack made from household items is n A sawhorse and tack made from household items is not the typical way people fall in love with horses. But that was how Amy Coleman, MD, got her start in the equine world. From being a sickly child to an Air Force career to an entrepreneur, Amy has had many wonderful experiences and has flourished in the equine world.

 Horses and equestrians have helped Amy throughout her life and now she’s able to give back to the equestrian world with her business, Wellsmart Medical Services in Georgetown, Kentucky. Focusing on helping people in a more natural manner, Amy helps equestrians be more in tune with their bodies, which helps them be more in tune with their equine partners.

Wellsmart Medical Services has helped many people with chronic illnesses that many other practitioners claimed were “not important enough” to address. As Amy grows more in her relationship with her body and the world around her, she has been able to help her patients grow in the same way. 

Read the rest of Amy's story at Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more! 

Photos by Ruby Tevis

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