Most of us have cell phones these days, and some of us can’t get through an hour without checking to see if we’ve missed a call. We’re constantly connected to others through technology.
And riding instructors should have cell phones. In fact, I recommend bringing them to every lesson because, in the event of a serious accident, the cell is your best friend. Many barns are not equipped with land line telephones, and if they are, the phone is often too far away from the arena for comfort.
However, there are three rules riding instructors should follow when it comes to cell phones:
- Put the cell phone on vibrate during lessons.
- Never use cell phones during lessons.
- Take phones away from riders before they mount.
This might seem over-the-top in terms of rules, but cell phones can be one of the most dangerous devices when it comes to horses.
Vibrate vs. Ring
A ringing cell phone can startle horses during riding lessons, resulting in accidents. Vibrate means that you know when your phone rings, but no one else is any the wiser.
To be honest, I prefer it if riding instructors turn their phones off during lessons. At my first job as a riding instructor, the other teachers I worked with could often be found chatting away on their phones while they were supposed to be watching their students.
This is bad form, as I’m sure you realize. Your focus needs to be on your students at all times. And if an emergency occurs, you only need a couple of seconds to turn your phone back on and place a call to 911.
Speaking Of…
Never use your cell phone during lessons. Did you catch that?
This means no phone calls, no text messages, no surfing the Internet, no games and no apps. Don’t even take pictures. Cell phones should be kept in your pocket the entire time a lesson is in session.
It Works Both Ways
Cell phones are distracting for riding instructors, but they can also cause problems with riders. A No Cell Phones policy is excellent for students as well as teachers, and it might become necessary to confiscate them.
One of my consulting clients, a riding instructor in Washington state, keeps a plastic bin next to the arena. Before students can enter with their horses, they must dump their cell phones in the bin, after which the top is put on the bin and it’s secreted away for the duration of the lesson.
Keep in mind that lots of people have cell phones, even kids and pre-teens, so don’t assume that your younger students are innocent. If necessary, ask parents to bring their kids sans-cell to riding lessons.
You might also like:
- 7 Things Riding Instructors Should Never Say
- Where Do Riding Instructors Stand?
- Should Riding Instructors Let Students Ride Outside Lessons?
- Managing Multiple Riding Instructors
- What Should
Riding Instructors Wear?
About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.
