In larger barns, multiple riding instructors are sometimes necessary to serve all clients. They might specialize in different areas of equestrian sports, or perhaps they work with different levels of riders (e.g. beginning, intermediate, advanced). Whatever the case, it’s the horse business owner’s job to manage these riding instructors and ensure they are always on the same page.

Too often, I see groups of riding instructors where each individual instructor does his or her own thing, regardless of what his colleagues do. This results in alarming inconsistencies that can threaten a horse business’s survival.

This doesn’t mean that riding instructors shouldn’t be individuals. Of course not. But all instructors should be unified under common philosophies, values, and goals if the horse business is to succeed.

A set of rules

I’ve written before about the importance of barn rules, but what I’m talking about here are riding instructor rules. Things like:

• Ensuring all riding lesson equipment is put away at the end of a work day.
• Checking with other instructors to make certain a horse isn’t already in use before scheduling a riding lesson.
• Using the arenas/equipment only at specified, agreed-upon times.
• Avoiding disparaging comments about other riding instructors.
• Never “stealing” another instructor’s student.

Other rules will likely occur to you as time goes on and you see what issues crop up. They will vary from barn to barn, depending on the people who work there and the relationships between each of them.

The important thing here is to maintain both civility and order. To manage multiple riding instructors effectively, you must set boundaries and insist everyone respect them.

A published schedule.

Scheduling conflicts often crop up in barns with multiple riding instructors. If a schedule isn’t written and published (each week, to reflect changes in ride times as well as cancellations or make-ups), you can bet your employees will step on each other’s toes.

One of the riding instructor rules should require instructors to check with everyone else before making any changes to the schedule. This way, everyone knows what to expect when they arrive at the barn to teach.

A conflict resolution system.

If you think your riding instructors won’t argue now and again (or every day), you’re living in what I like to call My Little Pony Land. People don’t always agree on everything, so you need to have a system set up for addressing and resolving disputes.

For example, some horse business owners require that employees come to them with concerns first. This allows you to settle the issue yourself if possible, or to come up with a non-confrontational way to help them settle the dispute among themselves.

For example, one of your riding instructors tells you she doesn’t like the way another instructor teaches her students to post the trot. She describes the situation, and you can tell her whether she’s correct or mistaken, based on the way you want students at your barn taught. Then you can either educate the complaining instructor, or call in the other teacher to go over the preferred method of teaching. Your choice.

A quality control device.

Many of the horse business owners I meet have let their riding instructors have full rein. The teachers do what they want, when they want, with no real supervision. In my opinion, this is a mistake.

Your riding instructors represent your barn in every decision and action. Therefore, it is your responsibility to make sure they are projecting an image that is in line with your barn philosophy.

I recommend sitting in on riding lessons at least once a month. Watch how your instructors interact with their students and perform as teachers. Yes, it takes time out of your already busy day. But it also protects your horse business.

What about you?

Have you experienced trouble managing multiple riding instructors? Or maybe you’ve got this thing down to a science. Whatever the case, leave your perspective and experience in the comments below.

It’s been a couple months since my last post. Unfortunately, personal circumstances have prevented me from keeping up with the site, but 2012 is a new year (full of new advice for horse business owners).

Party in the barn, and everyone’s invited.

This year I want to focus RIU on helping horse business owners create sustainable, revenue-producing programs. From many of the comments I receive here on RIU and from the e-mails I get from readers, I deduce that lots of you are having trouble with your riding lesson, horse training, and boarding programs. I hear you.

So for 2012, you can expect new articles on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays here on the site. I’ll be kicking off this new schedule on Wednesday with a post on managing riding instructors, so stay tuned if you teach riding lessons at your barn.

Fridays will be devoted to Farm Freebies and You Tell Me posts, and I might sprinkle in a few bonus articles on Tuesdays and Thursdays as time permits.

Although I haven’t been posting much here at RIU, I have been checking and answering e-mails. Many of you have sent in questions, concerns, and requests for new content, and I’ve replied to every single one I’ve received. If you didn’t get a reply from me, please resend. Sometimes my spam folder eats legitimate messages.

And I wanted to give a huge New Year’s thank-you to my wonderful clients. You have all given me plenty of reasons to be excited about 2012, and you made 2011′s various personal crises much easier to manage. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support and your patience.

Now, a question for the crowd: What do you want from RIU in 2012?

What issues are you struggling with? How can I help you bring your horse business to the level you want, inexpensively and effectively? Which subjects are you most interested in?

Please leave your suggestions in the comments section below or send them to me via e-mail. Feel free to comment anonymously if you prefer.

I can’t wait to hear from you, and I’m extremely excited to see what 2012 brings your horse business!

Today’s question comes from Kacy of Starline Stables in Texas:

I would like to see an article done regarding overweight riders and the challenges they face learning to ride. I’m on the thinner side and can’t relate very well. If I had a better understanding what they’re going through, I might be able to teach them more effectively.

Thank you for the suggestion, Kacy, and I imagine there are lots of riding instructors who have the same concerns. Teaching overweight riders can be a frustrating experience because physical limitations get in the way of proper riding.

Taking it Slow

I struggled with my weight throughout my childhood, and it was no different when I picked up riding lessons as a kid. Insecurity led me to try to keep up with what all the other riders were doing, when I simply wasn’t fit enough.

Incidentally, horseback riding was what led me to shed my “baby fat,” and by the time I reached high school, I was no longer overweight. However, I do wish I had taken it slower when I was learning to ride because I wouldn’t have struggled so much.

The most important thing to remember when teaching overweight riders is that everyone works at his or her own pace. Extra pounds don’t automatically mean decreased endurance or strength, but riding instructors must pay attention to their students. Encourage all riders to let you know if they need to slow down or take a break.

Treat Everyone Equally

An overweight rider knows he or she carries a few extra pounds. It isn’t something about which one can be unaware. However, no one likes to have that fact pointed out.

It’s a fine line to walk. If you need to discuss something that involves the rider’s weight, make sure you take him or her aside to speak in private. When teaching groups of riders, try to treat everyone equally. A thin rider might suffer from lack of strength or endurance as well, so create an atmosphere where your students can talk to you about how they are feeling and whether they are able to keep up with the class.

Teach Lightness

The biggest obstacle overweight riders face is the impact of their weight on the horse’s back. Learning to post the trot, for example, is a greater challenge for overweight riders because when they miss a post, their weight is coming down hard in the saddle.

My advice is to teach riders the two-point position early on in their instruction, starting with the walk. Encourage your students to hop up into their two-point positions whenever they feel off-balance, because this way they’re taking the weight off the horse’s back. It’s a good rule to follow for all riders regardless of weight.

Make Suggestions

Several years ago, I taught a girl who complained of chaffing after every lesson. She was overweight, and the skin along the inside of her thighs would rub throughout her ride, and she would suffer the entire following week.

I suggested she sprinkle baby powder in her breeches before coming to her lesson. It seemed to help, and she said she no longer had the problem.

If overweight riders are uncomfortable wearing breeches, suggest Wrangler jeans or some other brand made specifically for horseback riders.

At the stable where I took my very first lessons, we weren’t allowed to wear oversized t-shirts because they can get caught on the cantle of the saddle while riding and post a safety hazard. It’s a common rule in the horse industry, but overweight riders are often uncomfortable wearing tight-fitting clothes. When my mother mentioned this to my riding instructor, they suggested I wear whatever I like, but tuck the tail of the shirt into my pants to remove the safety issue.

There are always ways to work around problems for overweight riders, but communication is essential. Encourage your students to come to you, in private, with any problems they might have so you can work together to find a solution.

Emphasize Flexibility

I was never very flexible, and this was a problem from the beginning of my riding career. Those who are flexible don’t necessarily realize how much elasticity is required in the saddle.

Encourage overweight riders to work on flexibility at home. Stretching, yoga, and swimming are all great exercise programs to improve the flexibility of muscles in the saddle.

Don’t Sweat It

Weight is a subject with which I’m not terribly comfortable—in fact, writing this article has been a challenge—and I have first-hand experience with being overweight in the saddle. It’s not fun.

The reality, though, is that all riders face challenges, and the best virtue a riding instructor can possess is compassion. View each student as a work in progress, a complex human being with his or her own set of strengths and weaknesses. Don’t worry about whether you’re catering to every potential weakness because you’ll drive yourself crazy.

Instead, focus on providing the best instruction you possibly can while listening to what your students tell you. Overweight riders will speak up if they get frustrated, or you’ll be able to tell by their demeanor in class. In other words, trust your instincts and your skills.

After spending the last week and a half with a wicked case of the flu, I’ve got runny noses, watery eyes, fatigue, and sneezing fits on the brain. Although my illness wasn’t related to allergies, the symptoms sure are similar.

And because allergies are so pervasive, there are bound to be plenty of equestrian professionals who suffer from them. Sure, allergies are a pain no matter where you spend your days, but when you’re constantly exposed to the elements, they tend to flare up just a bit more. So how can equestrian professionals get their allergies under control so they can do their jobs effectively?

1- See Your Doctor

My husband suffers from terrible allergies, and he’s tried every over-the-counter solution available. Allegra. Claritin. Zyrtec. Good ol’ Benadryl. Although most of them provided some relief, he still found himself carting around a package of Kleenex and battling overall misery. He finally went to see the doctor.

Prescription antihistamines have two main advantages: 1) They’re non-drowsy, if that’s what you request; and 2) They’re stronger. Sold!

Your doctor can also help you determine which allergens are your main triggers. A medical professional’s advice is always preferable to winging it on your own.

2- Wash Your Face and Hands

Part of the problem equestrian professionals face is the constant exposure to allergens, which are often transferred to the hands and face throughout the day. If you’ve got pollen on your hands and you rub your eyes, what happens? Instant allergic reaction.

Make a point to visit the washroom at the barn every hour or so to wash up. Not only will this help eliminate any allergens clinging to your skin, but it will also help get rid of bacteria that might make you sick in addition to your allergies.

3- Change Clothes

If your skin is an allergen-attractant, your clothes are even worse. The tiny fibers are like dust-particle catchers, and since your clothes are worn against your skin, they become a serious liability.

Keep a change of clothes at the barn and make sure you change clothes immediately upon arriving home. Then put the dirty clothes in a hamper with a lid and run the washing machine often.

I recommend leaving your boots outside or in a mud room closed off to the rest of the house. Clean them regularly.

4- Irrigate the Arena

If nothing else, stand out there with a hose and spray down the surface at least once a day. You can do the same with any other sandy areas, including the barn aisle way. Water will help congeal the surface and prevent free-floating dust, which will in turn minimize exposure.

Some barns install an irrigation system around their arenas to reduce the labor factor. While this might be expensive, it might also be worth it. Start saving up.

5- Wear a Mask

No, it’s not cool, and yes, you will look like a quarantine reject. But if your allergies are really bad at the barn, a mask might be the only option to get some relief.

Most barn owners turn out horses for at least a few hours each day, weather permitting. It’s like therapy for the animals, and it can also help them work off excess energy. But should you use individual or group turn-out for your horses?

Benefits of Individual Turn-Out

Individual turn-out means each horse is turned out in his own specific paddock or pasture. He is separated from other horses by some sort of fence—be it wood, vinyl, electric wire, or something else entirely—and he might go into the same exact paddock every day.

There are numerous benefits of individual turn-out, the most important of which is that horses separated by fences are less likely to hurt one another. Kicking, biting, and striking can all take place even with a few panels of wood between animals, but it’s more difficult for them to inflict serious injury.

When horses have their own private space in individual turn-out, you don’t have to worry about the problems sometimes caused by the pecking order. In other words, you won’t have an alpha mare keeping all the other horses away from the hay pile.

There is also less confusion with individual turn-out. When someone wants to bring in one horse for a ride, for example, he doesn’t have to worry about the other horses intervening. And you don’t have a stampede at the gate that could result in loose horses.

Benefits of Group Turn-Out

Conversely, group turn-out is generally a more social experience. The horses are allowed to form a pecking order just as they do in the wild, and this “herd approach” is considered by some to be more natural.

Horses involved in group turn-out might play better with others on trail rides or in the show ring because they are used to communal activities. Your mileage may vary on this one, but it’s something to think about.

And finally, group turn-out for horses is more cost-effective. It takes less fence and less overall space, which means you keep your overhead low. Not only can you avoid buying and installing all that fence, but you have less material to fix over time.

Personal Horses versus Client Horses

One of the things you have to consider in the horse business is what your clients would prefer. As mentioned above, group turn-out is slightly more dangerous than individual turn-out because horses have more access to one another. This means more injuries.

The liability issue alone is sometimes sufficient to convince a horse business owner that individual turn-out is best. If a client’s horse is seriously injured in the pasture, who is responsible? And how will you deal with potential legal disputes?

On the other hand, of course, you might work primarily with clients who want their horses socialized as much as possible. In this case, group turn-out is going to win because your clients want their horses to engage with one another for a few hours every day. Polling your clients will help you determine where their opinions lie.

The Danger of Co-Dependence

We used to turn out two of our lesson horses together because they got along famously. Over time, however, they became so dependent on one another that separating them was a hassle of monumental proportions. If you tried to catch one in the paddock, the other would intervene so they could stay together. And they would call to one another when separated.

Just like people, horses can form both healthy and unhealthy attachments. And believe me, it isn’t always easy to pinpoint which horses might present a problem. So consider this when pairing up animals in turn-out.

Giving Clients the Option

You can solve the whole problem of individual versus group turn-out by letting your clients choose individually how they want their horses pastured. If they prefer individual turn-out, they get their own space, and vice versa.

This can seriously complicate your life, but it’s entirely up to you. If you want your clients to have as many choices as possible, and if you have the space in which to set this type of operation up, go forth and provide options. Otherwise, you’ll want to stick to your guns on whichever decision you make.

^{Image by Planetka}

One of my students came to me several years ago from a riding instructor who had taught her diagonals backward. Another was taught to simply kick her horse whenever she wanted to change gaits. Bad habits are common among students who have received prior riding instruction, but how do you break those habits?

Respect Other Teachers

Inside you might be thinking this guy taught himself to ride horses watching old westerns, but outwardly you shouldn’t insult or belittle another riding instructor. Tempting though it might be, your job is simply to correct the behavior and to offer a better solution.

The student doesn’t realize he or she has been taught bad habits, and you might not be getting the full story. Just explain that you “do it differently” and ask the student to work toward this different method.

Explain the Reasoning

Too many riding instructors adopt a “because I said so” mindset when it comes to teaching their students. Avoid this. You should have a reason for every piece of education you pass on to your riders, and unless you share that reason, your students really have no idea why they ride a certain way.

Why do we canter on the inside lead? Because it balances the horse. Why do we give precise cues to change gaits? So the horse isn’t confused and transitions are smooth. When helping students break bad habits, create your own habit of giving each piece of instruction like an equation.

[What We Do] + [The Reason We Do It] = Good Instruction

Be Patient

If you’ve ever tried to stop chewing your finger nails or to be on time despite your propensity to tardiness, you know bad habits are hard to break. It takes time to replace old habits with new ones, and you have to be patient.

Some students are like sponges—they soak up everything immediately and you only have to tell them once. Most, however, require more time and attention.

Consider Private Lessons

If it becomes too difficult to help your student break bad habits in group lessons, you might switch to private lessons. One-on-one instruction can be more effective, especially with younger kids who have shorter attention spans.

Regardless, if you know a student is coming to you from a former riding instructor, set up an evaluation before you start formal lessons. Watch that student ride so you can determine what he or she has been taught before. That will help you develop a strategy once formal lessons begin.

Sometimes horse trainers are so focused on finding and wooing potential clients that they forget about the other side of the coin. Sure, you need clients to survive in the horse business, but you aren’t the best fit for every horse in the world. So what if you have to refuse a horse for training?

I can think of several situations in which this might be necessary:

• Your client list is full.
• The horse presents a danger to other horses or to people.
• You don’t specialize in the area of training the horse needs most.
• The client lives too far away.
• You and the client don’t “click.”

It happens. And your ability to refuse a horse for training speaks volumes about you as a horse business owner. It says you have standards. It says you recognize your strengths as well as your limitations. It says you have integrity.

Still, this situation needs to be handled delicately.

Offer a reason when you refuse a horse for training

But try to put it as delicately as possible. Don’t say, for example, “Your horse is crazy and I value my life too much to take him on.” That won’t score you any Brownie points, and your insensitivity will ruffle more than a few feathers.

You can give a stock reply—saying, for example, that your client list is full, even if it’s not. But that can be dangerous because, if you select that person’s friend for horse training two weeks later, you’ll have some explaining to do.

A better solution is to give an honest reason, but make sure to water it down if your reason says something negative about the client and/or the horse. It’s perfectly reasonable to say, “I’m sorry, but I don’t feel I’m the right fit for your horse training needs. I can help you find someone who is, though, and I wish you luck.”

Leave the door open for future horse training

One problem you might encounter is shooting yourself in the foot when it comes to future projects. Maybe you aren’t comfortable with this horse, for instance, but the client has fifteen others with whom you would love to work. A situation like this requires finesse.

The best approach is to be candid about your specialties. Tell the client where your strengths and skills lie, and let him or her know that you would be open to future opportunities that fit your background.

I always try to put something in the client’s hands. Write up a press kit or brochure in which you detail your experience as a horse trainer, the types of horses you work with, and your philosophies. This way prospective clients can always refer back to it when they need a horse trainer down the road.

Make a genuine effort to help

What many people don’t realize is that it’s not a big deal to refuse a horse for training. Unless you and the prospective client already have a long history working together, he or she doesn’t expect anything of you. There isn’t an existing relationship and you’re unlikely to hurt his or her feelings unless you’re too blunt.

The client is looking for a horse trainer, and if you don’t fit the bill there’s no foul. What I advise you to do is fill that client’s needs even if you aren’t the trainer to do so.

Put him or her in contact with other horse trainers you know. Make calls on his or her behalf. This type of helpfulness is remembered for years to come.

After talking about serious subjects over the last couple weeks, I thought we’d jump the tracks a little and talk about something more fun: Naming your barn! It’s a decision you’ll have to live with for quite some time, so it takes serious thought.

The name of your horse business is the first impression you create with most customers. Whether you want them to or not, they are going to imply certain things about the way you do business. Fortunately, you can get ahead of the game by choosing a name that accurately reflects the culture you have created around your barn.

Barn Name Length

Your barn name can be one word or twenty (though I advise against the latter). There is no limit to barn name length, but keep in mind that shorter names are catchier and easier to remember.

Of course, if you do choose a longer name, you can always shorten it in informal conversation. You might use the initials, or just the first couple words. For example, Finch Farms Equestrian Center might go by Finch Farms or FFEC.

Equestrian Themed Barn Names

Many horse business owners choose to name their barns using allusions to the equestrian world. Snaffle Bit Farms, for example, or Sorrel Stables, or Horseshoe Meadows. This immediately puts people in mind of horses, which can be a good thing.

Just be careful about identifying with a specific equestrian word. If you were to call yourself Sorrel Stables, for example, would people think you specialize in sorrel-colored horses? If you do specialize in sorrel-colored horses, that’s fine, but if you don’t you might create some confusion.

{Side Note: Does anyone specialize in breeding, training, or showing sorrel-colored horses?}

Discipline-Themed Barn Names

If your horse business will concentrate on one particular equestrian discipline, you can use that to give yourself more variety in choosing a name. Maybe you live in Laurel, Virginia, so you call your barn Laurel Show Jumpers.

The only problem with this method is that you can’t really change the discipline in which you specialize. This won’t be a problem for most people, but what if you suddenly decide show jumping isn’t your life’s passion, and you want to switch to reining? Might cause a few problems.

Also, maybe you specialize in show jumpers but you welcome riders of all disciplines. In this case, you might be immediately turning off riders of other types when they look up barns in the Yellow Pages or online.

Name-Based Barn Names

I once knew a barrel racer who jumped into the horse business with a barn named based on the initials of her family members. She called her place MSP Ranch after herself (Molly), her husband (Sam), and her son (Peter).

This is often the choice of family-oriented barns where the owners want to pass down the farm through generations.

If you don’t like the initials concept, you can also use your last name. If you’re Teresa Danielson, you might call your barn Danielson Acres. This type of name creates a sense of intimacy and family.

Geography-Based Barn Names

I haven’t conducted a survey or anything, but I think this might be the most popular way to name a barn. Whispering Pines Riding Academy, Live Oak Stables, Creek Bend Ranch. You can always name your barn after an aspect of the geography on which it sits.

Quirky Barn Names

I ran across Fish Bowl Farm the other day and thought it was really cute. One of my clients named her barn Stir-It-Up Stables, which I also thought was unique, and at some point I heard of a place called Rock ‘n’ Ride.

You can get as crazy or zany as you’d like with barn names, as long as you’ll be able to live with yourself after the Jell-O shots wear off. In other words, give yourself some time to think it over.

What about you?

How did you choose your barn name? Does it have special significance? Any great ideas you’d like to pass on to someone who might be looking? Share in the comments.

All horse business owners need a break once in a while, and you can’t be at the barn every single day of the year. Whether you’re taking a much-needed vacation or traveling to horse shows, it helps to have a strategy for leaving the barn in good hands.

Appoint a Barn Manager

If you don’t already have one on staff, you need a barn manager when you’re away. This can be a paid contractor or an eager volunteer, but you must trust this person implicitly. He or she will fill your shoes until you return.

A barn manager’s job is to oversee the daily operations on the farm. From coordinating grain deliveries to calling the vet for sick horses, he or she becomes the point person for employees, customers, and vendors alike.

A barn manager is essential when you’re away because you need a central figure to whom everyone else can turn in an emergency.

Post Contact Numbers

Somewhere in the barn you need to leave a number where you can be reached as well as your itinerary. If you’re worried about leaving that information in plain sight, you can give it to the barn manager and one other person for safe keeping.

In addition to your contact information, post phone numbers for the veterinarian, farrier, and anyone else whose services might be required in your absence. Include contact information for service providers at the barn, as well, such as horse trainers and riding instructors.

Inform Clients

Don’t just disappear for a week without letting anyone know, particularly if you fulfill a service-oriented role at the barn, such as teaching riding lessons or training horses. Communicate with your clients well before your date of departure so there are no misunderstandings.

If necessary, schedule make-ups for riding lessons or horse training sessions in advance so clients know their needs will be met upon your return. Giving yourself a two- to three-week cushion between notifying clients and leaving the barn will probably suffice.

Close Down When Necessary

You must trust the people who will be at your barn when you are away. If you don’t trust them, it might be necessary to shut down certain operations.

For example, maybe you’re concerned about your employees teaching riding lessons in your absence. If this is the case, simply cancel all riding lessons for the duration of your vacation. Otherwise you’ll spend your time away worrying, and that doesn’t help anyone.

Leave a Phone Handy

Some horse business owners lock their offices when they are away from the barn, but make sure a phone is available to clients and employees. If there is an emergency and no one has a cell phone (I know, fat chance), you want them to be able to call for help.

Put the phone in the tack room, feed room, anywhere else if you lock your office.

It’s important to take vacations from the barn every once in a while. Taking these precautions will help you enjoy yourself while you’re away, and will keep everything running smoothly until you return.

We talked earlier in the week about clients who don’t listen, and a couple weeks ago we discussed client criticism. Now I want to know how you deal with the latter issue.

You Tell Me: How do you respond to client criticism?

You’re minding your own business, working at your farm, and a client tells you you’re doing it wrong. Or he has a problem with your horse training methods. Or maybe he doesn’t like how you teach riding lessons. What’s your response? Do you give him a listen, then calmly explain your point of view? Or do you shut him down right away? And when does criticism become disrespectful?

Weight in below in the comments section.