I tend not to lend much credence to New Year’s resolutions. Most of us have forgotten them by the time Valentine’s Day arrives, and I don’t think you need to wait for the start of a new year to set goals for yourself and your horse business.
However, New Year’s resolutions can be healthy if they are realistic and you make a point to remember them. If you want a fresh start in 2010, consider one of these New Year’s resolutions for riding instructors.
1- Write Lesson Plans
An organized riding instructor never enters the arena without a plan. What did the students learn last week? What are their goals for the month? Where are they lacking?
Lesson plans are an excellent way to keep track of each class’s progression and to keep your students working toward something, whether it is a competition or a particular technique.
You don’t have to be uber-organized to write lesson plans. Simply purchase a large three-ring binder or a notebook in which to jot notes after classes. At the start of each week, write a lesson plan for each of your classes based on their performance the previous lesson.
2- Create Rapport
You will be ten times more effective as a riding instructor if you have a solid rapport with your students. This doesn’t mean you need to be best friends —in fact, that’s really not the best idea—but you should know more about them than which horses they like to ride.
For younger students, try playing a game at the end of each lesson where they share information about themselves. Older students might benefit from a pizza party or other social event that doesn’t revolve around lead changes or tricky combinations.
3- Reduce Late Payments
Late payments are second only to no payments on the list of riding instructors’ worst nightmares. If you aren’t getting paid you can’t take care of yourself, and if you can’t take care of yourself your horse business will suffer.
Riding instructors should have a system in place for dealing with payments. Make sure your students (or their parents) know when payments are due and how to tender them. Institute a late fee policy for students who fail to pay on time.
4- Build Something
New jumps for your advanced students. An indoor arena. Storage sheds. Better tack room. There are tons of ways in which you can improve the appearance and functionality of your barn.
I’ve found that you have more fun making new stuff yourself and it certainly helps in the bank account department. If you don’t feel like you’re handy enough to go the DIY route, hire someone to help (or enlist the assistance of a friend).
5- Be Punctual
A late riding instructor does no one (least of all herself) any favors. If you have trouble meeting your commitments on time, buy a PDA or a Dayplanner to help keep everything on track. Make a point to respect your students’ time just as you expect them to respect yours.
If you always find yourself running late, subtract 15 minutes from the time of every appointment. For example, if you have a riding lesson to teach at four o’clock, tell yourself it starts at three forty-five. That way, you’ll always be on time—or even early!
What’ve You Got?
What are your New Year’s resolutions for your horse business this year? What do you want to change? Eliminate? Add? Move around?
This is a great time to start thinking about all the possibilities of 2010. This time next year, you can congratulate yourself on a job well done.
About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Editor in Chief of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. Follow her EquiTips on Twitter.