Recently, I have been coaching more than normal. It occured to me today how lucky I am that my students are coachable and trust enough in me to push them past their comfort zones.

“Coachability is not a technical skill or an inherent ability. It is a mental attitude. It is defined by your ability to be coached. It is determined by your emotional ability to withstand the necessary constructive criticism and pressure from your coach. It requires you to do so without losing your positive spirit and without slackening in your motivation and effort. It is also defined by your ability to adapt and to improve as required.” (Gloveworx)

“However, as amazing as your coach may be, their efforts are meaningless without another crucial part of this success equation: your own coachability. Even with the best coaches at your disposal, it is your coachability in conjunction with great coaching that will ultimately determine your progress.” (Gloveworx)

Throughout my own riding and coaching career, and fitness journey, I endeavour to be coachable, to be trainable and to take on board what my coach is telling me. Often this means making changes that are uncomfortable to me or make me feel like progress is slow/next to none. Sometimes I doubt my coach or the method that is used to try and make the change.

It is the trust in my coach at those particular cross roads that make me push through and stay the course. I have been lucky enough to have coaches throughout my life that I can trust and they have steered me along the correct path. This is another important aspect that we pick the right person to trust, and not someone that will lead us down the garden path.

Being trainable or coachable can be tough. It is not always a bed of roses, and it needs commitment from both parties. I am grateful that my students allow me to coach them and trust me enough to stay the course, that it may not always be easy but to trust that I want the best for them and their horses… and also to trust that I do have enough knowledge and skill to coach them through it.

To all my students, thank you!

For more on coachability, I found this great article

https://www.forbes.com/sites/khurrammasood/2020/11/19/what-is-coachability-and-how-can-i-embrace-it/?sh=234a17ac29a6