Arna Clark

Arna Clark, 42 year old lady returning to riding.
 
I spent probably 10 years from the age of 6 to 16 riding various farm horses round the paddocks.  I then went out and bought a 4 year old horse because I liked the look of him, and didn’t really put a lot of thought of where my riding was at after such a long break.  I fell off and broke my arm and this really made me apprehensive.
 
I had become very nervous about riding and thought I would get some professional advice.  The best thing about having my first coaching session with Cheski was she asked me where I was at and what I wanted to get out of the session.  I initially felt a bit embarrassed by having to say that I was a bit scared of getting on my horse.  She instantly put me at ease and we progressed through the session at my pace.  She asked me what was wrong with just hoping on and feeling comfortable, then maybe progressing to a walk ... its great that we have now moved on from there.    The thing I like is there is no set agenda and we can work on exactly where I am at or what I have been having trouble with at home, you don’t have to keep up with other people.  But in say that Cheski also makes you look at other options or see things from the horses point of view, which is not always how you think about things. 
 
How a coaching session works for me is usually a quick catch up with how much riding have I don’t since seeing Cheski last time.  I usually tell her what was good and what was not so good.  This usually starts the basis for our session. 

Cheski then asks what I would like to work on, and we form a general plan, she then creates tasks depending to what goes good and what need more practice.  Usually the things Cheski asks you to do are only small, but she always checks if you feel comfortable, if the answer is yes you progress on to the next thing.   By doing things this way I think I can do that, you aren’t just thrown in the deep end and asked to do something you don’t feel comfortable with.  I have not had coaching before and enjoy the change from the beginning of a session to the end of a session.  By doing things at your own pace, by the time an hour has gone by I feel like I have achieved a huge amount.  I like the way you are asked to think of things in more than one way, this has given me a huge amount of confidence and knowledge as a rider.  In saying that Cheski lets you work at your own pace she also slips in challenges and makes them fun and before you know it you are doing something that you hadn’t actually thought about.
 
I think my needs are being met by Cheski’s coaching style.  She works with you and also knows how to make you advance as a rider.  She asks how things are going and what would you like to improve, but also offers advice on what she would like to see.  I have learnt I don’t need to put myself in unsafe situations and only do what feel right me and my horse.  She has given me the tools to try things different ways and to find out what works for me.

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