What makes a teacher good? That’s a difficult question.
It’s easier to point out what does not:
Not a German accent, or an Australian one, or a Spanish one.
Not a waxed mustache, the right brand of denim, and chinks with fringes.
Not tables full of merchandise with logos on it.
Not ribbons, medals, and accolades. Some successful riders do make good teachers, but it’s not automatic.
Not charging an insane amount of money. Yes, we all need to make a living. Teachers should be fairly compensated - but just because someone’s students pay a lot does not mean they learn a lot.
Not certificates or degrees. Don’t get me wrong, some (or a lot of) education certainly does not hurt. It’s a part of good horsemanship, and of good teaching, but not all educated, certified teachers are good teachers.
Not having worked with a lot of horses. Practical experience matters, of course it does. It’s important to know what we’re doing before trying to explain it to others. But practical experience alone does not guarantee we can pass along what we’ve learned from it.
Not feel, timing, and a good seat. Some of the best horsewomen and horsemen I’ve ever met struggle to translate what they do every day without thinking about it into words their human students can understand.
No, the special sauce is in our heads. It has to do with our “why.”
If we teach only because we want to make money, we don’t teach well.
If we teach because we want to show off how much we know, or how well we ride, we don’t teach well.
If we teach to boost our ego, or our students’ ego, we don’t teach well.
If we consider teaching a necessary evil, something we have to do but would rather not, chances are we don’t teach well.
At the end of the day, it’s really simple: Good teachers teach because they want to help their students get along better with their horses. Good teachers get satisfaction from building those relationships. They will use their skill, their experience, and their education to make life better for riders and horses, to improve communication. They will meet their students wherever they are. They will explain things fifty different ways if the first 49 don’t land. A little bit of progress makes them ridiculously happy. Learning from them is not easy, because learning never is easy, but it does not hurt, either.
I feel extremely fortunate to have worked with a few excellent teachers. Thank you, Ulla Hudson, Nicole Thüngen-Salwender, Lauren Ogden, Bill Woods, and Ellie Stine-Masek, for your guidance, mentorship, and enthusiasm. You’ve made me a better horsewoman. You’ve also made me a better teacher.
I’m curious: What do you appreciate in your teachers? What do you wish they did better? And if you teach, why do you teach? Please let me know!
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