What kind of coach am I? Or maybe the better question is: what kind of coach have I become?

In my earlier years, I had many coaches who served as role models. Each one taught me something different. I leaned on their guidance, absorbed their strengths, and eventually shaped my own style.

I truly love coaching. I love inspiring. I love that moment when a rider gets something right—the “ah ha” moment. I love seeing my horses enjoy their jobs. Those things fuel me.

My most influential role models were three trainers who shaped me in very different ways.

First was Gry McFarlane, back when I was in my teens. Gry was all about fundamentals. She was tough, encouraging, and had a push that I really thrived on.

Second was Victor Hugo Vidal. I trained with him as a junior after moving to Southern California. Victor believed riders should learn to think for themselves. Through him, I learned mental toughness and how to be a more independent rider. He always pushed you to focus on the positives and on what you could do to make your ride better. He was strict, but I loved that in a coach. I was a good student—coachable and eager.

Lastly, Mickey Hayden. I worked for him as a young aspiring trainer. Mickey taught me about the horse—how they move, how they use their bodies, and how to create the best quality of jump. I found that absolutely fascinating.

Today, I was chatting with one of my amateur riders about coaching styles. When I watch other coaches teach, I see so many different approaches. Over the years, I’ve become much calmer in my own style. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not a soft trainer. I believe in developing strong riders with solid fundamentals. But I’ve learned how to help my riders in a more positive, constructive way.

When I was younger, I’d get frustrated if I couldn’t get my point across. I knew exactly what I wanted, but I didn’t always know how to express it. Experience has taught me how to explain what I’m seeing so riders—and their horses—can improve in a positive way. Teaching a rider how to create a better quality jump out of their horse is one of my favorite things. I love that process.

During my lessons, I want riders to walk away feeling like they learned something new or made progress on something they’ve been working on.

Today is Saturday—one of my favorite days of the week because I get to coach most of the day. It’s long and mentally challenging, but I absolutely love it. I enjoy course designing, so I build challenging exercises. I like to start with thoughtful warm-up exercises and build into a technical course with several distinct challenges and questions that need to be answered. Today’s course was very technical and ended with a fun grid. I added the grid so riders could work on position after such a demanding track. Grids are wonderful for building confidence, improving a horse’s jump, and helping riders refine their position.

We had a great day. Everyone rode so well, and that truly brings me joy. At the end of most lessons, we gather in the middle and talk about what we learned or what we’re building on.

In the end, I want my riders progressing with confidence and a smile and my horses loving their jobs and feeling their best. That, to me, is success.

Happy Saturday!