By Todd McDonald
Head coach and proprietor
Dalson Park Indoor Equestrian Centre

Finding a good coach to help you become a safe and competent rider is crucial. But coaches aren’t one-size-fits-all.

I’ve been coaching at the Dalson Park Indoor Equestrian Centre for 18 years. Horse riding lessons are my heart and soul. So, here are my tips for finding the perfect coach:

  1. Check your coach’s experience

Being a good rider doesn’t necessarily mean someone’s a good coach. It takes years of experience with horses andpeople to be able to get the best out of a student and to do it safely. Make sure you ask what makes your coach experienced enough to teach you.

FYI: At Dalson Park our coaching team has more than 120 years’ combined experience. We are experienced in everything from beginner horse riding lessons to dressage.

  1. Does your coach teach to your age and skill level?

Pre-school teachers don’t usually lecture in university-level science, so you shouldn’t expect your equestrian centre to offer the same coach to all students. You should be able to choose from coaches experienced in a variety of skill levels–from absolute beginner horse-riding lessons to competition coaching.

If you’re signing up a child for horse-riding lessons, make sure the coach is very experienced in the best teaching methods for kids. Their lessons should be tailored to take in developmental stages, attention spans and more!

Our equestrian centre’s team of coaches are the best you’ll find in Brisbane or the Gold Coast. I’ve handpicked them all based on their specialist knowledge, experience and their safety-first, positive approach. And, yes, we have coaches who have long-term experience instructing kids!

  1. Does it feel right?

You’ll spend a lot of time with your coach. You need to feel at ease. A good coach gently builds your confidence, is patient and will keep you or your child motivated on those days when things aren’t going so well.

I’m sure you’ll love the coaches at our horse-riding school at Dalson Park. We all love what we do so our care flows through when we teach.

Ready to choose?

Dalson Park has been one of the premier horse-riding schools in Brisbane and the Gold Coast for more than 40 years and our coaches are a big part of our success.

Feel free to call or emailto have a chat. You can make an appointmentto watch horse- riding lessons at our indoor equestrian centre. We’re midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast at Slacks Creek.

We reckon if you want to ride Brisbane, the Gold Coast or Logan, you should come to Dalson Park!