The secret of teaching

Senior Trainer was about to retire , taking over from him as the Welsh dressage national coach was a young Junior Trainer.

In order to make the transition as smooth and seamless as possible the Junior Trainer was spending time shadowing and following senior trainer in his clinics and courses.

The more he watched Senior Trainer in his work the more he realized how big the boots that he has got to fill are.

Senior Trainer had the ability with very little words to effect a transformation in his pupils, it was going to be a hard act to follow, the more he watched , bigger grew his admiration for Senior Trainer.

During a gap between two lessons Junior Trainer asked Senior Trainer “What is the secret of your teaching?”

“Knowing what to say and when” replied Senior Trainer

“So how do you know what to say and when to say it?” asked Junior Trainer

“Well this is experience” replied Senior Trainer

“How do you get experience?” asked Junior Trainer

“By saying what you don't know” Senior trainer replied and then he continued “ I have a note book in which I recorded all my 45 years of experience what to say and when, it will be yours when I retire”

The day came and Senior Trainer bade good by to every one, handed an old note book to junior trainer got into the old Land Rover and drove away.

He was hardly gone down the drive and Junior Trainer with trembling hands and pounding heart opened the book, there was absolutely nothing in it, page after page were blank until he got to the last page and there in Senior Trainers hand writing was written “ IF THE RIDER HAS THE HORSE BENT TO THE RIGHT , INSTRUCT HIM TO BEND HIM TO THE LEFT , IF THE RIDER HAS THE HORSE BENT TO THE LEFT INSTRUCT HIM TO BEND IT TO THE RIGHT”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And in small print at the bottom “good luck”