[Lindsayanne]

from the omg-it's-so-hot-so-i'm-not-going-to-ride-just-stay-inside-and-make-random-threads file...

How do you feel about trainers/parents in rail classes standing at the gate coaching their clients/kids while the class is being judged?

[faroutfax]

i don't like it. The student orobally doesn't like being humiliated either. The kid can ride by themselves. I'm fine with parents/instructors quietly whispering "good job" or something like that when the student passes by.

[Jess!]

I thought it was illegal? It was in 4-H. The ONLY class someone can call out instructions to was in gymkhana!

[Shotgun93]

I don't like to do it, and I hate it when others do it. I will answer questions and give help and advice before hand, but I won't say anything when they are in the ring.

[tightpaycheck]

I hate it, it is so rude and unprofessional, and I hate others doing it to me.

[cherazam]

I had my trainer coach me for years along side the rail as I came by. But now that Im not in training anymore and not showing wp I feel she was making it harder on her students. If you look around, no one esle's trainer does it and in the long run its probably hurting you in the class becuase the judge no doubt suspects what your doing. The rider should be able to go around the ring without being helped.

[icyssunset]

In 4h u can't do that. When I first started showing, my dad didn't know you couldn't do that. So he yelled out, "Nicole!!! Keep your heels down!!!." Fortunatly it was only leaders show so I didn't get marked down, but I had a talk with him lol.

[SilentSpring]

If they're outright yelling instructions to them during the whole class, IMO that just shouldn't be done...

Buuuut, there are some situations when I don't think it would be so bad. If a kid was at their first show, and sometimes had problems remembering to check their diagonals (for example), if the coach encouragingly whispers "remember your diagonals!" as they trot by...ah well, not much of a problem.

It also depends on the level, I think. Not a huge deal at smaller schooling shows...but for bigger things I don't think it should be done at all. If the student makes it to higher levels of competition at more formal shows, then they shouldn't require that sort of coaching

If someone is riding HC though, I think that if they are in the ring alone it shouldn't be as much of a problem. I've seen that happen, where someone took their horse HC and, being green, the horse kept refusing one particular jump. The coach talked them through it from outside the ring, and after a couple more tries they got over the jump, with some nice little applause from the crowd. This was at a smaller schooling show though...

That being said, I too thought that this was usually not allowed at all...

[EmazingCasper]

the only thing I have my mom do is nodd her head if I have the right lead, that isn't illegal is it? cuz sometimes I can't feel the lead.

[POA]

My trainer will "coach" me by remiding me to smile and relax everytime I go by her, but I've shown with girls who's trainers will yell and scream at them the whole class. It's extermly annoying, and upsets a lot of horses, along with in both my circuits its illigal. My favorite part is when thier asked to stop by the show steward/judge and get all angry and go off on them.