Horse Trainer vs. Riding Instructor vs. Coach. Is there a difference?

I have seen the terms trainer, instructor, and coach thrown around in the horse world, a lot of times interchangeably. However, they are not the same, and I think it's important for those in the horse industry to keep them separate. Here are my definitions:

Trainer: Horse-focused. A person who tames, trains and teaches horses. One who is knowledgeable in the workings of a horse’s mind and knows how a horse thinks, feels and reacts. Can get a horse to do what he/she wants in an ethical manner. Can train a horse from start to finish in the basics of ground manners and riding. Can fix issues someone may be having with their horse. Can be discipline-specific, but all should be able to accomplish the previously mentioned items.

Instructor: Rider-focused. Teaches people how to ride horses. Should also be teaching the basics of how to groom, tack and untack, walk in hand, etc. Can also be discipline-specific, but they should all be able to teach the basics.

Coach: I see this most often in relation to going to shows. I’m honestly not sure what the purpose of this term is. In my view, a “coach” is just an instructor.

I do not think these terms should be used interchangeably (with the exception of perhaps “coach” and “instructor”, but I think the term “coach” is redundant and should be eliminated). I view these terms as shortened versions of what they actually are: “horse trainer” and “riding instructor”.

I actually have a bit of a pet peeve when people who are only riding instructors advertise themselves as trainers. I’d feel the same about the opposite, but I don’t see nearly as many, if any, trainers calling themselves instructors unless they actually give riding lessons as well.

A person can be both a trainer and an instructor. However, not all riding instructors are horse trainers, and not all horse trainers are riding instructors. (Not to mention the people that claim either title who should not be. I may do a future post on how to choose an instructor/trainer and what to look for.)

In summary, there is a difference between being a teacher of humans and being a teacher of horses. Those in the industry should not be confusing the two and claiming titles that do not accurately reflect their skills, abilities, or services.