Monday, August 15, 2011
The Power of Positivity
Think about it, if you are belittled for every little mistake you do, does it make you want to try harder or just get out of the situation? Are there too many mistakes? Maybe it's time to break things down into baby steps, so that the student can succeed. When starting with a green horse or client, we have "small" goals, like stick the pivot...no matter what ELSE goes wrong in the pattern try and STICK YOUR PIVOT, this way they can come out of their class feeling the sense of ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT, which encourages them to tackle another goal (like making it straight to the judge, setting up in under 3 seconds, trotting AROUND the cone...well, you get the idea).
TEARS: I once over heard a trainer say to her crying student "I don't do tears" and walked away from the crying child. What this trainer did was abandon her student and left her student frustrated. Personally, I don't like tears either, but I've been to that point where I'm soooo frustrated that it is my frustration release mechanism. When I have a student on the verge of tears (we try not to get to the tear point, but it DOES happen), we either work through the problem together...or we take a break and come back to the problem when my student is calmer and more in control of their emotions...and I'll tell them, go take a break and we'll return to this when you feel better (no reason to point out that they are crying, most likely they are embarrassed enough just by crying). Remember that tears can come from frustration of TRYING to do it right and then feeling that failure of not getting it right, most times, if handled correctly, it will motivate your student to practice more...
NAME CALLING and BELITTLING: Usually this only manages to make the student feel worse. If they are not understanding the coach, then it is UP TO THE COACH to find a different method to teach so the student understands. Many times I can tell a student the same thing until I'm blue in the face, my husband steps in and says the same thing in a slightly different manner and TADA instant understanding. Not fortunate enough to have a partner in crime, sometimes a parent/friend of the student can help you out...most of the time it's just slight miscommunication and finding the "phrase" that your student will understand.
So if you are coaching your child, a friend, or are fortunate enough to be a mentor (meaning someone LOOKS UP TO YOU!), do so with positivity, build a person up, be a POSITIVE role model.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Horse and Rider August 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Showing at Congress this Year?
Thursday, August 4, 2011
What ARE they looking for?
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Congress...are you going?
Monday, August 1, 2011
Hair Buns, really the only way to go.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Pattern 50: Novice
- Starting with Cone 2, back your horse 2 horse lengths
- Trot past cone 3, make an arc as drawn.
- Upon completion of arc stop at cone 3 and complete a 360 degree pivot.
- Walk to judge and stop.
- Set up for inspection.
- Follow ring stewards instruction after dismissal.
Findings:
- Beginning with cone 2, back 2 horse lengths (about 10 steps) when my students finished their front feet were at cone 1.
- Trot past cone 3, stopping at cone 3 and being in line with Judge, now this could be problematic if you don't have a good sense of direction, because unless you are tall or have a short horse, you were turning blindly into your horse to line up with the judge.
- Stopping at cone 3, you needed to stop with your nose, the judge in our pattern was VERY CLOSE to cone 3, so if you stopped at the shoulder you were sure to run over the top of the cone during your spin.
- As you are finishing up your spin, be sure to look up and at the judge so that you don't over or under spin.
- Walk off to judge and then stop and set up for inspection.
- Upon dismissal, I instructed my clients a 90 degree turn, look at judge and walk away...
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Hats
Straw Hats
I LOVE my straw hat (photo'd below), nice and cool and less likely to give me a "hat" headache...the only downfall of straw hats is that they are only wearable MEMORIAL DAY through LABOR DAY. Straw hats are much cheaper than a nice felt, but make sure they have that show crease... they should be kept in a hat box also to maintain their nice shape.
Felt Hats
Nothing says PRO like a nice felt hat AND they are "in" all year (unlike straw hats) BUT they are pricey! Get the most X you can afford (I personally show in a 100X that I STOLE for $250 from someone getting out of showing). Felt hats are more delicate, and require delicate handling, DO NOT handle by their brim, instead handle them by their crown. Invest in a hat brush and brush your hat after each day at the show. Store in hat can... keep it AWAY from plastic bags!!!!! I see lots and lots of people stuffing their felt in plastic rain covers during a rain storm...they are RUINING their hats...they are STEAMING those delicate brims...let it rain and let it dry...then get it reshaped! A really good felt will last for YEARS!
Now I'm going to PLUG one of my favorite shopping places (and this is where I'm borrowing my photos from) PARDS. These are my go to guys from everything from boots to hats... and they know how to shape a hat!!!! LOVE MY PARDS.
Shaping
Ask for a show crease...your hat will have those wonderful corners as shown above....
Remember, showmanship is like going in for a job interview...first impressions COUNT...let it be a good one with a good hat!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Why you should KEEP SHOWING after your mistake....
One of my students was showing this weekend, standing up at the first cone WAITING on the judge, but this pattern had her start by standing on the right side of her horse, what my student DIDN'T see was the HUGE HORSEFLY land on her horse's muzzle. She could tell the moment she started her pattern that her horse was not acting right (at this point she had no idea why he was acting weird), shaking his head, he was trying to swipe at the fly with his legs as he pivoted (though he never moved his pivot foot) and was shaking his head the entire way to the judge. The judge even commented she thought he might have a fly...my student...never losing her cool...just smiled and said "I have NO IDEA what came over him"...and continued on with her cross overs and never let her horse's action deter her from showing him... she finished the pattern and came out and saw a POOL OF BLOOD by his chin... OUCH! Poor Fellow! Her placing out of 12...2nd.... she kept her cool and earned herself a point. She told me afterwards that she kept hearing my voice "keep showing!"...and it paid off!
***ALWAYS KEEP SHOWING!*** let it be your new mantra!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Patterns to Practice
The Show with a View Pattern Book
The Tri-State Pattern Book
These pattern books also have horsemanship and equitation...lots of fun stuff..
Happy Practicing!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Pre-Season Show Prep
Let's discuss things you can do while we're waiting for our arena's to dry and our horses to shed.
GO THROUGH your show clothing and TRY ON...
- Make sure you don't need to take in or let out.
- Take stock of what you have and what you need to replace.
- Polish your boots.
- Do you have high water pants? Get those to a seamstress!
- Are your clothes CLEAN? If not, take care of that too.
- How's your hat? Creased, cleaned, ready to go?
- What about your crystals? Are they all on? If not, order some for repairs, and order some extra's for future repairs.
- Do you have extra safety pins for numbers (or maybe you make your own numbers)
- How about bobby pins and hair spray, are those packed for those windy days?
- All your hair accessories? Extra bands, hair nets, etc...
- Be sure to have an emergency sewing kit for those oopsies that happen.
Now for your horse...
- Is the vet scheduled for spring shots and coggins tests?
- Worm your horse, it will help not only with it's health, but promote shedding as well.
Did anything freezer over the winter? You may have to pitch that fly spray or anything aerosol.
Do you have enough:
- Face Grease
- Bands for Manes
- Black/White Chalk/Spray for legs
- Disposable Razors
- Fly Spray
- Electric Tape for Tails
- Brushes? Tail, Body, etc...
- Show Sheen/Pepi