I have a mom wanting to pay me to work with her teenage daughter on barrels. The girl can ride and has the basics but really needs help. I have been riding and running for many many years so I have plenty of experience and feel like I have a lot to share with her and could really help her. She is one of those girls that truly wants to learn, she just needs someone to take the time with her. I have never taught or helped anyone like this so i have no clue where to start without overwhelming her. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, what is the going rate for this now days? I'm sure it varies so we're in south Louisiana if that helps. I would be hauling to a covered arena about 20-30 minutes from my house once a week to meet with her. 

So I dont know what the going rates are and have zero expirence when it comes to giving lessons but I have been on the recieving end of lessons years ago and I honestly got the most out of it when we started from just the basics. I was made to walk, trot, lope circles (big and small) correctly before anything. We worked on stoping and engaging the hind end, etc. (all done off the pattern since my horse was a finished horse) During this, we focused on where my hands were, where I was looking, when I was sitting, how I was asking my horse to move, etc. All of this really helped me for when we started on the actual pattern.

My trainer and I were just talking about this. A lot of barrel trainers that give lessons will throw the person on the pattern and try to make it look as pretty as possible. Have her (and the horse) master the basics first. Don't put her on the pattern until her body position, hands, horse, etc can work straight lines, big circles and small circles correctly and until she has feel. If she masters everything off the pattern, going to the pattern will be easy. Some parents have a hard time sticking with this because they want a barrel trainer to make them work the barrel pattern every time. She won't improve on the pattern until she works on things off of the pattern. 

Make it fun. Don't assume she knows something. Don't push her but encourage her. Give her homework.