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 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | A little bit of a background story. I maried my husband almost two years ago (8-11-2012) and moved into his hometown before we married. I get along with all of his friends and I have accantances at work that I can talk to, but none I would really call my friends. I have two wonderful friends but on eis a few hours away that's not into horses and my best horsie friend lives in Oregon.
Ok back to now. My goal is to start going to state rodeos next year and getting on the rodeo road. My husband will go with me most of the time and I will bring a dog or two with me, but I am curious on how to make friends with people your competing with? When I was younger I could talk to anyone but as I've grown up I've become a little more shy and some people admitted that I come off snobby. Oh dear I hope not!! I'm also a little intimidated when I see everyone just talking together and laughing. Anyway, any tips on making friends at rodeos? |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I think if you just practice being pleasant, the friends will come naturally. You said you come across wrong sometimes, so that might help. Just smile at people and say hello. Maybe offer a compliment every now and then. Might help break the ice. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Usually I just pick one person and follow her around until she has to be my friend. :) Then I start over with another one. Friends are possible!
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| What part of CO are you living in? |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | Hahaha yeah I'll just stalk the lead girl until she starts tato me lol!! I live in Southern CO.
Because I work I have a habit now of smiling at anyone who looks at my face so I'm hoping that will help me down the road! |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I have a tendancy to sit back and watch for a little bit. You soon figure out who's nice, who's not and who's fake. I try to go in with a glass half full outlook. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | classicpotatochip - 2014-06-01 8:13 AM Usually I just pick one person and follow her around until she has to be my friend. :) Then I start over with another one. Friends are possible!
So you stalk the ones you want to be friends with, LOL now thats funny right there  |
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Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
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Just ask snazzy and nevertoold!!! Total stalker. Now they're stuck with me! |
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| Give someone a compliment on their horse, and ask about the horse. All horsey people like to talk about their horses! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| CYA Ranch - 2014-06-01 1:03 PM
I have a tendancy to sit back and watch for a little bit. You soon figure out who's nice, who's not and who's fake. I try to go in with a glass half full outlook.
Yep.
Clinics are a great way to meet and interact with other local barrel racers. I find that most gals are so focused on race day they aren't there to be friendly, so you can't really get to know them. But clinics are different, we are there to learn, and you have more time to talk and see how they interact with other people and how they take input. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | Maybe try to go to some jackpots this year and volunteer to help out at them and overall smile at people and/or compliment people on good runs. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I find it MUCH easier to talk to people at a barrel race or rodeo than I do just about anywhere else. You can complement a belt, a pretty shirt, or tack set and the conversation is on. Because you know that you have something in common, it's easy to talk.
At work or grocery store, you don' t necessarily know what their interests are, so you are stuck with work topics or the weather.
I know it was easy to talk to CYA at Lincoln like an old friend because of BHW, and of course our horses!! And the fabled blue 5 star! LOL |
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 Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | hahahahaha....I'd just walk around the rodeo and say, "free hugs!! Anybody want one??" Try saying it really, really loud lol.....That will sooooo work out! You'll have soooo many friends that way.......I promise lol. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | LRQHS - 2014-06-02 8:44 AM hahahahaha....I'd just walk around the rodeo and say, "free hugs!! Anybody want one??" Try saying it really, really loud lol.....That will sooooo work out! You'll have soooo many friends that way.......I promise lol.
Or wear a white t shirt, and write "Free hugs" on it with a sharpie. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Nateracer - 2014-06-02 8:27 AM I find it MUCH easier to talk to people at a barrel race or rodeo than I do just about anywhere else. You can complement a belt, a pretty shirt, or tack set and the conversation is on. Because you know that you have something in common, it's easy to talk.
At work or grocery store, you don' t necessarily know what their interests are, so you are stuck with work topics or the weather.
I know it was easy to talk to CYA at Lincoln like an old friend because of BHW, and of course our horses!! And the fabled blue 5 star! LOL
It was like we've known each other for ever!!! I know you just wanted to see my blue pad though. Did you notice I didn't let you touch it?????  |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | CYA Ranch - 2014-06-02 9:30 AM Nateracer - 2014-06-02 8:27 AM I find it MUCH easier to talk to people at a barrel race or rodeo than I do just about anywhere else. You can complement a belt, a pretty shirt, or tack set and the conversation is on. Because you know that you have something in common, it's easy to talk.
At work or grocery store, you don' t necessarily know what their interests are, so you are stuck with work topics or the weather.
I know it was easy to talk to CYA at Lincoln like an old friend because of BHW, and of course our horses!! And the fabled blue 5 star! LOL It was like we've known each other for ever!!! I know you just wanted to see my blue pad though. Did you notice I didn't let you touch it?????
Edited by LRQHS 2014-06-02 9:46 AM
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | LRQHS - 2014-06-02 9:31 AM CYA Ranch - 2014-06-02 9:30 AM Nateracer - 2014-06-02 8:27 AM I find it MUCH easier to talk to people at a barrel race or rodeo than I do just about anywhere else. You can complement a belt, a pretty shirt, or tack set and the conversation is on. Because you know that you have something in common, it's easy to talk.
At work or grocery store, you don' t necessarily know what their interests are, so you are stuck with work topics or the weather.
I know it was easy to talk to CYA at Lincoln like an old friend because of BHW, and of course our horses!! And the fabled blue 5 star! LOL It was like we've known each other for ever!!! I know you just wanted to see my blue pad though. Did you notice I didn't let you touch it?????
LOL If you rubbed your body on it I wouldn't ever wash it again.
I should really start selling tickets to touch my pad, plus I could sell a few more tickets to touch LRQHS body. I don't think she'd mind especially since she's passing out free hugs.
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | CYA Ranch - 2014-06-02 9:41 AM LRQHS - 2014-06-02 9:31 AM CYA Ranch - 2014-06-02 9:30 AM Nateracer - 2014-06-02 8:27 AM I find it MUCH easier to talk to people at a barrel race or rodeo than I do just about anywhere else. You can complement a belt, a pretty shirt, or tack set and the conversation is on. Because you know that you have something in common, it's easy to talk.
At work or grocery store, you don' t necessarily know what their interests are, so you are stuck with work topics or the weather.
I know it was easy to talk to CYA at Lincoln like an old friend because of BHW, and of course our horses!! And the fabled blue 5 star! LOL It was like we've known each other for ever!!! I know you just wanted to see my blue pad though. Did you notice I didn't let you touch it?????
I should really start selling tickets to touch my pad, plus I could sell a few more tickets to touch LRQHS body. I don't think she'd mind especially since she's passing out free hugs.
I'd be Buffalo Bob's sister....Buffalo Jen.....dancing around naked and videoing myself with your blue pad....."It rubs CYA's pad on it's skin.....do do do do do!" |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | I am pretty much in the same spot as you, moved with my boyfriend half way across the country in 2012 and have virtually no girlfriends all of them are back in Iowa.
I have one beer and I become the nicest girl on the planet, but before the beer I come off as "snobby, cranky, irritated" because I'm naturally shy and have a mean mug that I don't do intentionally! I just don't have a nice and approachable relaxed face and I have to work on that. A photographer took a photo of me just sitting on my horse waiting to race, I was in a super mood and feeling really good that day and honestly I wouldn't even want to be in the same room as me with the look on my face! LOL
Let girls know when they have great runs, talk to people and force yourself to get comfortable talking to horse show "strangers." And starting off with a compliment usually get you somewhere with others! I always like to make fun of myself too. For example if my horse is being naughty I will make the joke of what hospital I want to go to or something funny and most likely can get you a return response with others.
Good luck to you! and you aren't alone! :) |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Crowned Image - 2014-06-02 10:02 AM I am pretty much in the same spot as you, moved with my boyfriend half way across the country in 2012 and have virtually no girlfriends all of them are back in Iowa. I have one beer and I become the nicest girl on the planet, but before the beer I come off as "snobby, cranky, irritated" because I'm naturally shy and have a mean mug that I don't do intentionally! I just don't have a nice and approachable relaxed face and I have to work on that. A photographer took a photo of me just sitting on my horse waiting to race, I was in a super mood and feeling really good that day and honestly I wouldn't even want to be in the same room as me with the look on my face! LOL Let girls know when they have great runs, talk to people and force yourself to get comfortable talking to horse show "strangers." And starting off with a compliment usually get you somewhere with others! I always like to make fun of myself too. For example if my horse is being naughty I will make the joke of what hospital I want to go to or something funny and most likely can get you a return response with others. Good luck to you! and you aren't alone! :)
Hahahahaha! B!tch face sucks. It's even worse when your smile is jacked up so you try not to smile because it frightens people worse than your b!tch face. |
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