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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
 
Location: MN | What all do you have your kids do? My new gal is brand new to the Barrel Racing world and I want to make things fun for her. She is coming from the english side of things so she can really ride and her horse is a SAINT but her confidence is really low right now due to some NEGATIVE NANCY'S. Right now, I am just trying to be really uplifting and doing positive drills and explaining every little detail that I can to help her understand.
Any pointers are greatly appreciated!! 
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
  
Location: Arkansas | Bump |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | Anyone? |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| I am assuming a young child???? Does she get her lesson with others her age? I would start there. If you can find someone else that is a positive influence, in her age range, that will be helpful in the confidence boosting aspect. Even if your not giving an actual lesson to the other kid, but just having them there to ride with the new girl will probably go a long way. |
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Location: NE Wyoming | One thing I'll talk about during my lessons is that we all have to start somewhere...whether we start doing a new activity at a young age, or an older age. It's all about having fun and learning. It sounds like you're doing a really great job of positive reinforcement! That's so important, esp in the barrel racing world where people can be so mean. How old is this gal?
Edited by Kara Creek Cowgirl 2017-05-09 9:10 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1096
| If it's someone young be sure to make it fun! Don't overdue with "little" details as they may not be old enough to comprehend it yet. Set small goals and celebrate when they achieve them. Have them make a goal board....when they reach a goal put a star, check mark, etc by it. Also do drills that can incorporate the pattern yet be fun. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Do you have a local play day group that is positive that could maybe encourage her and be a different crowd than the negative nancys? Maybe invite a couple out to your house to ride with her and encourage her so she makes some friends and feels better.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | She is 14. The only other girl her age at the barn is very mean to her and doesnt like my lesson girl at all apparently. I just found this out. She is very shy, so I'm trying to get her to open up to me. I actually want to find out if she really WANTS to barrel race. She has done just about everything you can think of in the horse world and she seemed to really like english and jumping. Her mother is a big influence as to why shes now at this barn and it almost seems barrel racing was pushed onto her. So my first priority is to find out if this is something she will enjoy and wants to do. Just because she is at a "barrel racing" barn doesnt mean she has to do it. Shes going to her first fun show this weekend! |
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Location: NE Wyoming | I'm pretty sure we all remember being 14 and that's a hard age anyway (my daughters 14)! Trying to grow up and fit in...esp when others are not nice to you. The other girl is proly mean because she's jealous of your gal. It sounds like you're doing a good job with her, and hopefully can find out if she really wants to do this or not. I have found from helping other teen/tween girls, that the best you can do is talk, listen when they want to talk, and follow through with what you say; all the while making things fun. Easy, right? Lol! Transition from the English world to Western is hard...I grew up riding only English and still struggle some to this day. This weekend should be fun for her and hopefully she'll meet some nicer girls her age. |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| For me, one of the hardest parts of riding in a western saddle was sitting deep on my pockets, opening my hips, and riding behind my horse's shoulders. The center of gravity on my little pony is so much further back than I was expecting it to be. It's not really a dressage seat, although that's closest. It's a long way from jumping.
Is she having confidence issues because she's scared of her horse? Or she doesn't trust her own abilities? If she's never ridden outside an arena, take her out on the trails. She might be like the horse that needs turn out time. Trotting over ground poles will help her find her "new" seat. You said she was 14? Ask her where she feels the holes in her horsey education are. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | Yes it is hard. The other girl rides very well and is mounted on some really nice 1D horses. Just has that "I'm better than you" towards her. I wasnt raised that way and it hurts me to know that she is treated so poorly by this girl.
What happened was, she went to a clinic (a very advanced clinic at that) and was basically told that her horse won't cut it, you need to sell him and get a different one if you want to barrel race. Everyone there had already been to more than 1 of these clinic's that this person puts on and most of the people there are riding 15k-30k+ type horses. Definitely not for a beginner barrel racer AT ALL. That was a mistake. This person doesnt give these kind of people the light of day. She had no idea. Poor thing. But they also arent made of money either so going out and buying a high dollar horse isnt an option. And it shouldnt be in my opinion, not right now anyways.
I see huge potential in her and her horse, mainly because he really is freaking AWESOME. He will never be 1D-2D but he is PERFECT for her. And until she really wants this and wants to go faster, he will do the part. I honestly just want to help them and I want her to do what SHE wants to do. Not because she feels pressured into doing something she doesnt really have passion for. Thank you for all of the kind words. Our first lesson went well! Teaching her to sit on her pockets will be challenging. I know how challenging it was for me when I transitioned at 11 years old! 
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 966
Location: Loco,Ok | Spend time learning to ride. Balance and how to use your feet more than your hands. No barrels until then. We give lessons and have done horsemanship clinics.
That's first. |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Kay-DRacing. - 2017-05-09 12:01 PM
Yes it is hard. The other girl rides very well and is mounted on some really nice 1D horses. Just has that "I'm better than you" towards her. I wasnt raised that way and it hurts me to know that she is treated so poorly by this girl.
What happened was, she went to a clinic (a very advanced clinic at that) and was basically told that her horse won't cut it, you need to sell him and get a different one if you want to barrel race. Everyone there had already been to more than 1 of these clinic's that this person puts on and most of the people there are riding 15k-30k+ type horses. Definitely not for a beginner barrel racer AT ALL. That was a mistake. This person doesnt give these kind of people the light of day. She had no idea. Poor thing. But they also arent made of money either so going out and buying a high dollar horse isnt an option. And it shouldnt be in my opinion, not right now anyways.
I see huge potential in her and her horse, mainly because he really is freaking AWESOME. He will never be 1D-2D but he is PERFECT for her. And until she really wants this and wants to go faster, he will do the part. I honestly just want to help them and I want her to do what SHE wants to do. Not because she feels pressured into doing something she doesnt really have passion for. Thank you for all of the kind words. Our first lesson went well! Teaching her to sit on her pockets will be challenging. I know how challenging it was for me when I transitioned at 11 years old!
Sounds like you are going to be so good for her. And please come back and let us know how this weekend goes  |
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Regular
Posts: 72
| Other people's opinions, even when paid for, are just that - their's. Negativity, especially from others, usually comes from their own personal guilt, insecurity or jealousy. Own your reactions by stepping back mentally and saying to yourself 'Wow. What a tough day/life that person must be having for trying to make someone else feel bad." Pray for their attitude not to affect yours and continue with an open heart. ALSO, have your daughter read everything she can about Kassie Mowry's English riding background, and then go and read her list of accomplishments at the highest levels in this sport for the past decade or so. Sounds like your daughter's about to get things really right and it bothers some! The true winners of the world are on her side. Ride on... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | Thank you all. I will keep you posted on how she does! Im hoping she will meet some girls her age that will make her feel welcomed. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | Update for everyone following -
My gal did AWESOME!!! at her last fun show. Ran her fastest time yet (barrels) and even out ran some of the "really good girls" as she put it. So cute to see the excitement on her face. Her horse bucked thru the poles so that, we worked on the past 3 weeks and I WISH I could post progress videos here. Such a HUGE difference in her confidence and how her horse is now working for her. Its simply amazing and I love seeing the leaps they continue to make every week!!!
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| This is great news! Keep updating us and thank you for taking the time to help her and her horse. |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Kay-DRacing. - 2017-06-15 11:36 AM Update for everyone following -
My gal did AWESOME!!! at her last fun show. Ran her fastest time yet (barrels) and even out ran some of the "really good girls" as she put it. So cute to see the excitement on her face. Her horse bucked thru the poles so that, we worked on the past 3 weeks and I WISH I could post progress videos here. Such a HUGE difference in her confidence and how her horse is now working for her. Its simply amazing and I love seeing the leaps they continue to make every week!!!
That's awesome! |
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