How to handle the wide variety of moods your non pros might have while competing.
By Megan Arszman
Working with a non pro isn’t necessarily an easy task, especially when it’s also with a horse. The title “non pro” can run the gamut of almost every level of rider imaginable. There’s the non pro who has an excess of $500,000 in lifetime earnings and has been competing for years on aged-event horses. Then there’s the non pro who just started out in reining and can barely
remember a pattern, but they’re enjoying their horses and their time in the saddle. Some non pros want to be competitive every time out and add to their collection of bronzes; some non pros might just want the experience and don’t concern themselves with the “winning is everything” mentality.
Because of the vast difference in experience and passion for competition in the non pro ranks, you’ll probably run into a few different personas of the non pro in your professional career. And how you deal with the multiple personalities of a non pro can make or break your own career.
In this series, we’ll cover six common types of non pros, and the best advice for giving them a memorable, positive experience at the Futurity and any horse show, provided by veteran NRHA Professionals Carol Metcalf, Sam Smith, and Robin Schoeller.
PART 2: FATHER/MOTHER/SPOUSE WITH GOOD INTENTIONS
PART 4: POOR-LOSER LARRY
PART 5: WAY-TOO-BIG-DREAMS DARCY
PARTY-HARDY CHARLIE
Charlie loves the hotel bar, and we mean he loves it to the point the bartender has his first drink ready as soon as he walks through the door. He’s so excited about being at the horse show that he wants to partake in every special event being held at the fairgrounds, that is, except for open-arena rides. This leaves you having to pick up the slack of riding his horse. And when it’s showtime, you’re not sure if you’ll have an exhibitor or not.
SOLUTION: Lead by example—if you don’t want your non pros staying out late and hitting up the nightlife during the show, perhaps you shouldn’t either.
“Customers spend a lot of money to get their horses to the show, and they want the best possible result. I feel that if I hang out all night and party, I won’t be as good as I need to be, and my horses won’t be either,” says Schoeller.
But that doesn’t mean you have to be the party pooper. Once you know everyone’s schedules, put together a dinner date at one of the downtown hangouts, or plan a potluck at the stalls for dinner. Don’t forget that while a horse show might be a stressful time for all, you need to take the time to enjoy the atmosphere and feeling of accomplishment for the past year’s work.
Learn about the many other personality types and how to help them get the most out of their show by clicking the links at the beginning of this article.
