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 5: WAY-TOO-BIG-DREAMS DARCY
STAGE-FRIGHT STACY
Stacy has been working really well with her 3-year-old, Whizs Spotlight, and you just know they’re going to do great things at the show. However, once they set foot into the arena, Stacy can’t remember how to cue for her lead changes and couldn’t tell you how Pattern 10 begins. She’s suffering from stage fright.
SOLUTION: “If I have a rider who’s nervous, I treat it as less is more,” says Smith. “Instead of pounding in things about reining, I might start talking about something else because, to me, that person probably needs to get away from it a little.”
Suggesting to a rider that they just need to relax is easier said than done. Especially because watching rider after rider do well (or not so well) might add to the pressure. Suggest your rider go out for a light lunch off the fairgrounds, or do a little shopping at Boot Barn so they get some fresh air and a new perspective. Remind them that they’ve done all the work to get here; it’ll come natural to them.
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.
