Posted by Katie There are a few things that stuck out in your post. I'll try to address a few of the them.. First, winning is not everything. Sure it's great, but it shouldn't be the sole reason for you to show. Look at showing as an opportunity to have fun and as a learning experience for you and your horse. If you pick up a few ribbons along the way, excellent. If not, try to learn from that experience and improve. I'm sure the next show would go better. Also, placing 4th or 5th isn't horrible either - especially if you take into account the class size. Placing 4th or 5th in a class of 20 or 25 is great. Placing 4th in a class of 4 is... another learning experience. Looking good on a horse is something we all strive to do, however having a bond with your horse (or being "at one with them") is something else we should all strive for. You can't expect your partner to go into the ring and perform at his best if you're nagging at him (thumping on his back, jerking the reins every stride, getting off balance, etc) or asking for more then he's capable of. Being at one with your horse is about forming a sound relationship with them where both of you are happy, safe and comfortable together. Riding with a variety of coaches over time is also a great idea, whether planned or not. Each coach has their own opinions and way of doing things. You never know what you'll pick up until they teach you. It makes you a very well-rounded rider. Take care & good luck, Katie
on 9/24/2007, 5:08 pm, in reply to "Riding Instructor"
64.231.11.102
Hi Zoe,
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