Maureen Kendel– “One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever heard is to remember that there are no lions chasing you in the show ring.”
What’s the Best Piece of Advice You’ve Ever Been Given by a Horse Trainer?
By: Brittany Bevis
From humorous and heartfelt to short and sweet, our horse trainers are constant sources of pearls of wisdom. Our Equine Chronicle Facebook page fans responded to our question about the best piece of advice they’ve ever been given by their horse trainers. Check out their responses below.
Jessica Parris– “You don’t like fake people. Judges don’t like fake riders. Don’t try to ride differently in the show pen…imitating other riders. Ride as yourself. You’re good enough, and your horse will thank you with an honest performance as well.”
Joyce McCabe- “Enjoy the ride and have fun!”
Kay Kernen Jarr- “If you’re on his back, he’s working. Keep your horse aware, even if you stop to talk to someone.”
Kim Leanne- “Look up…His ears will still be there when you’re done.”
Heather Jackson Miller– “Your horse is not a couch…ride or get off!”
Michelle Smith-Starkey– “Ride every stride!”
Whitney Romanoff- “Forward motion. Two words I’ve been able to apply to my life and my horses.”
Rachel Roth Laverty– “Don’t fall off!”
Joyce Hinkle– “Relax and soften your body.”
Laurie Mostowich– “Stay out of the penalty box.”
Jeri Kay Lockwood- “Just have fun!”
Tami Lee Latzo– “Thumbs up, heels down, good form!”
Candy Kurland James– “Sit back!”
Kathy Tobin– “Ride every stride! But what actually goes on in MY crazy mind is keep calm and hope the judges weren’t looking!”
Dana Klamecki– “Remember, this is what you do for FUN as your leisure time activity. Look up, relax, and enjoy every moment.”
Clark Borgia- “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.”
Makayla Tupps- “Don’t overthink. Ride with your body and not your hands and mind. You horse knows her job. Let her do it. “
Delores Kuhlwein– Quit worrying and just go ride your horse!”
Michele Wilhelm -“When someone wants to buy your horse, sell it. There’s always another one.”
Gary Vickrey– “As long as I’ve known you, you’ve ridden junk. We need to find you a proven Reiner.”
Cindy L. Yankosky- “Take the gum out of your mouth, sit up straight, and smile like you are having fun.”
Charlotte Miller Harvey– “Breathe!”
Micayla Marie Mount– “You need to come up with a stage name and a personality for that stage name. When you show, you need to become that confident, strong personality.”
Brenda Elder Rise- “On the count of three, right you’ll be. Hands down, eyes up, and you’ll have the best of luck.”
Becky Keeney Aho- “Go first and do it right. They have to beat you.”
Eli Paulsen- “Just go in there and ride YOUR horse.”
Austin Craig- “Use your corners.”
Suzanne Mayo- “Let go of any drama that might have happened before you got on. Don’t think, ‘I’m nervous.’ Think ‘I’m excited!'”
Angela McCordic Stanhope- “Ride the horse you have today.”
LaTaya May– “Go out and do the best you can do. You can’t change other’s rides; you can only change yours!”
Jennifer Welch Larsen- “You paid for the judge’s opinion and that’s what you got, their opinion.”
Elizabeth Bowron– “There will always be someone with a better, pricier horse. If you can’t out-buy them, you better learn how to out-ride them.”
Laura Ann Bracken- “Save up and spend as much as you can to get the best horse, because that will be the cheapest part of showing!”
Jeanne Wayt– “Look like a winner.”
Holly Saigo– “It’s more like three-part advice. Do you have a plan? What’s your plan? Never go over a pole without a plan.”
Malm Martha– “Slow, correct, consistent repetition in small doses. Dismiss the negative, to a degree, and praise positive. Recognize the animal’s personal best, both mentally and physically, and stay within those parameters.”
Karen Derks Diekema– “Who’s driving the bus! You don’t need to sit on that poor horse’s back all day long. It’s worked hard for you so show some appreciation and get off.”
Terri Miller- “I learned to ride well, taught by an ex-jockey, an old, round, short man. I was jumping three feet and felt that was my limit. I argued with him about reaching higher and farther. I said, ‘You jump my horse over those big jumps, five and six feet, if you think it’s so easy. He told me to get off. He did the whole course with my horse perfectly. Never underestimate your horse or trainer. His actions were his advice. I learned that day to shut my mouth.”
Jennifer West- “The best piece of advice I’ve received as a serious Dressage rider is: You want your horse hot off your leg. You do not want to have to be continuously asking for more forward from your horse. Your goal is to worry about nothing but steering. Laura Graves gave us this advice and demonstrated at a clinic near me. It makes riding so much easier!”
