Rider Confidence Lost and Found

Rider confidence - that was the problem.

Rider confidence, that's what I kept thinking while I listened as she described how much she loved spending time with her horse... but something was wrong. During our phone conversation I could tell she had lost her riding confidence, and to just go out to the barn and saddle her horse for a quiet safe trail ride was not in the cards. I also got the impression that having lost that, she had lost the choice to do something she really loved to do... spend time with her equine companion. She needed help, and having known Cathie for many years I knew how much she loved to ride and I thought I had a solution... get the respect back in this relationship! After some discussion she decided to try my one day clinic, so she gathered up a few truck loads of friends and their horses and we passed a good time (like they say in Louisiana). Thank you Cathie

Rider confidence, or lack of respect?

Clinic Participant Cathie's Comments: I attended one of Keith's clinics last May. I have known Keith for several years and had always admired his Paso Finos, but had never attended a clinic before. I have a Paso Fino myself, Muchacho, who is a very good boy, but had no respect for me. As I have gotten older, my confidence in riding has become extinct. I have ridden my whole life and am in my 60s. I don't know when my problem started, but I was becoming fearful when riding. I had never experienced this before and I told Keith it was to the point that I either had to get over it, or give up riding and sell my Muchacho. We did a lot of round pen work, arena work and then some obstacles. I was amazed! With Keith's help Muchacho became very attentive to me, and I began being his leader. Now, once again, riding has become fun. Muchacho and I have developed a bond that I didn't have with him before. I don't get to ride as much as I would like to because of health reasons, but when I do ride, I am relaxed and having fun. Thank you Keith for giving me back my love of riding.