I recently had a lesson that was a “Sometimes Rider.”  The mother had so much on her plate that she just couldn’t get the child here on a regular basis.  She would schedule a lesson and then cancel at the last moment, or she would be an hour late.  This plays havoc with you daily schedule, but I loved the child and just rolled with it.

So what do you do?  The child loved coming but was at a standstill with her riding because of the weeks between lessons.  It’s very frustrating to the instructor.  The child just loved being on a horse and really didn’t care if she progressed.  After taking lessons for 3 months, it was actually like she had just ridden three times.  Learning to post and control her horse was a major challenge.  She really hadn’t ridden more than six times in those three months.  She wasn’t one of those natural riders, she was the type that would struggle, but I’ve had them before, and they stuck to it, and became wonderful riders.

So what is an instructor to do?  You really have two choices.  You either go with it, or tell them to find another instructor.  In going with it you need to set rules, and stick with them, as best you can.  Or you can walk away and never know what could have been.

There is another type of “Sometimes Rider.”  Us, yes us.  I’m finding myself to be one of them.  Everyday I look at my horse and say, I’ll ride you tomorrow, I promise.  Zoey used to believe me, now she just goes back to eating and I can see that she doesn’t believe me at all.  My neighbor asked me yesterday if I get to ride much, and I had to be honest and say no.  I now spend more time taking care of the horses and the property and less time riding.  But actually that’s been the story between Zoey and me her whole life.  When she was young, I was breaking and training other people’s horses.  they were paying me and there was a time frame that it had to be done in, so they got first attention.  Zoey makes me pay now by being obnoxious.  She knows her stuff and knows what I want but she makes me work to get it.  It’s a game, and I don’t blame her.  I blame me.  She can be good as gold, or a total brat.

But once again I’ll tell her, we’re going to ride tomorrow, and truthfully, I do believe it.  That is until tomorrow comes and all hell breaks loose.  Why does everything else take preference in my life now?  Possibly because I allow it.  When we were hunting, they had to be fit.  Heat or no heat I was out there early in the morning getting her ready for the season and keeping her fit through out.

We cheat our horses by not being consistent.  It’s like going to the gym, working out, overdoing it, and paying for it for the next three days.  They can’t tell you the next day that they need Advil, although their bodies may show it, if you look.

The fall is here and the beautiful weather is either with you.  Don’t be a “Sometimes Rider.”

Now if I can just listen to my own advice.

We’ll ride tomorrow Zoey, I promise.