The goal of this night was for us to get the barn name out there, get some new boarders/leasers/lesson takers, and just enjoy ourselves! Not to say that we didn't but we definitely ran the gamut of people during our three hour night. There are a few types in particular that are both amusing and worthy of a few bald spots on our heads (there was some hair tearing out)...
The Horse Lovers From Afar - No. These are not international students. These are the people who have loved horses their whole lives but have never truly gotten the chance to take lessons or ride. Maybe they've been on the back of a white "stallion" in the Bahamas when they saw an advertisement for beach riding but that's about the extent of their horse back miles. Now, ask them a question about horses and their book knowledge is extensive (hey, they may even know more about some things than me!), but practical knowledge is at a minimum. These people get the knowing smile and nod, a little pat on the head, and a whole lot of round pen time.
The Horse Whisperers - Parelli is their great grandpa. They've got the Monty Roberts ap on their iPhone. Clinton Anderson dated their best friend's, cousin's little sister. They know it. And it is gospel. How dare we put that bit in that horse's mouth without first sticking straight pins in a voodoo doll and saying 10 Hail Mary's! And didn't we see that ear flick and eye blink?! HE'S GOING TO REAR BECAUSE HE'S TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING AND WE AREN'T LISTENING! Luckily, we generally end up frustrating them with our lack of horse empathy and they find somewhere else to practice their scientific mix of natural horsemanship. The other option is they lease a horse and do what they will with it for a few months. Let's face it, it can be silly, but it won't ruin the horse so there's no harm done either way.
The Know-It-Alls - Every hobby has this type of person. These people tend to show their true colors in a variety of ways but it is always evident at some point in a one hour lesson that they may not know as much as they say they do.
The first type of know it all is the one that exaggerates previous experiences. They've shown all over Texas (or maybe the nation), they owned 4 Dutch Warmbloods, and the only brand they'll wear is Ariat. Well, maybe they did do some local shows and owned a warmblood looking TB and they've got Ariat paddock boots. As long as they let reality take a good swinging punch at their memory they are really great additions to the barn!
The next type are found out just by speaking with them. What? You used to jump 6ft? That's so cool, so then you do Puissance? No. Just show jumpers? Well that's weird because international Grand Prix rules state that no jump be higher than 5'3" and wider than 6'5". They generally instantly sober up and get put into the next category or leave to tell their stories of 6 foot escapades to other, more willing ears.
The Legit Rider - Yay! Heels down and eyes up! We know the look of a good solid foundation the instant your hiney hits the saddle. I don't care if you have never touched an English saddle, or if that's all you've done your whole life, balance and seat are evident. You're not a case of nerves, you are confident in the abilities God and your trainer gave you! Even if you can only walk and trot, you know your limitations and are striving to get better. This person comes in many different flavors. There's the person who has taken a few years of lessons and wants to get better, the one who's owned their own horse for a period of time and has really had the chance to develop a great leg and seat, and then there's the person who really has shown and knows their stuff. Then it's just a matter of finding the lesson horse that suits their needs and progress can be made!
The Malleable Rider - These are the people who know they don't know anything but really want to learn. Nothing is bad about this person and nothing more needs to be said! We've got the knowledge and experience to start you off the right way and help you achieve your goals!
We love meeting new people but figuring out actual vs perceived skill is always a tricky game to play without offending anyone. This one went as smoothly as one could expect when you offer free horseback riding for an evening. Here's to a mainly successful inaugural College Night and hopefully many more to come!
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