EQUESTRIAN SEMINAR SERIES
For Adults
Balancing the demands of a riding career with the responsibilities of caring for a family and/or maintaining a business or job is no easy task. Many adult riders face additional financial pressures as well. These seminars for adults address the issues that affect the quality of a person’s riding in addition to how well he or she is able to enjoy the sport.
Popular Topics
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“Get As Nervous As You’d Like” - a new way of managing performance nerves
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Relaxation myths and truths
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• Performance anxiety is one thing, but what if I’m really scared?
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• Do’s and don’ts of getting over riding fears
“Because of the enormous toll my riding takes on my life and my
family’s life, I feel guilty if I don’t at least win a few good ribbons
when I show. But then I try too hard and don’t ride well! It’s a Catch‐22.”
For Kids and Teenagers
Many young riders face responsibilities, performance pressures, and training stressors that would be difficult even for an adult to manage successfully. These seminars offer young riders opportunities to talk openly with other riders their own age about some of the more stressful experiences of training and competing. They can also discuss the relationships they have with their trainers or parents in a confidential setting and seek out advice they might otherwise not know how to find.
Popular Topics
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“Get as nervous as you like!” - a new way of managing performance nerves
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Learning to speak up - helping your trainer and parents to help you
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“Help! My biggest competitor is my best friend!
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What to do if you are feeling over-faced
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Recovering from a bad fall
For Parents
They drive, they pay, they encourage and console. Parents occupy a special place in the lives of young athletes and face a variety of issues when their children are involved in equestrian sports. These sessions help parents and children or teenagers work better as a team to achieve common goals and overcome obstacles that can crop up when families are involved in a sport as complex and demanding as riding.
Popular Topics
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Family Stress and Horse Showing
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Early Warning Signs of Problems
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“Everything I Say is Wrong” – Being a Good Pony Club/Horse Show Parent
“I never know what to say to my kid at horse shows. Everything I say turns out to be the wrong thing, and it’s the same whether she’s winning or losing.”
For Trainers and Instructors
Seminars for trainers and instructors cover such topics as teaching different types of students (young kids, teenagers, the returning adult rider), helping riders build or rebuild confidence, motivating fearful students, working together with parents of juniors, managing boarders.
Popular Topics
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The psychology behind teaching and learning
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The roles of inspiration, support, and criticism
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Instructor/student relationships
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Helping riders through their fears