Motivation Monday

Motivation Monday: Don't be the next of them, be the first of you.

Confidence

Baby Lesson #16

Babies will steal your thunder, and your heart. I have always been pretty big and important in my own small world, the world that only exists in my Einstien like mind, and figured that the few freinds that I do have liked me for me. Now, I love Jax more than anything in this world, which those of you who know me understand that those few words about a kid rolling out of my mouth could cause the world to shift on its axis. It's funny how kids change your way of thinking and how people perceive you. My world, where it was all about Steve for 37 years, hit a small pothole when I married my lovely, and cosidered by some to be my better half, Charissa. All of a sudden I had to split the billing on the marque with someone that I love and respect, which isn't a bad thing since it made be a better person. I figured that I can live a pretty sweet life having co-headlining role. THEN... we decided to shake things up and start a little family, and I'm not just talking in size either! It took me a while to sort thru having to provide and look after another person that was solely relying on me for their every need. I also learned pretty quick that babies are super needy. I have been on sort of a roller coaster ride just trying to figure my way through the horse business and life keeping food in my belly and the bills mostly paid without the thought of providing for any others. So on January 6, 2012 we were blessed with a super precious little thunder stealer. Now it seemed that not only did I have to split headlining duties, I fell even farther down the ladder. I found out that no matter how important you are, or think you are, you will never, and I MEAN NEVER, be able to compete with a baby and an awesome wife. All of a sudden my friends, family and random strangers only wanted to talk about Jax, no matter how much I tried to change the topic, I had been delegated to a supporting role. We had planned on eventually having a couple of kids and I was cool with the idea thinking that I would have some time to figure things out with the first one and be able to change any problems that I created, in turn making the second one better (kinda like a starter wife). But as fate would have it, Charissa turned out to be fertile as a stray cat and we managed to stack another baby on top of the first only 14 months apart. I guess it has its benefits since we are having another boy and we currently have a pretty good supply of hand me down clothes, and we will be able to raise them like twins. Now if are are looking somewhere down the road and wondering what happened to good ol' Steve, don't look too hard. I will be somewhere in the background carrying the diaper bag on one shoulder and Charissa's purse on the other, pushing a crew cab dually stroller loaded with one kid and a ton of toys, coupled with Jax clawing on my neck like a spider monkey tripping on Mountian Dew, playing the best role ever, Dad.

Warm Up Arena Etiquette and Saftey

WARM UP ARENA ETIQUETTE AND SAFTEY With show season upon us the warm up pen can be a pretty dangerous place when every rider is concentrating on his or her own program and getting ready for their classes. I will give you some general rules to follow that will make navigating the warm up arena easier and safer for you and your horse. • Always go with the flow of traffic. If the warm up arena is large enough to allow for two sets of circles, one circle should be loping to the left and one loping to the right, they should pass left hand to right hand in the center of the arena. If the warm up pen has only enough space to lope one circle, ask when you want to change direction, as most people will want to go both directions before they show. • Stay to the inside of the circle if you want to go slow, and to the outside of the circle if you want to go fast. • Don’t use your cell phone, Ipad, or personal computer in the arena. It can wait until your at the trailer or back at your house. • NEVER, NEVER, NEVER stop your horse in traffic. If you are at a reining event, there will be time to work on fencing and stopping your horse so that you will not have to avoid other riders that are circling. • If you need to school your horse, work on spins, or adjust equipment, move to the middle of a circle so that you’re not in the flow of traffic. • Do not pony horses in the warm up pen. • Always look where you are going, and watch out for other riders. You don’t drive your car while looking at the hood ornament and you shouldn’t ride your horse looking at his head, eyes up. • Don’t exercise young or green horses in the warm up pen while it is crowded; wait until later in the evening or early in the morning. Safety first. • Yield to the tractor, and always listen to the arena announcer and ring steward. They are there for your safety and to keep the show running smoothly. Remember, every minute you waste when asked to leave the arena is just another minute longer that the show will last. • Don’t tie your horses in the warm up arena. No one wants to dodge a kicking or loose horse while they are getting ready to show. • If you have a question, ask. The only dumb questions are the ones that are never asked. • Always try to maintain a good sense of humor. People may be tired and nervous. Be patient with newcomers and try to help them learn by referring them to these guidelines. It is our job as riders to ensure the safety of ourselves, horses and others. Remember that some people don’t know that they don’t know, so take the time to explain to them the proper rules, I would rather them be mad at me for trying to keep them safe than to have them hurt one of my customers or family. As always Ride Hard, Be Safe, Have Fun – Steve Kutie

Fact Friday

Fact Friday: Horses cannot give us the wrong answer, either we asked the question wrong or we did not ask the question correctly.

Bonus Tip

Bonus Tip: Go ride with someone better than yourself.- You still have a lot to learn. Riders: Steve Kutie of Kutie Performance Horses, Susanna Schuh of Sue Horse Training (Germany), Craig Johnson of Craig Johnson Reining Horses.

Theory Thursday

Theory Thursday: Focus on YOUR horses needs in the warm up pen before you show, this is where your run is won or lost. Remember, what everyone else is doing has nothing to do with you.