You know, consistency really pays off, whether you're in the saddle or coaching ringside. In our ShowTeamer group—a dedicated community of competition-focused riders—we track every show’s stats to see how each horse and rider pair is progressing, and the results speak for themselves. I'm excited to share some key insights from our mid-year evaluation of our ShowTeamers. They are doing such a great job!
As we reviewed their progress, lesson frequency, and overall success, we uncovered valuable lessons that I believe can benefit all riders and coaches alike.
One of the most important insights is the strong correlation between lesson frequency and performance. Riders who commit to regular, high-frequency lessons with quality instruction—whether their horse is in training or not—consistently outperform those with fewer lessons. This is evident in higher average class scores and greater improvements over time. Simply put, the more high-quality instruction you receive, the better you perform in the show pen. Without a coach's watchful eye during practice, there's a risk of reinforcing bad habits rather than improving.
Another key takeaway is how quickly riders progress when they follow a consistent coaching program. While our riders do occasionally train with other coaches or attend clinics, they have one primary program that serves as the foundation for their learning objectives, practice priorities, team support, and performance reviews. This consistency is a major driver of their success.
Even a slight boost in your average score can be the difference between being just another competitor and topping the leaderboard.
We also learned that setting achievable goals and tracking your own progress is crucial. It's not just about winning buckles (although we're certainly proud of our increased buckle count this year!). True success is measured by the progress you make, both in and out of the show ring, and by the enjoyment you find in your riding journey.
While winning a buckle, ribbon, or trophy motivates many riders, never forget that having fun and making progress are just as important in measuring improvement.
As coaches, we've also identified key strategies to better support riders. We understand the importance of starting with what's meaningful to you, and then working together to create a program that helps you achieve your goals. Frequent lessons, a dedicated coach, and a commitment to the process are all essential elements of long-term success.
I encourage you all to embrace the lessons we've learned and apply them to your own riding journey. Remember, progress, not perfection, should be your focus. Celebrate the small victories, track your own performance, and most importantly, have fun!
Let’s keep going strong! Shannon
Cheers, Coach Shannon Pigott
💪🏻 Now Available, the Mental Mastery 4-Week Course 💪🏻
What is it? A season ending push for mental mastery and unshakable confidence! 🤓 Are you ready to close out the season with a powerful push, improving your performance and boosting your confidence? Elevate your competitive edge and finish strong with the 4-week Mental Mastery Course – a transformative journey designed to help you finish the show season at your best. In the world of western discipline horse-sports, riders often spend countless hours perfecting physical skills and maneuvers, yet the mental game remains a mystery. This course is specifically tailored for riders determined to master the mental side of performance, ensuring that your final rides of the season are your strongest yet. 💰Cost: $249 How to join: Subscribe to the course in RideLife by clicking the button! 👇
🤩 Did you catch Coach Shannon in the July issue of Western Horseman?
The issue's "Horsemanship" article featured Coach Shannon's advice for building confidence in the saddle. Get your issue at westernhorseman.com 🤩
“That’s the secret to building self-confidence. It comes from building your image of who you want to be. Without building good mental habits while you are building riding skills, you’ll always doubt your ability. Even a simple statement such as ‘I’m getting better every ride and closer to my riding vision of myself’ is a much more positive approach. The best news is a rider doesn’t need an arena be on their horse to practice building a positive self-image.”
Coach Shannon
What is RideLife?
Finally, a place where incredible, adventurous women—and a few courageous cowboys—over 40, unlock their childhood selves and ride towards a championship in fearlessness.Together, with like minded competitors around the country in your back pocket, you'll gain a whole new level of knowledge and confidence to:
• Gain unique perspectives into the sports of reined cow horse, cutting, ranch events, and more
• Cultivate confidence with honed skills and riding techniques
• Show your horse even more professionally, successfully and skillfully
• Laugh, I mean...really (Oh yes, we laugh A LOT here!)