Get the most out of lessons and your relationship with your trainer with these suggestions from NRHA Professional Ryan Rushing.
Article by Wendy Lind; Photos by Jennifer Paulson
When it comes to a sport like reining, non pros’ experiences are often part of a complex dichotomy.
On one hand, reining is fun. It’s often a meaningful balance to the stresses of home and work. The flip side? The competition is stiff, time and financial investments can be extensive, and the sport is challenging.
For those reasons (and many others), the process of building an effective working relationship between non pros and their trainers can sometimes be difficult to navigate. To get the most out of the situation, both parties must appreciate the cooperative nature of the relationship.
Colorado-based NRHA Professional Ryan Rushing knows this firsthand. In addition to a successful career as an open rider, he has an equally thriving segment of his business that revolves around non pro competitors. He considers the latter just as valuable as the first.
“I really like working with non pro and youth riders. For me, it’s really the combination of coaching and showing that I find fulfilling,” he said. “I’m very competitive, so I love to show, but that in and of itself isn’t enough. Helping people, and watching them learn and improve is so rewarding, and the teaching aspect of my career is really important to me.”
Read more from Rushing in this October 2020 article by clicking here or flipping to page 48.