Trying to help my sister

[CrazyfurAnimals]

Hello everyone,
I hope you can help me out on this one.
Last week was my sister's first riding lesson. And she had some trouble picking the hooves. Well, not exactlyl picking the hooves. She couldn't lift the hoof. The reason she couldn't get Hoosier ( the school horse) to lift his hoof was because she wasn't doing it exactly right. When she ran her hand down the shoulder to the hoof, she would turn her hand around his leg instead of squeezing or even going in the right position. The instructor didn't notice that my sister was doing it wrong.
I want to tell her how to do it right, but I've only been taking lessons for about 5 weeks, so I don't want to make her feel like I'm way better than she is. Besides, she's my older sister, and she doesn't seem to like it when I give her any tips. Please Help!:(

[Maci]

I am also an older sister who doesn't like taking tips, etc. from my younger sister! It's all an ego thing! ;)

If you see that you sister is doing it wrong, and the horse won't co-operate, than tell her she's doing it wrong and show her how to do it right! To make it easy on her, tell her politly what she's doing wrong and say, "I could show you the right way, if you'd like?". If she wants to learn about horses, she'll listen to you and learn (even if she does get upset and doesn't want to admit it, she'll still learn....believe me, I've been there!).

Good Luck!
Maci :)

[fionahogg]

I'm a younger sister who always likes to tell her older sister what to do :D!

I agree with Maci, I think you should give her a hand, after all, that's what younger sisters are for :)!!!

Fiona.

[CrazyfurAnimals]

Thanks for replying. I think I'll try telling my sister exactly like what you said Maci. Hopefully she won't get upset with me. We went for another lesson today. I'm really surprised that the instructor hasn't said anything. Do you think it would be better if I told my sister at the barn what to do, or privately at our house? Thanks a million everyone!!

[Katie_85]

What if you avoided any ego stuations and mentioned something to the instructor. Somethigng along the lines of, "my sister isn't getting very good results when trying to pick up Hoosier's hooves. Is there something I could help her with?". That way you won't sound like a know-it-all and help your sister at the same time.:)

[Maci]

Katie_85's idea is good, because it wouldn't come directly from you, but from an older, "wiser" person.

If you do tell her, I would do it at the barn, but I would tell her quietly (to avoid embarassing her) what she's doing wrong, and show her the correct way. Let her complain at you and get upset, but if she see's that your way is achieving better results with the horse, than she'll probably switch to your way (but she won't admit it....trust me, I know!).

Good Luck!
Maci :)

[Peace]

Wow, I wish my older sister was still riding! I got her to take some lessons with me, but she and the schoolmare, both of whom are middle-aged and inclined to PMS, were unfortunately on the same cycle. Several weeks after she started lessons, I looked up to see 1200 combined lbs of crazed hormones grumping around the ring together. Not pretty - that was my sister's last ride to date :D

Maybe you could make the suggestion the way the salesladies in the department stores do, when I walk out of the dressing room with what's meant to be the fashionable new neckpiece wrapped around me for a belt. They smile sweetly and say "May I show you "another" way to wear that?"

[Katie_85]

LOL! I never even thought about something like that Peace...that's hilarious! :D :)

[CrazyfurAnimals]

Thanks everyone. Maci, I think your idea is great! If she does get upset with me, I'll remember what you said. :) Peace and Katie, your ideas are both great too. Thanks for all your help!! If any of you have any more ideas, I'd be more than glad to hear them too.

[CrazyfurAnimals]

Okay, this is kind of weird. Just last week, my sister went to the doctors after having shoulder pain for a long time. Well, the doctor told her that she has something called 'bone spurs'. Now I feel bad for her, because she can't ride horses any more for maybe a long time. Have any of you heard of this or have had it and are still riding? She LOVED riding, and I hate to see her give it up forever!