Unrealistic comparisons

E did not have a good ride yesterday. She tried to perfect the skills Ruben taught her the night before but was soon frustrated by what she deemed to be unsatisfactory results. After a hour of tears, anger, disappointment, etc., she untacked the horse, sat in the trailer and had a good cry.

Unhappy rider, heading back to the barn...

Later, she told me that she wasn't a good rider and didn't think she'd be able to ever get it right. I asked her who she compared her riding to and she told me it was her friend G. I then asked her how long G and her horse had been riding together. The answer: "About 4 years." And how long have E and Monte been riding together? "About 4 months." Hmmmmm, something for E to think about.