Parents in the Pressure Cooker: Letting the Kids Own the Run
- afenner
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
Rodeo parenting is not for the faint of heart. There’s pressure — and plenty of it — from the moment you load the trailer to the moment your kid runs down the alleyway. And if you're like me, you’ve had to learn (sometimes the hard way) that the best thing we can do as rodeo parents isn’t to control the run — it’s to let go of it.
At Rad Rodeo, we believe in preparing like pros, supporting like champions, and then stepping back so our kids can step up.
The Real Pressure Isn’t in the Arena
The real pressure? It’s not the pattern. It’s not the clock. It’s us.
We’ve all seen it — the parent with their arms crossed and face tight as their kid warms up. The rider who looks back after the first barrel, searching for approval. The tears when something goes wrong and the pressure finally cracks.
We’re not judging — we’ve been there. Heck, we are there some days. But we’ve learned:
The arena should be a proving ground, not a pressure cooker.
Kids perform better when they know the love doesn’t change with the outcome.
Confidence grows when they own their ride — win or lose.
Preparation Is Our Job. Execution Is Theirs.
We believe in preparation. That’s our role.
Helping them learn their pattern.
Getting the horses to the venue and horse and rider to the arena on time.
Setting up routines that create calm.
But once they walk into that alley? That’s their space.
Let them:
Choose their pace.
Make the calls.
Feel the rush and ride it through.
Because that’s how they become competitors — not just passengers.
What Letting Go Looks Like
Letting go doesn’t mean checking out. It means trusting the work that’s been done. It means:
Cheering loud whether they place or not.
Offering support before corrections.
Asking them how they felt about the run.
We want them to develop their own voice in this sport — to ride for themselves, not for a pat on the back.
Lessons We’ve Learned the Hard Way
I’ve been the mom who over-coached. I’ve been the one who sighed too loud, corrected too soon, or pushed too hard.
But I’ve also been the mom who said, “You’ve got this,” and meant it. And that moment? That’s the one that gets the biggest smile back.
Final Thoughts
At Rad Rodeo, we’re raising riders who can stand tall in the saddle — and in life. That starts with letting them feel the thrill and the sting, without fear of losing our support.
So breathe deep at the gate. Smile when they look back. And remember:
It’s their ride. We’re just lucky enough to watch it.
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Ann-Marie Fenner
Ranch Manager, Breeder, Rodeo Mom
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