The No-Drama Gate Crew: Keeping Kids Focused When It Counts
- afenner
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
When it’s go time — the announcer calls their name, the horse starts to shift, the timer’s ready — the last thing a kid needs is chaos.
We’ve all seen it: shouting from the sidelines, frantic last-second corrections, parents over-cueing from the fence.
At Rad Rodeo, we’re proud to be part of the No-Drama Gate Crew.
Because the calmer the gate, the clearer the head — and that’s where winning starts.
The Energy You Bring Is the Ride They’ll Have
Horses read energy. So do kids. If we’re tense, rushed, or scattered at the gate, it ripples down the reins and into the run.
Instead, we work hard to bring:
Calm hands.
Grounded voices.
Steady presence.
That gives our kids (and horses) a moment to breathe, focus, and feel ready.
Less Is More at the Gate
This isn’t the time for full coaching:
Don’t change the plan.
Don’t micromanage.
Don’t overhype.
A simple “You’ve got this.” A steadying hand. A calm nod.
That’s enough. It’s not the time to fix — it’s the time to trust.
Our Job Is to Hold Space, Not Steal the Moment
This run belongs to them.
Not to prove we trained them right. Not to impress the crowd. Not to re-live our own rodeo days.
We’re here to hold space:
To be their calm.
To be their anchor.
To be the person they look to and see belief.
Post-Run Starts at the Gate
The energy you give them going in sets the tone for how they feel coming out.
Make sure they know:
Win or lose, you’re proud.
The gate is a safe place.
This is still supposed to be fun.
Final Thoughts
At Rad Rodeo, we believe every kid deserves a gate crew that brings peace, not pressure.
So hush the nerves. Skip the last-second speeches. Let them take that deep breath and go ride.
We’ll be right there — quiet, steady, and cheering all the way.
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Ann-Marie Fenner
Ranch Manager, Breeder, Rodeo Mom
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