Keeping The Peace – Keys to a Healthy Barn Dynamic

The Equine Chronicle by Erica Greathouse December 2015

Anyone who has been part of a competitive show barn knows, that at times, drama and conflict can make it feel like you’re in the middle of a reality television show. However, unlike reality TV, barn drama is less than entertaining and can cause a myriad of other problems that ultimately interfere with productivity and success. In order to deal with barn drama, many top professionals have refined their programs and established rules to help keep the peace.

Rob and Mary Meneely own and operate Meneely Show Horses, Ltd. located in Conyers, Georgia. Together, they have trained and coached several ApHC World and National Champions, AQHA World and Congress Champions, and recipients of the Justin Rookie of the Year award. In addition to training, Rob holds judges cards with AQHA, APHA, ApHC, PBHA, PtHA, NSBA, and NRHA. Mary, a two-time NCAA National Champion and three-time NCAA Reserve National Champion coach of the University of Georgia Equestrian Team and new coach of the University of Auburn Equestrian Team, knows the value of teamwork. The Meneelys are very team-oriented and have learned the importance of tailoring their program to accommodate a large group of people with different skill levels, goals, and personalities.

Past experiences have taught Rob to be selective about whom he allows in the barn. He says, “I usually vet people before I allow them in our program. I have learned that one bad apple can ruin the whole bunch, and I want everyone to get along as well as possible,” he says. Additionally, he finds that clients benefit from setting specific goals for each show season. The Meneelys hold a December goal-setting clinic, where they sit down with each client and set reasonable goals for the next year. “We find that setting goals helps our clients focus on their own progress rather than constantly comparing themselves to others. We make sure they set realistic and attainable goals, and we encourage them to display them somewhere they will see them and be able to hold themselves accountable for their goals year round,” he says.

Although the Meneelys keep 30 horses in training, taking only 6-12 horses to a show, along with their main assistant and two other helpers, allows each client and horse to get enough attention. When Rob has horse and rider teams competing in the same division, he finds that keeping their individual goals in mind helps to keep the sole focus off who wins the class and more on each team making progress with his/her horse. If conflicts arise, Rob always tries to be the mediator. “If you squash the issue right away, it doesn’t have time to build and become an even bigger deal,” he says. By keeping clients focused on their own success and being the mediator between them to resolve issues, Rob finds that the barn functions as a team. Also, the Meneely barn enjoys being social together, going out to dinner, and making each horse show a family event. Rob tries to spend as much time as possible with each team at the shows, however, there have been times when a client will feel as though he/she has not received enough time or focus, and that can cause issues. “Conflicts are going to come up when you’re spending that much time in a high stress environment with that many people, for a long period of time, but it’s all about how you handle each issue,” he says. He finds that keeping communication open at all times helps his clients feel comfortable and function as a team.

Over the years, Rob has established a zero-tolerance policy for cliquey or divisive relationships in the barn. “I want everyone to be included and have found that cliques are never a good dynamic. If a conflict gets too bad and there is no possible resolve, I will ask a client to leave,” he says. Negative barn dynamics that cannot be resolved aren’t worth compromising the positive atmosphere in the barn. He would rather ask a client to leave than allow a problem to escalate.

Rob’s system has evolved and changed during his training career due to many experiences with different types of personalities. “We have mostly Select Amateurs in our barn, along with our youth. I think those two groups fit well together, since the youth are on more of a time frame and the Selects are very easygoing. Together, they create a positive balance in the barn,” he says. Furthermore, Meneely stresses that it’s imperative to keep business separate from personal relationships. “You have to be thick-skinned in this business. In the end, it’s all about keeping a healthy and positive environment in the barn where everyone is comfortable to grow, learn, and achieve their goals,” he says. click to continue reading.

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June 26, 2016

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