There have been comments on my posts on Facebook regarding how I’m always smiling coming out of the arena. I will tell you that it hasn’t always been like that…I’m competitive but have learned the following:
If you aren’t smiling and laughing when you come out of the arena, you are doing it all wrong. The bad and the ugly get left in the arena at the end of each ride.
~I had a horrible quads run at the last gymkhana when we hit 3 of the 4 poles. Following quads, we went to speed ball where it took us 28 seconds to complete our ball drop. I wasn’t happy, but I left it in the arena.
It’s all about having fun! We NEVER lose, we either WIN or we LEARN. I set goals before each show or barrel race and my biggest accomplishment is showing my students that no matter what happens during each event, we laugh, we smile, and we have fun! We cheer each other on and have good sportsmanship!
Our sport is very humbling, if you get cocky, it gets you in trouble. I just want to have fun with my horses, my students, my friends and my fellow competitors! I’m so proud of everything EVERY single person’s accomplishments at each show. It helps to have judges that joke with us and that many people have become like family!
Trust me when I say that I have had my fair share of bad days in the arena. I have cussed, thrown fits and been angry nut it doesn’t get you anywhere.
Smiles are free and contagious! Share them with people because you never know the sh*t they have going on in their own head…I’ve spent the last 2 years trying to get out of mine. I AM good enough (and so are you), I CAN do this (and so can you), and I deserve to have fun (as do you).
Let this sport humble you and just plan to have freaking fun! Tomorrow is never promised!
