Our View From the Saddle

Whenever I go anywhere with people involved with horses in any fashion, it seems I can’t help but notice how we all travel to our own set of hoofbeats.

There is something to appreciate in all the different aspects of our industry, and I think the struggle in each area becomes diluted from viewpoint to viewpoint.

I know folks who just ride for the love of riding. I know people who want to improve horsemanship and work their entire lives to do so. I know people who want to improve their times and scores and don’t care a thing about horsemanship. And I know those who want to do both, as well. There are horse riders, horse lovers and horse owners. There are people who don’t like horses but love the paycheck and some who care nothing about money but love the horse. And I’m not in any position to judge any of it.

There’s a small, equine-shaped piece of our hearts carved out in each of us, isn’t there? If we crave nothing but plodding down the trail with some friends, we love and appreciate our good horse. If we cowboy for a living and doctor wheat pasture cattle, we love and appreciate our good horse. If we run barrels, rope calves, show cow horses, train cutters, rehab racehorses, jump fences or just lead a mini horse through a showmanship class, we sure do recognize, love and appreciate our good horse.

It’s easy to look at the other side of things and think they have it so good and easy. The competes vs. the non-competes. The cowboys vs. the weekend warriors. Natural horsemanship folks vs. the aged-event timeline. The vets, farriers, equine breeding facilities, traders, rescuers, and all that’s in between. The more I’m in it, the more I realize how much there is to learn.

See, the truth is that each corner of our world has its own set of pressures. It’s hard to get faster, stronger, better, sharper, more relaxed and at ease with the process of competition. There are moments when one has to be bitterly real with oneself, and there are moments within those times to sit, savor, revel and reflect. There is always room for improvement and people who can help us improve should we want to. We’ve just got to dig in and keep spurring (metaphorically)!

But on the flip side, it’s hard to sit it out, too. Sometimes, our horses let us know they have had enough. They aren’t meant to be our competitive partners anymore. Sometimes, our lives beyond the barn may force us to hang up our arena hats for a while and do other things. It’s hard fighting the fear of missing out, and it’s frustrating to make a simple goal and not meet it in the timeline and the manner you had hoped.

I don’t care how anyone feels or what they say — it’s gutsy throwing your money into an entry, showing up to compete and holding yourself accountable to a goal. It’s gutsy to take some time off for your family, or whatever needs you, and put your dreams on hold.

We want to be faster. Mark higher. Ride smoother. Be more effective. Get away from our “real jobs” and be horseback. Get our real job done horseback. Take the proper care of our equine partners while fostering the other parts of our lives that need attention. We’ve got to make sure we don’t get so caught up in our own maneuvers and struggles that we forget to encourage and inspire others. There are a lot of hard things we face within our industry, be it an equine professional or just an avid horse enthusiast, but the lot of us are folks well-equipped for the job. (Have you seen our hands?!)

Have some perspective for yourself and remember that we don’t know what it’s like walking in another’s Luccheses.

Because yes, our hoofbeats might all be a bit different, but hey, at least we’re still in the saddle.

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