05/17/2026
I want to start this post with a quote from a friend of mine. One day as we watched some riders she said, "Dress your horse, dress yourself. " This quote has often stuck with me as I present myself in public. As horse men and woman, we are representing what I consider one of the greatest sports on earth. This is the opportunity to show the world how a human can partner with a 1200 pound animal. This is the opportunity to show the love and respect we have for the sport and our horses. We are representing the legend of the cowboy and cowgirl. All of that being said, I could not be more proud of the young ladies at our barn! They dressed up and showed up to their first show this year! Many of them had been taking lessons once a week. This winter their lives changed and their forever horses came into their lives. They were able to commit three days a week to riding and they did just that! The barn was full of excitement and nerves as they loaded their equipment and put their horses on the trailer. The first half of the show was nerve racking for some of them and it showed. They learned a lot yesterday. They settled in and began to ride the horse they had and not the nerves. They cheered for each other and showed sportsmanship. All of them brought home a ribbon. Most importantly they came home with a few life lessons. They hosed down their horses, cleaned the trailer , put their tack away, and swept the barn. When leaving I received the best gift they could give (Hugs from my student...my girls). Thinking back on yesterday, I have a sense of pride. They pet their partners after each run. They brought a sense of pride to themselves, their horses, and the industry we should all promote with respect for the legends who created it!