08/08/2025
Dear Horse Industry,
Stop being awful.
Stop putting others down for the sake of one's own prosperity.
Stop the snarky remarks behind closed doors.
Stop with the clicks and underhanded complements.
Stop with the need for newest and latest fashions or tack sets but never riding your horse for fear they may get dirty.
Stop manipulating others' words or actions.
Stop normalizing poor sportsmanship and start normalizing folks who work hard.
Chances are, if you've had horses long enough, you've encountered some sort of this. From the competition world, to trail riders, to rescues, to top level riders...it's everywhere. And it's terrible. And it's got to stop. It has to.
I've met riders, young and old, who are terrified to ride in front of people because, somewhere along the line, someone told them they weren't good enough. I've seen talented people quit because of gossip, and I've seen people give up on what they believe in because someone made them feel as if they were only 1" tall.
When you see a rider kicking themselves after a bad ride, tell them great job for hanging in there. Maybe give them some tips if they're open to it.
When you see that girl show up in the rusty old bumper pull, know she likely put everything she had into her entry fees.
When you see an organization fighting for what they believe in, fight with them if you believe in the same.
When you see the girl too shy to ride, ask her to help you out by hopping on to keep your horse company because it would be an awfully big help.
When you see the girl scared to death in line-up, remind her why she is there and that she has this.
When you see the girl discouraged over progress, remind her how far she has come.
The world is full of ugliness. Horses should be our escape, not a place we feel belittled. We are all incredibly blessed to have horses in our lives. Become a better horseman is hard enough without having others tear you down.
Start normalizing raising each other up and encouraging one another.
