The Addiction to People Pleasing in the Show Ring

This summer was a horrible show season, but a very good learning season. I fought hard against some huge demons and hit a ton of brick walls and rock bottoms. All of this is because I suffer with a lack of self confidence when I step onto the show grounds, or anywhere around other people for that matter. All because of my studies in natural horsemanship, I know exactly what I should do, but the show ring makes me into a monster. My heart races, I tend to get angry, frazzled, cry. Crying is the worst. I hardly ever cry because I have a problem with catharsis. I am a hold it in type of gal. But it explodes at horse shows. The horses explode at the same rate as I do.

Well, I have finally come to a conclusion that alters how I view horse shows: what I do is not designed to turn out a show horse just like snap that. It is a relationship thing, and for me, my horses and I are not ready to expect much in the way of performance from one another. I am going to have to go in there to have fun and learn. Oh, and to know that the people I am competing with did not get blue ribbons by putting their horses first. And who knows, maybe this will make things go faster and we will be winning blue ribbons anyhow.

Do it for the love of the horse, that is what I will think every time we pass the threshold of the entrance gate next year.