Showing - Why?

Johnny Rotten's blog today http://mrrottensneighborhood.blogspot.com/2009/06/its-not-good-horse-show-unless-you-have.html ) got me thinking about why I show and what my goals are. I'm just a beginner at showing, but I always wanted to as a child. I used to take lessons at this English barn and we went to watch a show that a girl I knew from the barn was in. She looked so grown up in her coat and black helmet and carefully coiffed bun, that I have never forgotten it. To be all fixed up and have everyone watch you ride seemed like the greatest thing in the world to me. And I was kind of shy about everything else. I never did get to show when I was a kid. In later years I took a lot of lessons, but never at a showing barn. Once my kid came along and started riding, I had to scrounge around to find out about showing around here. I went up to people with horse trailers and asked them where they were going. Then, follow them to shows and find out who was giving lessons.

We are ensconced now, among the Western gaming set, with a little judged events ("front end") thrown in. It feels good to have a horse community to socialize with at shows. As for competition, I compete against my own personal best. I missed a lot of years that these people were riding, so I have to pay my dues. My daughter got a late start really, only starting to show at age 10; that's late by Western standards around here.

Mainly, having shows to work towards gives me motivation to get out there and ride. When I was a kid and had my own horse, I rode around the pasture (30 acres), but wasn't' allowed on the road or anywhere else. It got boring and I lost interest. I find showing gives me something to work towards. I have to keep Matty in shape so he can run barrels; I will have to work on steering on the mare, as she is still green; I have to get Dude back in shape and riding because Matt needs to retire. Otherwise, its too easy to just look out the window and think, its too hot, or its too cold and skip riding for days until they turn into weeks.

As I said, I compete against my own personal best. This weekend, I ran a perfect pattern with Matt on barrels and finally broke 24 seconds. This resulted in a 4th place when there was actual competition. (I got a 2nd in novice barrels out of 3 people; not as much pride in that one, but good, nonetheless.) I am getting used to his going fast. I am starting to feel we are "in sync." It no longer feels like I am just along for the ride - holding on for dear life. When we rounded barrel 3 and he came out at a fast pace I was way behind the motion. I felt him start to slow down for me and I got up out of the saddle (2-point) and said, "Don't wait for me! GO Go Go!" And he went! I don't know if I'll ever get any real speed out of the old man (Matt), but he is teaching me so much poise and confidence that he is going to be worth every day of his long overdue retirement.