I think I essentially got into showing because my mom showed, but I stayed because I loved the way of life.
Field-of-Dreams said:
Actually being GOOD at something (I was awful in gym class)
Ditto. I was totally unpopular in school, picked on constantly, but when my mom rode her Arab up to the elementary school with my pony even the "in crowd" looked at me like I was cool and asked to pet them. Succeeding in horse shows gave me friends, self-esteem and something I could hold up with pride when others told me I was a loser. I often thought "I'd like to see THEM handle a 1,000lb horse!"
I would have no interest in showing if I couldn't handle my horse myself. The whole point for me and what I enjoy most is the process of training them and building a partnership. I'm happiest showing only one horse and really building that one-on-one relationship where they can practically read your mind and you know every beat of their heart. That's what MAKES it for me.
Like Mominis, I need goals to keep me motivated and showing provides those external deadlines and progress markers.
I love hanging out with a group of like-minded people. Sometimes that means going to a different kind of competition (I don't get along very well with those who will do anything to their horses for a ribbon, for instance) but horse people in general are a lot of fun.
I like a challenge. Pitting myself against a difficult dressage pattern or disciplined rail driving class or in-hand obstacle course plays to my strengths and suits my sense of detail orientation. Okay, detail OBSESSION. I admit it! I'm a control freak and that's my healthy way of channeling it.
Show pictures. Definitely. It kills me when there's no show photographer and then when there is I miss the shows.
In a lot of ways I feel like shows are the closest I can get to the old days of a warrior and the steed upon whom his survival and success depended. Putting on the harness for a combined driving marathon is a ritual for me, making sure each piece fits perfectly so it protects the horse and allows him to do his job without hinderance. Smoothing each piece into place, checking for any pinching or galling, cinching down the straps and doing his stretching prior to going into battle...oh yeah. It's a meditation before the skirmish. He is my PARTNER and he knows we can count on each other. Love that feeling!
JMS Miniatures said:
The one thing I don't like about showing is I can't stand the clipping. It's getting better but I can only do one at a time.
Truly. Since having two horses to clip a lot of the fun has gone out of it for me. I don't mind bathing and doing bridlepaths and fetlocks and such like I did for the big horses but all this body-clipping is a killer. I actually skipped the last three shows this season because it simply wasn't worth it for me! I never thought I'd say that.
But honest to God, to put in all that work for five minutes in the ring with my halter horse and getting the gate anyway...no thank you. I'll go back to showing next year when he's ready to drive and I'm getting a lot more "return" on that investment of time.
And besides- maybe next year it won't continue to feel like early March right up through July!
It's hard to coax yourself to clip when it makes your horses chilled and miserable.
Leia
