My horses aren't the best, they are nowhere near the best....but I couldn't love them any more if Twist were Del's Cowboy or Dancer were Boone's Little Buckeroo. That's what the person who posted before meant when she referred to the "best" horse being the one you're taking home. Because that horse is YOURS, the one you love and care for everyday...the one you groom and tend to, the one that is part of your family. (I don't know--I've only owned 2 minis and only for 2 months now--so maybe "that feeling" wears off if you have a lot of minis, or have had minis for a long time--but I'm still in the "honeymoon" stage and I still get stars in my eyes and a flutter in my heart when I look at my boys.)
If I ever went into the show ring I wouln't do it thinking that my horses were better than any other out there (gosh, no!)
, nor would I go into the ring not caring what the judge thinks--it would be a learning experience for me. Something I could do with my little guys whom I love so much. Would I want to win? Well, sure I would...but I wouldn't expect my little rescue guys could go out and beat horses from experienced shows homes handled by people with years of experience. I'd be happy as a lark just to have had the experience. But we could learn a lot, gain experience, have a little fun and meet new people.
Sometimes the journey is as important as the destination, and we all don't have to follow the same path to get there. Sometimes winning isn't everything, but what we learn along the way that matters the most.