Horse Shows and Kids

A few years ago she had wondered how anyone could pack away their trophies and put them in an attic, or leave them in the barn where they were quickly covered with dust and cobwebs. But after five years of showing, and winning many trophies of her own, she had finally figured it out. It wasn't about the trophies.

At least not for the ones who really loved what they were doing. Not for the ones who would get up extra early and rush to the barn to start grooming their horses for that day's show. It wasn't because they wanted to win a shiny trophy with a golden horse on top. It was because of all the fun they had while they were at the shows. Competing with friends, or cheering them on, was all part of the experience. It wasn't about who had the most expensive horse or tack. Nor who had the biggest or shiniest trailer. The fun was in brushing your horse till his coat would shine like a new penny, combing his mane, polishing his hooves, and braiding his tale just so. And, maybe this year, you had a new show jacket or helmet you couldn't wait to show your friends.

Everyone came prepared to spend the day. Lawn chairs in every color imaginable, bottles of sunscreen, coolers filled with ice and plenty of drinks, and always enough snacks to share with friends who were certain to stop by. In a lot of ways, horse show day was very much like a big block party. Between the classes in the show ring, friends caught up with one another's lives. Whose horse was doing well, who had a new foal this spring, and what the kids were doing between shows.

Sometimes the farrier had to do a last minute shoeing job, but he was used to that. He always came prepared, tools in his truck, knowing that most likely, someone would need his services. Whether a horse threw a shoe in the ring, or someone had brought along a pony that needed its hooves trimmed, he was happy to oblige. Just like his father before him, farrier work wasn't really a job. It was a hobby that let him be near the animals he loved the most, and some of the greatest people in the world.

Gone were the dresses and heels, the suits and ties, the weekday wear that most of them usually wore. Now it was time for comfortable jeans, paired with t-shirts or western style shirts. Boots were common, but many chose tennis shoes. Riding was about comfort, relaxation, and an escape from everyday stress. At the shows, everyone was equal in the way that mattered most. They all loved horses.

Yes, it had taken her a while to understand how the trophies could be so casually packed away, but now she understood. Win or lose, it was not about the trophies. It was about the horses, the friends, the total experience. And, to her, that's what made showing worth all the effort.