Public Service Announcement from The Horse Show Husband

Attention all Horse Show participants!

This just in from those of us living in the real world: Horse shows, no matter how hard we try, are not held in a vacuum. Regardless of the discipline, all those entering a Horse show whether it’s English, Western Pleasure, VRH, Reined Cowhorse, or what have you; should be prepared for anything to happen.

As is real life there are real consequences, accidents, unforeseen situations, and possible bumps in the road at any event involving homo sapiens. Compounding the probability of unpredictable instances at a show is Equus ferus caballus and Bos Taurus (that’s horses and cows to you non scientists and like Will Andersen said “a cow is nothing but trouble tied up in a leather bag, and a horse ain’t much better sometimes”.)

Yes, we would all love to show in a vacuum where there are no outside influences impacting the results. If only we could show our cayuse in an environment completely free from the occasional frog in the arena, a loose straw hat blowing across the pen, a photographer with a noisy telephoto lens, a crying baby, a flapping tarp on the fence, bawling cattle, umbrellas popping open, barking dogs, circling sea gulls with loose bowels, or a rata-tat-tat from the tractor on the neighboring property (And those are just the things witnessed one morning of the last show!).

Imagine a world with zero stressors for yourself and your horse. Imagine the cattle behaving perfectly as you box them, take them down the fence, and rope them straight away. Imagine the transition from a lope to a walk being effortless or making that flying lead change every time you attempted it. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Ummmm, negative Ghost Rider: it would NOT.

There is no growth without the challenge of learning and improving in areas with your horse. There is no sense of accomplishment from earning that ribbon, winning a prize, placing for points, or taking home the buckle when all things are completely equal. There is no satisfaction felt without the work involved. (Of course, there would also be no anxiety, upset stomachs, sweaty palms, cotton mouths, ulcers, migraines, or need for many prescriptions drugs.)

Think of how utterly boring it would be without the mountain to climb, the hurdle to overcome, and the process by which you and your mustang work to make all of it happen. It’s the love of the game, the love of the horse, and the love of living life to the fullest that is the bottom line! (And oh by the way, none of us will escape the bottom line so make the most of it.)

Hopefully you see my side of this faith based, optimistic, overly positive view on Showing a Horse with all of its travails. But if ya don’t, maybe the scientific view will leave a more lasting impression on you. Now I never got an A in science class but I am almost 100% sure that in an honest to God space vacuum a human would be dead inside of a few minutes. You see, a vacuum is absent of any matter except a few measly protons-electrons-neutrons if I remember Mr. Alley’s physics class teachings correctly. There is absolutely nothing to sustain us proving my point that it’s much better to live in the real world with all of its ups and downs.

Therefore it goes without saying that showing a horse in the real world is also the best path to choose. It’s

much better than the alternative that’s for sure and certain! Time for me to head down the Long Dusty so take care and God Bless! P.S. If you know of anyone missing a Kirby Vacuum please let me know.

-Steve Love The Horse Show Husband