Soapbox Time, Kids

In the past few days I have been inundated with people firing off opinions and "critiquing" other people's riding abilities, or lack thereof. I thought I would take a moment to illustrate a few facts for those who feel the need to spread negative energy into the horse riding universe.

First, no one and I say this firmly, goes around trying to ride badly. If you feel that you need to talk to your pal next to you while you stand watching the adult amateurs warm up at the Training level dressage class and discuss how effectively or ineffectively they ride, maybe you should be thinking this:
a. How brave that person is for putting themselves out there to go to the show in the first place.
b. How hard they are trying to get the horse round and through the best way that they know how.
c. That possibly this horse and rider combination has been through alot, and its a victory to just have the horse be relaxed and calm in the ring.

I could go on and on with examples like this, but I think we all need to remember that everyone comes to the show to ride their best, and just because its not up to your personal standard it is not for you to judge. The show already hired someone to do that.

Secondly, if you feel the need to make a comment regarding how someone looks in their riding attire, perhaps you should think again about how courageous they are for trying to look the part and have a clean, neat presentation. It takes a considerable amount of guts to put on a pair of skin tight white breeches and button up a dark coat that shows every donut and cheeseburger you've eaten in the past month. I commend anybody for going the extra mile to look dapper for the show, no matter your size and shape.

Lastly, I'd like to clear up a myth. Trainers enjoy riding horses to see the horses learn and have light bulb moments as much as they enjoy teaching their human students. They show your horse so that you can be proud of it and say to somebody, " Gosh that's my horse!" Great trainers ride the horses for the pure enjoyment of the success of the horse, not because they are "trying to take your horse away" or want the horse all to themselves. We are all privileged to ride these amazing animals and forge relationships with them to the extent that they will literally skip across the ring and trot in place to please us. What a gift!

So I will step off my soap box for now in the hopes that we can all appreciate that everyone is riding their best at every given moment, and that trainers are out there to help, not hinder. We must remember that we ride these beautiful animals only because they allow us to, and put up with all of our mistakes in our effort to "make them better". We need to be grateful of the owners that give us the opportunity and the horses that generously give all they have when we ask it of them. If only we humans could learn a lesson from them, to be a bit kinder and gentler with each other, we might have a much more positive outlook on what's happening in our horsey universe. In other words, shut up and ride!