Soooo my sweet friend, This is so surreal, I almost feel like I am making it up.
I am sure I don’t need to tell you, this year (like last year) has been a doozy. You know what I mean, I don’t even have to say more. You know. You absolutely know.
I didn’t get to show much. So when I heard about a new organization called the “National Open Horse Show Association” that I could qualify through my local saddle club and they were hosting a World Championship. It became my big goal for the year.
I have shown horses most all of my life and have notoriously self-sabotaged myself at every “big” show I have ridden in since I was 14 lol.🤦♀️
I say lol, with nervous laughter because it really wasn’t too funny to work so hard and then screw up. 🤦♀️
I would look around and think all the things… “I am not good enough” “My horse isn’t as talented as that one” “Look at that girl’s outfit!” … and then I would ride different & change my plan at the last minute, filled with self-doubt. And smile and brush it off. I never felt I had it in me to win. 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
This time, I had tools in my tack box I didn’t have before. Right? 💯
I mean I teach this stuff for Pete’s sake! I have become an expert in how to deal with it because it is so hard for me.
I had to put our confidence training to the test.
I decided my goal for the show was to ride with complete trust in myself & my horse that I dearly love. That I would show him to the best of my ability and to show off his strengths and I would ride with complete gratitude to be there.
Either way, I win. Like we say in our classes. There is no losing, I either win or I learn.
It’s a long story and I would bore you with the nitty-gritty details. 🧾
I visualized, I power posed, I practiced my breathing, I gave my horse a voice and a choice, I followed the relaxation techniques my dear friend Charlotte has taught us, I strategized my entire ride from my hat to my boots… to going first in the Rail class…
Even my scarf I have had on my vision board for the past 3 years.
I looked up & forward, never looking at the competition.
And holy cow if it didn’t work! We won the Ranch Riding Class, the Ranch Trail Class and were Reserve Champions in the Ranch Rail Class.
My prayer that morning was that God would give me favor, that He would help to ride my best and protect me from little things that always seem to go wrong and trip me up.
After our wins, I was putting my sweet 2 Time World Champion horse (doesn’t that sound cool, lol I just had to add that) into his stall and talking to a friend and telling her about my prayer.
Right exactly, and I am promising you it was exactly when I was repeating I had asked God to keep me from things going wrong, Hippo (my horse) scratched his ear on the wall and my headstall fell off the bit! 😱
The inside screw end was gone from the chicago screw holding it together!
How long it had been gone I don’t know!
So I share this story with you today, not in any way to brag but…
1. to thank you for being on this ride with me- this win belongs to all of us including you at Team HorseGirl, I could never have done this without you 👯♂️
2. to encourage you not to be afraid to dream big & FINALLY own your dreams
3. to follow your path & keep your eyes on your own blessed ride
4. to tell you that even when your ride is holding on by a loose screw you can still be a champion 😂
Here’s to dreams coming true! And I can’t wait to hear your success story.
Love your biggest fan,
Jenny
p.s. is there anything we can help you with today? shoot us an email to info@horsegirl.me
