Notes From Around the Arena
November 19th - 25th 2013
How I See It
Well all that riding over the summer paid off. All those long hauls, hotels and early mornings. Dusty lessons, hot lessons, ridding with the rising sun. Coaching fees and lesson fees. If you wanna play you gotta pay.
Our gymkhana team received their year end awards at the California Gymkhana Association Convention this Saturday.
What a special event. Its a formal event, so all those girls we see all year in dusty boots, jeans and helmets are all dolled up in pretty gowns with pretty hair. The boys looked sharp and smelled good too. Each rider that was able to achieve the necessary amount of rides and times is called up on stage with the club president and one of the princesses who presents your award and the announcer acknowledges all the hard work and commitment that these riders put in. We are served a nice dinner all the while the presentation is going on.
As the Hall of Fame riders give their speeches I become aware of a number of things.
One is that all the awards given require a commitment to your riding programs. And their is a pride reflected back to everyone who supports these riders in this process. I heard speech after speech name groups of people who make their achievements enjoyable and possible. From parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, coaches, trainers, mentors, special friends, farriers, and veterinarians, and of course each very special Horse. On this night i was struck by the radiant happiness that these speech givers showed when they spoke thanks to all who make it possible.
Every rider that gave their speech, spoke of Cost and Expense and not one of them danced around the fact that this sport cost a lot of money. Many thanks were given to moms, dads, husbands, wives, grandparents, business done well, and sponsorships and donations. For helping to pay for all the miles traveled, all the gear, entry's, training, coaching, all the vet care, hoof care, all the hotels, and the of course the cost of horses.
Next was the amount of tears and emotional release. The gratefulness that each rider wanted to share with all who pushed them when they were frustrated with their horse for tough rides. To those who showed them tips or helped train their horses to reach that goal or next level. People who's support never gave up, even when the rider did.
Also for the amount of heart brake, riders spoke of horses dying at the event, or directly after, or in related training. Some died out of the blue. Some spoke of Horses that pulled up lame, injured or sick, with only needing just a few more rides bringing them to the end of a 25 year run of achievement. By the way, that was in a row. The sorrow for not being able to award their commitment. Also for just how tough our sport is on our equine athletes and the riders who give it their ALL at every level. Riding with broken bones, or broken hearts.
I have been a CGA member since 1992, I have been riding with some of these people all this time. Dianna Merrick is one of those people, she was the first person I met at the State Finals all those years ago. She was not yet a mom. This year was her first year achieving her Hall of Fame Year End Award. In her speech she said many things. She was determined not to cry. But she made it clear that it took her 21 years to make Hall of Fame. In her words, Its not easy. She shared that people ask her why she has not made Hall of Fame yet. As if its just something you do. She said.
And the message she gave was, competing for those year end awards is a training. This is not a gimme. You learn to be committed to the end. To make those runs, make those shows. That this is a worthy achievement at all levels and if you out do yourself next year all the better. Life gets in the way. And that will keep you from the prize. For some children this Year End Award may be all they ever achieve with their horse as they grow up and move away from horses. Or for families who loose their jobs, homes, ranches or horses. So for 21 years Dianna has kept at the commitment halfheartedly thinking it was a gimme. However on this night, as she stood up there as a Hall of Fame rider for the first time in 21 years of effort, she scolded those of us for cheapening the Year End Award achievement of those who for a variety of reasons, this might be the high light of their riding career. Again she stated, This Is Hard.
Dianna had plenty to say and wouldn't be shushed. She went on to talk about her mount Fanci, and how she came to be such a great all around pony. She thanked the kids in the lesson program who ride Fanci during the week in lessons. And she thanked her daughter who has been running gymkhana on Fanci for the past 6 years. Also thanking her trainer friends for training rides and Accuscope therapies.
What I walked away with, was the deep love and trust, comfort and connection people have with horses. A lot of riders don't own their horses. They are leasing or borrowing or training for someone else. And that does not seem to change or interfere with the love and trust and triumph that a horse and rider share. Nor does it diminish the thrill and excitement for the owner that made that horse available to the experience.
So with that I am so very proud of our team.
Congratulations On Your Year End Awards!
Clair Amador and Rock It Rockstar:
Maddy Dutra and I'm A Cowboy:
Judy Harrison and Frenchie:
Tara Woodard and Zen:
Pictures will be on the Web site be the end of the week:)
Well all that riding over the summer paid off. All those long hauls, hotels and early mornings. Dusty lessons, hot lessons, ridding with the rising sun. Coaching fees and lesson fees. If you wanna play you gotta pay.
Our gymkhana team received their year end awards at the California Gymkhana Association Convention this Saturday.
What a special event. Its a formal event, so all those girls we see all year in dusty boots, jeans and helmets are all dolled up in pretty gowns with pretty hair. The boys looked sharp and smelled good too. Each rider that was able to achieve the necessary amount of rides and times is called up on stage with the club president and one of the princesses who presents your award and the announcer acknowledges all the hard work and commitment that these riders put in. We are served a nice dinner all the while the presentation is going on.
As the Hall of Fame riders give their speeches I become aware of a number of things.
One is that all the awards given require a commitment to your riding programs. And their is a pride reflected back to everyone who supports these riders in this process. I heard speech after speech name groups of people who make their achievements enjoyable and possible. From parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, coaches, trainers, mentors, special friends, farriers, and veterinarians, and of course each very special Horse. On this night i was struck by the radiant happiness that these speech givers showed when they spoke thanks to all who make it possible.
Every rider that gave their speech, spoke of Cost and Expense and not one of them danced around the fact that this sport cost a lot of money. Many thanks were given to moms, dads, husbands, wives, grandparents, business done well, and sponsorships and donations. For helping to pay for all the miles traveled, all the gear, entry's, training, coaching, all the vet care, hoof care, all the hotels, and the of course the cost of horses.
Next was the amount of tears and emotional release. The gratefulness that each rider wanted to share with all who pushed them when they were frustrated with their horse for tough rides. To those who showed them tips or helped train their horses to reach that goal or next level. People who's support never gave up, even when the rider did.
Also for the amount of heart brake, riders spoke of horses dying at the event, or directly after, or in related training. Some died out of the blue. Some spoke of Horses that pulled up lame, injured or sick, with only needing just a few more rides bringing them to the end of a 25 year run of achievement. By the way, that was in a row. The sorrow for not being able to award their commitment. Also for just how tough our sport is on our equine athletes and the riders who give it their ALL at every level. Riding with broken bones, or broken hearts.
I have been a CGA member since 1992, I have been riding with some of these people all this time. Dianna Merrick is one of those people, she was the first person I met at the State Finals all those years ago. She was not yet a mom. This year was her first year achieving her Hall of Fame Year End Award. In her speech she said many things. She was determined not to cry. But she made it clear that it took her 21 years to make Hall of Fame. In her words, Its not easy. She shared that people ask her why she has not made Hall of Fame yet. As if its just something you do. She said.
And the message she gave was, competing for those year end awards is a training. This is not a gimme. You learn to be committed to the end. To make those runs, make those shows. That this is a worthy achievement at all levels and if you out do yourself next year all the better. Life gets in the way. And that will keep you from the prize. For some children this Year End Award may be all they ever achieve with their horse as they grow up and move away from horses. Or for families who loose their jobs, homes, ranches or horses. So for 21 years Dianna has kept at the commitment halfheartedly thinking it was a gimme. However on this night, as she stood up there as a Hall of Fame rider for the first time in 21 years of effort, she scolded those of us for cheapening the Year End Award achievement of those who for a variety of reasons, this might be the high light of their riding career. Again she stated, This Is Hard.
Dianna had plenty to say and wouldn't be shushed. She went on to talk about her mount Fanci, and how she came to be such a great all around pony. She thanked the kids in the lesson program who ride Fanci during the week in lessons. And she thanked her daughter who has been running gymkhana on Fanci for the past 6 years. Also thanking her trainer friends for training rides and Accuscope therapies.
What I walked away with, was the deep love and trust, comfort and connection people have with horses. A lot of riders don't own their horses. They are leasing or borrowing or training for someone else. And that does not seem to change or interfere with the love and trust and triumph that a horse and rider share. Nor does it diminish the thrill and excitement for the owner that made that horse available to the experience.
So with that I am so very proud of our team.
Congratulations On Your Year End Awards!
Clair Amador and Rock It Rockstar:
- A Champion Breast Collar Set
- A Champion Bridle Set
- Top A Division Top Rating Jacket
- AAA Division Reserve Champion Buckle
- AA Champion Bracelet
- Top AAA Division Top Rating Jacket
Maddy Dutra and I'm A Cowboy:
- A Champion Breast Collar Set
- A Champion Bracelet
- Top A Division Top Rating Jacket
Judy Harrison and Frenchie:
- FC Champion Buckle
- FC Champion Bridle Set
- Top FC Division Top Rating Jacket
Tara Woodard and Zen:
- FC Champion Breast Collar Set
- FC Champion Bridle Set
- Top FC Division Top Rating Jacket
Pictures will be on the Web site be the end of the week:)