10/09/2017
The Haras Dos Cavaleiros show this weekend was a wonderful experience for me and the DSH team. I think it makes sense to call this the "First Show Back Show", as many of us were finding our way back to showing after a big event in our lives. For me, it was my first outing since losing my Mom Terry. I must admit I got out of my truck Saturday to unload at the show and just started balling. It hadn't really sunk it what it meant to show without my biggest fan around to support me. What I realized though was that she was still there riding around with all of us, relishing our successes and lifting us up from our mistakes. I'm missing her dearly but am taking such comfort with her continued presence and support, however distant it may be. It was also great to have Dad Donovan J Branham out watching and cheering for us all on Sunday.
For Anna Raguet Irion and her lovely mare Delilah, it was the first time to show after a serious fall and subsequent surgery that has sidelined Anna since May. I've been so inspired by Anna's path to recovery and her "ask forgiveness, not permission" attitude toward her rehab. She has been so positive about getting back to health and in the saddle, and that positivity rewarded her with an awesome show this weekend. Still got some kinks to work out, but these two are are going to kill it soon.
For Diane Wilson, it was the first time we've shown her awesome TB Malloy in 2 years. It's been a long journey, but it felt so awesome to be back in the ring and back to his winning ways with a 2nd in the Derby on Sunday. A little rust to shake off over the next month, but look for him to be in better form than ever for the TB division and Derbys. Thank you so much Diane and Jesse Richardson for being such good stewards of this awesome horse and pulling out all the stops to get him back.
For April Cutshaw Metz's gorgeous Rhett's Bluff, it was the first time back in the ring for a year. We've spent the last year developing skill sets to help him handle the stress of showing and I feel like this show represents a new beginning for his career. We still have a way to go, but he laid down some awesome trips this weekend and I'm so excited to see what this talented guy can accomplish in the coming year. Thank you April for your patience and continued support!
For Olivia and Comet, it was their first time back in the show ring in over a year and the first time to show together. I was so proud of Olivia for working through some difficult issues, and so proud of Comet for how kindly he handled a difficult situation. This pair is going to do some awesome things very soon!
For Amy Heidbreder and her TB Oscara, it wasn't necessarily a first time since, but after a light show season this year it was a great tune up for the November A shows. Looking forward to seeing these guys bring it in the Adult Jumpers at the Harvest Show.
Finally, our veteran team of Kacy Randall and Dapper led the way with a Reserve Champion in the Pony Hunter (their first time in this division at the Hara's shows). They were amazing, laying down some beautiful and consistent trips.
I like to think that everyday I learn something new from my horses and/or clients, and I'd like to share my lesson from this weekend. I am very competitive and love winning as much as anyone, but I've come to realize sometimes winning is merely besting your past self. Sometimes a victory is making a mistake and learning a skill from it that brings a blue ribbon down the road. A little ambition and pressure can absolutely help to boost one's performance and focus, but when taken to the extreme or applied at an inappropriate moment it can ruin a performance and prevent the learning and development necessary to win later. With horse sport, the variables and skills that must develop to be truly competitive are the most complex and daunting of any sport. Pressure applied incorrectly can prevent this development severely for both horses and humans. I've seen the cost of this many times in the form of fried anxious horses and self-doubting riders. This has nothing to do with "being soft" or "snowflakes", terms that spike my blood pressure whenever I see them. Most often it is a negative feedback system due to the inappropriate application of pressure and expectation. The human brain is amazing and resilient, but also prone to certain pitfalls where pressure and ambition applied when victory is not possible can turn an "I will" mentality into "I can't". My utmost responsibility as a coach and educator is to make sure that my students and horses stay in the "I will" mentality. Sometimes winning a blue ribbon isn't possible with horses at a given moment or circumstance. Fortunately, the journey to that blue ribbon is a victory in itself. And the blue ribbon will come when we as educators foster "I will" instead of "I can't" by properly applying pressure and rewarding the journey of learning.
