07/02/2026
Remember the Firsts
And I’m not talking your first blue ribbon, or even your first show. What we need to remember as horse men and women are the firsts that really matter when developing horses (of any age). In the ultra competitive world of horse showing, and social media for that matter, we are constantly held in comparison to others and their measure of success. First place at a rated show, first regional top ten, first national championship. But let us not forget all the moments of firsts that led you there, or led to wherever you call success.
Let’s not loose sight of all the traction we gain each and every time we have a small win with our horse, regardless of if we are awarded a prize for it.
We win the first time they load or unload from the trailer with patience and thoughtfulness.
When they work in a crowded arena full of horses they’ve never seen, in an unfamiliar environment to them
When they stand quietly munching hay in a stall or barn they’ve never been in before
When their routine is completely thrown off and they roll with the added lunge sessions or rides
When they are historically prone to saying “NO!”, but instead say “Okay I’ll give it a try”
These are not moments we should just expect and take for granted from our horses, but moments to celebrate and be grateful that we’ve set them up for success and to be so agreeable. These wins are evidence that the work we’re doing at home, or in lessons, is paying off in ways we might not have expected.
Remember the firsts, even when not attached to trophies and titles, because these moments are just as important. They are the stepping stones that set you up for bigger and better, the trajectory that lead to wins.
And above every other moment, remember the first time you realized it’s all coming together. The moment you felt the click, when you felt pride in the try or performance your horse gave you. Even if it wasn’t blue-ribbon worthy, that first moment of joy and validation is the real prize we should be chasing.
