The other night I went to my first barrel racing jackpot in awhile with my husband’s team roping horse, I got home from work and couldn’t wait to catch my horse, hook up the trailer, and go see some old friends! In my head I pictured a great night like it use to be. As I hooked up my horse trailer, the sun hit the side just right and I could see the little shade of glue on the trailer where it use to say “Meghan Staley Alberta High School Rodeo Queen”. I took a second to stand there and think, wow. That use to be such a huge part of my life, so did rodeo and the socializing that came along with it. What happened to that “me” that use to live and breathe for the sport of rodeo? How did I let some other priority in my life take over? My first year of college my good horse got hit on the highway just outside of Olds, where I attended college. Since then I haven’t had the love for rodeo like I use too. It’s amazing how your horse can play such a huge part in how I enjoyed a rodeo, he was my team, my legs, my strength, and the reason I loved going.
Going to that barrel jackpot, I could not believe the lack of horsemanship, girl's who take themselves too seriously, and horses that are so nuts and scared to get hit or spurred they act out of control. Where did the true horsemanship lessons go when dealing with horses? Because your parents have too much money, they buy you a big expensive horse and have the expectation that you should be winning buckles and money, yet this horse just wants out of the arena. When a horse hits a barrel or rears and gets too excited, they get in trouble. Treated like everything is their fault! Drives me crazy. I went there thinking I would be frowned upon because I have the funny looking rope horse, no fancy saddle, and I ride my horse in a simple snaffle bit. Yet, was I the one that should be feeling stupid? My horse was one of the few who didn’t try to kill me going into the arena, listened when I ask him to stop and gave me his best in the arena because I supported him and accepted what he gave me. We had a bad run, but I know it was my fault and not his.
Some people just need a kick in the face to say get your head out of your ass and then you’ll be able to make a good run. Once you have yourself figured out and help your horse, good things will come. When parents yell at their kids to do this and that, it only creates am arguments and fights... what’s the difference if you’re always picking on your horse?!
I have moved forward in life but always thought I missed what use to be. Now I have the opportunity to ride a traditional lifestyle with cattle and slow work, our end goal is to ride our horses in hackamores so they feel our body more than our hands pulling on their mouth. I have grown such an appreciation for people with good horsemanship.
Horsemanship is a life lesson, one of my favourite quotes is; “Sometimes the best thing for the inside of a man, is the outside of a horse.”
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