Whether it is winning a World or Congress Championship, a year end title or an all around saddle, most competitors have always dreamed about becoming a “Winner”. In order to achieve your goal, you create a plan, work hard, and you turn your dream into a reality. Then something weird happens. Instead of being on top of the world, you realize that winning comes with its own set of truths.
Truth # 1 It’s lonely at the top
If you have climbed up the ranks ahead of your friends, you may find that they are not behind you and offering loving support along the way. While this may upset you, you may be able to recall a time when somebody broke out of your group, and you may have felt a tinge of jealousy toward them. The key is to acknowledge their feelings, and find a way to take them along with you instead of leaving them behind.
Truth # 2 Somebody is always watching
As the saying goes, “It takes years to build a good reputation, and minutes to ruin it”. The better you are, more eyes will be upon you, and there is nothing worse than witnessing a sore loser. We all have bad days, but throwing a temper tantrum or taking it out on your horse are sure fire ways to become the target of an epic mud slinging fest. Always remember that you are a role model, and act accordingly.
Truth # 3 What goes around, comes around
Call it karma, or payback, but this is one of those freaky laws of nature that can’t be ignored. It’s kind of like a mini-skirt, the higher it gets, the more it exposes. Make sure that you have gotten where you are with a high degree of integrity and humility, otherwise people may see a side of you that they haven’t seen before creating doubt that you deserve to be where you are.
Truth # 4 Finished? Never.
One of the biggest myths of ‘Winning’ is that we have arrived. Nothing could be farther from the truth. If you are in the game for the long haul, you have just entered another state on your journey though life. There is always room for improvement and more to learn, and a true winner looks at each accomplishment as a milestone, not the end zone.
Truth # 5 You have to face your fears
As we progress in our riding skills, we are constantly pushing against our comfort zone. What’s interesting about this is that’s the way it’s always been. When we first learned to ride, probably moving a horse into the lope or canter was a huge scary deal. Each and every time we compete, we have a chance to move our comfort zone out a bit, and even though you may not want to risk ‘losing it all’ you need to break through that barrier unless you are going to stop showing all together.
Truth #6 You are your only competitor
If you are constantly worrying about what other people are doing, your trip to the winners circle may become one of those nightmare vacations that involve lost luggage and horrible weather. Your job is to focus on being the best you can be, and getting better each and every time you step into the ring. Set performance goals when you show to improve on the one small thing that will make a difference in your riding over time, and you will find that not only are you getting better, you may actually be having fun!
Truth # 7 You have to be humble
When you think about it, the ability to have great performances and win consistently over time takes a certain amount of “Luck”. In this case, luck is defined as when preparation meets opportunity, but if you ask most athletes, they would say that there is a bit of magic that comes into each competitive opportunity. It’s as if the stars seem to line up the way they want them to. When you ride with gratitude, and are truly humble, you will begin creating your own kind of magic that allows you to cherish each experience win or lose. And that is what winning is all about.
Kirsten Farris is a regular contributor to GoHorseShow.com and a Certified Sport Consultant, Certified Equestrian Fitness Trainer, and the Author of The Workbook for the Equestrian Athlete – A Guide to Showring Success. Kirsten and her horse, Lyles Al Lie, were the 2012 and 2013 AQHA Select World Champion in Hunter Under Saddle. For more information contact her at: kirsten@equestrianathlete.com © 2013
