With the prospect of a brand new show year upon us, now’s the time to clear the slate and start fresh going into 2024. It is never too late to start over or try something new. We all have something that inspires us to be great, overcome the bad times and push us beyond our perceived limits. We sat down with several former World Champions and asked them to share a quote that has inspired them along their journey towards greatness.
Olivia Tordoff – Dues aren’t paid, past tense. Dues get paid every day. The only real measure of your value is the tangible contribution that you make daily. No matter what you have done or accomplished in the past, you’re never too good to roll up your sleeves, get dirty, and do the grunt work. No job is ever too menial, no task ever too unskilled or boring. Remarkably successful people never feel entitled – except for the fruits of their labor.
Laurel Walker Denton – My favorite quote is, “Don’t sit upon the shoreline, dare to dance the tides.” The River by Garth Brooks. My quote from my words, “Horses can’t talk, you have to be horseman enough to listen to what they are trying to tell you.”
Kathy Tobin – “Ride every stride!” A couple of times in western riding, I relaxed after the last lead change, and we’ve trotted a step as we round the final corner to the stop. So, I never quit riding hard until we’ve completed and pattern. I can’t relax, or my horse relaxes too.
Lainie DeBoer – It was what Cynthia Cantleberry told me at one of my first World Shows, and it has been my mantra ever since. “Just when you think you have done enough, do more.” I also use this one for mental toughness: “Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded there.”
Claira Bingaman – Until God opens the next door, praise him in the hallway.
Jeff Johns – My mom, Jim, and Deanna have always said this to me since I was young, “There’s always another horse show.” We all have shows that don’t go our way, whether it’s due to our mistakes, performance, judging, etc. or even shows we can’t attend due to work or life events. It’s important to remember that the sun still comes up the next day, and there is always another horse show to go to.
Whitney Vicars – Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; I will uphold the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10. I say this verse to myself almost every time before entering the arena, especially at the big shows and the world show. It helps me remember that ultimately God is in control of the results, not me. My help comes from Him, and it reminds me that I am not alone when I enter the arena.
Tricia Sarchett – “Go big or go home” or “Life is too short not to be lived.”
Steve Meadows – If you want to win big. You have to be prepared to lose big.
Scott Reinartz – I would say one saying that comes to mind is, “Ride until the end,” or “It’s a stage, go give your best performance.”
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Inspirational quotes can help us to get our minds straight. They can flip a switch in our brain that awakens the champion within ourselves. It allows us to take one stride at a time and put together a beautiful masterpiece. We hope these quotes have inspired you to reach for new heights this year, as they have for our former World Champions. Do you have a quote that encourages you? Let us know in our social media.
