Navigating life, in general, is a challenge, and often, that’s where our beloved horses come into play. In our industry, there may be some people who consider the horse business just a business. But for most of us, horses are our lifetime loves, teaching us many life lessons that carry over to other areas of our lives.
They help us through injuries, deaths, emotional pain, and professional and personal failures, and they never judge us along the way. Showing horses is one of the few activities a family can do together, creating lasting memories and bonds. Showing horses has also helped many equestrians build confidence and other positive attributes that have helped them with their careers and relationships.
We asked several top exhibitors to share stories of how showing horses has helped them in other aspects of their lives.
June Liston – I got my first horse when I was 11, improving every aspect of my life. Every day after school, I went to the barn, took care of my horse, then went home and did my homework. I took that responsibility very seriously, and as a result, it set up the pattern of my life. It taught me to take responsibility for myself, my actions, and the life of another at a young age, which was so important. In the show pen, taking responsibility for your ride and how it goes will create a great and successful show experience and help you improve your performance by acknowledging your mistakes. My life as a major airline pilot benefitted from those ethics, leading to a long and successful career. I always told my co-pilots that when they told me their kid wanted a horse, it would be one of the best things they could do for them and their future.
Lauren Levy – Literally every area. I’ve been riding horses since I was 4 years old. Horses and competitions are my happy place. Adulting has led me to have to ebb and flow out of the show space as I’ve gotten older, but honestly, there have been no better times in my life than when I have been competing on some of my favorite horses like RL Tune Up, Eye On The Ball, and Nothin Compares. Without riding horses and competing, my life wouldn’t be as fulfilling as it has been. Riding and competing at this level has also taught me how to be a resilient business owner. I am finding that the same skill sets it takes to be a leader in the pen cross over to what it takes to be successful in business. So, even though life outside of competing can be difficult and overwhelming at times, in my toughest moments, I remind myself of how hard I’ve worked for something I’ve cared about before, riding horses and competing at the top level. And that keeps me going when I feel like giving up.
Emma DeJong – I’ve shown horses my whole life and learned many lessons. One of the first things that horses have taught me is dedication. I have spent many hours daily preparing to show and care for horses. You must learn that you love it for the animal, and the sport comes second. Another thing horses have improved in my life is my social skills. I have met many people along the way, learned to communicate with different people, and learned from everyone I’ve encountered. I think that’s one thing that I will always remember.
Janet Egolf – Showing horses has helped my ability to talk to people I don’t know very easily, and since losing my husband, it gets me out and around people…not staying at home alone.
Sydney Swallom – Performing under pressure! It’s no secret that the preparation for a horse show includes endless hours of hard work, sweat, and tears…and all that preparation is for mere minutes in the show pen, which can be intimidating. But, rather than stressing over what could go wrong in those minutes, I learned how to dig deep and use the pressure to shine instead of crack. This skill set I built while showing has helped me in other sports I have participated in, my education, and persevering through any hardships I have faced.
Tiina Volmer – Horse showing is a great way to meet people you may never cross paths with otherwise, which could change your life. It has definitely changed my life. When I decided to attend nursing school, I knew I wanted to enter the operating room. The operating room is a very specialized area of nursing and needs extra training. Since I was a new graduate, I had no nursing experience. Most hospitals require two years of experience before training to be an OR nurse. At a horse show, Brad McCamy told me I needed to talk to his customer, who happened to be the operating room director at a large hospital in Dallas. I went in for an interview, and she knew my work ethic through the horses and was willing to take a risk on me. The OR internship did not start for another six months. She strongly encouraged me to work in sterile process cleaning and putting instrument sets together before the internship. I was reluctant as it would be cutting into my horse time. I did listen and started before the internship, which, at the time, I did not know, but it made me a more well-rounded nurse as I am confident to scrub cases and be circular in the operating room. This was over 25 years ago. If it weren’t for the few words from Brad at a horse show, I would have missed this opportunity for a career I love as an operating room nurse.
Estelle McParlan – The skills I have learned from riding and showing horses have helped improve many areas of my life. It has helped with my communication skills with adults and people in positions of authority. As youth exhibitors, we have to have meaningful conversations with others and sometimes receive criticism. This requires listening and applying what you’ve learned. These skills, when applied in education, have helped me stay ahead. The work ethic required to be successful in this industry can be applied to all aspects of life. Spending countless hours with our trainers and horses, performing in the show ring, and handling the basic care of our animals helped me establish a foundation of hard work in my life. I know my teachers appreciate that work ethic, and so will others as I become an adult. We learn at a young age how to overcome failure quickly and learn from it, which is a key skill as life comes with all kinds of ups and downs. One of the most important skills I have learned from caring for my horses is the importance of understanding the feelings of others. In the horse world, that might be specific to our horses, but I have applied this in my education and with my soccer teammates, which has improved my relationships with my teachers, teammates, and coaches. I am thankful to this industry for the opportunity to improve these various skills and enrich my life.
Megan Morrow Baynes – Showing horses teaches a significant amount of responsibility and time management skills, which has been incredibly helpful in organizing my everyday life. I started showing horses when I was nine years old. My Mom was not a horse person, so she had no idea about showing, but she was the driver and there to lend a hand with whatever I asked her to do. At nine years old, I was planning what horse shows we would attend, what time we would leave, what I would need to pack, what directions we needed to take on the old Rand McNally map, etc. All of this has translated into my professional and personal life. I usually work at least two, sometimes three, jobs as a nurse practitioner to afford horses. I can organize my time well, as I need to see many patients while still having time for all the other activities I enjoy.
Jenna Tolson – Man, when you stop and think about it, showing horses has influenced many areas of my life. The hectic schedule of working, riding, practicing, caring for the horses, and attending shows has made me a time management pro. Balancing all this with the rest of my life has seriously boosted my productivity and organization. Riding and caring for horses is a full-body workout. It keeps me healthy and has even inspired me to dive into fitness coaching. And mental toughness—oof! Showing horses brings the highest highs and the lowest lows. Handling setbacks and nerves while striving for improvement has built my resilience and mental toughness, helping me tackle everyday challenges and long-term goals. The horse show community is amazing. It’s a close-knit network that has sharpened my social skills and expanded my professional network. Lastly, working with horses teaches patience and empathy, humbling you when you need it most. There’s no doubt about that.
Evie Doles – Horses have taught me a lot, but I would say that horses, especially the trickier ones I’ve had, have taught me to enjoy every moment of life, no matter what I’m doing. You never know when your last ride on a specific horse might be, so do not take anything for granted.
Shannon Wacker – Showing horses has improved every aspect of my life. The first class I ever learned was showmanship. This class taught me how to look someone in the eye and smile. It taught me self-confidence and to never give up on my passions or dreams. My aunt gave me the 2006 AQHYA World Showmanship Finals video when I was ten. After watching it, I set the goal to win that class at the World Show. I’ve been close a couple of times, but it’s still a dream I aspire to make come true someday, and I will continue to prepare for when the opportunity arises. Showmanship is always my “home base” whenever I doubt myself. I always feel the most confident when working alongside a horse. The self-confidence and non-verbal skills utilized in showmanship have directly correlated to my career in veterinary medicine. It took me four years to get into the veterinary program at the University of Minnesota, and I almost gave up during all the “waiting” years. However, the tenacity, persistence, and passion I learned with horses pushed me to never give up on my dream of becoming a veterinarian.
Shelly Boyle – I posted these comments on my LinkedIn just about two years ago. We’d had a really difficult summer, but then Jack (Jack And Koa) won the NSBA World Show just as I was getting ready to start a new job. It made me think about everything horses have taught me and their impact on my career.
How have horses helped you in other areas besides showing? Let us know in our social media comments.
