It may sound redundant at this point, but horses and horse showing are incredibly expensive. It can be hard to feel motivated to hit the road and spend the money when you aren’t winning often…or at all.
While it is incredibly rewarding to be recognized as “the best” on a particular day, these wins tend to be infrequent, and it can make it difficult for many to see the point in investing so much money and effort, only to lose repeatedly.
We spoke with leading trainer Taft Dickerson of Taft Dickerson Show Horses located in Mount Airy, North Carolina about the cost of focusing on the wins instead of progress in hopes of encouraging the right mindset for sustained competition.
A Focus on Winning Can Lead to a Lack of Fulfillment
Dickerson laughs, “If success means a win in the arena, then there is a high chance that you won’t find success, or, at least, consistent success. Even the professionals lose.”
Indeed, there can only be one winner in any class, which means there’s a much higher chance of failure if a win is all that determines whether showing is worth it.
Taft admits, “I’ve been here myself, actually. I got to a point where I remember when I had numerous Congress Champions in my barn and it wasn’t as fulfilling as I imagined it would be.”
“Sometimes, when you achieve greatness through a win, there is more pressure to keep winning, and that can suck the fun out of it.”
Even psychologists recognize that, when the sole focus of an activity is the result, achieving it rarely brings lasting satisfaction, leading to a feeling of emptiness. Additionally, consistently “losing” isn’t a great way to stay motivated either.
“When I was at a low, I told myself, ‘there is some part of me that loves this and I need to rediscover that part of me.’”
“After some self-reflection, I realized that what I was passionate about was making a horse great and not necessarily winning. The horses I liked the most were the ones I put a lot of personal blood, sweat, and tears into. I think it would benefit everyone to focus on what they enjoy about horses and why they horse show to make that their passion instead of winning.”
A Focus on Winning Can Lead You to Compromise Your and Your Horse’s Well-Being
When winning is your sole focus, it is easy to slip into a winning at all costs mentality.
Dickerson advises, “Sometimes it’s good to understand your limits on a horse. You don’t want to put yourself in a position where your decisions are made with the goal of winning. You want to prioritize your mental well-being and your horse’s health.”
He cautions, “People can be tempted to push a little harder or do more than they should when the main priority is to win. I’ve seen many of those situations end up bad for horses and owners, which is why winning should be the result of hard work and a good ride and not the main measure of your value in the industry.”
A Focus On Winning Can Result in Missed Opportunities for Growth
If you are afraid to lose because winning is the main goal, it can be hard to be willing to try new things, step outside your comfort zone, or invest in opportunities that don’t bring the obvious big rewards and prizes.
Dickerson says, “I love to go to the smaller horse shows because it takes so much of the pressure off and allows you to just have fun with your horse.”
“I think consistently showing big shows encourages that winning mentality because it is so expensive and there is a lot of pressure to be great. But, you can help readjust your mindset when you mix it up and go to shows that are cheaper, with less pressure, and where you can learn new things with your horse. It keeps things fun and keeps you growing as a rider.”
Focus on the Process to Gain Lasting Success
A process-driven mindset allows you to focus on the journey, your progress, and the reason you love horses, rather than just the rewards.
Dickerson recommends, “I love to tell people to show for the achievement awards because it makes a goal more attainable if you are willing to stick with it.”
He admits, “I think people tend to forget the value that an ROM or a Superior award has on a horse. Those awards speak volumes about the horse’s quality and also give an owner something more reasonable to chase.”
“I really think these awards are more ‘process awards’ because they incentivize people who are competitive without requiring a big win to achieve the ultimate goal.”
“By setting attainable goals like ROMs or something as simple as a clean lope transition, you allow yourself more control over your own success instead of putting it in the hands of a judge who can only work with what you present in that class. Your progress and success are about more than just one event on one particular day.”
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Ultimately, if you allow yourself to have a mindset that emphasizes the journey, focusing on a love for the work rather than just the rewards, you are more likely to enjoy the lasting success that comes from doing something you love with a horse you love.
