Superstitions, we all have them. For some, it may be a lucky charm, for others it may be that they need to be the first one to trot in the arena. Maybe it is that we must wear our hair a certain way, have someone special polish our boots, or even have our friends sit in the same seats as they did in the prelims as for the finals. Ultimately, it is not the item that holds all your luck; it is the comfort level that it holds. This item or action may take that extra edge off your nerves before you start into the arena.
When I show at any major horse show, I must wear my lucky Christmas sock and my bracelet that says my retired horse’s name. Yes, we all may not have the ride we planned, but that’s horse showing.
I interviewed some other competitors about their superstitions and what they feel they need to get in the correct mindset before they show.
Paige Stopperich: Every year before the AQHA Youth World, my aunt, Shannon Cairone, gives me some sort of lucky charm item. It is usually a necklace claiming to have lucky powers of some sort. I received a collection of lucky charms the year I won the youth world in equitation in 2013 and this year I received a necklace with different charms that symbolize luck and happiness. Although they aren’t permanent traditions, they really help me relax and they give me an extra confidence booster before competing at big shows such as the youth world.
Brad Kearns: I have two vials or pendants, each of which has some of the ashes of Zippos Ace of Spades and Mainstreet Cruiser. They were special horses to me and both loved to compete. I wear them at the larger shows so that the boys can still be showing with me. It makes me feel good and it makes me happy to have part of them with me. Therefore, I feel like I show better.
Brent Tincher: I don’t believe in luck or superstitions, the things that make you a winner to me are hard work and talent.
Jenny Welhouse: I wear a lucky shirt; it has a unicorn that is pooping cupcakes! I always wear this shirt for my clients that are showing in the equitation at any major horse show that requires a final. It has held a lot of luck and many good rides for my girls. I do believe it all starts with a lot of hard work and passion for it as well. You must ride every stride to get going somewhere and to me that is very important. I also have a gnome named JW Squatsy. I would say he is like our mascot for my barn. He likes to travel around and hang out at other trainers stalls. He pretty much can do anything.
Natalie Vargo: My superstition or lucky charm is this leather bracelet I have with my horse’s name on it, “Art Of The Deal” and one with “Classie Minute Man”. The first time I ever showed “Art Of The Deal” a.k.a “Rocco”; I wore that bracelet so I feel it is a must have. Also, if there is a big class coming up at a big horse show or finals, I prefer showing in a certain show shirt with a specific design on the collar.
Hannah Tapling: I have a few superstitions in the show pen. I always wear different colored socks in the equitation. I have not worn a pair of socks that match since Congress of ’12. I also always whisper something of encouragement to my horse before we go in the arena. In my opinion, of course they work. I mean–I will always have a bad ride here or there, but overall I do believe they work. The whispering is because my trainer, Brad Kearns, always seems to focus on the positive end of things. Also, my parents have been encouraging me to do my personal best for, well basically forever. Being positive just seems to really help my thinking. So I whisper something positive to Mazel before we go in. Whether it be, “This pattern has a lead change, so we got it!” Or along the lines of, “I love the spot on your cheek.” Whatever it may be, it is always positive.
Monika Zoromski: I have a hat that I always wear before big horse shows. I think it works because it puts me in a certain mood when I put it on for horse shows. It makes me feel empowered and boosts my “mojo.” I bought my hat before the 2014 Youth World Show at Target in the men’s section-because that’s the only way hats are big enough for me. It worked well at youth worlds, so it has been my good luck charm ever since.
Alexia Tordoff: At the farm, I believe every good ride starts with a kiss and I kiss my horses. Before I show, I make sure my socks don’t match and I practice in crazy leggings. They make me and my horse smile and keeps me calm.
Olivia Tordoff: One of the lucky charms is a necklace that has a cross my grandmother gave me and a key that my Daddy gave me. I like to touch it before I go in the show pen and in the lineup. It grounds me and reminds me of how lucky I am and to be thankful to God. The key symbolizes that I have the key to my dad’s heart but my mom says I have the key to his wallet. My favorite lucky charm is my horse, Sterling Version. I scratch his neck every time we head in the pen; I am so lucky to have him.
Lainie DeBoer: I did have a lucky charm that was a plastic squirrel named “Cracky”. He was really special to me because customers would hold him in the stands and rub him for good luck. We would sit around the stalls and make up rhymes and it would always make us laugh and lighten the mood. We figured he secured well over 25 World Championships. He even had a Facebook page because so many people knew him. He was the rhyming squirrel with an entourage. Unfortunately, somebody stole him from our tack room at Congress one year. I actually got an email with pictures of him traveling around the world, but nobody ever returned him. It was very disappointing to think there are such poor sports in our industry. The fun part was from that point on I had people drop off little squirrels at my stall as replacements the whole next year. I think I have about 20 of them. I even got one sent to me from France. So we rotate which ones travel to the shows. The main thing that I truly believe in is ritual. I have a routine I have to do. For example a certain belt, special coat and shirt for the finals, constantly polishing my boots, having my hair feel a certain way in my helmet. Things like that. It helps me feel present and gets me in the mood to horse show.
Do you have a superstition you would like to share? Let us know what gets you in the right mindset before you show.
