Horse show families are a family like no other. They see you through your best triumphs and your worst downfalls. They know your strengths and weaknesses. They also see you at your earliest morning and your latest night. So here's to the family you get to choose.

1. Always bringing the party

The best part about a horse show family is that you never stop laughing. Being around them is a non-stop giggle fest. From late night Sonic runs to, totally illegally, riding in the bed of the pickup from the show grounds to the hotel and being your stress relief when your chaps split before your World Championship class, your horse show family is the funniest group of people you will ever get to know. How many people can you say you’ve had early morning “Macho Man” jam sessions with while cleaning stalls and polishing boots? How many times have you seen a gaggle of teenage boys riding a bale of shavings or hay on top of their long boards? Only at a horse show!

2. Being the best support system. Ever.

When you show horses you basically have an endless amount of people supporting you. Whether you’re in a big barn full of grooms, trainers, and other staff or you’re in a small barn where you do all the work, you’ve always got someone there to help you out and cheer you on. Need an eye on the rail because your right lead is kind of sticky? You can bet there’s going to be someone there to tell you when your horse is off. When you exit the ring triumphantly there’s a group of onlookers happy to congratulate you. Even when you leave the ring with an eighth place ribbon there is always someone telling you how great you did. Having a horse show family is like having a major confidence booster!

3. Being my shoulder to cry on.

Have you ever just needed a big hug and a non-judgmental shoulder to cry on? You can find that with anyone in your horse show family. They’ve seen it all and they’ll probably do the same one day. They will probably even cry with you. They’ll cry over your bad rides, your good rides, your heartbreak, your happiness, anything!

4. Always having my back.

Your horse show family has your back all the time. From lending you spurs when yours get lost moments before your world championship class, to duct taping you into your chaps because they split in the warm up before a different class, to lending a helping hand, or six, when your zipper-less tall boots won’t come off, to zipping you into your show clothes, and finally helping you with your bun and makeup. Your horse show family is the best for preventing you from becoming the definition of the "hot mess express". Basically, they’re your life and blood when you’re showing.

5. Understanding me better than anyone else.

I’ve met some of my best friends showing horses. In fact, I met one of them when she was test riding my horse. Through the years we have gone through it all. From bearing lameness in our horses to literally breaking off relationships a day apart from each other, we have seen it all together. Just like any of my other horse show family members, she understands me better than non-equine family friends. They bless you with more than just friends that share common interests, but also a group of totally understanding family.