Horse riding is not cheap, in any form. Having money is basically the ruling factor in being successful in the show ring. So here are ten reasons why I’m glad I had to be a working student.
1. Ponies
From day one I had to do it myself. My mom decided that my first pony should be an unbroken devil pony, you know so I learned the hard way. I hated it, fell off almost every day, but is what we could afford at the time. I guess a devil pony is better than no pony. I can tell you one thing, we kicked serious butt in some lead line. Thankfully, because I could never get her to trot without somehow falling off. We sold her after a couple years, and the devil turns into a world champion flag racing pony…nothing was more frustrating. But, I am so thankful for that little pony. She taught me how to actually ride.
2. Clothes
After a while, I ended up showing on the APHA circuit, if I learned one thing fast, it was that I needed an updated wardrobe. Luckily I had a trainer who gave me her hammy downs. But how crazy is that, the clothes I wore affected my place in the horse world. I didn’t have the best show clothes, I usually borrowed some from the back of the trailer that were out of date. To me, those out of date show jackets were amazing. I mean most of the ones my competitors wore cost more than the horse I was sitting on. That always blew my mind, spending over a thousand dollars on fabric, that is crazy.
3. Hair and Makeup
It is no secret that not many African-American people show horses. With African-American jeans also comes crazy hair. I had to straighten my hair before every show just so it looked right in the show ring. By the end of the day, my straight hair was not straight anymore and I would have to start all over again the next morning. This also means that I had to get up an hour earlier than everyone in the trailer. Getting up at 3 instead of 4…cause of hair…like seriously?! We are riding horses.
4. Horse Show or Beauty Pageant?
When I sit and watch Dance Moms, it is literally no different than horse show mom’s. Heck, my mom had to give me an herbal supplement to calm me down before I ever showed. Because bullies, bullies literally everywhere.
5. Training Fees
Because I was a working student, I worked most of my fees off, but it also meant the paying clients were the priority. Which now looking back, it was totally acceptable. I had to get my horse prepped, me prepped, and get to the show ring with limited help. When clients were just sitting there watching their horse get ready, I was busting my ass. And nine times out of ten, they beat me.
6. LOSING
So shitty horse = shitty placings. Not being able to get those circuit champion pictures and brag on Facebook, that was probably one of the most important lessons I learned. People think that winning is everything, but trophies tarnish, ribbons rip, but my pride I got when I placed, that is something that is there with me every day in so many situations, many that don’t even deal with horses.
7. You Don't Need to Go to Every Show
Usually, I only went to a horse show every few months, just hitting the cheaper ones. I also showed a lot of open and 4H shows. People look down on 4H like it something for the people who aren’t good enough to compete with the people on national circuits. 4H taught me a lot, and I succeeded in it. Won multiple championships, top five, and top ten finishes, and with every one of those, came a lot of tears and memories. Go to a show that you feel like people see you as an equal, and an actually competitor, not someone that can fill a class when they need it. The wins that I received when I was in 4H are the ones I remember most. I remember the first championship I won, I remember the last one I won. And not because I won, my first horse broke his back and we rehabbed him, my last win was with a two-year-old I trained in showmanship all by myself.
8. Family
The family I made showing horses is crazy, I have so much support, and from people that were once my competitors. My horse trainer, isn’t even that, she’s basically my sister and second mom. My other best friend, who I call my sister, I meant through horses. If it wasn’t for horses, I would not be able to call my adorable perfect nephew, well my nephew. If you don’t have people like this, I feel bad for you.
9. Homesick Helps You Grow
So, when I showed a lot, my mom took off of work, but when it was just me going down the road with my trainer, I learned a lot. Even though we spent most summers apart, my mom still can’t “cut the cord”, at least she cares though.
10. Money Doesn't Buy Happiness
Money doesn’t buy happiness. The perfect way to sum up my working student experience. I remember when another youth kid would not place in her class, her parents would be furious, yell at her and belittle her. I thanked God my mother was nothing like them. Sure if we had more money we could go to more shows, I could have gotten a better horse, and so on and so on. But if we had money, I wouldn’t have fully appreciated it. The wins, they were amazing, but the times that I had with my horse show family, that is what I remember. And great times don’t involve money.
So, to the young girl who has to work for everything. I fell ya, but trust me, you are going to be SO SO grateful for this when you are older. People run out of money, you can’t run out of happiness, there is no limit on the amount of laughs you have in your life. So live it up, work your ass off. The tears you cry from exhaustion, are one hundred percent worth it. Never forget that.
