No, honestly, you don’t. “But, I’ve worked so hard and spent so many hours, days, months practicing. If I don’t win, it will all have been for naught.”
Mmm, no it won’t. “But, but, but…”
Stop! There are no buts. Get a grip on yourself. You got into riding in the first place for the fun of it. Keeping your eye on the prize means knowing that’s what the prize is – the fun. Everything else is just icing on the cake. If you have your doubts, read the USEF's Sportsman's Charter. Read it until it becomes personal because having fun is a requirement for living a happy life. Here it is...with some of my own thoughts about it:
That sport is something done for the fun of doing it and that it ceases to be sport when it becomes a business only, something done for what there is in it;
See, it’s right there in writing, "...something done for the fun of doing it.” Make
it about anything else (ribbons, fame, fortune, etc.) and soon you’ll start
wondering why it’s not the blast it used to be.
That amateurism is something of the heart and spirit - not a matter of exact technical qualifications;
Surely this speaks to idea that masters become masters by remaining eager and
passionate about their sport… by embracing, with childlike enthusiasm,
the notion that there is always opportunity for expansion.
That good manners of sport are fundamentally important; That the code must be strictly upheld;
Oh, hell yes! Go to shows with the belief that everyone shares equal love for horses
plus the discipline to keep negative comments to yourself, and you will
neither offend nor be offended. We truly are all in this together.
That the whole structure of sport is not only preserved from the absurdity of undue importance, but is justified by a kind of romance which animates it, and by the positive virtues of courage, patience, good temper, and unselfishness which are demanded by the code;
I want to hug the genius who strung together the words “the absurdity of undue importance!” This might be the most useful phrase in the history of phrases.
That the exploitation of sport for profit alone kills the spirit and retains only the husk and semblance of the thing;
Kills the spirit... kills it dead. Blah.
That the qualities of frankness, courage, and sincerity which mark the good sportsman in private life shall mark the discussions of his interests at a competition.
Good sportsmanship is habit, rather than something dusted off at show time.
I don’t believe anyone intentionally sets out to be a big drag in life, but lots of people wind up becoming boring, grumpy, uptight fuddy-duddies by default because they forget how to have fun for the sake of having fun. So, if you must pressure yourself about an upcoming horse show, pressure yourself to be fun and to have fun. Plan on it!
Plan to cram in a last minute lesson only if you feel ecstatic about the idea. If not, plan to pamper yourself with some chill out time instead, and some positive self-talk. Plan to breathe deep and stay calm, for your horse’s sake as well as your own. Plan to do your best and be proud of yourself. Plan to laugh off your mistakes by learning from them. Plan to lend a hand if needed. Plan to make a friend by having at least one conversation with a rider you’ve not met before. Plan to be gracious to the show staff because chances are they are volunteers. Plan to cheer for others with gusto…put your whole heart into it!
When the show is over and you’re lying in bed that night, overwhelmed with appreciation and joy for the day and the experience you created… no doubt you’ll drift off to sleep feeling a sense of happiness beyond anything you could have planned.
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