The Most Important Lessons We’ve Learned From Our Horse Show Moms

By: Brittany Bevis

While she might be your biggest fan, she is probably also your toughest critic. She’s more concerned with the effort you put forth outside of the arena than the color of the ribbon you exit with. She’s always there to offer a snack, snap a few photos, enter a last-minute class, and of course give you a kiss good luck and a few helpful pointers.

Almost as if by magic she can reach into her pocket and pull out safety pins for your number, bobby pins for your bun, a tube of lipstick, a granola bar for you, a mint for your horse, a coffee for your trainer, and the gloves you forgot back at the barn.

She is the Horse Show Mom and without her, horse shows (and our lives for that matter) would certainly not run as smoothly. This weekend, we celebrate Horse Show Moms everywhere by wishing them a very Happy Mother’s Day!

Here’s what a few of our readers had to say about the most important lessons they’ve learned from their Horse Show Moms. Share yours on The Equine Chronicle Facebook page with #HorseShowMom.

Carly Veldman Parks– “My horse show mom, Anita Veldman, always reminded me that we starting showing because we love horses. She taught me to never forget how lucky I am to get to spend so much time with such beautiful animals. I love when my mom comes to watch me show, because she is critical but positive at the same time.”

Klay McDowall– “I have learned so much from my mom. The two most important things are not to be afraid to take risks, because no matter what she will always love me, and that working hard is the most important part of reaching your goals. Thank you mom for helping me achieve my goals. I absolutely couldn’t have done it without you!”

Brooke Durden- “Working hard and staying humble are the most important things. She has taught me great sportsmanship and to smile whether I win or lose. I am very blessed to have someone as supportive and hard working as my mom.”

Austin Gooding– “The most important lesson I have learned from my horse show mom is to keep my composure when things don’t go as planned. You’re not going to teach the horse anything of value when you’re upset, but there’s a lot you’re going to teach that has no value.”

Kristina (Papendick) Comer- “Thanks to my mom, the love of horses is in mine and my sister’s DNA, and I am so incredibly thankful for it. Most kids grew up spending the weekends playing soccer or baseball. We spent the weekends traveling to any horse show we could.”

“In the beginning, it wasn’t about getting the necessary points to qualify for the World Show but about making memories while traveling, setting up stalls, learning from our mistakes in the show arena, and traveling home, always feeling accomplished. Then, we started to advance to the next level and competition took on a different meaning. My mom always made sure to remind my sister and I that we have to work hard in order to keep showing. It was a privilege for us to show every weekend with the horses we were so blessed to have. It was our responsibility to help do barn chores at home, keep our academics up, and always put in time to practice.”

“When we were at the shows, we had to keep a level head, show up prepared to compete, and always accept the way the classes went. One thing that my mom would always tell us is, “There is always another horse show.” That saying kept me focused on myself and not what my fellow competitors were doing. The best part about having my mom as a Horse Show Mom is that she got to experience the spotlight herself. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing my own mom, who put in more blood, sweat, and tears in than myself, earn her own titles and championships. I LOVE YOU MOM! Thank you for always being there from the start to finish, to help me celebrate, or pick me up from defeat.”

Hayley Rae Riddle- “Every time we’re at a show, and before I go into any class, my mom will say, ‘Do what you do.’ She has always said that to me. I know what she’s saying means to do my own thing and not follow the crowd. I need to be me and nobody else. ‘Do what you do’ is a saying that I can apply to things for the rest of my life. Thank you Mom!”

Cori Cansdale- “The most important lesson my horse show mom has taught me is that I should never give up no matter who or what stands in my way. If I set my mind to something, I will always be able to achieve it, with her behind me every step of the way.”

Deanna Green- “I have two horse show moms, my mom Tanya and my stepmom Katie. They taught me that success isn’t winning; success comes from progress. Getting better and better is the real goal.”

Jenna Dempze- “The most important thing I’ve learned from my mom is that no matter how big or small the show, whether we win or not, we do this for fun. Always be thankful for the opportunity and the time spent with our family and friends.”

Ali Eidson– “The most important thing my mother has shown me is selflessness. She always puts her family’s needs and wants above her own. I hope one day I can be half the mother she has been to us. Happy Mother’s Day to the best role model I could’ve asked for, and remember, you’re a bad Mama Jama!”

Finally, you’ve might have seen this before, but we absolutely LOVE this poem by Jorna Taylor of Born In The Barn Blog.

Ode To the Horse Show Mom

By: Jorna Taylor

This is an ode to the horse show mom.

She’s not just any Dick, Harry or Tom.

 

Horse show moms are a special breed

Always around when you’re in need

Of some water, your spurs, or perhaps a crop.

With her help, you always come out on top.

 

She has made you and your horse her top priorities

(Mostly to keep you from the hands of the authorities!)

She’s dedicated to inhaling pounds of arena dust

And driving an aged truck covered with rust

So that it can pull your two horse trailer

Which she curses at like a drunken sailor.

 

Throughout the summer on any Friday night

She hooks up that rig, considering with foresight

She should have encouraged stamp collecting or chess

At least that would be far less of a mess.

 

You arrive back home woefully late

As your horse hated that blue and green gate

During a lengthy schooling session with your trainer

Who suggested, perhaps, he’d be better as a reiner.

 

On the night before a show she packs

A cooler full of drinks and snacks.

She knows you won’t take time eat or drink

Which will hinder your ability to clearly think

While on course guiding a thousand pound beast.

And that makes her worry, to say the least!

 

Then she has a choice to make,

Even though her bones quite ache,

Between a shower and some rest

Or to help you in your mighty quest

To remove the stain from your shad belly coat,

A remnant of last weekend’s root beer float.

 

You’ll lay your head to catch some zzz’s

Knowing she’s up scrubbing your custom Dees.

The alarm goes off at a quarter to four.

Before you know it, you’re out the door

And on your way to longe him down

As he’s out to win the Triple Crown.

 

She’s the best at “hurry up and wait”

While cajoling poor souls guarding in-gates.

She stands and watches, seemingly tense

Until you’ve cleared every last fence.

 

Because she rode every stride with you,

Especially when you put a one in the two!

She claps the loudest, and without pause

Even when you don’t deserve applause.

 

She’s just glad you are safe and sound

Cuz he took that last oxer rather round.

She knows just where you left your tack

As they wait on you to start the hack.

 

Then she’ll wipe your boots three times for luck,

Admonishing you for walking in the muck

After she spent the hour that she had for sleep

Polishing, without a peep.

 

Your trainer says, “She needs a bat,

Do not let her go into the flat.”

But horse show mom’s been around a while,

And she tells you sweetly, with a smile,

“I’d like to leave before midnight

So get in that ring, let’s not fight.

If you can’t hack your horse by now

Perhaps it should be pulling a plow!”

 

Finally, she sits down for a moment of rest

Just as you’re called back for the medal test.

Quickly she produces your blue coat, not green,

Knowing that you’d make quite the scene.

 

Those times it doesn’t go your way

She won’t let you pack up and call it a day.

Instead she listens to you rant and rave

About how your competitor was given a “save.”

 

She congratulates you on a really nice trip

But will not tolerate your poor sportsmanship.

You’ll begin to complain how exhausted you are

And horse show mom is dreaming of hitting the bar.

 

Yet you have to get your pony put properly to bed

(or else your trainer will be seeing red!)

So once again she gets in the truck

To hook up the trailer – first time, what luck!

 

She packs your things and tells you to skedaddle

While you chat with friends, lazily cleaning your saddle.

Then of course your horse won’t load

Finally two hours later you’re on the road.

 

Horse show mom glances over at you

As you’ve nodded off, clutching that blue

Ribbon you got for a job well done.

And she has to admit, maybe today was indeed fun!

 

You crack open one eye and you catch her glowing

Then you’ll know she enjoyed your day of showing.

But it isn’t about the ribbons or glasses

Or how many people rode in all your classes.

 

Horse show mom is proud to be a part of your life,

Committed to all the struggle and strife

It takes to make your dreams come true.

So horse show moms, please know how much we love you!

Happy Mother’s Day from The Equine Chronicle!