“Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful…”

EC Blog by: Tatum Richey

First off, let me say congrats to EVERY 2017 World Show competitor! Y’all are all incredible! It takes so much work getting there. Y’all should be very proud. Of all the youth competitors in the world, I consider equestrian athletes to be the most fortunate of them all. We get to participate in a sport that’s so healing, historical, fun, exciting, challenging, magical, and bonding. I don’t know of another sport that collectively supports a type of lifestyle that’s uniquely rooted in the foundation of America. We are all gifted to love and be loved by these incredible animals, our horses! They aren’t perfect but they’re wonderful…

The World Show is filled with excitement, wonder, magic, fear, adrenaline, competition, hard work, winning, losing, and tears from every emotion – happy, sad, mad, joy and more! Going for that golden globe brings out all of them. Most everyone has the same goals coming to the World. Everyone wants to the win the ultimate prize, the World Championship. If you’re a true horseman, if it’s in your blood – you want that globe, that title! It’s a natural and great goal.

While, that’s the ultimate perfect peak to reach – you don’t have to get there in order to have a wonderful and rewarding equestrian career. I know far more people who went their entire youth career and NEVER ever received a globe of any color, much less the golden one. Don’t let the absence of a globe define your youth experience. Five, 10, 20 years from now, no one is going to remember who got the globes and who didn’t, but you will remember the people, the fun you had, the lessons you learned, and the shared experiences of these awesome opportunities. If you think back now to who won Trail, Western Pleasure, Reining, or Horsemanship 10 years ago, I bet you can’t recall. The same will go for all of us now… You may not have had your ideally “perfect” show, but it was wonderful in so many ways. When you get home, before you forget them, write down your 10 top memories of this show. Even if you had the worst runs of your life, lots of great things were around you. Write them down. Years from now, you’ll be glad you did.

Life is never perfect for anyone. If someone’s life looks perfect on Instagram, Snapchat, or even Facebook – it’s not. It’s a facade because no one person or family has a perfect life. No one! It’s impossible to have one of those, but it’s not impossible to recognize how wonderful your life is in all circumstances you find yourself. When my Grandma was dying from cancer just weeks ago, I was devastated and could barely watch as the cancer was quickly snuffing her away. My mom encouraged me to focus on the beauty. Looking back, I’m glad I stayed still and looked at what was happening. I’m thankful for the moments I captured in my heart and some on camera, because there was beauty there. It wasn’t the obvious thing to notice, but when I really looked at the bigger picture I found some things. They were hard to face, but they were there.

My Grandma was about to meet Jesus. The one she’s been serving her whole life. She was about to be free from her pain. I was still in her presence, even if just for a few more moments. She was still my Grandma; cancer could not steal that from us. Our love was still alive between her and I… So while the situation was dire, I choose to see the good there. My grandma always taught us to do that. It was her secret to having a joyful life no matter what comes at you. Look for the beauty in all things. That’s also the cowboy way – the horse show way!

For me, the Trail Finals this year was not perfect, but boy was it wonderful! I consider it to be the ride that changed my life – the ride when Ode and I proved to ourselves that we belong. As you all know, AQHA doesn’t just give out positions in the finals. It’s a privilege and it takes years of grit, guts, faith and the grace of God to get there. Of all that I’ve been through in my life, that moment of being in that arena with those top 20 horses in the World (many my Grandma and I had been watching for a lot of years dreaming to get past – some seemed impossible) made all the hardships and tragedies fall from my shoulders for a while and it was WONDERFUL!

I didn’t know any of the judges, and I don’t think they had ever seen me and Ode, which makes it all the more pure. What a wonderful surprise it was to read the judges’ cards. A judge that specializes in Trail placed me first on her card! While, I would never ever dare question God (or the judges), I believe the placings were as they should have been. It was just really awesome seeing she put Ode and I as her top choice. I’m beyond thankful and grateful for all that this World Show was, and I wouldn’t want it another way. The meaning behind this ride and my bronze globe for me and my family is priceless. It was not perfect, but boy was it wonderful…

For all the spectators and my family and friends who are not horse people, I wished I could explain to you the talent of each 20 of the top trail riders in the finals. All of them were truly incredible. Anyone of them could have easily won one of the three globes. I believe there were a couple of angels on the Trail for me that day. I didn’t get a gold globe, but my bronze globe was divinely appointed for me this year. For that I am humbled and grateful. A lot of years of sadness were washed away that day, and I look forward to jumping back on the trail of healing, growing, and showing.

I will carry these awesome experiences in my heart forevermore – the were perfectly non-perfect and wonderful! And to all of the riders, friends, and competitors in the Trail arena with me that day, I want to tell you – I love y’all and congrats on being some of the best riders in the World. It was a real privilege showing with y’all. You’re great ambassadors for our sport! Everyone of us are the most blessed youth in the world! We are perfectly imperfect kids bonded for life through these wonderful times and horses…

See y’all at NSBA WORLD…

Trails,

Tatum Richey

(Pictures and editing provided by Sheila Richey)