My Biggest Fan
We asked our Equine Chronicle Facebook fans the following question:
Who’s your biggest fan that has supported you over the years in pursuit of your equestrian dreams? What do they tell you before you enter the ring that boosts your self-esteem and reminds you to have confidence in your abilities?
Here’s what they had to say. Be sure to like The Equine Chronicle on Facebook and you might have the chance to be featured in an article on our website.
Joni Stapleton– “My Grandpa is and has always been my biggest fan. His words of encouragement were always, ‘Do your best, remember who’s boss, and don’t pick so much.'”
Cindy Hoskins– “My Mom is my biggest fan, and I miss her. She always said, smile and have fun. My other biggest fan is my husband, who gives up so much so I have a horse. It’s time for me to reciprocate.”
Brianna Lea- “Adrienne Dickerson has been my trainer for almost eight years and now I also have Taft and Donnie Dickerson. All three of them just tell me to ride my ride and to have fun. They can tell when I feel nervous or if I feel like I’m not having a good ride in the ring, and they just tell me to slow my thinking down and everything gets better! I’m so lucky to have these three in my corner!”
Brister Shum– “Darlene Trein has been my biggest fan for 19 years! She said, ‘You’re going to win a big one some day,’ …and I did! I love her!”
Kristen Anderson– “My Mom, Gail, is definitely my biggest fan. She never misses a show and is always there and cheering me on.”
Taunya Clizbe- “Definitely my husband. It’s not what he says to me, but all that he does. He watches all my rides, gets up extra early to longe my horse, hoof blacks and oils my horse’s face, saddles and unsaddles my horse, and is my #1 fan.”
Ellexxah Maxwell– “My Dad. He always gets so nervous when I show that I eventually have to tell him to go sit down. However, he always cheers the loudest when I’m in the pen.”
Michelle Dionne– “That’s a difficult question; I’m blessed. When I was a child, my parents and my aunt Barbara were my biggest fans. Now that I’m an adult, my boyfriend has been there by my side, helping me reach my dreams after a long sabbatical. He trailers me anywhere I want to go, helps me get ready, cheers me on, stays at shows volunteering with the show staff, and now he’s ready to start in this crazy, horse show world as an exhibitor. Thank you God for my family, then and now, and for the American Quarter Horse, the best gift of all.”
Cathy Plymale– “I’d have to say my Dad; he hauled me for years and was the groom and coach for two horses. He was at the rail for every class cheering me on or cussing out judges, lol! He was truly my biggest fan! Thanks Dad for all the great memories and always being so proud of me, win or lose. I love and miss you.”
