#ThankfulGratefulBlessed: On Gratitude in Our Sport
Our sport is interesting in the sense that it’s not just a sport. It’s also a lifestyle. Horses, in addition to being our teammates, are also animals that require a significant amount of daily attention. We spend so much time caring for our equine athletes, planning and training, traveling to and competing in horse shows, thinking about how we can improve our horses and our performance, worrying about and loving on our animals – the list goes on and on. All that to say – this sport can become all consuming.
The sport is also peculiar in the sense that it’s essentially a microcosm of the world including only those who are in the top 10% of the population, income-wise. It’s not news that this sport is expensive. Keeping a horse requires a decent amount of disposable income. Even just breaking in to the sport requires financial commitment, as riding lessons run higher than the average activity. The point being, it’s a privilege to be able to ride horses. But still, so often, we look around the horse show and see those with more than us. We wish we had a fancier horse, or more horses to ride, or more chances to compete. The list goes on and on. We spend so much time in our little “horse world” that owning and riding horses becomes common. Well, I’m here to bring a healthy dose of reality to both myself and others. Newsflash: it’s not.
The opportunity to ride and compete horses is one that very few get. I’m not saying that it’s wrong to aspire for more or to have goals that one is working toward. But what I am saying is that the “horse world” is not the real world. When we look around and see movie stars and billionaire’s daughters riding next to us in the schooling ring (many who have truly taken what they’ve been given and worked hard to earn their own place in the sport – but that’s a discussion for another day), it’s easy to feel like we don’t have enough. But the reality is, there’s always going to be someone who has more than you. More horses, more opportunities, more success. That’s life, but that’s also the “horse world” in which we operate. The thing is, though – there’s also always going to be someone who so desperately wishes they had what you currently have. Someone who so badly wants to ride a horse, to own a horse, to compete locally, nationally, internationally, etc. etc. While we’re so bogged down in this world, that’s a fact we often forget. And when that happens, it means it’s time for a perspective shift.
The key to finding joy – both within the sport and in the grand scheme of life – is to be grateful for what we have in this moment. To see the opportunities presented to us this very day and recognize the good things in our life. Being thankful doesn’t mean one doesn’t have any wants or needs. It’s a both/and situation. We appreciate all that we have in the current moment while aspiring for more in the future. For me, that means being grateful for the opportunity to work with horses on a daily basis, while continually working to grow both my business and my skill set.
Interestingly enough, not only is gratitude the key to a more permanent and lasting happiness – but it’s also a key component of success. There are studies that show people who are more grateful are overall more successful and more productive. I’m not exactly sure why, but I think a part of that is because when we’re grateful we see the events of our life as opportunities as opposed to things that “happen to us.” Gratitude creates a mind shift from simply going through the motions to actively seeing and acknowledging the good things that are continually coming our way. And, my friend, the opportunity to ride a horse is most certainly a good thing.
I’m not here to shame anyone for wishing he or she had more. I’ve done it too, and most certainly will do it again. But this Thanksgiving season, I’m inviting all my equestrian friends to take a moment to recognize how incredibly lucky we are to be able to spend a good portion of our lives on the back of a horse. And then go beyond that. Every time you get on your horse – take a second or two to reflect on how lucky you are to have the privilege to ride on that given day. It’s an opportunity that not everyone gets to realize. When you pause and think about that fact, it’ll for sure change your ride, and hopefully your whole perspective.
