tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post3928423826153136636..comments2024-03-26T05:15:39.663-07:00Comments on Equestrian Ink: The Has BeenJami Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-61619475851504263112012-09-05T14:32:58.643-07:002012-09-05T14:32:58.643-07:00Dom--Yep. "Gunner" in my books is based ...Dom--Yep. "Gunner" in my books is based very closely on my real Gunner. Though his life story is a little different--my Gunner was never injured as is the fictional Gunner. But the story of that injury was the true story of another horse. The fictional Gunner's looks and personality are exactly the same as the real Gunner--as I'm sure you can see (!)Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-21581795360713248302012-09-05T14:29:24.747-07:002012-09-05T14:29:24.747-07:00Val--Well, it sounds like you came more quickly to...Val--Well, it sounds like you came more quickly to understand just what you did and didn't want to do than I did. It took me longer to figure it out, I guess. I did realize fairly early in the piece that I enjoyed just cutting cattle for fun, as you see me doing in the photo taken out at the old ranch, better than I liked the official cutting competitions. It took me awhile to let go of the idea that I "ought" to go compete. And the same was true of roping. I hung around with a lot of people who competed every weekend, and I think peer pressure had something to do with it. But I always liked the "practice" est. And I did really enjoy training young horses for many years.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-80659002303048423192012-09-05T14:26:18.104-07:002012-09-05T14:26:18.104-07:00Gunner looks exactly like I pictured him :)Gunner looks exactly like I pictured him :)Domhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00139769676714813261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-60841219004842745532012-09-05T13:41:55.779-07:002012-09-05T13:41:55.779-07:00I love the old photos, too!
I do not think of you...I love the old photos, too!<br /><br />I do not think of you as a has-been either. Being in the thick of competition is not necessary to validate your experience as a horse person, at least not to me. I am not focused on competition and never really was. I love riding and trying to improve myself and my horse, but I do not love preparing for a horse show. My horse doesn't either. He is much happier at home.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-62364002505447758002012-09-05T11:56:32.197-07:002012-09-05T11:56:32.197-07:00Funder--That is so true. And I did reach a point w...Funder--That is so true. And I did reach a point where I wasn't having fun any more at the competitions. I had just seen too much abuse (in order to win), and I would get there and be indifferent to how I did--just hoping that no horses or people would get hurt. I felt like I HAD to go--I'd been doing it for so long and all my friends competed--but I didn't actually WANT to any more. It took me a long time to acknowledge this to myself and give myself permission not to go, odd though it sounds.<br /><br />Having a kid sort of put the icing on an already baked cake, so to speak. Now I had a really good reason not to go. Since then I've realized that, as you say, competing with my horses was a part of my life that had run its course. And that's OK. <br /><br />Its funny. I let go of training/competing, kept my horses, though I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with them, just knew I always wanted horses (and I loved the horses I had), and soon enough teaching my son to ride and, eventually, trail riding with him became the thing I most enjoyed doing. Sometimes, when you let go of something at the right time, just the right something comes to take its place.<br /><br />I'm afraid I think that a lot of people really aren't having fun with their horses-they feel scared all the time, or over-pressured. Its an easy trap to fall into, and I think at times I felt that way. I'm really grateful that I spent enough years training/competing that I don't feel like I missed anything, and I'm even more grateful that I don't feel the need to do that now.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-56962650357799425692012-09-05T09:33:50.127-07:002012-09-05T09:33:50.127-07:00Love the old pics!!
This too shall pass. Every...Love the old pics!! <br /><br />This too shall pass. Everything ends - I think it's pretty cool that you quit competing before you were burned out on horses entirely. I mean, we're all (well, all the non-pros) are doing this to <i>have fun.</i> If you're so stressed out you're not having any fun at your hobby - ick!Funderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358687366401205336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-35903406274593880402012-09-05T05:06:23.436-07:002012-09-05T05:06:23.436-07:00Kate--Thank you! I know that you and I are both in...Kate--Thank you! I know that you and I are both in the been there/done that camp when it comes to competition. But unlike you, I'm no longer working with green horses--I admire your courage and persistence there.<br /><br />Alison--I will admit that my kid is often my motivation to, as you say, actually get those horses saddled and head out. I am grateful for this riding time we've had together.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-47006004524876193362012-09-04T17:32:56.761-07:002012-09-04T17:32:56.761-07:00I am the laziest! I must admit, I never accomplis...I am the laziest! I must admit, I never accomplished as much as you did with cutting and roping. I dabbled in a lot of competitions but never seriously got the bug. A goal does get you riding with a purpose and now that I don't have a purpose, I am lazy about tacking up and heading out. Maybe because I don't have a great companion like your son! So enjoy him while you can. Alisonhttp://www.alisonhartbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-36338724388006754062012-09-04T17:20:00.875-07:002012-09-04T17:20:00.875-07:00I don't think of you as a has been at all - I ...I don't think of you as a has been at all - I think of you as someone who is actively involved in the care of your horses - and this part is more important than anything else in my opinion - and actively riding while bringing your son into the horse world. All very good things - way more important and valuable than any competition, again in my opinion. There's nothing at all wrong with any of that - in fact the horse world would be a better place if there were more people like you and fewer people focussed on competition and winning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com