The Wrangler Horse and Rodeo News

of us was working the barrel pattern and his attitude about the whole situation was complete nonchalance. He simply said, "We might be a while." The way he said those words was as if he had all the time in the world for just that horse. I was well aware that he was about to run some of the best futurity and derby horses in the nation, but he was working through a somewhat difficult session as if he had nowhere else to be. Sometimes we just need to forget the timelines, the end goals, the stress, the pressure. Easier said than done, especially when you're already at one of the highest paying events of the year. However, I think being able to block out that noise at that level, is a crucial key to success. There is great power in simply hitting pause. From what I have witnessed over the years, everything quoted in the articles and interviews with our industry greats is never a lie. The elite competitors are the first ones in the arena in the morning and the last ones there at night. Their horses are flawlessly cared for. Their stall rows and working areas are immaculate. They have spent and continue to spend, hours upon hours honing their craft. There is a noticeable difference in those who have been quick to success with one or two horses and those who have built a career and multiple great horses each year. The latter simply have a time tested program and wisdom that cannot be matched without experience and sweat equity. When I watch the best of our industry, I am always in awe and inspired. Sometimes I forget they are just as human as we are and they started out much like all of us. At the core, they are equine enthusiasts with a passion for competing and training, but they have dedicated their entire levels to becoming exceptional. We sometimes compare ourselves to these incredible top trainers, forgetting that they spend every waking hour working, improving. The reality is that we are just as capable of pushing ourselves as hard as they do. Does that mean we will be at their level next week, next month, or next year? Probably not. They didn't get there in that time frame, either. I have been so fortunate to interview incredible horsemen and horsewomen, and the common threads are always there. I see those common threads amongst that elite level of trainers and competitors at these events. There is a great sacrifice that goes into being the best at something. While many barrel racers are very competitive and take the sport seriously, we risk taking ourselves too seriously. We can forget to enjoy ourselves and have fun with our friends and our equine partners. Too much pressure on our riding or our equine partners can negatively impact our performance in the arena. I was reminded of this while driving to dinner with friends. A woman was walking her dog to the park on site. I might not have noticed, but her outfit was so put together, she looked a little out of place at a barrel race! Her hair was up and she was wearing a matching collared golf tank and skirt. Assuming it was just someone from the town, I politely waved. As I passed, she turned with a huge smile and waved back. I couldn't help but laugh when I realized it was an industry giant with lifetime earnings in millions. I knew she had been up since long before daylight, but now she was just an average gal headed to spend time with her dog. No matter where you're headed next, I hope you remember to take a minute to breathe, work harder than the next person, and enjoy yourself. Teal Stoll goes behind the curtains at the Royal Crown to give readers her perspective on the mannerisms of professional barrel horse trainers. Photo Credit: Andi Denali Photography

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