That time I zeroed an important show

Challenges of a Competitive Realist

The local show was a solid reality check. I walked in with a mare who’s more than capable, and I wanted to lay down something clean. I had a split-second debate with myself about playing it safe, going back to a snaffle and two hands to guarantee control. Eventually, I decided that playing it safe at this stage wasn’t the right call--I aim for high caliber, I need to test what I really got for the NRHA futurity--so I put my hand down and checked us for real.

And real it got. I missed reading my mare on time--she told me something, and I didn’t hear it fast enough. Speed took over, and the only way to make it fair to her and teach her to come back was grabbing two hands. Which means zeroing my score and being out of the running for the class.

"Disappointed, not upset"

That’s what I said to my friend as I stepped outside the pen. I made the mistake I feared. She didn’t fail--I did, I've got no right to be upset with her, but absolutely to be disappointed with myself.

It stung. And yeah, I spiraled after, trying to calculate every route to fix this before the futurity. One month out. Subtract a couple days for body recovery and the haul, and I had maybe three weeks. Then the rain took one of those--because why not. The hole was in my show timing, not her ability. She showed up. I showed up a half-second late.

I brainstormed with my friend (who deserves a medal for surviving my rants) and reached out to a trainer I respect to bounce ideas off him too. Then I went straight into the program I’ve built and put in the work. Not a lot of time, but enough to get my ducks in a row.

Quackers.

Aftermath

I’ll say it again because it matters: the flaw wasn’t her. It was me. I tightened the pieces that needed tightening and trusted the horse that deserved the trust. We’ll see the results soon enough.

Looking forward

The futurity is days away. That’s where everything I’ve built should come together. I expect us to walk in tighter, clearer, and fully synced. No hesitation, no second-guessing--just showing what we can do in the warm-up and in the pen when it counts.

Reflection

That zero was painful. I wanted to win. But I’m not here collecting participation ribbons. I’m here building something that lasts. And part of that is making sure this mare is seen for what she really is--sharp, consistent, honest, and talented as hell--not misjudged because I had an off second.

She deserves to be evaluated on her ability, not my temporary rust. At the futurity, that’s exactly what people are going to see.