Showing Gracefully

Horse showing has been the name of the game as of late. We are hitting open shows every weekend from South Bend to Fort Wayne.

Grace has been my prayer for this show season.

Grace for that which we can't control, like the judge's final decision and the horse's ultimate performance. I love that my girl always wants to practice, but regardless of how often we ride, every once in a while that 1000 pound animal feels the need to do whatever it is he wants to do.

Grace for each other. Show days start extra early, and it's a long, hot day. Needless to say, we can get short with each other.

First attempt at the Shankless Showmanship class!

Grace for ourselves. My girl puts so much pressure on herself to do well. It reminds me of myself as a teenager. Back then, there seemed to be so much riding on every show or sporting event. Now, I have the perspective that comes with living a few more years. Life is bigger than that first place ribbon!  Her determination and dedication serves her well, but extra pressure to perform perfectly can lead to a difficult day.

Some weekends are more graceful than others. But we've smoothed over some of our rough edges, and my girl's got a string of ribbons to boot.