Be FEARLESS

Being fearless not only applies to your horsemanship, competition and training but also your life outside of horses. We all live in this "game" called LIFE, and recently I have been really contemplating and picking apart what I believe is the meaning of "BEING FEARLESS". It was a little over a year ago I had the blessing to meet a good friend and mentor of mine, that not only helped me find my very patient, smart and talented barrel gelding Digger. I called her my "coach", she helped me learn the basics of barrel racing, gave her knowledge on feeding programs, breeding, training and what tack she uses. She would always finish with "but this is only how I do it and there are several ways to get things done, and everyone is different". She would usually tell me to take whatever I would learn and tweak it to where it would work best for my horse and myself. Most of the time I would follow her advice and try my best to do it "right", I was afraid to fail. This new venture wasn't easy, and I was not that great at first either. The last time I had my butt in the saddle was when I was a little girl, so not only did I have very little experience but I had never owned a horse before! Ever since I had laid eyes on a horse and rode with my uncle around the fairgrounds and on a couple pack trips, and I knew I had to have one! Long story short, that didn't happen. So here I was at 25 learning to ride again and learning the sport of barrel racing which is in a short phrase, sending a 1200 lb horse as fast as they can around barrels and back through the alley way. Now it is far more complicated than that, TRUST ME. The point is, I chose to be fearless because I wanted it so much. Yes I was AFRAID of looking like a fool, or AFRAID I would fall off, and as much as I knew better, I was afraid that others would judge me. I could have never even entertained the idea of barrel racing and owning a horse, if I let all those fears hold me back. I knew I could do it if I just chose to BE FEARLESS.

"Take RISKS:

If you WIN. You will be Happy;

If you lose, you will be WISE."

Author unknown

I took risks showing up daily for weeks with Shelly as she coached me to ride, all the while hoping she didn't think I was hopeless. Taking risks financially to provide the best care for my new partner Digger. There were days that where so frustrating, and it seemed as though I was failing, but instead of giving up I took more risks. I would seek out any book, website or video where I could learn more. I wasn't afraid to ask questions constantly to anyone I thought would help me to better myself. The most important part was to apply what I learned everyday when I would practice.

"Today knowledge has power.

It controls access to opportunity

and advancement."

Immanuel Kant

Being Fearless can mean many different things with any aspect of your life. If you want to get out and do something new the first step is NOT TO BE AFRAID to try. To be honest, every step there on out will be making more and more fearless decisions. I encourage you to look at your fear as a Goal, a Challenge to prove to yourself NOT anyone else that you are not afraid. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Through my experience others value your character when you are able to be humble and look at the situation through an others eyes. Even the simple questions that you may be afraid someone will think are "dumb", ask! KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, and every tiny piece is the foundation to your success. Don't be afraid to go out and look like a fool, trust me you will learn and never do what caused that again. Personally when I make a mistake or screw up that is when its forever embedded in my brain to NEVER do what caused that again. Be fearless with your life, TAKE RISKS, ASK QUESTIONS, do your RESEARCH,PUSH YOURSELF, and use your fear to motivate you to be better. Your equine partner is exactly that, YOUR PARTNER. They look to you for guidance and as many of you know that is a horses instinct, to be guided and for you as their partner to keep them safe. Gain the knowledge to provide that for your horse, and BE FEARLESS enough to push them when they are ready. If you have asked all the questions and put in the hours and days to train with your partner, don't go to the competition and be so afraid of what you "look like" or that the other competitors are more seasoned, or have the expensive tack and trailer. Take all the knowledge and power you have gained with yourself and your horse and make the run you are prepared to do. Being Fearless doesn't mean you will never make mistakes, it means you are not afraid to make them because you will learn from them, and you will be that much further than the individual who is afraid to even leave the pasture. I encourage you to read:

"Mind Gym" by Gary Mack, David Casstevens

"With Winning In Mind" by Lanny Bassham

ASK QUESTIONS ALWAYS, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS and BE FEARLESS!!!

#fearless #risks