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What Matters? Freedom + Responsibility Matters

States are beginning to “open up” and people are moving about. We look forward to horse shows. We’ve already had a few—in California; in Texas; in Alabama; in North Carolina; in Florida; in Ohio. What have we learned from these experiences? We have learned that horse shows are back. We learned that horse shows are different than they were last year. We learned that horse shows can still be fun. Many people have asked, “If shows aren’t like they were in the past, can they still be fun?” The resounding answer is, “Yes.” All you have to do is look in the faces and the eyes of the competitors and the people on the grounds. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Horse Shows Can be fun.” Check out these words from the USEF-rated Silicon Valley Horse Show this past weekend: “We had so much fun! Enjoy this short video of some of our favorite moments. Thanks for helping us have a great show!” Silicon Valley Horse Show Interview with Helen Roy and Lexie Saine video available here.

We have new freedom to go to horse shows and horse shows are able to be conducted in many parts of the country. Hurray!  And we have learned and will learn that we can have fun even when following new rules that we may not like or each of us many not even fully endorse if we just let it happen. We have the opportunity to not be sad for what was; be to be grateful for what is. Hopefully, the future will be one that is more open with even fewer rules.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.”

In pursuit of fun and freedom we have with our horses, in the barns and at lessons and now, finally, at horse shows, we have a responsibility. One that comes with freedom. Let’s care for each other; let’s follow the rules of the show; let’s show respect as we exercise our freedom; let’s have Fun!”

What Matters? Fun, Freedom, and Responsibility Matter.