Why do we show??

We have all heard the old saying, “You lose more than you win”.

American rider Kent Farrington has recently been #1 in the world and even he estimates he only wins about 10% of the time.

So we must choose, as in wedding vows, to be here in the good times and the bad – we choose to persevere.

I asked some of the top riders around, “Why do you compete?” The best answer I got was from Californian Mandy Porter: “Nobody does this for fun. We are addicts, junkies to the high of the success.” And then she followed it up with a wink and a little giggle.

I read in ‘The Little Book of Talent’ by Daniel Coyle (not the show jumper) that you need to cultivate your grit. “Grit is that mix of passion, perseverance, and self discipline that keeps us moving forward in spite of obstacles… grit makes the difference in the long run… Grit isn’t inborn. It’s developed, like a muscle and that development starts with awareness.”

So why do you show? Don’t know? Here is a list to consider and place in priority order for yourself to help you figure why you do this, and what you want to get out of it.