Many years ago when I was high school rodeoing in Indiana. One of my biggest competitors dad gave me some advice that I have followed throughout my life. Dale Tubesing told me to control my emotions .. win or loose. It was a sign of a good competitor. Now that might not have been exactly how he said it, I have slept many of times in the last 20 plus years. But the meaning was the same. Don't hoop and holler when you win and don't cuss and throw things when you loose. Seems simple me writing this but it has made a substantial impact on me over my years or rodeo and barrel racing. EVERY pattern I make Dale's words go through my mind at the end of the run. I may smile or shake my head depending on how the run made me feel inside, but that is the whole of it. I doubt Dale or JoAnn his daughter ever even realized how much of an impact they made on me.
This past weekend I loaded Royce up in the truck and went to a barrel race. Didn't care that I had a HUGE pile of laundry. The washing machine isn't working at 100% so you can only imagine my backup. I probably had a pile of dirty dishes and you can bet your bottom, my house needed and still needs a good scrubbing. I decided I didn't care one bit about all that. Or that fact that I hadn't rode Wally but once a week for the past month. I have worked so many hours and am just plain tired. I just wanted to go... just wanted to have an outlet for something just for me.
As I watched the girls make their runs and clock their times. I kept saying to myself just try to go make smooth run and stay within a second of the leading times. Don't make a fool of yourself and sit in the middle of him and he will do the rest. I had my mind half on Royce the whole time I was warming Wally up. He was playing very near the alley way and that was the only place I could make sure I could keep one eye on him but at the same time it made me a nervous wreck that he might step out in front of a horse unknowing of the potential danger.
As my name was called I think a blind sense of relief took over me. I just let Wally go and was along for the ride. I know I am blessed in MANY ways. Blessed with a family that loves and put up with me, friends that help me find AWESOME horses supporting me along the way and the ability God gave me to sit up in the middle of them. I finished the run and tipped the third barrel, my time was super and one of the top times for the day. Those thoughts from Dale came rushing back into my head. I wanted to be happy cause I wasn't a second off like I had hoped for.. I was at the top of the times, I wanted to be mad at myself for not finishing a run. Wally had tried to hard to do everything right and I had messed that up for him. Girls were congratulating me on a nice run even though it had a downed barrel. But I quietly smiled and headed back to the trailer.... with a tear in my eye.... cause God and Wally had proved to me once again we had the stuff that great competitors were made of. A quiet resolution to myself of how wonderful those moments on good horses are.
