Horsemanship = Sportsmanship

After attending an Extreme Cowboy Race today, I feel like I made an important connection between horsemanship and sportsmanship. After observing and hearing one competitor make arrogant and rude comments throughout the event, I was upset by his lack of humbleness and sportsmanship. Instead of congratulating others on their successful obstacles in the race, he compared his success to their faults. Although the man I am discussing ended up winning the event because his horses truly were the best in the class, I wished that part of his overall horsemanship score had been docked for his lack of sportsmanship.

I started thinking about the reasons why we ride horses. I've never agreed with the notion that riding is about winning blue ribbons, collected purse prizes, demeaning competitors, or downplaying the participation of the horse in the actual event (many people like to think that they are the reason for the ribbon, not the horse). A horseman is not like any other sportsman-- a horseman's success completely depends on his ability to nonverbally communicate with animals large enough to kill him at any moment's notice. For most athletes, game day performance can be completely controlled by personal goals, verbal communication between teammates, and effective planning. Horseback riders have many, many more variables to consider every single time they attempt to communicate with their horse. Here are just a few:

• The temperature: Does your horse become excited or nervous in wind? Does your horse become lethargic and irritable in heat?
• The venue: Has your horse ever been in an indoor arena? How does he handle being in a warm-up arena with tons of other horses? Mules? Donkeys?
• The footing: Is your horse used to being worked on a certain depth of sand? Do his feet prevent him from working effectively on certain surfaces (barefoot versus shoes)? Does he prefer one type of footing over another?
• Time: How long will you need to warm up your horse before you perform? How long will you have to wait between your warm up and your class? Does your horse become impatient or worried when his schedule changes?

It's important to note that none of these variables can be completely controlled by the rider or the horse. Most other athletes can discuss their concerns with teammates, coaches, and intrapersonally. Horsemen have to make decisions quickly and calmly in order to keep their horses focused and able to perform at their best. A pep talk doesn't work with a horse.

For these reasons, I was baffled by the rude man's ability to flawlessly communicate with his horses in a respectful, gentle manner and his apparent inability to offer the same kind of sportsmanship to his competitors. In my mind, he was essentially a giant oxymoron.

Although this man ended up leaving the event with a brand new lawnmower and a custom made saddle, he also left many people insulted and annoyed by his consistent negative behavior. In the long run, he is missing the true joy and purpose of riding-- for comradeship, partnership, support, teamwork, and sportsmanship.