Giving Up Is Never An Option
Work hard, dream big, was always the APHA motto, but up until this point I didn’t fully understand what this meant with horse riding. I was showing at the American Paint Horse Youth Worlds show in Fort Worth, Texas and was competing with a horse I had just met two days ago. My trainer, Kelly Chapman, traveled to Texas with me and decided to put me in a jumping class. Now, if you know me you would definitely never put me in a jumping class because I have very little experience with it but, Kelly being the stern and enthusiastic trainer I know, had a lot of faith in me to compete well with my new horse Zeke. Before my first riding class I had practiced going over the two foot jumps with Zeke multiple times, …show more content…
As long as you stay confident and look directly over the jumps, you’ll be fine.” she stated. I tried to reply but I was too focused on the riding class to force words out of my mouth so, I kicked Zeke forward and began riding. First, I picked up a fast paced lope and centered my seat so I could easily go over the jump, then I rounded the corner that led to the first jump. I looked directly over the jump and positioned my legs so I could effortlessly make it over the logs, but as I went over them Zeke tripped on the top pole and I fell off of him and onto the arena …show more content…
Even if my leg was fractured, I would still get on and show her that I can get over a jump. “Alright” is all I managed to say. Then I grabbed Zeke and hobbled over to the practice arena. Kelly did not make practicing easy for me. She made be post up and down on my bad leg and ride with no stirrups. It was an hour of pure torture and I was watched by tons of people. I had to work to be able to rest. I was in so much pain in my leg and I could already feel it swelling up in my boot. By the time I was done riding my leg was in severe pain and Zeke was worn out to the max. Honestly, I didn’t know if I could ride in my other classes and I was about to give up. I felt like I was a failure and that I couldn’t ride to save my life. But then something life changing happened. Rachelle, Kelly’s helper, walked up to me. Usually she was bitter and seemed snotty, but she told me some really encouraging words at the moment. “Sage, you did amazing today. If I were you I would have told Kelly that I couldn’t ride and I would quit. But you didn’t. You stayed and didn’t give up, and you taught me how to be
Work hard, dream big, was always the APHA motto, but up until this point I didn’t fully understand what this meant with horse riding. I was showing at the American Paint Horse Youth Worlds show in Fort Worth, Texas and was competing with a horse I had just met two days ago. My trainer, Kelly Chapman, traveled to Texas with me and decided to put me in a jumping class. Now, if you know me you would definitely never put me in a jumping class because I have very little experience with it but, Kelly being the stern and enthusiastic trainer I know, had a lot of faith in me to compete well with my new horse Zeke. Before my first riding class I had practiced going over the two foot jumps with Zeke multiple times, …show more content…
As long as you stay confident and look directly over the jumps, you’ll be fine.” she stated. I tried to reply but I was too focused on the riding class to force words out of my mouth so, I kicked Zeke forward and began riding. First, I picked up a fast paced lope and centered my seat so I could easily go over the jump, then I rounded the corner that led to the first jump. I looked directly over the jump and positioned my legs so I could effortlessly make it over the logs, but as I went over them Zeke tripped on the top pole and I fell off of him and onto the arena …show more content…
Even if my leg was fractured, I would still get on and show her that I can get over a jump. “Alright” is all I managed to say. Then I grabbed Zeke and hobbled over to the practice arena. Kelly did not make practicing easy for me. She made be post up and down on my bad leg and ride with no stirrups. It was an hour of pure torture and I was watched by tons of people. I had to work to be able to rest. I was in so much pain in my leg and I could already feel it swelling up in my boot. By the time I was done riding my leg was in severe pain and Zeke was worn out to the max. Honestly, I didn’t know if I could ride in my other classes and I was about to give up. I felt like I was a failure and that I couldn’t ride to save my life. But then something life changing happened. Rachelle, Kelly’s helper, walked up to me. Usually she was bitter and seemed snotty, but she told me some really encouraging words at the moment. “Sage, you did amazing today. If I were you I would have told Kelly that I couldn’t ride and I would quit. But you didn’t. You stayed and didn’t give up, and you taught me how to be