Earlier this week, my daughter won some money at a barrel race and the proud mama in me looked for her high and low after hearing her name called from the crows nest to congratulate her and take a photo of her with her shiny white envelope of winnings.
She practices barrels and works at it with all her heart. It was her first time winning first in 3D. I looked for her in the pack of other girls on horseback to no avail. She was not at the concession stand spending her new influx of cash on unauthorized candy or Dr Pepper, nor in the stands looking for me to watch and critique the video of her run. When I found her, she was at the trailer with her horse, sharing the moment in quiet with Odessa. I walked up as she was touching the envelope to her horse’s nose, telling Odessa, “look what we did girl!”
It is never not about “We” in either Reese’s mind or Odessa’s heart. They are a true team in the arena and out and it makes me happy to watch. There are some horses in your life that lived in your heart before they lived in your barn. Sometimes, you get lucky enough to find each other.
I love her horse too, but I may fail to give credit sometimes where credit is due. When I applaud Reese for riding whether it is snowing or a sun-shiney day, or when I encourage her to keep trying and that next time is an opportunity to improve or when I cheer her on for a race well done, I need to remember to metaphorically touch the envelope to Odessa’s nose too in those moments.
They are a good pair and the horse deserves as much accolades as the rider. If I have learned one thing watching the two of them is that the makings of a good barrel horse and a barrel racer are nearly impossible to delineate.
It takes infinite patience, determination, confidence and commitment to succeed for mere seconds in life. All of those seconds, sometimes 10ths of seconds, add up to make moments that live forever.
I have watched them learn together, from the ground up. From groundwork to working the ground to watching that winning moment at the trailer from the outside in, it was a good reminder for me that sometimes the best horse lessons are acquired outside the saddle.
When you have a connection with your horse when your boots are on the ground, it is going to make the bond all the more meaningful when they are tucked in the stirrups, turning barrels.
Seeing Reese prioritize who and what is important was a good reminder for me to place my memories of that day and so many days leading up to that day in an envelope in my mind. Taking out the enclosed moments when I like and to place those memories on Reese’s heart and Odessa’s velvety soft nose so we can all recall what really matters, what is the true enclosed prize in life is, the moments, sometimes mere seconds, that make memories that last forever.
Jenny Johnston is a four-generation Durango local, part-time rodeo announcer and full-time wrangler to two lil’ buckaroos.
