SAMANTHA ARRINGTON

What My Sport Means To Me

 

                   Throughout my career, as I prefer call it, I have always had people tell me how what I did was not a 'real' sport. In return I would ask, "well what defines a real sport?". I would always get the same response of, 'football, basketball, baseball, etc..'. Being the humble person I am I would just let it the ignorant comments roll off my shoulder. However, during my freshman year of high school, I had the current basketball coach say to me, "Horseback riding is not and never will be a sport. The horse does all the work." Although I give a hefty kudos to my horse, for he does put in all that he has to offer, I was quite offended at the remark made by the coach that day. Ever since then, I have been more determined than ever to show not only the true beauty of a horse and rider working together, but the amount of skill, determination, and talent it takes to be a successful equestrian.

              With horseback riding being as demanding as it is, it takes a special mind to be willing to dedicate the amount of time and patience it takes to become one of the best. I feel as if there is a triangle to an equestrian lifestyle with a choice in each corner; enough sleep, a social life, and making time to practice. However, you can only chose two. Personally, I wish to be as good as I can possibly be, so I forgot all about a social life and chose to focus solely on my sport. With my horse being my teammate and partner, it is only right that I dedicate just about all of my time to him, which I do without hesitation. When I work with my horse, there is a connection that cannot be found anywhere else, not through a person, through another sport, or through materialistic things. That is exactly why I wish to spread an understanding to everyone who does not have this type of relationship and has not experienced the thrill of riding into an arena with three to four judges watching you during the one moment which you and your teammate have worked so diligantly for. If more people outside the equestrian world had an idea as to what is going on when a rider is going through an equitation pattern or a trail course, then that could absolutely help everyone within this sport, not only with the simple lack of knowledge within most people, but with the financial support of sponsors.

               Most of your 'mainstream' sports such as basketball, football, and motorcross have names such as Redbull or Under Armour supporting them. However, if the equestrian sport were to reach companies that big and bring them the understanding of this sport, then that would greatly help out the people who struggle to pay for this pricey hobby. With horseback riding being one of the most expensive sports to participate in, the industry is getting smaller and smaller by each show season. Many horse people, as we are called within our little world, are having to put this sport aside to focus on paying their bills, and that should not be happening as frequently as it is. With the amount of passion put into this sport, money should not determine your ability to succeed. However, money is probably the biggest part of being an equestrian, and without it there is little room to be successful. As I am getting older and having to pay for some of the things I have, I am quickly starting to realize the meaning of something costing 'an arm and a leg'. With that being said, that is my second most heart felt reason for being so indulged in getting the knowledge of this sport out into the world. If companies as big as the ones I mentioned were to sponor the equestrian name, that would make the horse riding business flourish and become bigger than ever before, and that is exactly what I, along with many others desire. My horse and my sport mean the world to me, and if I live to see the knowledge of equestrian events reach people outside those who participate in them, I would be able to rest at ease knowing that there is finally an understanding of this misunderstood passion of mine.