AHJA Essay Contest

I recently entered an essay contest run by the Arizona Hunter Jumper Association and won. As the winner I am able to ride in the annual AHJA clinic at Los Cedros in Scottsdale, AZ on October 2-3. This year the clinic is hosting Holly Hugo-Vidal the author of this book.

For the essay contest I had to answer the following question: What is the most important question your horse has taught you?" I thought about this question for the majority of the summer and I started the essay several months prior to the due date. However, vacations and finally the start of the school year kept me busy and I never quiet got the essay to a point where I felt proud of it. I decided to turn in what I had and was surprised when I got the call that I won. I am a little embarrassed to post the essay. Be kind while you are reading and remember it is a work in progress!

Looking back through the years at the many different horses I have been blessed to know, I see each one has taught me a life long lesson. Each horse has brought out positive qualities in me and helped me to develop these qualities and use them to become a better person.

As a child, horses taught me responsibility. As a teen, they taught me what it means to love unconditionally and trust with all one's heart. As a woman in her 20's facing marriage, children, career choices and a quest for her identity, my horses are teaching me to be unselfish and to help and care for other's before myself.

My horse bestows upon me the gift of unselfishness each time I ride him. He listens to every movement of my body, every whispered word, and silent command. he carries me safely over every fence and around every corner. Not once has he stopped to ask me why or how come? He simply listens, obeys, and trusts. Because he so unselfishly cares for me, I owe him the same treatment. He is my teammate. I owe him my appreciation and gratitude.

I carry the unselfishness my horse has taught me into every facet of my life. It goes with me into my eighth grade English classroom each day where I strive to teach my students the same lesson so that they can make the world a safer, more loving place. This unselfishness manifests itself in my relationship with family, co-workers, and friends. The lesson of service and unselfishness that I am learning from my horses makes me stronger and kinder, Each trip to the barn makes me eager to master this life lesson so my horses and I can move onto the next.