06/26/2024
Courtesy of Carey Cathey
At a horse show, a frustrated young trainer noticed an old cowboy sitting alone in the stands, quietly watching the competition. The way his pants were tucked into the tops of his colorful stovepipe boots and the dubious angle his silver-belly stetson sat perched on his head made the old man instantly recognizable. He was a living legend in the horse world and the younger man was thrilled at the prospect of picking his hero's brain.
The young man took the empty seat next to the old cowboy and pretended to watch the show. He sat for awhile in silence until he could stand it no longer, then, with a nervous lump in his throat, he introduced himself to the man. The conversation was sparse at first, the old man being one of few words. He would occasionally point out something or other he admired about a run as it played out.
His patience finally wore thinner than the denim in the ass of his jeans and he pleaded with the wise cowhand, "I'd appreciate any advice you can spare me. I'd give anything to ride one like you."
"What would you like to know?" the man with the colorful boots asked, a quizzical gleam lighting his eyes.
"How long will it take me to get good? I've been trying forever and it feels like i never really get it, you know?"
"That one is easy. When things go wrong just take the time to listen to yourself and you will know exactly where you are at."
"I don't understand?"
The old man raised his hand and pointed an arthritic finger across the arena where an angry contestant je**ed violently on his reins. The horses eyes were wide and panicked, and he shot backwards with his head stuck straight in the air.
The man said, "If you blame your horse, you have a long, long journey ahead of you."
Then with a tip of his bearded chin, he motioned to a group of men kicking the dirt with the toes of their boots and shaking their heads in disapproval. "If you blame something outside yourself, the footing, the cows, the weather, the judge, you're a little closer but still a long ways off."
Then the man directs their attention the rider leaving the show pen after a disastrous run. The man's shoulders are slumped and his eyes are flat. The young cowboy immediately knows what the dejected rider is feeling because he had felt it himself a million times. Self-loathing
The old man sees the recognition and nods approvingly, "If you blame yourself, you're half way there."
A long silence passes as the boy ruminates on his newfound knowledge. Realizing his time with the man was about up he asks, "How will I know when I'm there."
"Another easy one, " the old man chuckles, "when you realize blame ain’t even part of the equation."
