Frank J. Buchman

Cowboy • Horseman • Writer

Many Help Make Successes

“Always give just credit where credit is due.”

During several recent horseshow awards presentations, many accolades were bestowed, received and acknowledged by applause.

Recipients were exuberant with big smiles nodding and towing away hardware and tokens.

They’re the ones who campaigned the champions.

With limited exception little recognition was given to the most important part of every title.

While the real reason for success was generally named in passing, “Joe Blow on Tiny won…” That was about it recognizing the one most responsible.

A horse is the No. 1 ingredient in cowboy and cowgirl success, and should be honored most.

Yes, as was pointed out in a recent national horse publication, many potential champions never become such.

It’s because, nobody trains and shows the outstanding horseflesh to what they could become. Many horses are never used period, let alone put into competitions.

Still, every horseshow award truly must first go to the horse, then to the exhibitor and many others out behind the barn.

Achievement actually starts with planned mating mare and stallion, birthing and a long line of hands. Years of continued preparation, hundreds of competitions, plus miles and miles of traveling combine for top end results.

Putting such into personal perspective, even local yokel class blue ribbons first require the horse. Then the handler, and all of the assistance in the ranch barnyard, feeding, advising, grooming, tack, and apparel.

Onto show-grounds, multiplying effect entries, arena crew, officials, literally handfuls required for every event. When show day ends, work begins for scorekeepers, forwarding seemingly jumbled results in decipherable form to circuit officials.

Life is no different. No matter the profession, many others always must step in to assure everything gets done correctly. Credit is given to one, who is ultimately responsible, but seldom do dozens behind the scenes get any compliment. Generally, few know their name.

Achievements with horses and professionally have been few comparatively too many others. Yet, every single one is due to a hardworking dedicated ground crew, putting such essential assistance into blue collar lay terms.

Hat off and handshake thank you to everybody providing encouragement for horseshow accomplishments. Even higher and deeper accolades to those in the professional offices guaranteeing business success continues.

Reminded of Isaiah 41:6: “They always help another go into overtime to get the job done right.”

+++ALLELUIA+++

XII–4–1-21-18

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