Year End Awards: Moms’ Edition

02 Dec Year End Awards: Moms’ Edition

By Alex Johnson

I’m sitting down on a Wednesday night, writing to you all after attempting to prepare for an upcoming show. I’ve got a six-year-old with the flu on the couch, a husband that just got out of the hospital, and a toddler who is very excited about her Thanksgiving performance tomorrow—ask me the words to The Five Fat Turkeys Are We Song, I dare you.  

Tomorrow I’ll run through tests in my head while dropping off and picking up from school, managing doctor’s appointments, wrapping up remote computer work, putting in a few training rides, getting things in order for the horses that will stay behind, and packing for myself and the horses who are hauling out in the morning. I’ll coordinate the childcare schedule for while I’m away, do the laundry and the dishes, and pack lunches…

Sometimes—honestly, nearly every time—just getting to the horse show seems like an impossible feat. There are bills to pay, there is always something more to do, and there is a lingering social guilt and internal pressure to give up on this dream I’ve been pursuing since I was five years old—I want to be the best rider I can be. I just LOVE horses! 

When I get to the showgrounds, I’ll switch into 100% athlete mode. I’ll focus on my skills and the horses’ needs, and our performance together. I won’t check my calls or texts. I’ll ride my tests and review the notes from the judges, feeling relieved and encouraged when things go well, and trying to reframe my perspective when things go poorly. Even while I’m in full-time athlete mode, I’ll probably experience waves of outside thoughts, stemming from my straddling of many roles in daily life. The thoughts will range from “You’re on the right track. You are taking steps in the right direction and, although there’s much to learn, you are moving forward…” to “Why did you ever think you could do this? And, WHAT are you doing exactly? Why can’t you just do a different hobby or something and be satisfied? You’d have more money and more time for your family that way…” I will absolutely maintain professionalism and joy throughout the competition but sometimes, in the quiet moments when I’m alone, I’ll wrestle with these waves of thought. I may even thrash about and feel like drowning in them. 

After I’ve competed, I’ll synthesize everything I’ve learned and all the feedback I have received and revise our plans/goals accordingly. Most importantly, I’ll enjoy the extra time I get to spend with the horses and our horsey friends while we are out of town. On Sunday afternoon, when we haul home after a long competition weekend and everyone gets tucked back into their stalls, I’ll switch back into this blended mom/athlete/working professional mode that I use for daily life. I’ll know what’s waiting for me at home—and believe me it’s not a clean house and a bubble bath. 

Now, before you start thinking to yourselves, ‘wow, Alex is just venting and trying to get her SEDA volunteer hours covered for the end of the year’…okay, you have a point. AND you should also know that I have an incredibly supportive and loving family that I adore. AND even with all of the great things that come with being in a family, I think we moms owe it to ourselves to stop and consider just how much we do to fight for the pursuit of horsemanship. Whether we are trainers, industry professionals, adult amateur competitors, or otherwise—we are doing something very difficult because we love it. 

So, with that, I’d like to present some Year-End Awards to the moms that I’ve seen out showing this season: 

To the mom who is simultaneously juggling five of her own kids and their ponies while also competing…you have earned the Most Underpaid & Highly Valued Pony Club Leader Award. 

To the military mom who is not only providing for her family but also serving our country while competing…you have earned the X Halt, Girl that Judge Should Salute YOU Award. 

To the mom who is carting around a sleeping toddler in a hay cart while running a business coaching a team of teenagers and competing …you have earned the Boss Mare Award. 

To the single mom who is walking that tightrope of making ends meet, raising great kids and bringing up great horses while competing… you have earned the I’ve Got Balance for Days Award. 

To the mom who is bravely and selflessly caring for aging parents while seeing her own kids off to college, and still competing… you have earned the I Ain’t Afraid of Changes Award. 

To the mom-to-be in those stretchy breeches looking curvalicious and somehow managing not to pee her pants while competing… you have earned the Don’t You Dare Ask Me for More Bend Award. 

To all the moms I’ve missed or haven’t yet met, and to all the moms and moms-to-be that are also horsewomen, horse lovers, and horse nerds… we ALL have earned a Year-End Award. We did it. We made it through the show season. We competed in spite of all of the other stuff, and we managed it all. Nobody else could have done it like us. Good job and see you all in 2025.