Morning Feed: Friday, March 23

Happy Friday! You’re almost there! Remember that Horse Nation is cheering for you as you gallop down the homestretch of your week.

This week, I’m especially thankful to be arriving at the finish line. Several months ago, long before Horse Nation came careening into my life, I committed to filling in for a copywriter who was going to be gone on vacation at a “real” office. So, that’s what I’ve been doing all week in between Horse Nation posts, and believe me, it’s been a reminder that adult amateurs are the real heroes of equestrian sport.

As far as offices go, the one I’m subbing in at isn’t that bad (Ping pong table! Skyscraper views! All-you-can-drink Diet Coke!). But being chained to a desk all day still stinks like a pile of springtime horse poo.

After about half a dozen Diet Cokes, my thoughts stray to the upcoming show season: When’s the opening date for my next horse trials? Maybe I should check the USEA website. Which leads to a quick peak at Eventing Nation, which leads to horsey YouTube videos, which leads to me laughing, and then suddenly I realize that everyone in the office is staring at me, like, “What is that girl’s problem?”

For many of you readers out there, 9-to-5 in an office isn’t a temporary fling—it’s your life. Afterwards, you rush to the barn to ride, rush to run errands/hit the gym/get home to your family, and rush to sleep so you have the energy to wake up the next morning and do it all over again. And then, one the weekends, when the rest of the world is unwinding on the couch with a bag of Cheetos,  you guys are out dragging yourselves to horse shows and clinics.

That’s real dedication. Don’t ever let anyone knock you because you’re an adult amateur.  Many of the adult amateurs I know work just as hard as professionals to pursue the sport they love—they’re just going about it in a different way.

Adult amateurs, if you ever need a cheerleader, you’ve got our web address. You’ll always have our support, and we’ll always have your back.

Go Riding.

The view from my desk. I've gotten hit by ping-pong balls, like, 500 times so far.