Confidence

Do you remember the first time you really had confidence in yourself? Was it because you made the game-winning shot or because you got a new, fresh hair cut? Confidence comes from all sources. No matter where you get your confidence, the trick is to keep that confidence.

Today's photoblog is inspired by the source of my daughter's confidence. My daughter is a pretty outgoing person. I've tried to nurture her into a confident person but there was a time in her life when she wasn't confident at all. When we started rodeoing seven years ago, we did so at the drop of a hat. My daughter was three and she had never really ridden a horse enough to gain confidence. I knew since we would always have horses and a farm, that my daughter needed to be a good horsewoman. Rodeo was the way to achieve that..and maybe, just maybe win a little bit along the way.

For the first several years we tried horse after horse. Some worked, some didn't, some we couldn't use all of the time. Some good friends of ours let Brynna use their rope horse, Cherokee. It was love at first sight. Cherokee was so good to her and she was so happy to be riding such a great horse. Luckily, we were able to buy Cherokee and I was amazed everytime I saw them together. Cherokee worked with her while she worked out her kinks and helped her develop into a confident rider. Cherokee was the spark and if an animal could ever be a soulmate to a human, well, Brynna and Cherokee are soulmates.

Last year, we bought Sam from some other good friends of ours. Sam pushed (and still pushes) Brynna in ways Cherokee didn't. Sam will run as hard for Brynna as she wants to run but he's the type of horse that gets really excited before going into the arena. This trait has given Brynna the confidence to handle a horse that is different from Cherokee. Cherokee and Sam are a perfect compliment to Brynna's ever growing knowledge of horse-riding.

Both of these boys are like our family. I could never repay them for what they have given my daughter....plain, simple confidence.