For the most part, we live in harmony with our professional athletes, understand that they make money and perform at a higher level than we do on our backyard court or local gym. I've even accepted that no one will ever asked me to play for the Celtics.
As an Eventer, I am an Amateur Low Level Rider -- Novice and lovin' it. My life goal is to do a Training 3 Day and I dream of making it to Prelim. I am proud of what I do even when I'm scraping the dirt off my buttocks and cursing my spooky horse. It may not be George Morris perfect but it is as "Eventer Excellent" as I can be.
I cringe when I see a post on COTH or some other Horsey Bulletin Board or blog that slams the Professional/Upper Level Rider for pursuing their personal greatness and making a living while doing it. I bare no animosity towards the them and actually LOVE to watch them ride.
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| Mark Weissbecker/Decordova 2003 Over-the-Walls |
We all have an opportunity to be the best we can be and to celebrate whatever that is for us. I choose to work hard, very hard to be the best of the average. I stand up and celebrate high level mediocrity... and, still dream... of Rolex.
3 comments:
I love your phrase "I stand up and celebrate high level mediocrity." For amateurs, the majority of us who don't go out and win our divisions every weekend, "high level mediocrity" is what we live for. I have never placed above 3rd at a USEA recognized event, but I also don't spend countless hours drilling my horse on dressage, jumping single fences in my ring over-and-over-and-over-and-over again, and I don't have an eventing watch where I go out in my field and test our speed and gallop the life out of my pony to gain optimal fitness. I compete at BN (and sometimes N), for crying out loud! I also know that every jump, every step, every day in the saddle is one day closer to the last for my 15-year-old buddy, and I don't want to push him closer to retirement by trying to be someone I'm not. So, "high level mediocrity" is satisfying for me. My horse is happy not being treated like a machine at home, then having to perform like a seasoned pro at a show. We just have fun! I don't expect to get sponsors, win lots of money (should I ever finish first), or have people lining up to purchase shares in the ownership of Eddie. But by gosh, I do not think badly of, disparage of, or slander the great riders in this sport who do. Amen for the pros out there and it is a sad time to hear lower-level riders trash talk them again and again. I think that it's beginning to speak more about the poor attitude and lack-of-sportsmanship (or even maturity) of the speakers themselves than it does to even remotely sully the name/reputation of the pros. Let the "Negative Nellies" sit on their computers and write nasty comments while you and I go out, ride our horses, cheer for Boyd/Phillip/Karen/Buck/Sinead/Leslie etc., and enjoy our lives and our sport. :-)
Well said, Holly.
I'm with Margie on this one... well said! And, I thought I was the only one who felt like this. I had this writing pended for a long time because I thought it was just me... Who'd thunk?!
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