Triple Trouble: Someone Looks Up to You

“How you treat your horse, if you smile and say hello, and how you react to a bad showing are all being observed by a child who idolizes you. Be the change you want to see in the sport because you’re teaching and influencing the youth riders more than you may know.”

For as long as I’ve been into horses, no matter the discipline, there have always been riders I’ve looked up to, respected, and watched to see what I could learn. Sometimes I idolized them because they were friendly, sometimes it was because their riding was spectacular, and other times it was because they had offered help. Whatever the reason, these were riders that had become important to me.

In mounted shooting, it’s been no different. However, now I have a different perspective on idolizing horsemen in the sport — the perspective of a wrangler. Wranglers are the youth riders in the sport of mounted shooting. They’re the crazy horse kids, under 12 years of age, who go to school to make their teachers’ and friends’ ears bleed with horse-related stories from the weekend. They are also the future of the sport — without these young riders, none of our disciplines will continue to advance and grow. Therefore, it’s so important to consider the example we’re setting and to think about the types of riders and competitors we’re building as we bring up the youth in the sport. After all, they’re watching everything we do.

Hanging at all the national events is a banner that says, “Somewhere around this arena, there is a wrangler that wants to be just like you someday. You owe it to them to be the best you can be.” I did not realize the impact of this statement and how closely the kids watch the adults in the sport until this past national championship.

Photo courtesy of Annie Oakley

The CMSA Tennessee Extravaganza was Kamille’s first shoot at the national level. She was ecstatic to meet the best mounted shooters in the sport, to attend her very first showcase, and to compete among the best. SHE. WATCHED. EVERYONE. Some people she grew particularly fond of because of their kindness towards her. Others she adored because they were pretty, their horse was pretty, or they were downright fast.

Kamille cheered on riders in the showcase she had just met a few days prior. After every showcase class was over, she made sure to run down to the wall that separated the arena from the stands to wave to the CMSA Equestrian Team girls and attempt to hit the hand of the winner. Our nightly conversations were about how cool so-and-so was. It’s these little things that matter most to a 10-year-old girl — the parts of the sport that make it exciting.

Photo by Marcella Gruchalak

There were three people she really idolized coming out of the CMSA Tennessee Extravaganza and I’d like to write about them and their kindness towards her over the course of the week. All three of these riders she chose herself, for her own reasons, and honestly, they’re great picks.

First, is Ezra Yoder of No Reins Performance Horses. I’m not sure I’ve met many others that are as kind as he is. We all know that kids can be annoying when they want to follow you around and watch your every move. Ezra was kind to Kamille for the entire week. Also worth mentioning, she loved watching Ezra make every run bridleless. Ezra and I were two to three people apart in the running order all week. Kamille would make a point to make it to the arena to watch his run, but my runs were not a priority — that’s saying something about the level of impact riders have on the youth of the sport. Kamille has always worked to watch my runs, but this time they took the backseat. Ezra went above and beyond by letting Kamille ride his good horse, Bluebell, and zoom around on his transportation device (I actually have no idea what it’s called). He gave Kamille pointers on her riding and was always positive and up lifting. And the thing is, he didn’t have to. I may be his client, but he is under no obligation to give Kamille tips or let her ride his horses. He did it jut because he is genuinely kind and wants to see people do well.

Kamille riding Bluebell next to Ezra Yoder. Photo by Marcella Gruchalak

Kamille’s second idol became Holly Jackson of Mountain Ember Photography. She was one of the first people Kamille met once we got to Tennessee. She helped us with our trailer spot and Kamille took a liking to her because she is, “kind and pretty and rides nice horses.” When Holly made it to the showcase, Kamille loudly cheered her on with the Tamborine and shouting that came from her belly.

@_gru_crew_ “Somewhere around this arena, there is a wrangler that wants to be just like you someday…” #horsesoftiktok #mountedshooting #cmsa ♬ original sound – Marcella

Kamille cheering on Holly Jackson at the showcase

Lastly, after the Friday night showcase, Kamille took a liking to Kenda Lenseigne. Side note: Kamille had no idea she was watching a five-time world champion run. While many of us admire Kenda for all she’s done for the sport and multiple championships and world records, Kamille liked her because as she did her victory lap, she was one of two winners that made sure she went over to hit Kamille’s hand as she passed. While that may not mean anything to us as adults, hitting the hand of a winner in the showcase was like meeting a celebrity for Kamille. And seeing an adult at the top of the sport take the time for the wranglers is HUGE.

@_gru_crew_ “Somewhere around this arena, there is a wrangler that wants to be just like you someday…” #horsesoftiktok #mountedshooting #cmsa ♬ Champion – ROKKA

Kamille waving to the CMSA Equestrian Team and trying to hit hands with one of the showcase winners

All of these little things made a world of difference for Kamille at her first major event — and they’re all actions that are going to help shape who she is as a ride and a competitor as she continues her journey with horses.

So, the next time you’re warming up, chatting with friends after your run, or walking through the barn, know that there is a kid somewhere who looks up to you and is watching your every move. How you treat your horse, if you smile and say hello, and how you react to a bad showing are all being observed by a child who idolizes you. Be the change you want to see in the sport because you’re teaching and influencing the youth riders more than you may know.