The True Measure of Success.....In the horse business

There is a saying in the horse business, 'the only way to make 10 million dollars in the horse business, is to start with 20 million dollars when you get into it'

The question keeps coming up and that is how do you measure a the success as horse trainer or how can you actually measure a persons success?

I think that the real answer to that question has become so skewed in today's society.

We seem to measure peoples success by the size of their bank accounts and how many assets that they own. In the last thread, I mentioned that I own my own facility and that is why I chose to set up my business the way that I did. And that seemed to open up a whole new debate.

The reason that I chose to own my own place is because that has always been my dream. I wanted to have a place where I could train horses and not deal with the bullshit that goes along with leasing barns. But there are days that I wish I did not own my own place, those are the days when the water lines break or the fence is falling down. The days when I look outside and see that I have to take care of the weeds that have gotten out of hand and I can not ride horses that day because of the overwhelming maintenance that has to be done. All at my expense!

The days when we want to take the girls to see grandma and grandpa for a weekend visit but we can't because we have to stay here and take care of the animals. Yes, those are the days that I wish we leased a barn.

When I lived in Flagstaff, I leased a barn and had 33 head in training,an assistant trainer/groom that helped me out. I lived in an apartment and always had money. But I still wanted a place to call my own.

Another way that we tend to measure success in this industry, is how many blue ribbons we win.

The only problem with that is that the color of the ribbons fade, and when they fade we lose sight of what is really important, and that is what did we learn and what memories did we take away from the experience.

Why do we teach our children these skewed values. I do love to win like everyone else, but I love the memories from the classes that I did not win. We need to teach our children that losing is OK.

So all of that being said, here is how I measure my success.....

My father is the greatest man I know and besides CNJ, he is also my best friend , of course as a rebellious teen I did not realize this. I can only hope to be half the man the he is. Beyond anything else that is going on in his life, my mother, my sister and I were and are the most important assets in his life and he would do everything in his power to make sure our needs were met.

I have learned that a man is only as good as his word, and his actions speak louder than any words.

I have learned that I need to be able to look into the mirror and like what I see. And just having money and winning does not make me like who I am. But I do pay my bills on time and I am providing a stable environment for my children.

I am able to accept my failures, and turn them into successes by the lessons that I have learned from everyone of them.

My honesty and integrity are intact.

And above all of that, I have the most beautiful family that any man can ask for. Whatever it takes to make sure their needs are met is what is truly important. If I have to get out of the horse business to make sure that is so then I will do it. Being a horse trainer is my dream, not theirs. All they have to know is, no matter what their needs, daddy will make sure they are met.

So my greatest success, is my daughters, including my step daughter. Who is becoming a beautiful and sensible young woman. Who over the past few years of mom and I banging our heads against the wall are seeing a change in that kid that is going well beyond our expectations.

The way I now measure my successes has definitely changed.

The picture at the top, well, that is me with one of my greatest successes ever!

Perhaps, I am more like my father than I thought!

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