Personal Responsibility: The One Thing We Can Fix Right Now

We’ve already talked about where the Tennessee Walking Horse industry stands today—fewer horses showing, record-breaking prices at the top, and a level of quality we’ve never seen before.

The era of the super-elite athlete is real.

So the question becomes:What can we take immediate responsibility for—right now—without waiting on rule changes, organizations, or committees?

The answer is simple.Personal responsibility.

And that responsibility belongs to both trainers and amateurs alike.

Trainers: Own the Call and Move Forward

Every trainer makes judgment calls—class placement, equipment choices, timing, preparation. Sometimes those decisions work. Sometimes they don’t.

When they don’t? Own it. Learn from it. Move on.

Owners understand this truth:

No trainer ever puts a horse in the ring hoping it makes a poor show.

We are showing living, breathing athletes—not machines. Some nights, things click. Other nights, they don’t.

What we don’t need is the automatic deflection:

• Politics

• The judges

• Other riders

• “The system”

Yes, barn blindness happens. It happens to all of us.

But it has become far too easy to pass the buck instead of acknowledging the simplest reality:

On this night, another horse was just better.

That honesty builds credibility—with owners, with peers, and with the next generation watching how we handle adversity.

Amateurs: Great Horses Still Require Work — and Trust

We are blessed with some of the most forgiving, kind, and talented horses this industry has ever produced. And because of that, something dangerous has quietly crept in:

Complacency.

Many amateurs simply do not put in the practice time they should.

Yes—some riders are naturally gifted.Yes—some can “get by” with less work.

But the truth is this:

Many riders are not as naturally gifted as they think they are.

And unless you’ve spent years learning:

• The same horse

• With the same trainer

• In a consistent program

You must practice. You must learn your horse. You must do your part.

Just as important, you must listen to and use the guidance of your trainer.

A trainer’s role extends well beyond the schooling ring. It includes:

• Preparation

• Focus

• Timing

• Horsemanship

• And decision-making on show night

When instruction is ignored—whether through distraction, overconfidence, lack of preparation, or choices that compromise focus—it doesn’t just affect the rider. It affects the horse and the entire team.

Showing is not a casual moment. It is the culmination of weeks, months, and sometimes years of work. Respecting that process means showing up mentally and physically prepared, ready to execute the plan that was put in place.

A great horse can cover up a lot… but it cannot replace preparation, partnership, or discipline.

Anything less is unfair—to:

• Your horse

• Your trainer

• Yourself

  
  

The Bottom Line

If we want to rebuild participation, strengthen confidence, and create a healthier future for our industry, it doesn’t start with blame.

It starts with:

• Owning mistakes

• Putting in the work

• Trusting the team you’ve chosen

• Respecting the horse as an athlete

• Accepting that losing is part of competition

  
  

Personal responsibility costs nothing—but it changes everything.

And it’s something every one of us can choose today.