Thank you. You probably don’t hear those two words often enough, but you truly are one of the unsung heroes in your daughter’s life.
You’ve held our horse, pinned on our back numbers, and sent us into the arena with a smile and thumbs up. You make sure we eat some kind of meal and stay hydrated during the day, even though getting our horses ready and warming up for our class always seems more important. You take photos and proudly cheer us on from the sidelines, and tell us how great we did when we come out the gate, even if we missed a lead and came close to running the judge over.
You invest your time and money (lets be honest - lots of money) into a 1,200 pound animal that continually eats, wears the most expensive shoes on the planet, and has a passion for escaping the paddock, all while putting a smile on your little girl’s face. You might not even like horses and could be secretly afraid of them, but you put on your best face and attempt to help us out as much as possible.
If we forget something - tack, attire, a water bucket - you'll gladly sprint to the trailer, or make a trip home, to retrieve the missing item.
When we struggle with the trials of horse ownership - the emergency vet visits, long nights with a colicky horse, or the painful task of saying goodbye to our best friend - you're right by our sides, comforting us and willing to do whatever it takes to help us get through it.
I know all of this, because I'm a horse-owning daughter and I've been blessed with a father who supports me in all of my equestrian endeavors. Dad didn't grow up with horses and he doesn't ride much anymore, but he continues to support us as we ride.