Choose to Challenge – International Woman’s Day

Choose to challenge those who overlook you, dismiss you or disrespect you.

Challenge those who try to limit your abilities because of their own insecurities.

Challege yourself to speak for those who can’t find the words or the courage to speak for themselves.

Choose to stay true to your beliefs and your values, even when others judge you for them.

Challenge yourself to learn from your mistakes.

Choose to back yourself, even when others doubt you and to walk away from situations or people who bring you unrest.

This years theme for Internatinal Womans Day is “choose to challenge.”

Its message is to stand up against inequality. To choose to challenge yourself to not accept anything less than you deserve and to advocate for those who deserve better.

As equestrians, we are lucky to participate in a sport where men and women compete on a level playing field. Where we share a mutual respect for one another as our worth is not judged on gender, stature, or emotions.

But that doesn’t mean you wont encounter inequalities, both in the horse world or outside of it.

But we have a saying in our house, “you can do anything you put your mind to.” It’s a saying that has served me well in all manner of situations. Like when I or others have set limitations to my abilities.

But I try to challenge that mentality,  in myself and in others. Choose to challenge yourself to believe you can do anything you put your mind, both in the saddle and out of it.

And don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.