6/13 Drew Horner: Uncoiled. After a miss…

Everyone wants to win. The better I get the more success I have, and it has become easier to control my emotions after a miss, but it also seems like the emotions are stronger. Because I have gotten better, I want to do well more often. When I do bad, it’s worse because I expect more out of myself.

I’ve decided that I’m not going to let roping determine how I’m going to treat people. If I miss, get mad and walk out the back gate, I don’t want that miss to determine how I treat people. I’ve trained myself to keep my emotions inside the arena. Although it’s fine to celebrate after a win, it’s not fine to dwell on a miss. Celebration is going to bring out good things, but negativity will only bring on bad things, like punching a wall.

Make the decision before you back in the box. Know what you’re going to do, either way. You don’t want to think about the negative, but you have to prepare for the emotion.

If you miss you have to remind yourself there will be another chance. I have to remember the purpose of life is not team roping. There is more to life than team roping; you’re family, friends and the others around you. You can’t have a selfish mindset that if you do bad the whole world has to feel bad with you. People care whether you win or lose, but it’s not the big picture.

You’re purpose in life is huge. Understand that roping is just a game, although for some, it is a career, and still keep your priorities straight. If you miss one, you can stay level headed. You have 2 seconds to stay mad before you walk out of the arena. When you walk out of the arena you better think about what’s next to come and you’re next chance to win some money.

I try to learn from watching the runs, but looking at a miss too long can be bad as well. I don’t typically analyze rodeo run video to extreme, because I know I don’t win by having the most perfect run, you win by having the fastest run. Perfection is good in the practice pen to help you get better, but then again you have to get where you can catch every time. If you try to nit pick all the details you’ll end up not enjoying the sport. If its something you want to pursue as a career, then you have to figure it out for yourself, but as for me, it’s not about the details. It’s about getting out on the barrier and getting the steer turned. Until next time, Drew.