It’s Random Acts of Kindness that make this hobby great.

The small things we do, that we may not even notice we do at the time.

Lending a hand, or an item, in the midst of a show. Really noticing someone’s efforts to learn and grow.

Making sure someone has plans for lunch, or dinner.

Intentionally taking a picture of people. It says they’re important to you.

Sharing your expertise. Helping someone pick a breed for their horse.

When you choose how you go through the world, be kind.

To be kind isn’t exactly the same as being nice. It’s kind, sometimes, to correct mistakes or provide feedback that helps someone do better. But always, always approach from a place of kindness. “This is a thing you can do to be better.”

I’m personally not always good at this. I can be shy, I can be tired, I get overly self-conscious. But I’ve also had the experience of a thing I didn’t even know I did really mattering to someone around me - the item I lent, the conversation I had - years later. It’s humbling and delightful.

What I love most about this hobby isn’t the little horses or the amazing things we make - though make no mistake, I love them. But it’s the people that are more important to me than any object, my longest and dearest and most trusted friends. The ones who still love me even after experiencing me after a week of frenetic activity and travel with little sleep.

We forge new friendships in this hobby all the time, online and in person, and even sometimes with people we’ve been acquainted with for a long time. Work on a project together, have a great meal, a random long conversation, these things come out of nowhere for me sometimes, or at least without specific intent.

We all have something to contribute and all have something we can do for another. It’s community that makes us great.