It’s Not About the Win: Raising Competitors with Character
- afenner
- Jul 1
- 2 min read
We all want to see our kids win — to run fast and turn tight. But at Rad Rodeo, we’ve come to believe something deeper: the best victories aren’t found in a check. They’re built into who our kids become through the ride.
Because the goal isn’t just to raise champions. It’s to raise good people.
In a world that can get caught up in points, rankings, and prize money, we’ve worked hard to focus on character, resilience, and the kind of sportsmanship that lasts far beyond the arena lights.
Rodeo Doesn’t Just Reveal Character — It Builds It
When the gate opens and things go sideways, your kid learns:
How to handle disappointment.
How to reset after mistakes.
How to get back in the saddle and try again.
That pressure? It forges something powerful. But only if we as parents frame it right.
We’ve learned to celebrate the effort, not just the outcome. To highlight the courage it takes to enter, not just to win.
Kindness is a Competitive Advantage
We tell our kids: The most memorable person in the arena is often the one who claps for someone else.
Cheer for everyone.
Congratulate the one who beat you.
Say “thank you” to the ground crew.
Winning with grace — and losing with it too — makes you stand out in all the right ways.
Character Over Comparison
Comparison is everywhere, especially with social media and standings posted online.
But we remind our kids:
Run your race.
Set your goals.
Measure success by your progress, not placings.
We want them to ride for the love of it, not the likes. And we model that by keeping our own expectations in check. Don't be fooled, our expectations are high, not because we expect it, but because we know they can achieve it.
Lessons That Stick
The arena is another opportunity to learn, another classroom. The real test is what they take with them:
Do they encourage their teammates?
Do they bounce back after hard days?
Do they treat animals and people with respect?
If the answer is yes, then we’re doing our job — regardless of the who wins the race.
Final Thoughts
At Rad Rodeo, we ride to win — but more importantly, we ride to grow.
Raising competitors with character means keeping our eyes on the bigger prize: young people who are strong, kind, driven, and grounded.
So cheer loud, hug tight, and remind them: medals tarnish. Integrity doesn’t.
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Ann-Marie Fenner
Ranch Manager, Breeder, Rodeo Mom
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