The Beauty in the Flaws: What a Bad Run Really Teaches Us
- afenner
- Jul 4
- 2 min read
There’s nothing quite like the sting of a bad run. The shape to the first was off, the horse blew past second, the timer showed numbers you wish you could forget. Maybe there were tears, maybe some frustration, and maybe even a little doubt that crept in when the dust settled.
But at Rad Rodeo, we’ve come to appreciate those moments for what they really are: growth in disguise.
Because behind every flawed run is a lesson — and often, it’s the kind that makes you stronger, sharper, and more compassionate.
A Flawed Run Doesn’t Define You
We’ve all been there. That one run where everything went sideways and you just wanted to hide behind the trailer.
But a single performance doesn’t rewrite your worth:
Not as a rider.
Not as a parent.
Not as a horseman or woman.
We remind our kids — and ourselves — that one run is just that: one. It’s a data point, not a destiny.
Flaws Build Grit
A perfect run sounds nice, but real growth lives in the messy moments:
When your kid walks out of the arena with a sad face but doesn’t quit.
When the horse hits the third barrel and you still give them a pat.
When you both load up, tired and humbled, and still come back next week.
Those moments build character, more than any clean run ever could.
Use the Video, Not the Emotion
We’ve cried over runs. We’ve yelled in the truck (guilty). But we’ve learned to let the emotion pass — and then go watch the video.
Ask:
Did we prepare the horse right?
Was the mental game strong or shaky?
Where did communication break down?
Flaws aren’t the end. They’re the invitation to get better.
Be the Example
When our kids blow a run, they look at us first. Are we mad? Disappointed? Distant?
Or do we:
Tell them good try.
Talk through it calmly.
Remind them this doesn’t define them.
We can’t control the outcome — but we can control the model. And that model sticks longer than the memory of the run.
Final Thoughts
At Rad Rodeo, we believe in the beauty of the flaws — because they make the comeback sweeter.
They teach humility, hunger, and heart. They remind us that rodeo is a long game, and the real champions aren’t the ones who never mess up — they’re the ones who learn to rise.
So the next time it all falls apart, don’t run from it. Lean in. There’s a lesson waiting.
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Ann-Marie Fenner
Ranch Manager, Breeder, Rodeo Mom
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