Texas Equine Veterinary Association Publications
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syndrome and hope people don't find us out. It's a personality trait but I want everyone to know that if you prepare and do your best that you are enough. I tell colleagues constantly to count your wins and not your losses. We stack up wins constantly because that is why people bring us horses, but the losses sting for a long time and we dwell on them. We should not push them aside instantly, we should learn from them and then put them behind us. It is easier for me to say than for me to do, certainly. It is always best to surround yourself with colleagues that encourage you, whether it is Tyler Troop wanting to go shoot shotguns after a long week, Dr. Stro texting "Iron sharpens iron", Bart Sirman's infamous #wh, Kevin Claunch hearing me out over a tough case, or Piper Norton getting me out of the deep end with a medicine case. Find your brothers and sisters in arms and encourage them as well because we all have tough times. Recently, I am encouraged by the many veterinary students visiting for the summer. I am always grateful for them coming because they remind me that I am where they want to be and where I wanted to be 14 years ago. They put things in perspective when the grind makes us lose sight of the absolutely awesome horses and clients that we are able to treat. A final story to put my perspective on why I do what I do and enjoy it. I go back to that young boy in Eastern New Mexico who was in awe of Trevor Brazile, Fred Whitfield, Larry Reeder and more. They were my heroes in the horse world. I now have the opportunity to contribute in a small way to the successes of athletes in the western performance horse world by working on their mounts. Thinking about the fact that these horses can be seen on television still puts me in awe and makes me get up every morning. The mornings I have where I don't want to do it, which everyone will, I have my brothers and sisters in arms in the trenches which makes me get going. When I need perspective, I have an incredibly strong wife that has been with me through this whole journey, three children that don't care whether or not my surgery went well and a God who is merciful when I didn't treat my staff or colleagues well. This journey is long and tough but is also the most rewarding. 13 | TELLING OUR STORY