Horse show bling, brands, and Black Friday

November – we’ve strolled through the commercial exhibits at the Congress and Royal Winter Fair. We’re scrolling through the Black Friday ads.
Bling and brands.
When I began judging horse shows, I was struck by how little influence fashion trends had on my score card compared to performance and penalties.
As I look back at years in the show ring, dollars spent on tack and trends, I’m more inclined to ask:

 “Is it a need or a want?”  

Author Jerusha Clark,.on being content with what (or who) you have:  “Gratitude and anxiety are mutually exclusive neural pathways. You physiologically cannot be grateful and anxious at the same time.”

Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
 From Ecclesiastes (the Bible)