By Margie Sugarman
Transitioning from the Junior to the Amateur ranks is more than just a change in competition—it’s stepping from the familiar into the unknown. The shift carries a mix of nerves and excitement, a tug-of-war between leaving behind comfort and reaching toward possibility. For many, it’s a moment filled with questions. Yet within that uncertainty lies the spark of growth. It’s in this leap that athletes discover resilience, confidence and the thrill of testing themselves in a new arena.
The letter below was shared by a very open 17-year-old:
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Your 18th birthday brings so many exciting things. It also marks the end of your Junior years. For some, that may be no big deal but for others, it often brings stress and anxiety. As a Junior in my last year, I find myself feeling very anxious about the switch to the Amateurs. The closer I get to aging out, the more I worry about running out of time to do all the things I had on my list. I know this must be the case for many others as well. I sometimes feel like if I don’t go to every big final imaginable before I age out, then my goals weren’t accomplished.
Sometimes I even find myself feeling like the world is going to end after my Junior years—as ridiculous as that might sound. With one’s Junior years being such a relatively short amount of time and there being so many opportunities to compete at such high levels, it places a lot of pressure on young riders to achieve very high goals within a small time frame. This leaves some kids feeling like they must compete at that level if they’re going to keep up with their peers, which further enhances comparison with others that can lead to negative self-image and self-esteem issues. For some who may have started riding later than others or who don’t have the same financial access, this plays heavily into the Junior years of riding because there are so many who appear to “have it all.”
Maybe going to all the big finals during one’s Junior years isn’t the right path for everyone. The amount of stress it causes can be overwhelming: the horses, the apparel, the tack, the lessons, the travel expenses, the entry fees. I have often found myself thinking about that while, in contrast, my sibling is only asking for a new pair of sneakers. This worrying has had zero positive effect on me. I think that a lot of kids put so much pressure on themselves. Instead of being able to achieve their own personal goals, they burn out quickly trying to stay on par with everyone else. Being a Junior is hard, balancing school, extracurriculars and friends. Riding at such a high level can be exhausting and sometimes overwhelming. Your Junior years are a time to learn and grow as a rider and competitor, but even more so as a person.
Aging out doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve lost out forever on going to big finals or that you weren’t good enough to go. It’s the time to start a new chapter. I think that I’ve wasted so much time worrying about aging out instead of enjoying my last experiences as a Junior. Furthermore, I think that the pressure lessens as an Amateur because you don’t have a time limit. You can be an Amateur for as long as you desire and never have to worry about aging out of a division or a final.
Your Junior years are too short to be worrying about what happens when they end. With help, I have adopted a new perspective—I’m looking forward to all the time I’ll have after turning 18: time for new goals, time with new challenges. I often remind myself that we can’t enjoy the present and embrace the future if we keep thinking about the past.
Look ahead and ride forward!
