Lessons from Ed

In another life, I published a pretty popular equine magazine called HorseSouth. That’s how I met Ed Dabney .

Ed and his family became our fast friends and he’s always been a treasure, a paragon of wisdom, a gifted storyteller, and a teacher.

He started my mare, Terra, and his foundational lessons shaped not only my horsemanship, but my purpose for the magazine, and my life in so many ways.

The magazine closed down with the economy in 2009; we tried to hang on with a digital version, but my confidence was shaken and my children were my priority, so with a broken heart, and an empty bank account, I let it go.

My connection to the people of the equine world has been slowly disappearing in the years since. A few resilient threads remain in enduring friendships, in my unwavering passion for horses, and in fond and vibrant memories of my work and life at the helm of HorseSouth.

Not too long after the demise of the magazine, I had the pleasure of working with the Georgia Equine Commodity Commission on some pro-horse-industry marketing initiatives and it was during that time that I first learned about the Booth Western Art Museum . An incredible facility, the Booth Western Museum holds the largest collection of Western art this side of the Mississippi, and it’s worth your time and money to spend the day there enjoying the myriad works within. I have been a supporter since I first walked through the doors.

Imagine my delight when I learned that my old friend Ed was giving a lunch presentation about his own life and body of work, and the depiction of cowboys and cowboying in the sculptures and paintings you can see while exploring the Booth Museum.

Today, once again, I sat in awe of Ed, his knowledge of history, his deep understanding of horses and horsemanship, and his studious observation of the most important but minute details. It tracks; a consummate horseman like Ed has made a life and living from his ability to pick up on the most subtle of cues and signals.

As he explained to the crowd that the Spanish language has multiple words for rope, and that lasso is a made-up word that no self-respecting cowboy would ever utter, I was inspired to tell you the story of this day and my thoughts as Ed spoke to us today.

Did you know that fringe has a practical purpose beyond bougie urban-western fashion? It’s true, fringe on coats, was designed as an apparatus to help coats dry faster. The fringe wicked the moisture away.

The chaps that protect a cowboy from all sorts of predictable injury while riding the range (and to keep your pants from being ripped) … well, so you know, chaps are actually pronounced as “shhaps” (also due to Spanish origin). How did I not know that?

Through all the explanations of various stirrup covers, bosals, get-down ropes, and mecate reins, I was reminded how art imitates life, and then life, in turn, will reflect back on art.

Ed has made a living as a cowboy, a wrangler, an actor, and more. He’s probably taught thousands of people how to ride, rope, and move alongside and astride their horses with honesty, integrity, and harmony.

As you might imagine, so much of what you learn on a journey with horses translates to everyday life.

There’s no pretense with horses. There’s no masking. There’s no falseness. A horse knows. You will learn that the horse knows, and you will often learn in the form of painful consequences.

You learn to get honest with your horse and that makes you get honest with yourself. At least if you’re the introspective type.

(Unfortunately, horses are not the cure-all for arseholery, but they sometimes help.)

These days, I don’t see or work with horses very often. My daughter is still very involved, rides often, teaches, and is what the Cowboys would call “a hand”.

Just like life, or anything worth having, horses aren’t easy. Easy to look at. Easy to love. That’s kinda where the easy ends.

As such, cowboying is a way of life. We’ve romanticized what is a hard, rugged, sometimes thankless, and all the time, dangerous job. Yes, riding a finished bridle horse on the open range with the wind in your hair and thundering hooves beneath you, seems like the ultimate dream.

A real cowboy will tell you there’s nothing like it, and many don’t want to do anything else.

That dreamy part is what makes a day of mending miles of fence line in blistering heat or bone-numbing cold, worth it.

Let’s just not pretend that it’s all sunshine and campfires.

That’s the marketing.

As Ed pointed out for us all the practical tools of the cowboy that were thoughtfully sculpted and painted into the works of art at the Booth, I kept thinking about my job … and practicality … and honesty … finding harmony … and the details.

Today, I own a marketing agency and we spend our days crafting content we hope resonates with whichever audience we are targeting. We use visuals and storytelling and we help our clients sell everything from purified proteins for medical and pharmaceutical use, to insurance, to metal buildings, to retail construction, and more.

We are not Cowboys, but we are trailblazers. Albeit on a digital trail. We work hard to do our jobs in a way that puts the right message in front of the right person with the specific problem our clients solve.

That’s smart, honest, and hopefully harmonious marketing.

Today, Ed wasn’t selling anything. He even donated copies of his Cowboy poetry album to the museum to raise funds. He brought a truckload of gear and decades of knowledge in appreciation of both the museum and his craft. His talk was educational, funny, and thought-provoking.

He asked that people look closer at the art, to look at the minor details that round out the story. He helped us to understand the nuances. You think you see a sculpture of a cowboy riding a bucking bronc. Ed sees a working cowboy circa 1870 “snapping out” the errant horse in his string before he can even start the long day of riding and hard work that lies ahead.

We don’t slow down to look for the details that tell the story too much anymore. We’re so inundated with media. So, we are all-too-happy to scroll by people’s thoughts and efforts on social media. We’re just as apt to walk by amazing artwork that, no doubt, took someone hours, days, or even weeks to complete. We don’t understand the nuances, and we’re often too distracted to try.

Sadly, that too, is the marketing. The noise.

When I first met Ed, he was actively conducting clinics for horse owners, he taught folks the Six Keys to Harmony with their horses. The techniques were effective and Ed went on to host a TV show and travel the world with these valuable and bountiful lessons.

Today, through his stories, explanations, and observations, I feel he taught us six different keys … but this time … to living a more purposeful, memorable, and insightful life. I’m not sure he meant to.

1. Move alongside people with honesty and integrity and strive for harmony.

2. Find and stay focused on your purpose.

3. Look closely for the details.

4. Value your relationships.

5. Appreciate the things and people that protect you, and make your life easier.

6. The best things in life are not easy, but they are worth it.

Fortunately, that’s NOT marketing.

Thanks, Ed. Once again, I’m in your debt.