It has been a month since I said "I do" to my husband. I have been overwhelmed with excitement and joy! Since our big day, I have taken a small step back from the horse world to enjoy our wedding, honeymoon and all the changes that have catapulted me into "adulting". I am just starting to get back into the swing of things and have had a lot of time to reflect on the future and on the grounds in which I have built my business. With that being said here are a few thoughts that have been bouncing around in my always busy mind.
I recently had the opportunity to ride under Carol Kozlowski's watchful eye for 4 days straight. Not only were my horses tired but after a few weeks of wedding cake and vacation, I wanted a nap just as bad as they did. I was grateful for the standard that she pushed each of my rides to. We can all easily fall into a self-made grading system that cheap's us out on furthering our education. I am thankful that the next step in my riding and the next step for my horses was presented, practiced, and repeated until I could hold myself to that standard on my own. Coming home was the biggest test of boot camp. Success came to me in a form of sore muscles and tired horses, just as much as being in Carols barn the week before. I feel like the tools have been programed in me to hold myself to a new standard. To me, lending a helping hand came in the form of instruction of the next step in my training.
Although being under Carol's eye was exactly the boost of motivation I needed I have seen some other trainer rider combinations lately that haven't been as encouraging. Its frustrating to watch in our sport, young and amateur riders being overlooked by professionals. I see professionals who think that the walk trot canter lesson they need to teach is so below them that texting through the riders lesson is acceptable. I have also seen the opposite, a professional pushing a student far beyond their capabilities to not ruin their own reputation.... after all riding walk trot isn't going to get you and your trainer to the medal finals next month. I encourage trainers, myself included, that we are not above the walk trot canter lesson we are teaching. Just like them we are all learning. The good news is...... you will never stop learning in this sport.
Next time your out to the barn, think. Where you can lend a helping hand to someone else in this sport? Ask yourself where you can be helped and how you can help those around you!
"Success is the sum of small efforts day-in and day-out" ~Robert Collier
