What a wonderful week we had at the Kentucky Horse Park for the American Eventing Championships! This event is so unique in the opportunity it provides to horses and riders at every level to really experience top-tier competition. I was lucky enough to be on hand to help a few students and friends this week, and I walked away feeling very thankful and so inspired to be involved with helping these riders reach their goals!
I can’t emphasize enough the hard work and dedication that it takes from a rider and their “village” to get here. Among other things, the level of emotional investment and pressure that the riders put on themselves is huge, and that in and of itself is a huge part of learning how to be successful in this sport.
Each of the riders that I was lucky enough to coach this week had their own personal goals to achieve (in addition to looking for that victory gallop around the Rolex Arena, of course 😉). I think the most important achievement for these riders was not the ribbons but that they had the grace to handle the pressures of intense competition, putting their best foot forward but then being prepared to keep moving in the direction of their goals even when things didn’t go according to plan.
Learning to take pride in the accomplishments along the way of that never-ending quest for perfection is one of the major keys to success.
In any case, I am immensely proud of the maturity and growth demonstrated by these lovely humans and their horses this week. Congratulations thoroughly on your wonderful performances! This week has been a testament to your hard work, dedication, and desire to keep learning and improving!!!
