PRACTICING!
I have vivid memories of downhill ski practice in high school. Cold afternoons, frozen fingers and toes, and definitely some good old fashion agony! We would practice on the slopes at Dartmouth Ski way some of the time which was what I really looked forward to. However, for the remainder of the week, or during the pre-snow period, we participated in what my coach called “dryland training,” or fitness and strength training.
This particular training was fairly brutal. I actually thought to myself on several occasions, and why did I volunteer myself to participate in this hell? We lifted weights, we sprinted indoors, and we did all sorts of agility exercises. We jumped in and out of giant tires, we jumped up and down stairs, and we gave our teammates piggybacks up steep driveways, and I might add that my teammates were not petite individuals either. Even though the training was painful and even miserable at times, we became real athletes and became better skiers and I would not change a second of it I could rewind time.
A few days ago, several barn girls, including myself moved about 500 bales of hay, which is pretty routine. Towards the last truck load, one girl noticed how swiftly and determined another girl was moving hay. The girl responded, this work is tough and sucks at times but you just have to suck it up, push through and get it done.
Huntington Farm H.T.
This hay moving experience got me thinking about becoming a better rider and how I wouldn’t be in the position I am currently in if I had never worked really hard on a regular basis. Nobody ever handed anything to me on a silver platter.
I was definitely NOT a check of the month girl, like so many students I see come and go. In addition to having little to no money, I also was never a naturally gifted rider. I had everything working against me for such a long time, but I never once threw in the towel. I have wanted to be an event rider for as long as I can remember. Nothing else seemed to matter and my sights were set high.
After spending my umpteenth summer on a horse farm, one thing I knew to be true: if you are serious about becoming a better athlete and a better rider, you have to work hard at it. Nobody can make you a better rider. Of course, we can seek advice and we can receive help from other riders and trainers, but at the end of the day, it’s up to YOU to make something happen.
You want to learn how to have a great seat…PRACTICE and set yourself short term and long term goals. You want to start nailing your distances…PRACTICE. You want to have an Ingrid Klimke, a William Fox-Pitt or a Charlotte Dujardin position…PRACTICE! Nobody ever said riding horses was easy, but having a very good work ethic will take you further than you ever deemed possible!
