Classic Eventing Nation

Nicola Wilson Moved to Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Unit

By on May 27, 2022 9:00 am -

Nicola Wilson’s recovery continues as the British rider was moved this week to a spinal cord rehabilitation unit at James Cook Hospital. Nicola suffered a heavy fall on cross country at Badminton Horse Trials on May 7 with her European Championship partner, JL Dublin. The horse was uninjured in the fall.

“Today Nicola was moved into the spinal cord rehabilitation unit at the James Cook hospital,” Nicola’s team shared on her social media. “We would like to thank everyone who has been so kind on the journey so far. The transfer team were a lovely crew who called in at our home to visit the horses on their way back to Bristol , Nic obviously had a bit of horse chat in the ambulance. Dublin has his photo taken with the ambulance, which he loved!!!”

British Equestrian released the following update on May 26:

Following her fall at Badminton Horse Trials, Nicola Wilson was transferred from Southmead Hospital in Bristol to the intensive care unit at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough yesterday (25 May) and has subsequently now been moved to the Spinal Rehabilitation Unit there. This is one of the specialist spinal centres in the country so will enable expert support with her ongoing rehabilitation.

Although it was a long and tiring journey, Nicola is comfortable, in good spirits and is pleased to be closer to home. At this early stage Nicola’s recovery is progressing well, with sensation and movement returning to her lower and upper limbs. There will be a lengthy rehabilitation process ahead but with the support from experts, family and friends combined with her positive attitude she is in the best place to optimise her recovery.

Nicola, husband Alastair and mother Mary Tweddle would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of the staff who has looked after her so well at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. The care and attention she has had there really has been second to none and for that they’re very grateful.

They thank everyone for the numerous cards and messages of support; each and every one is greatly appreciated.

We continue to keep Nicola in our thoughts as she fights for her recovery. We will provide further updates as they are made available.

Friday News & Notes Presented by Zoetis

By on May 27, 2022 12:03 am -

Yes this is 100% what my horse wears in the trailer. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Off I go to the Virginia Horse Trials this weekend! It feels silly, but since I tore my Achilles twice last year, I didn’t compete at all, so I feel quite jittery and excited to see all my competition friends again, and I hope to god I remember how to pack everything. Actually, the packing and unpacking is the worst part of the whole ordeal. Do you think I could hire a working student just for that part? Hit me up this weekend if that’s the kind of organizational gig that thrills you.

U.S. Weekend Preview

VHT International & H.T. (Lexington, Va.): [Website] [Schedule] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spring Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, Az.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Cle Elum, Wa.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Flora Lea Spring H.T. (Medford, NJ): [Website] [Scoring]

May-Daze at The Park H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Mill Creek Pony Club H.T. (Kansas City, Mo.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Mystic Valley Hunt Club H.T. (Gales Ferry, Ct.): [Website]

Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, Tx.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

The Spring Event at Woodside (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Major International Events:

Barefoot Retreats Houghton Hall CCIO4*-S: [Website] [Info Hub] [Entries] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

Yesterday Nicola Wilson was moved into the spinal cord rehabilitation unit at the James Cook hospital. Her team would like to thank everyone who has been so kind on the journey so far. The transfer team were a lovely crew who stopped in at the barn to visit the horses on their way back to Bristol, Nic obviously had a bit of horse chat in the ambulance. Dublin even has his photo taken with the ambulance, which he loved! [Nicola Wilson Update]

You know the saying, “when you hear hoofbeats, don’t think zebras”? Well, sometimes, with horses, it’s okay to start looking for zebras. When blogger Sophie Coffey’s mare Azul started showing an odd resistance to cantering in January, the vets were stumped and the various possible treatments didn’t seem to be having a positive effect. Thanks to some intriguing comments from social media, Sophie found her zebra. [Sometimes, You Need to Look for Zebras]

Devon is back after two years! In honor of that, remember that time a few years ago when we all got to behold the greatness that was Sapphire? Even for Eventing fans, she’s a celebrity and in 2009 she blew our socks off in the Dixon Oval. [FBF Sapphire at Devon]

Do you have 90 seconds 2x a week to spare? A correctly done plank can go a long way toward making you a stronger, more effective equestrian. Laura Crump Anderson of Hidden Heights Fitness shares some advice. [Hot on Horse Nation]

Zoetis has paired up with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH) International, coming on this year as an official equine health and wellness partner. “The team at Zoetis is inspired by the work of PATH Intl. and its members,” said Jen Grant, Head of Marketing, Zoetis U.S. Equine. “Our opportunity and profound responsibility to support the horses and their care team who do so much for every EAS client is a central part of our purpose.” The two groups recently teamed up to bring more awareness to EAS through the inclusion of an EAS session in Zoetis’s recently released video, Long Live the Horse, and a feature on how horses help humans heal in an article by the Washington Post.

#TBT Video: The Pratoni Slide

By on May 26, 2022 4:00 pm -

The bogey combination of the 2007 European Championships, held at Pratoni del Vivaro, was a dramatically steep downhill gauntlet culminating in an almost un-jumpable double of skinnies.

Horses were sliding past the second skinny left and right, with top combinations like Ingrid Klimke with FRH Butts Abraxxas and Oliver Townend with Flint Curtis picking up 20 at the obstacle. In this video Daisy Dick and Spring Along were the only pair to successfully navigate the direct route, while others like Zara Phillips and Toytown made a last-second decision to opt for the long route.

The Italian equestrian venue is in the spotlight once again this year as it will host the 2022 FEI World Championship for eventing and driving on September 15-25. EN’s Tilly Berendt covered the recent Test Event there — you can revisit her coverage here. More information about the World Championship is available at the website here.

Volunteer Nation: 7 Events That Could Use Help This Weekend

By on May 26, 2022 2:00 pm -

Whatcha up to this weekend? Jog on over to your nearest event and put in a few volunteer hours — it will be much appreciated! Plus, there are worse ways to spend a sunny spring day than on the cross country course, even if you’re not riding yourself. (Much less stressful, IMO.)

As always, you can earn merit points when you donate your time through the USEA’s Volunteer Incentive Program. Registering to volunteer through EventingVolunteers.com makes it easy and seamless to both find a job and shift as well as learn what your role will entail.

Here are seven events that could use a helping hand this weekend:

USEA Events

Mill Creek Pony Club Horse Trials 2022 – May 27th – 29th, 2022

Woodside Eventing Spring Horse Trials 2022 – May 26th – 29th, 2022

May-Daze at the Park Horse Trials – May 27th – 29th, 2022

Equestrians Institute Horse Trials May 2022 – May 14th – 29th, 2022

VHT International and Horse Trials – May 26th – 29th, 2022

Other Events

2022 KDA Spring Warmup Show & KDA 35th Annual Dressage Show – May 26th – 29th, 2022

Stone Gate Farm Mountain Trail Challenge – May 1st – 30th, 2022

Nation Media and Equerry / Co Launch Media Partnership

By on May 26, 2022 11:30 am -

Julia Spatt & 501 Macintosh, winners of the Bates Preliminary Rider division at the 2019 American Eventing Championships. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Equerry / Co, an International, full-service equestrian marketing and website design agency based in the UK, and Nation Media, a media organization that brings the latest equestrian news from around the world on Eventing Nation and Horse Nation, are pleased to announce a media partnership.

Nation Media and Equerry / Co look forward to collaborating in 2022 to move the needle on accessibility and equity in the equestrian industry.

The collaboration will include a series of articles centering around topics of diversity and representation, a video series, and a media mentorship program.

States Christine Bjerkan, Founder and MD at Equerry / Co:

“I am excited for the opportunity to work in a cross-promotional alliance with the dedicated team at Nation Media. Our focus on introducing a rich mix of cross-platform content for all those we work with by shining a light on the diverse range of disciplines, events and talent our industry harbors, will be furthered by this partnership.

If anything, this partnership is promoting aspects of our industry that for a long time have been neglected or even taken for granted, and as our industry and sport forever comes under scrutiny, inclusivity is the only way forward. We’re not here to just talk the talk – we’re walking the walk.”

Sally Spickard, managing editor of Eventing Nation, says:

“Collaboration is at the center of all success. Nation Media prides itself on its relationships within the industry and we’re looking forward to fostering a larger and more inclusive equestrian community for all via intentional focus on relationships and working together. We recognize that we have the opportunity to help open more doors, and this partnership with Equerry / Co is one actionable way to do this.”

About EQuerry Consulting:

EQuerry Consulting Ltd is based in Gloucestershire, England, with members on the ground also in the US. Providing unrivaled design, communication and brand development services to help equestrian brands, events and athletes create unique digital presences that truly stand out from the crowd, we are trusted by equestrians from around the world. To find out more about Equerry / Co’s equestrian marketing and website design visit equerryco.com

About Nation Media (Comprised of Eventing Nation and Horse Nation):

Nation Media’s goal is to create unique and engaging content that readers want to consume, that promotes community, and that sponsors are proud to be associated with. We seek to bring fairness, objectivity, and advocacy into the content we create — with just the right amount of ridiculousness. We aspire to create a great place to work and a sustainable business. We commit to always embracing the “insanity in the middle.”

#supergroom Janelle Fleming’s Journey from Birthday Parties to Barn Manager

By on May 26, 2022 9:30 am -

We love celebrating and learning about the #supergrooms who make this sport go around — quite literally! — so we’re on a mission to interview as many grooms as we can to learn about their journeys. Catch up on the other interviews from this series here and nominate a #supergroom of your own by emailing [email protected]!

Janelle and Sara Kozumplik at Tryon last fall. Photo courtesy of Janelle Fleming.

Janelle Fleming, from Dallas, Tx., started taking riding lessons when she was 10 years old, but never thought it would lead her to the position of Sara Kozumplik’s barn manager.

At a young age, Janelle’s dad took her to the barn down the road to pet the horses and when her friends had birthday parties at barns, she rode the horses there. Her passion for horses was ignited, but at the time she couldn’t afford to take many lessons.

When, at age 10, Janelle wanted to start taking lessons and she took it into her own hands to make it happen. “My dad opened a restaurant, so I decided that I would get a job there to pay for riding lessons,” she said.

Years later, after switching to online school for her senior year of high school and becoming a working student for Ellen Doughty-Hume, Janelle still wasn’t completely sure if she wanted a career in the equine industry. She decided to keep following the path she was on to see where it would lead; Sara Kozumplik needed help at the time, so Janelle took the job as a working student.

Janelle at one of her first summer camps with Cheyenne, who was the first horse she consistently rode at her first lesson barn. Photo courtesy of Janelle Fleming.

“I was supposed to take a gap year, but I’ve been here for almost three years. I decided that this is what I wanted to do and not to go to college,” Janelle said.

After about a month of working for Sara, Janelle began grooming her show jumpers and from there began taking on more responsibilities. Eventually, she kept gaining more responsibility which has led her to the barn manager position. She didn’t think she would end up being the barn manager when she first took the job, but she has just the right personality and attitude for the position.

“I have a very strong personality; I like to take charge. If I see something that needs to be done, I’ll just go ahead and do it and I like having responsibility,” Janelle said.

Janelle and Ellen Doughty-Hume. Photo courtesy of Janelle Fleming.

She enjoys working with Sara because she is able to bounce ideas off of her and they can collaborate as a team. “I like that she doesn’t micromanage us in the barn every day. She trusts us and she knows that she hired us for a reason,” she said.

Janelle appreciates that Sara’s main priority is for the horses to be happy. “I know some people just want to come in and ride; that’s all they want to do,” she described. “It’s really nice that she’s there and just wants the horses to be happy.”

Janelle rides Sara’s former 5* horse, Fly Me Courageous aka “Ziggy”. He spent some time out in the field after a suspensory injury in 2016. “About two years ago, they decided that he’s going to come back into work and start rehabbing and kind of see where he’s at,” she said.

Janelle took Ziggy through his rehab process beginning with walks and eventually started jumping him and going to events. Ziggy was feeling comfortable and spry, and Janelle was having the time of her life: in the last two years they’ve methodically moved up the levels, completing Janelle’s first FEI events including the 2*-L at Tryon last fall. Now, Janelle and Ziggy are headed to her first 3*-S at Virginia Horse Trials this coming weekend.

Janelle has been able to travel to various venues, but she says she most enjoyed going to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event with Sara last year.

Janelle and Ziggie. Photo by Ella Detwyler.

“We didn’t have the result that we were hoping for, but still, I think it was a really fun experience,” Janelle said. “I’ve only been to Kentucky once before, and that was probably five years ago and I just went as a spectator. So it was really cool to get to go as a groom and to help her actual groom [fellow #supergroom Sara Kelson] out.”

Janelle’s journey to this position was unexpected, but she’s glad it led her to work with Sara. “She is probably one of the most selfless and caring people that I’ve met,” she said. “She really wants the best for everyone and she really wants us to do well.”

While Janelle may not have expected she’d go from taking riding lessons at age 10 to becoming the barn manager at a top barn, but she is thankful for the experiences she has encountered through her journey.

Go Janelle and Go Eventing.

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on May 26, 2022 12:03 am -

Jump for reproductive rights! Photo by Alden Corrigan Media.

Do you love this jump from Sonoma Horse Park or do you love this jump from Sonoma Horse Park? If you get the chance to jump this beauty, not only can you buy the pictures at a discounted rate from Alden Corrigan Media, but you can tag SHP on social media and they will donate $10 for every photo to Planned Parenthood Northern California. After last weekend, they’ve already raised $20,0000!! Support jumping pretty ponies and women’s reproductive rights all in one fell swoop, and look cool doing so.

U.S. Weekend Preview

VHT International & H.T. (Lexington, Va.): [Website] [Schedule] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spring Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, Az.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Cle Elum, Wa.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Flora Lea Spring H.T. (Medford, NJ): [Website] [Scoring]

May-Daze at The Park H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Mill Creek Pony Club H.T. (Kansas City, Mo.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Mystic Valley Hunt Club H.T. (Gales Ferry, Ct.): [Website]

Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, Tx.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

The Spring Event at Woodside (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Major International Events:

Barefoot Retreats Houghton Hall CCIO4*-S: [Website] [Info Hub] [Entries] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

The Virginia Horse Trials needs your help this weekend! With an absolutely huge field of horses attending from all over the country, VHT is running today through the weekend with levels from BN-AI, and they’re desperate for more volunteers. Sign up for just a few hours and have a blast in the coolest facility in Virginia. [Volunteer for VHT]

Stable View is looking forward to hosting Area III championships at its upcoming event, June 24-26. Please don’t forget to let us know how far you are traveling to compete — email them here to let them know where you’re traveling from. Stable View will have fun prizes that announced throughout the weekend; The Mane Monogram will be awarding the competitor traveling the furthest, as well as the competitor riding the most horses.

Tiffany Morey won a contest of more than 160 entries to spend a day with nine of her friends getting private instruction from Buck Davidson. Practical Horseman’s Win A Clinic contest asked entrants to submit an essay detailing why they deserve to win a one-day educational clinic for themselves and nine of their friends. Ten finalists sent videos of themselves and their horses, and Tiffany said that as an adult amateur and aspiring low-level eventer, she aspire’s to become the safest and most effective rider possible. [Win a Day with Buck Davidson]

Getting turnout right can be tricky for any horse. Getting it right for off-track Thoroughbreds can sometimes be…. well… what is more than tricky? Hard? Complicated? “Special?” Here are some tips for how Aubrey Graham does it with the newbies that come through. [Thoroughbred Logic: Getting Turnout Right]

Leslie Mintz has been the USEA Director of Media and Communications for so long, we don’t know what we’ll do without “Leslie from the USEA”. However, as of this spring, she welcomed her daughter Iris to the world and despite being an accomplished multi-tasker in all areas of her life, she’s decided to hand the reins over to somebody else who can dedicate the time. In her many years behind the scenes at the USEA, Leslie changed the online presence of our national organization as we know it. [Handing Over the Reins]

Exciting Science News: New Possibilities for Saliva Test for Equine Ulcers

A father-and-son duo pulled off the joint longest-priced winner in British and Irish racing history this week. Sawbuck entered the maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Tuesday with 300-1 odds, having been beaten by a total of 195 lengths in all of his previous seven starts. But he just pulled it out on the day, and romped to his very first win. [Racing Beats the Odds Again]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Doug Payne Tryon CCI3*-L Helmet Cam + Analysis

By on May 25, 2022 5:00 pm -

What an incredible innovation helmet cams are — not JUST for entertainment value, but for education and reflection as well. Granted, my short-term memory doesn’t function as well as it used to, but many times coming off cross country I feel like I’ve just experienced a several-moment blur. Not really helpful for self-improvement! With a helmet cam, though, one can ride and re-ride their course ad infinitum, allowing for critical analysis: What went well? What could have gone better? How can we improve upon our performance next time?

Doug Payne might be an athlete but, lest you forget, he also has a mechanical engineering degree and a brain built for critical thinking. He’s done helmet cam analysis voice-overs in the past, but mostly around four- and five-star competitions, so Quiberon’s CCI3*-L round at Tryon International is an enlightening departure: “I thought this might be of more interest and potentially more informative to head out on a greener horse.”

Quiberon (“Harry”) is a 7-year-old stallion Doug has had since a weanling and Tryon International was his first CCI3*-L. Doug’s goal was to give him an educational rather than competitive ride, just going as fast as Harry felt confident at, and they jumped clear with 16.4 time penalties. With a dressage score of 32.4 and zero show jump penalties, they finished seventh in the division.

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It’s Been Pure Fun: Celebrating SAP Hale Bob OLD’s Exceptional Career

By on May 25, 2022 4:57 pm -

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD win CHIO Aachen in 2019. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

In what has been an enormous week for top-level retirements, with Cooley Master Class, Vandiver, and Qing du Briot among those stepping back from the limelight, the end of eighteen-year-old SAP Hale Bob OLD‘s extraordinary career feels particularly poignant in its magnitude. The Oldenburg gelding (Helikon XX x Goldige, by Noble Champion), who was bred by Dr Rolf Lueck, had been on a trajectory towards another German team appearance this year at the World Equestrian Games, but was pulled up midway around the course at Pratoni’s test event CCIO4*-S earlier this month with a tendon injury.

Though it’s desperately sad not to see ‘Bobby’ bow out with another medal to his name, his achievements have been so far beyond the scale of many of his compatriots that we could wax lyrical about them endlessly – and our own image archives are so well-stocked with images of the big man doing his thing that we wanted to take a closer look back at his exceptional successes with Ingrid in the irons.

Bobby came to Ingrid’s stable as a five-year-old, having previously contested some showjumping classes — but it was his sire line, rather than any natural ‘wow’ factor, that really drew the rider’s attention. His sire, the Thoroughbred Helikon, was also the sire of Ingrid’s — and latterly, William Fox-Pitt’s — previous mount Seacookie, and at just shy of 72% blood, Bobby was bred to the hilt for the sport. To ensure an innate sure-footedness across the country, Ingrid first focused on hunting the young horse, then turned her attentions to the German young horse classes, or Bundeschampionat, which he contested with both Ingrid and her former partner, Andreas Busacker. Though he wasn’t a particularly easy horse in the beginning, and Ingrid considered selling him on, she quickly realised that the key to getting the best out of him was to connect with him on an interpersonal level — and soon, their famous friendship blossomed.

“Bobby is not a spectacular mover and he had a very poor Thoroughbred trot when I got him at the age of five. Bobby is a horse that showed his qualities later in his life. He has so much stamina, he is such a fighter, so fast and so bold, and so good in cross country,” said Ingrid to The Horse. “Now his dressage has really developed. Every year he is getting a little bit better and his jumping is neat. I think he has all the talent he needs.”

 

 

Ingrid Klimke and then-Horseware Hale Bob. Photo by Julia Rau.

Though we often look back at Bobby’s career as being part of many of Ingrid’s own extraordinary milestones, he actually also played a part in another major German rider’s competitive education, too: early on in his international career, he partnered 2021 Boekelo winner and 2020 Le Lion d’Angers winner Sophie Leube around her first FEI event, helping to lay a foundation for the rider that has become, in the decade since, a promising trajectory to a potential first senior championship appearance this year.

Just three years after that, Bobby and Ingrid would hit their first milestone, winning the CCI5* at Pau in 2014 — Ingrid’s first victory at the level. They would follow that up with several ‘nearly’ moments at five-star — they were second at Badminton in 2015, and ninth in 2017 after a freak stop in the showjumping scuppered their chances of victory — but that early Pau win was far from their zenith as a partnership.

 

Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob at Badminton 2015. Photo by Nico Morgan.

There are few horses as prolific as Bobby, who boasts 70 FEI starts on his record and among those, 19 wins and 52 top-ten finishes. Most notable, perhaps, has been their consistent success as members of the German team: they’ve twice been European Champions, winning individual gold in 2017 at Strzegom and 2019 at Luhmühlen, and helping the German team to gold in 2019 and 2015 at Blair Castle. They finished fifth individually at Blair, and again at last year’s European Championships at Avenches, where they took home a team silver medal.

In 2018, they sat in second place following the dressage at the World Equestrian Games, and moved up into first after a tough day of cross-country — but it wasn’t to be, and the final showjumping fell agonisingly late after they’d jumped it, pushing them into individual bronze position. They’ve got an Olympics under their belt, too, and though that was a trickier week for them, they still contributed to Germany’s team silver medal, finishing 16th individually. Their shot at a second attempt, at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, was put on the back burner after Ingrid herself picked up an injury earlier in the year and was sidelined for the Games.

Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob OLD at Luhmühlen. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

 

Though the title of German National Champions evaded them, Ingrid and Bobby consistently ended up on the podium of the CCI4*-S class at Luhmühlen, and they enjoyed great success at arguably the world’s greatest horse show, winning the CHIO Aachen CCI4*-S in both 2017 and 2019, and finishing second there in 2015.

Bobby’s FEI record reads like a pony-mad girl’s dream come true, but for Ingrid, and for those of us who had the sheer joy and privilege of following his career, he was more than a purveyor of world-class results — he was, as Ingrid always beamed during post-ride debriefs, his rider’s very best friend, and always, consistently, just the most fun horse to pilot. We can believe it, too: one look at his pricked ears and sky-high knees proved that he was as hungry for the flags as Ingrid and, had he not been derailed by this unfortunate injury, we’d no doubt have seen him fighting for another individual medal at this September’s World Equestrian Games.

While we won’t have the honour of doing so, we suspect that such a great horse will get his final moment in the spotlight with a formal retirement ceremony — once, of course, he’s had the time to recover fully under the careful auspices of Ingrid’s home team and veterinarian Dr Ingrid Hornig. Until then, he’s in the very best of care, and will enjoy a long and happy retirement in the field once his injury has sufficiently stabilised. In honour of everything he’s brought to eventing, we’ve pulled some of our favourite archive images to share with you — and to Bobby, we thank you for your great contribution to the sport. Thanks for the memories, old boy.

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Horses and Graduate School, Part IV: Beware the Pitfalls of Perfectionism

By on May 25, 2022 12:08 pm -

As Ema Klugman navigates her way through law school and a professional riding career, she’s taking us along for the ride. You can catch up on previous editions of this column here.

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Abby Powell.

I had a conversation with a friend and fellow law student a few weeks ago that got me thinking about standards and goals. We get along really well because we respect each other, and we try to learn from each other’s life experiences. She doesn’t ride horses but she loves to hear about my riding and my goals, and we often trade stories. She said something recently that surprised me: “I’m wary of perfectionists. I don’t trust them. I used to be one.”

She went on to say that the problem with perfectionism is that it is a bit of a cop-out. Perfectionists are shooting for infinity; they are trying to achieve the unattainable. In doing so, she explained, they lack standards. It’s a paradox, of course, because we think of perfectionists as having the highest standards. But in a way they don’t have standards at all, because their bar is always higher than what’s possible to reach.

Perfectionism is moving the target after you squeeze the trigger. It is dishonest and counterproductive to expect complete excellence when the majority of your work is good. Producing young horses has taught me this. The “perfect” is so often the enemy of the good with horses, especially in the context of developing their strength.

My late riding coach used to say “the medium trot is at maximum going to be a seven right now, so don’t make it a four by trying to make it a nine.” What he meant was to know the horse’s capacities at the time, and not try to surpass them by trying to create more than what was possible. He didn’t mean that we couldn’t be aspirational — he meant that at some point, the medium trot probably could be an eight or nine. But at that stage, going for more was just going to make the horse lose its rhythm or break to canter or become nervous. It would be like making a gymnast do triple backflips when they had only just learned how to do a single one. Successive steps lead to confidence and strength. Skipping steps to leap to the top, to achieve the “perfect,” is not a reliable method.

Perfectionism is the absence of standard. Standards are definable, specific goals that are achievable. High standards entail connecting an entire network of specific subsidiary goals. When we set a high standard, the path to get there should look more like a map than it a thesis statement.

Let’s say my goal is to ride at another five-star in the next two years. To do that, I have to compete every month or two weeks. To do that, I have to ride six times a week. And in each ride with each horse, I have goals of X, Y, and Z that I try to achieve. If those goals aren’t met on that day, I have to regroup and see how today’s work will help tomorrow, or how I can make tomorrow more successful than today. It’s a network of goals. It’s very specific, defined, and multitiered, and it involves two living beings that are not robots or machines.

Perfectionism is blind to these intermediary steps. It is an attempt to shortcut the process of hitting targets and staying on course, and in effect it glamorizes what should be a down and dirty process.

In graduate school, we are urged to spend a lot of time thinking about professional development. They tell us that there is a whole scheme of skills we need to learn that cannot be found in a textbook. One of them is grit. At the end of the semester, we read an article that discussed grit and growth. To my surprise, I had never actually defined these terms in my own head or read their definitions anywhere. Gerkman and Hogan define grit as “perseverance and passion for long term goals” and the growth mindset as “basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.”

Law students are an intense bunch. You make a mistake and you are suddenly behind the curve. But if you put in the hours, the dedication, and the hard work, and you can grow. It is easier to do this in school when the steps are outlined for you, and the path is already set.

Horses don’t come with such playbooks. In school, by contrast, the building blocks of required classes mean that there really is structure to develop basic skills. The harder part is creating one’s own building blocks to suit the long term goals, and having confidence to stay the course. By design, we can’t be perfect, where no mistakes are made and nothing goes wrong. But we can have grit and perseverance for long term goals.

No horse comes with a syllabus. There is no chapter by chapter, unit by unit, concept by concept formula that produces a horse. There are boxes to check, for sure, and a training scale to follow, and general rules of thumb we would be remiss in forgetting.

But we should never overlook the fact that we are the custodians of their stories, the writers of their chapters, the structurers of their standards and goals. Being wary of perfectionism is important as we write their scripts.