EN guest blogger emeritus and good friend Holly Hudspeth joins us today with her thoughts on returning back to simplicity. By now, Holly needs no introduction to EN, but you can read more from Holly at her blog. As always, thanks for writing this Holly and thank you for reading.
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Holly showing some love to Last Monarch “Stewie”
From Holly:
Growing up in Minnesota, riding was often a challenge in the winter. It was also a time for great fun and games. When I was young, I rode with a local trainer, Mary Heil (now Schenck). At her farm, there was no indoor, yet she taught all throughout the winter. We would do everything in the snow, and I would jump my quarter horse Spicy over the snow banks. I taught Spicy to pull a tube while riding him, giving fast and wild tube rides to everyone. Those days were simple, yet fun. Our horses were always happy, as were we. After reading Samantha’s great article on Mary King recently, I loved how simple her program is, and it sounds so different from many of the programs over here. I was thinking when my days with horses seemed that way too. But the question is, why does everything seem so difficult and complicated now?
Then I thought of the song by Toby Keith called “American Ride.” If you haven’t heard it, it talks about how Americans are all about everything in excess, and people always reaching for bigger and better. It talks about the shift from simplicity towards all the “shiny” new objects in today’s world. It reminded me of how Eventing seems today. Bigger rigs, more shows, more horses, more lessons, more clinics, and the list goes on. In 2010 I was caught up in this rat race. When Last Monarch was short listed for the WEG, I became so wrapped up in the moment I moved away from what I believed in. I am not proud of it, nor was it fair to Stewie. I shipped him all over the place, went to Middleburg, Culpepper, West Grove, and Hoffman, all within a month and a half. I left my business and husband behind, chasing this notion I had to be everywhere, in order to get somewhere. I believed what I was told, Stewie does not have a great trot, and needed to move better. I rode him different in the ring, the way I was told, and my dressage scores went from 35, to 45 and 46 in the two advanced horse trials I did during the training sessions. Doesn’t make sense does it?
The experience wasn’t all bad though. Pulling out of Chatt Hills after the final outing to go home, I realized something. Somehow the sport I loved was not going the way I envisioned. That day brought me back to thinking about how fun and uncomplicated things used to be. And while I was so mad at myself for abandoning what I believed in, I knew it would not happen again. When I read all the fabulous articles about how very successful riders from other countries run their programs, and win medals over and over, I think we are missing something here. Mary King’s yard is a mere 3 acres, and she is amazing time and time again. I have been to England a few times, and the places I have been to consisted of stables, a ring, and turnout. There were no magnetic blankets, ice machines, or hay steamers. Yards there are workmanlike and organized. Why are 10+ competition horses, plus all the students and monthly clinics seem to be the American norm today? It is not like you can ride or care for all those horses the way you should. Something always has to give. Having worked two jobs to support my first advanced horse (who I did not even own), and having worked hard ever since, I completely understand the need to make money. Horses and competitions are not cheap. But more horses equals more help. More help equals more cost. More cost equals more and more of all the running around! People’s personal worlds become so big and crazy, I do not think they even know how to slow it down.
I decided this past fall to sell my young horse. With a new baby, new students, and Stewie, my days were filled. And anyone who has ridden with me or has been my working student, knows I am not one for doing things half throttle. I still believe you should be there when the farrier comes, have a relationship with the vet, know your horse inside and out, on the ground and on their back. I was having a difficult time balancing it all, and my family, Stewie, and my loyal students came first. Not more horses. Down the road that will change, but I was not about to make myself crazy in the meantime. Setting personal boundaries was my way of getting back to having it all more simple.
I hope everyone reads all the fabulous stories about people like Mary, and absorbs what others like George Morris or Denny Emerson has to say about how riders used to train years ago. Their ideas about a hands on approach with a strong emphasis on proper horse management has gone a bit by the wayside. I think the best advise is to make it all a bit more simple, and not hop on the “American Ride” train. It obviously works for many of the best riders in the world, why not us too?
