Lila Gendal is the newest edition to our family of bloggers here on EN, and she comes with a particularly interesting perspective. Lila lives in Vermont, and works for the famed Denny Emerson at Tamarack Hill Farm, and when she’s not buried in snow, she is privy to the inner workings of one of the Eventing world’s most illustrious program. Lila has an amazing mare named Valonia that she has been slowly bringing up through the ranks, and is able to ride many of Denny’s young horses, and learn the “old school” way of doing everything. Read her first blog here, and second blog here.
Lila & Valonia XC schooling this year
Sometimes I am in complete and utter shock that I survived the first fifteen years of my life. Millions of children all over the world have fond memories of growing up, playing in sandboxed with other kids, playing soccer, and simply enjoying the experiences and interactions that correspond with basic human growth. I certainly did not fall into this category. I was not an unhappy child; I just preferred to permanently act as my mother’s shadow. Kindergarten in particular taps into some pretty painful memories. I vividly recall that the second my teacher would announce a lunch break I would simultaneously dart into the women’s locker room to eat my lunch alone. The sheer thought of eating with a group of children during an unspecified, and unscheduled lot of time was daunting. I kept to myself. I ate by myself. I read books by myself. The only friend I remember having was the assistant teacher. Eventually my parents were called in to discuss whether or not I was demonstrating autistic tendencies. To set the story straight I am not autistic, I was just deathly afraid of human beings for the better part of my upbringing.
Considering how nervous I was around anyone other than my immediate family, I instantly gravitated towards animals, particularly horses. Horses have acted as a vehicle for me in countless ways, and provided me with more self-confidence than I could ever have dreamed of. Of course eventually I had to learn how to communicate with the rest of the world and I became acutely aware of this reality after spending the last seven years at Tamarack Hill Farm.
Denny is anything but shy. If you’ve ever met him you will agree that he is approachable, sociable, direct and very honest. Denny has forced me to come out of my shell and has made it clear who the types of people are that get ahead in this challenging sport called eventing. Very simply put, those who exude positivity, and act in an effervescent manner are more likely to attract attention, i.e. potential sponsors and investors. Similarly, those who keep to themselves and seem uninterested in other people are less likely to be noticed. Clearly I still have my work cut out for me!
Skybreaker at GMHA Team Jumper Challenge in 2012
Let’s be perfectly honest, to be at the top of this sport requires money, talent, athleticism and a string of fabulous horses. If you are nowhere near the top, or even somewhere in the middle, the concept of making money in the world of eventing seems fictitious and almost laughable. So how do we get closer to the top if we have only one or two of the four requirements (from my list above) to make it at the top of this sport? Let’s say you are talented and you even have a potential superstar horse, but you lack the funding to reach your goals, now what? This is precisely where how to become more marketable comes into play.
Let’s continue on with this arbitrary story of an up and coming rider with all the talent in the world and a remarkable horse, but who lacks financial assistance. What does this girl need to do in order to get ahead? For starters, she better have an exceptional attitude with an unbeatable work ethic, and an unwavering hunger to learn more at all times. This girl must be more than pleasant to be around. She must speak when spoken to and be engaging.
What else can she do after she establishes a vivacious personality? She should explore the abundant resources in the world of social media. She can make herself a website. She ought to have her own professional Facebook page, her own blog, and she probably should be on twitter. Interacting with live people is of great importance, though slowly building an audience online will only enhance your success in the long run. The more people that see beautiful pictures of you jumping or flatting your horse the better. We live in a buzzing world that is driven by technology; therefore whether or not you understand or like such advances, if you want to get ahead you ought to take advantage of these unlimited resources.
Stepping out of my comfort zone has not been an easy task, but now that my shell sits in my past I feel more powerful and have way more options in life. Being quiet and reserved never got me anywhere. Even if I have to force a smile or a conversation here and there, I know it will only aid me in this process towards becoming a better rider and competitor. Some people are extroverts, and others are not. Those who are not have to learn how to become the types that others want to be around. How eventers market themselves seem crucial, particularly in an age where entry fees are astronomical, vet bills are skyrocketing, and the cost of trucks and trailers are comparable to a college degree. After spending almost a decade here at Tamarack, Denny’s concept of getting ahead, or how to get ahead, has been ingrained in my head. It’s not just about having all the talent in the world, or having the most talented horses in the world, or even having the most money in the world. Really, this all boils down to who you are as a person, how you come across to others, and what you want to ultimately accomplish as a rider. Start by making it simple: smile, make more friends, and start connecting with people standing right in front of you!
