[ad_1]
“Earlier than I went to the Olympics I rode all types of horses: large and small, hot and cold, ones that stopped, ran away, stood up on their hind legs. To be an important rider you actually ought to be capable of journey all completely different styles and sizes, hunters and jumpers, dressage horses. That’s the best way I used to be taught, and I feel it makes you a greater horseman.”
-Anne Kursinski, five-time U.S. Olympic Present Leaping veteran
Everybody Wins a Prize
Our tradition of “everybody wins a prize; there aren’t any losers” has inspired folks to really feel like they’re the identical. Nobody is best than anybody else; nobody is worse than anybody else. Mother and father encourage their kids to be “good,” as if getting together with others (on the expense of all the pieces else) is the one factor that issues. We’re protected that means. The issue with this angle is that it makes it tough for anybody to attempt to be higher or stand out. In making an attempt make everybody really feel like a winner, nobody is a winner. If we’re all nearly as good as the subsequent particular person, the place is the motivation to enhance? If we’re already ok, why attempt to be glorious?
Let Me At ‘Em
Once I was a child studying to journey, I couldn’t wait to get onto the subsequent horse. I saved a written log of each horse I rode and I wished that record as an extended as attainable. If I noticed one other rider having a tough time with a horse, I might suppose, “Let me on him, I need to attempt to repair it.” I see much less of that sentiment in at present’s riders. I chalk it as much as most riders’ efforts to NOT stand out. On this day of “everybody will get a medal,” we’ve got created an setting the place it’s not fascinating to face out and be the perfect at one thing. Everybody is nice sufficient, we need to get together with everybody, and the concept of standing out conjures up worry as a substitute of pleasure.
When driving a brand new, inexperienced or tough horse, a rider could threat failure. What if she isn’t ok to repair the issue, to beat the problem or impediment? She could have talked herself up, solely to search out that she isn’t nearly as good as she thought. Not solely did she let herself down, she did it publicly. That’s scary. That’s social devastation. So she chooses to sit down quietly, to suppose much less of herself. She says, “Oh I couldn’t…journey that, say that, write that, do this….” She stands by, she evolves right into a wallflower. She seeks consolation within the identified. Establishment is nice, and there’s no threat and no hurt to her self value.
Sadly, if we predict that means once we strategy making an attempt new issues in driving, our improvement will get stymied as a result of not pushing our boundaries. Maybe a complete technology of riders has been affected by this mind-set. I see it usually.
I do know that I’m on this earth to positively influence riders’ view of themselves, and assist them consider they will do something, even journey the cussed or unruly horse they by no means thought they’d have the heart for. All the hassle to be taught to work with every horse – whether or not it’s that rider’s specific sort of journey or not – develops confidence, grit and internal power, and that carries over into the remainder of their lives.
You Will Fail, Till You Don’t
Whilst you be taught to journey a brand new horse, attempt to repair an issue horse, or attempt to be the perfect in a category, you can be dangerous at it till you’re employed at it sufficient to enhance. In a “blue ribbons for everybody” world, being higher than others (success), or being worse (failure), looks like an awesome burden. In the course of the wrestle, you can be completely different. You received’t conform. You’re taking a threat. So you could suppose it’s simpler to remain in your lane; to acquiesce and assist the organism that’s your current social construction, and NOT STAND OUT.
Kids at present are actually dying to slot in. There’s a lot strain to slot in and be accepted by no matter group they’re making an attempt to remain part of, that they are going to do something to evolve. After they don’t, they exit, in no matter means they know the way. I worry that our present tradition of “everybody will get a prize” helps that. Becoming in feels higher than standing out. The place does it finish?
It’s Okay To Not Match In
Using will help relieve you of the necessity to slot in in any respect prices. If in case you have the fitting coach and barn setting, it’ll allow you to take an opportunity. Your coach will assist you in your highs and lows, throughout your wrestle for ability acquisition. Your barn mates will cheer you on in your wrestle, for everybody is in the identical boat. You may construct confidence and internal power once you be taught to (quickly) fail in your small group. When errors are acceptable and even inspired, you may have an opportunity to hone your craft and grow to be a greater horsewoman.
Whenever you’ve discovered the fitting “barn residence,” errors don’t equal failure and received’t be a blow to your self worth. As an alternative, your schooling will bloom, and so will your resilience and confidence.
So – with assist – strive driving the harder horse, strive driving within the more difficult setting, strive the larger courses. Stretch your boundaries and you could find yourself shocking your self.
[ad_2]
