Last week, we hosted a horsemanship clinic with some of my dearest friends. I have known Zak and Chiara since about six months into my start as a horse professional in Colorado. I met Zak while he was helping load a horse that was having some trailering issues at the facility where I was working. It was a Monday; so it was pretty much just me and Zak at the barn. The weather was a bit ugly, so he had the trailer pulled into the indoor. Me, a young, very inpatient groom waiting to lunge about ten horses and be done with my day, got angsty and started watching what was going on in the arena trying to figure out when this man in a cowboy hat with a rope halter and a flag would be wrapped up. Once I started watching though, I was amazed at the compassion and conversation that Zak was able to have with this horse about something that obviously was a huge stressor. With curiosity in my step, I marched out into the arena. My first ever words to Zak were something like, “What ARE you doing?” But after that, the rest was history. My entire life and management of my horses all of the sudden was put in question and changed for the better because this man in a cowboy hat had disrupted my lunging practices, and ultimately showed me how many things I was missing and how much more I could offer the horse world. Not only did I learn a lot, but I gained invaluable friends and life long professional partners from that one day where I was brave enough to ask, “what ARE you doing?”
I could go on and on about Zak and his wife Chiara and how much they have shaped my life and program. I owe them a million thank you’s for helping me with my first Grand Prix horse in Colorado, Quincy, alone. But, after a long winded introduction, to the point I shall get. Be a sponge! Soak up all the knowledge you can from the people around you and learn from the people willing to teach you. The minute you stop learning, you stop growing. There is always more to learn, another technique to add to your professional tool box, another pair of eyes to give you something new to work on. Did I ever think back in 2018 when I met Zak and Chiara that I would implement their practices and teachings in every day work? No, I did not. But what I can tell you is that today alone, I used about ten techniques I have learned from watching, listening and learning from them alone.
From 2018, when I started my professional career, to now, I have learned so much from professionals I have worked with or worked for along the way. What I like to think about is use the things you like, leave what you don’t. Every person who works with horses, whether it is barrel people, jumping people, cattle drivers, dressage, you name it; they all have a practice we could use to help make our horses lives better and help them understand their jobs just a little bit more. Something doesn’t jive with you? Then don’t use it! Easy as that.
During the clinic last weekend, I got the privilege of watching my assistant trainer along with many of my clients have wonderful lightbulb moments with their horses. It always makes me smile when a problem area can be traced back to small things like how they travel on a circle for groundwork, or how they bridle and hold the bit. I love watching the wonder in my clients’ eyes when they realize how much they can do being so peaceful and understanding of their horses. I also got to fine tune my practices and get some new techniques and ideas for my tool box. Fair warning, clinics like these (along with all amazing horse people) are so addictive.
I am so glad that life put me and Zak in the same arena together that chilly morning. Of course, this is one example of many I can think of where I am beyond grateful for the universe letting me collide with individuals who are like minded and want the best for the horse. Every day, I challenge myself to be a sponge, and soak up everything around me to improve my horses, program, and my life.
Thank you for reading!
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