"When we first came to the Spanish Riding School three years ago, you said we'd be expected to give the best that was in us, that you would settle for no less. And as time passed, we saw that you meant it. It was difficult because I don't think any of us knew what the …
Tag: equestrian
Simplest Terms
Even the most difficult problems can be overcome if you approach them in the right way. One of the many life lessons I've found to be extremely valuable is the fact that you can parlay success in one area of your life into other areas. The translation into application in a new area may not …
Try Something New
One of the several books I am presently dipping into is William Steinkraus' Reflections on Riding and Jumping. If you aren't an equestrian or are and haven't heard of this remarkable man, I would highly recommend that you take a moment to discover more about his love of music and horses. William Steinkraus is one …
Deep and Broad
"The loftier the building, the deeper must the foundation be laid." - Thomas Kempis I heard the whistle of an interesting train of thought while listening to a podcast the other day about the life of Michael Page, an Olympic-medal winning American equestrian. The interviewer asked Page which horseman had influenced his riding career most …
A Better Way
"Playing both ends against the middle" is an old saying that means trying to get opposing people or groups to fight or disagree so that you will get an advantage from them. It is a way of distracting the attention of others so that the one playing the ends can swoop in and take what …
Known to Unknown
I had two conversations yesterday that carried a common thread. While I was the common denominator in both, the principle outlined came from my riding coach and a new business associate, not from me. I couldn’t help but notice the coincidence and I am compelled to share it with you this morning. When you understand …
A Team of Stallions
I had the good pleasure of attending Cavalia's Odysseo in Atlanta yesterday evening and the performance was riveting! Our tickets came with a tour of the stables and an opportunity to ask questions of the show's Equestrian Director, Benjamin Aillaud, and my thoughts this morning center around an answer he gave to a member of …
Success is Optional
"Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result." ~ Oscar Wilde A perfectly aligned set of circumstances is more often the exception than the rule. Resources are frequently insufficient, tools are disorganized, agreements are not set and objections stand in the way no matter what you undertake, so one of …
The Truth is True
I stumbled upon an excellent article yesterday in The New York Times Sunday Review entitled "Biased but Brilliant." The author, Cordelia Fine, a senior research associate at the Melbourne Business School, points to research showing that confirmation bias - the tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions, leading …
Perfect Practice Makes Perfect
I realized during a riding lesson today that the old adage "practice makes perfect" isn't always true. If you practice incorrectly, for example, you can spend a lifetime attempting to perfect something that is unattainable based on a flawed approach. Horseback riding is fraught with such possibilities, for it is one of those activities that …
Gregory Hake 