My first 3-phase event was comical. I barely had a chance to walk the course & then had to mount up and just go for it. I was terrified. In retrospect, it was much how an entrepreneur charges ahead without really knowing the lay of the land. Luckily for me, I trusted my mount – an ugly old man names Yossarian (Eo for short … don’t ask me how they got Eo out of Yossarian). He was part warm blood and part I-don’t-know-what – long back, skinny neck, wonky legs, but the sweetest face and biggest heart you could ask for. He took care of me from starting gate to the finish & by the time I was done, my fear had turned to elation and I wanted to it all over again. My only regret is that I didn’t realize the cross-country was a timed event. If I’d pushed a little harder, I would have (based on my dressage and stadium scores) have come in 2nd. As it was, I ended up 5th. Still not bad for a first go.

Additional lessons:
* At some point, it’s just time to GO – whether you feel ready or not
* … usually, once you get going, you’ll start to have fun and wonder why you didn’t start earlier!
* It isn’t always about “pretty” … sometimes experience, heart, and gumption are much more important assets
* Trust your mount (mind, gut, inspiration) … it usually knows how to get you from point A to point B

Loving the horsey vibes!

I was schooling over cross-country fences and our first go around was rather wobbly. I asked my instructor if we could do it again. She said, “NO! Because you’ll do it much better and be filled with a sense of false confidence. You need to be focused on how to use your aids to do it to your best ability the first time.” It’s true…you can’t hit rewind when working with people. In cross-country you’re severely penalized for not getting it right the first time.

@Mark – You should see it sometimes. People sit there, then they flap the reins and clap their legs and end up looking like turkies trying to fly. The look on their face is priceless. “Why isn’t it doing anything? Go, horse. Go.” (You should see the look on the horse’s face, too!)

@Joe – Likewise, your business knows when it’s in charge, too. It’ll run you ragged, take you for a wild ride and leave you exhausted trying to control it… if you let it.

Great analogy. I’ve only been on a horse once, but here’s what I learned: telling it what to do doesn’t work. You need to be a little more proactive.

I’m with Peter having road a horse just once. And that horse sure knew he was the one in charge that day.

Your message reminds me of this quote by Kurt Vonnegut, “We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.”

Except the horse wouldn’t appreciate the jumping off cliffs part.

Joe

@George – You’re on, buddy! One day it is.

@Leah/Jamie – I just want to say I think it’s great to see commentators chatting together. Love when that happens.

@Leah – I used to care for 12 Shetlands. I now firmly believe they are the most arrogant, ill tempered, stubborn and willfull creatures on earth. Well, second only to my 5 year old, that is.

@Joel – I take no responsibility for dead horses. I had nothing to do with that. Nuh uh. Can’t blame me.

@Noor – Wild horses does sound like blogging, doesn’t it? But let me tell you – even the horses you know like the back of your hand can surprise you every now and then. Keeps you on your toes!

@Sea – The horses had far less need of psychological assistance than the riders did, sadly. What I enjoyed the most is watching how much horses brought out of humans, and in a way, forcing them to deal with many, many issues. It was a fulfilling job and taught me a great deal about people.

Wow…that’s cool. I gotta say if I did live nearby, I would take you up on that offer. My wife is a horse lover and I would love to ride with her and show my kids too. One day I will get back in the saddle!