Class is a thing not a given…

Hey guys..
So I’m back with another blog that hopefully won’t bore you all senseless!!

Truth be known (and we all know I’m honest to a fault!) I must have re written this blog 3/4 times , each time I wrote the blog it just didn’t sit right with me.. Anyways.. I got there in the end so grab a coffee , pull up a chair and be prepared to be bored!

In my previous blogs I have spoken about my love for riding ‘class’ horses.. Class is something you can’t give or make a horse have and for me it isn’t always something I can put my finger.. It’s just a ‘something’ some are born with others are not..
Although having thought long and hard about it I do believe class starts with being genuine , having that ‘want’ or ‘will’ to please or win..
How many super talented horses do we see that either don’t try 100% or there hearts just aren’t in it despite there clear talent? Un-genuine is what we call them..
Yet you get a horse half as talented but full of heart and want and you will find yourself far more likely to call that horse a ‘class’ act.. Because it has something you can’t give or teach.. It has that something you just can’t put your finger on..

So now on to where I’m going with all this!!

My winter has been full of playing hard but working even harder!!
But working hard for 2 of the most amazing people I am lucky enough to call friends..
In amongst all the playing hard and working even harder I got offered the chance to go and teach in Aberdeen , I love meeting new people and experiencing new things.
I love the chance to learn new things and it really is amazing what you can learn about yourself or others on trips like my trip to Aberdeen..
The thing I learnt more than anything on that trip to Aberdeen is people are like horses.. Some just have that touch of class , that touch of something special you can’t give or teach..
From the second I was picked up from the airport I was blown away by the openness and genuine heart felt kindness shown towards me , nothing was to much trouble.. But not in a bow down to me way (not that anyone ever should!!) I hope you get what I mean thou?!? Just in a totally ‘genuine class’ way I can’t explain or put my finger on..
My god – the fun I had too.. I will never look at a gin bottle ever the same again!!

Also I taught the most fantastic and interesting bunch of people I have ever taught..
Right from a lovely lady who had lost her confidence and wasn’t sure she even wanted to canter (We got her cantering because cantering isn’t a big deal is it?!) to a cracking Irish Draught doing his ‘class thing’ really successfully round novices with his wonderful owner.
I taught solidly for 2 very long days but I loved every second of it , I loved seeing people and horses grow in confidence and do and try things they didn’t think they could or would..
Because you know what – I have been that person who at many points has lost there confidence , didn’t think they wanted to jump big or solid fences again , I know how it feels to be unsure..
I am lucky that have always been able to pull myself together and go again but I get that I’m not that normal!! Some people just need a nudge in the right direction and just someone to say – why can’t you do it? Not – do you think you can?
There is a very small but yet massive difference in those two statements..

A couple of the people I taught said things like this that make me blood run cold

‘I don’t think I can do my horse justice , what if I’m not good enough for him and other people say I shouldn’t do this or that with my horse’

When I was given the ride on the The Busker I remember very clearly the pressure put on me.. At the beginning of my first proper season with him someone asked me what my plans for him were and when I said hopefully Bramham and the Europeans they honestly said me to this – Well if you don’t win Bramham it will be your fault and as for the Europeans , surely there a given if you don’t cock him up.

I went home and stewed on it so much , I mean was I a wet behind the ears 19 year old really up to riding such a class horse? Should I even be riding him?

Then I came to this thinking ..

I do things in my life to please me , not other people.. It’s how and what life should be about.. Is worrying about what other people think going to make your life anymore enjoyable? No of course it isn’t..
And as for not being good enough for a horse , horses are animals and animals think very simply.. All they really want is to be well fed , watered and kept warm.. Yep some like affection and human company but I do not believe for one second they have any idea how good or not they are at something or that they believe they are missing out on anything by not being ridden by a so called ‘better rider’

So with just a few days before my first event I am very much looking forward to enjoying eventing with my horses again – win lose or draw enjoying it for myself not others..

Remember your life is about pleasing you not pleasing others..
If it makes you happy do it , if it doesn’t don’t and if you are going to fail it’s always better to fail trying than to fail because you didn’t try at all…

Never allow your self to say what if? If you find yourself saying ‘what if’ you more than likely haven’t done or lived your life as you wanted and that’s not what life is about..

Over and out for now and keep kicking..

Phoebe