I am reading and hearing more about finding my WHY. My first question is why is this topic coming up now? I think for the first time for my generation we have had to stop. From birth to March 2020 my life has been education, horses, competitions, holidays, work and there really has never been a time when I got the opportunity to really look at ‘WHY’ am I doing the things I am.

 We get caught up in expectations, the culture of those around and for the most part follow. It can be that these choices are perfectly aligned with what makes us happy. When they don’t what then? Or maybe a better question is what happens to us? The answer to this is unique to us all. For me I think its stagnation, a lack of purpose, loss of self-belief, a loss of my glow.

During lockdown all the things that we plan and prepare for – our schedule was taken away. With no competitions why did we need to train? This was what brought me back to my WHY.

Why do I get up at 6am in wind rain and freezing conditions to muck out?, Why do I ride in all weathers?, Why do I ride into the arena to be judged? Why?

Without the prospect of rosettes and sashes what is my motivation?

So what is my WHY? Why am I keeping horses, training/riding?

• For me my horses give me an emotional rock to cling to when life is a rollercoaster. Without them I am tossed to the four winds and this is not a place I can thrive. When I am with them time stands still. I get time to just breath and remember to present. Just sitting and listening to them munch their hay is the best medicine.
• I want to become a rider that my horse can trust. This trust is both in the saddle- that I can give them the right instructions at the right time and also out of the saddle in my general care, handling and maintenance of them. For me the competitions are great and I do love coming home with a sash don’t get me wrong but I want to do all these things in a way that respect my horses.

I have distilled all my thoughts to these two ideas. For me this is the essence of what I want from my relationship with my horses and for myself. So why don’t you join me as I try to walk this path with I’m sure the many pitfalls as well as the successes (I hope) that I have a long the way

So what is your why?