GOOD LUCK Laura Graves and Verdades (Diddy!) EXCERPT FROM: Life, Regrets And 8 Things Anne Gribbons Tells A Young Hopeful: TSB: You often write and speak to the subject of American riders needing to train their own horses up through the levels, and for the US to support young talent in an effort to build new teams who can compete internationally. Laura Graves and Verdades have appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, to be strong contenders on the international dressage scene, and they were once students of yours. What about Laura’s work over the years, training her horse from a weanling, has led to her current success? What would you tell other aspiring young riders as they strive to reach their own riding goals? AG: Like several of our new generation of competitors, such as Adrienne Lyle and Katherine Bateson-Chandler, Laura paid her dues as a working student, exchanging services for training she otherwise could not afford. She arrived at our stable in Orlando in May of 2009 and spent three-and-a-half years total as my student. While I was Technical Advisor and did not judge CDIs, I coached Laura through the small tour. When Laura left to start her own business in late 2012, she and Verdades were working all the Grand Prix movements. Laura had more than talent and determination plus honest and experienced help in her favor: She had a top quality horse, and that is what truly propelled her out of “nowhere” onto the team. As soon as I saw Verdades, I knew he was special, and although he was green, there was no doubt the combination could go far. There were a few hiccups on the way, but even when Verdades was confused, he always let us work through it because he trusted his rider, and we went about the training in a logical and kind way. Forever, I have preached the gospel of “You have to train your own for ultimate success.” During the first decades of high performance dressage in this country, it was rare to see an imported ready-made horse. American stars like Keen, Gifted, and Graf George were all “made here” from scratch, and that is the only kind of horse that will ultimately impress abroad and give our team sustainable strength. We have to get back to that kind of thinking, in spite of the fact that it takes time and effort and there are many obstacles in the way. What I would say to young hopefuls is: #1 Find as good a young horse as you can get your leg over, and in the best of all worlds, you should own it. #2 Find a trainer who is knowledgeable, consistent, and makes her/himself available when you need help. #3 Suffer whatever financial and emotional hardships are required, as long as the horse and you are making progress. #4 Do not expect immediate success in the show arena; it takes time to become ” noticed” and consistency is part of the game. #5 Believe in your horse, because he knows when you don’t. #6 Stay honest and fair to the people around you. #7 When you reach a goal, remember to give credit where it is due. #8 The horse business is no peach, and if you aim to make a living training and teaching, you will have “an interesting life,” as the Chinese say. The triumphs are short lived, and you are never any better than your last performance, but if you love horses and cannot live without them, you will never be bored! horsecollaborative/anne-gribbons-life-regrets-and-8-things-she-tells-a-young-hopeful/
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 12:55:07 +0000
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