What’s the Best Piece of Horse-Related Advice You’ve Received?

By: Brittany Bevis

A good teacher doesn’t just tell you the right answer. He points you down the right path so you can discover the answer for yourself.

During the course of your equestrian career, you’ve undoubtedly relied on guidance from many different teachers who have imparted their knowledge either by instruction, practical application, or example. A teacher can take many forms. Your first horse might have taught you the value of developing a lifelong bond with an animal. A trainer might have lectured you on the importance of practice, preparation, and dedication. A fellow competitor might have taught you how to push yourself to the next level.

Scroll below to view what some of our The Equine Chronicle social media fans had to say are the best pieces of advice they’ve been given over the years.

Susan Roberts- “Patience and persistence.”

Kent Taylor- “Champions are not born. They are made. Never give in or give up.”

Debi Nicholson- “My Dad taught me that horses should always be fed and cared for before anything else.”

Mary Lou Spaull- “One day, at a show, my 10-year-old son came over to where I was visiting a friend and said he had put my horse’s sheet on him, because it had started raining. I turned to my friend and said ‘He gets it!”

Mary Sotis- “My dad taught me that horses eat before I do. They can’t open the fridge!”

Denise Thompson- “Clean stall and clean water.”

Tyler Haney- “No matter what kind of day, night, or week you’re having, the horse can’t let itself out, get water, hay, or a clean place to lay. Take care of them and they will take care of you.”

Kristen Simm- “Always put your horse first.”

Mary Lou Spaull- “My dad taught my sister and I that it was important to keep stalls clean. Clean stalls mean clean horses and it helps monitoring their gut health.”

Penny Pendle- “It is usually the rider causing the problem.”

@LMaxwell99- “You never get a second chance to make a first impression. It’s a sign in Art and Julie O’Brien’s trailer!”

@Hold_It_Equestrian- “Always take care of their hooves! They will tell the story and let you know when something is wrong. My father is also a farrier.”

@Conniedickellaughlin- “I trained with Shawn Thorsell in the early 2000s, and I thought I knew a lot until he showed me right from wrong. Thank you Shawn for sharing your knowledge with me. You taught me more than I ever thought I could learn.”

Michelle Smith-Starkey- “Ride every stride. Live in the moment and make the most of it.”

@Kristinkariger- “One day, one ride, one fall, and one re-attempt at a time. Perseverance and faith.”

Do you have a great piece of advice to add to the list? Email B.Bevis@EquineChronicle.com.