Keeping Up-to-Date from the Margins

In the world of eventing, there's a unique individual who has carved out a niche for themselves through a remarkable approach to learning. This individual, who prefers to remain a student rather than an authority figure, has a history of learning about riding from books when financial constraints prevented them from taking lessons.

Currently, they work closely with renowned eventer Boyd Martin, managing his social media and sponsor relations. This role offers them a golden opportunity to pick the brains of top riders in the sport, further fuelling their insatiable curiosity.

Their learning journey is not confined to the saddle. They acknowledge that time spent with horses is invaluable for learning, but they find their method of "distance learning" particularly effective. You'll often find them at warm-ups, unabashedly hoarding knowledge, even more captivated by the learning process than the competition itself.

Interestingly, they have never shown much interest in teaching, coaching, or acting as an authority. Instead, they learn more being a non-rider than an active participant. They believe that much education can be gained from being an unbiased, unattached observer.

Their approach to learning has been primarily as a student, and they've learned a great deal from this method. They spent more time learning about riding than actually riding, but they are content with this approach. They consider themselves eternally curious, always eager to learn more.

Despite their dedication to learning, they struggle with imposter syndrome, a feeling of inadequacy that affects them daily. This struggle, however, has only deepened their interest in the sport, as they are willing to learn as much as possible without putting themselves into a position where they cannot handle it.

Their mentor, 5-star event rider Ingrid Klimke, supports them in their work and provides them with training. The speaker's career within eventing has allowed them to immerse themselves in the sport, rigging up a workout bench to practice the posting trot as a child and continuing to learn from the sidelines during their work with Martin, asking questions and taking notes.

In a world where many strive to be the best, this individual stands out for their unique approach to learning and their unwavering curiosity. They are a testament to the fact that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to learning and that sometimes, the most valuable lessons can be learned from the sidelines.