Do You Know Why? || Young Professional Series

More than likely, you started in this sport as the horse crazy little kid who couldn’t get enough of the dirt, feeding treats, grooming, bouncing around on the rank pony, and the smell of horses.

The drive for the sport came from your sheer desire to have fun, learn as much as you can, and well…just the horses, duh.

Fast forward 20 years, the leap into business, thousands of hours in the saddle, broken bones and shattered egos, concussions, and working 12 to 16-hour days. What does your drive for the sport look like now?

Are you still having fun?

Are you still learning?

How about all those horses?

I sincerely hope you answered yes.

Depending on the day, saying yes to any of those questions can feel like a lie. Such is life, nothing is perfect.

The joyful passion that captains the ship seems to be in a mutiny. Overrun by endless business inquiries, hundreds of texts a day, overflowing emails, vet calls, sales calls, horse show entries, scheduling conflicts, PPE’s, trailer maintenance, farrier calls, lessons, training rides, billing, keeping up with social media, body scoring the herd, pasture maintenance, checking legs, pulling manes, maintaining arena footing, booking hotels, organizing events, calming others fears, horse trials, saddle fittings, horse laundry, and trying to remember to eat your own lunch, too. It’s a full-blown rebellion on the messy haired barn rat of a kid you used to be and passion is doing everything it can to keep the ship afloat and on course.

All those things listed above are to be expected when you enter as a young professional in this industry. This isn’t to complain about what I willingly signed up for, this is a life-line to those caught in the storm.

I’ve been there…way too often. Thrashing. Overwhelmed. Ready to end it and jump overboard.

This is how you keep the wind in your sails.

KNOW YOUR WHY.

Why are you here? Why did you pick this career? Why is this your passion?

Why do you want this business so much? Why you?

Why do the people and animals in this sport light up your world?

Passion is the captain. Your why is the map.

“Maps encourage boldness. They’re like cryptic love letters. They make anything seem possible.” ― Mark Jenkins

Figure out your why, and you’ll have a true heading. Figure out your why because the seas will always swell, others will want to rebel, but your passion will remain at the helm. Holdfast to your why and your passion won’t fail and it certainly won’t sink.

So, what is your why? Where are you heading?

XO

Iron Ardour Equestrian