Turn limitations into opportunities.
For a long time, there has been much discussion about the widening gap in equestrian sports between top-level competitors who have significant financial backing and those who do not.
The reality is that, in my belief, this trend has been ongoing for a long time.
More people have just become aware of it, and perhaps this gap has deepened more than ever today.
The cost of purchasing quality horses has skyrocketed, and the expenses of participating in domestic competitions continue to rise, making it increasingly difficult for many riders to compete.
No one should feel ashamed or "less valuable" for choosing a more financially responsible path.
Horse riding has significant physical, mental, and social benefits.
A quote often attributed to Winston Churchill is: "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."
I have always believed that this statement is true.
I am inherently an optimistic person.
I like to create opportunities out of hardships.
My first reaction to the challenges facing equestrian sports is to encourage riders to make the best possible use of the conditions they are in.
Breeding horses and participating in local competitions I have always found great satisfaction in breeding and preparing horses.
Taking a horse that is not yet fully ready, investing time and energy into it, and then seeing its progress is a very rewarding feeling.
It is natural to think that others can experience the same satisfaction.
Sometimes, simply becoming a better rider by adjusting our expectations, regardless of age, can be enough to maintain motivation.
Imagine patiently and step-by-step preparing an inexperienced horse to be ready for a local competition.
Such success can be as satisfying as winning on a much larger stage.
Working with an inexperienced horse is certainly not easy.
It requires patience, consistency, and determination.
But with proper guidance and realistic goal-setting, it is entirely achievable.
While regular training is always beneficial, it is not necessary to ride with a coach several times a week to achieve meaningful progress.
A quality training session every one or two weeks, alongside thoughtful and purposeful practice between sessions, can yield extraordinary results.
One of the best ways to get the most out of each training session is to leave with a specific plan.
Ask your coach to set two or three exercises or specific goals for your independent riding before the next session.
Having such a path ensures that each riding session is productive and that both horse and rider continue to progress between sessions, rather than just riding aimlessly.
For a young horse, not every training session needs to be under saddle.
Groundwork builds the foundation of trust, respect, confidence, and communication.
Simple exercises such as proper leading, moving the hips and shoulders, backing up, purposeful lunging, familiarizing with obstacles, and desensitization all contribute to the horse's mental and physical growth before you get in the saddle.
Many challenges are much easier to address on the ground than under saddle, and these lessons often translate very well to ridden work.
Technology has also become one of the most valuable and yet affordable training tools.
Ask a friend to film your riding, or place your mobile phone in a safe spot outside the riding arena.
Watching a video of your own riding often reveals points that you can't feel during the ride.
Better yet, share these videos with your coach; someone who can provide useful feedback between lesson sessions.
Video review allows riders to continue learning long after the lesson is over.
I also believe we will continue to see more high-quality competitions at the local level.
Here in Georgia, we are lucky to have a showcase and premium facility that offers many of the same amenities as Tryon, the Winter Equestrian Festival, and the World Equestrian Center, albeit on a smaller scale.
Entry fees, office fees, and overall expenses are much more manageable, and the staff is incredibly friendly and supportive.
What an incredible achievement it would be to raise your own horse and confidently enter a competition ring of this kind.
Finding educational opportunities today, affordable educational resources are more accessible than ever.
Some trainers might be willing, as many of us experienced years ago, to trade lessons for work in the stable.
Being an apprentice is still one of the best ways to gain valuable experience while offsetting some of the lesson costs.
Riders can also expand their knowledge by attending clinics as auditors, volunteering at local horse shows, or helping at horse adoption and rescue centers.
Every horse you watch, every lesson you see, every question you ask, and every opportunity you get to help teaches you something.
There are still great opportunities for riders who are willing to work hard, stay curious, and never stop learning.
Whether you take lessons every week, ride independently between lessons, or just spend your time watching experienced horsemen, there is always something to learn.
I still remember standing by the warm-up ring as a child, watching riders prepare for their classes.
Then I would follow them to the competition ring to see how this preparation manifested in their performance.
Those moments became some of my most important learning experiences.
You might raise a horse, sell it to a suitable home for a modest profit, and use that money to buy another project horse.
Over time, not only do you become a better horseman and rider, but you also create opportunities for yourself that might never have existed otherwise.
Honestly, I can't think of a more rewarding experience than finding a horse that has been overlooked and helping it reach its true potential.
Knowing that your effort, patience, and commitment were the main factors in making this difference brings an incredible sense of pride.
In my opinion, this is the real recipe for making lemonade.
About Holly Hugo-Vidal Holly Hugo-Vidal.
Holly Hugo-Vidal, a trainer, judge, and instructor, operates at Brownwood Farm in Milton, Georgia.
Among her trainers and mentors, her former husband, Victor Hugo-Vidal, who ran the successful Cedar Lodge Farm show jumping club in Stamford, Connecticut with her, and the show jumper, Rodney Jenkins, can be mentioned.
She is the author of the book "Build Confidence Over Fences!"
Source: Practical Horseman – Training