Press On by Michelle Huizenga

Press On

Nothing in the world can
take the place of persistence.
Talent will not:
Nothing is more common
than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not:
Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education alone will not:
The world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination
alone are omnipotent.

Author Unknown

Two and a half years ago, I read this proverb outside the office door at the old Hunterdon stable. It was my first day of working for Chris Kappler. I was young, aspiring, and hard-working. Persistence and determination were the very things that had kept me there. I certainly lacked education (in terms of knowledge of grand prix horses), my talent was nothing exceptional (my accomplishments in comparison to those of the people at the barn were meek), and I was anything but a genius. When I read this proverb, I was given a grand sense of hope. Maybe it is possible that a girl coming from a humble background, a girl who could not afford a horse of her own, a girl who had her own string of fruitless attempts, and a girl who believed in the value of the American dream that hard work could get you anywhere, could actually achieve respect and success in the highest of levels of horsemanship and show jumping.

The toughest part of achieving notoriety in the show jumping industry has always been finding a horse with the talent to match your ambitions. As I had once been told, "The first step to winning starts with a great horse. Second, is developing the rider. Third, is a little bit of luck." Automatically, those who cannot afford the greatest of horses are put at an immediate disadvantage. The rider's capabilities mean nothing without a horse that cannot compete at the rider's desired level. A great horse gives the rider validation. Where could someone like Chris Kappler have been without a Royal Kaliber, Beezie Madden without an Authentic, Laura Kraut without an Anthem, Greg Best without a Gem Twist, or Melanie Smith without a Calypso? You hear a rider's name and it becomes synonymous with that of the horse. Even so, a rider with all of the financial support in the world still has to have a bit of luck to find that special horse. Unfortunately, Olympic show jumpers do not grow on trees. I think a lot of these riders today have a special horse or horses to thank for catapulting their professional riding careers.

With all of that being said, a rider can do his or her part in preparation for the hopes of someday competing that "one great horse." The primary element of success is, without a doubt, persistence and determination. The road to achievement does not come without trials, without people telling you to turn around, without losses or defeats, or without humility. Everyone makes mistakes, but those who can learn from mistakes achieve a higher level of enlightenment. I can think of many mistakes I have made simply from lack of knowledge that to this day I am thankful for not being kicked out of the door. Do not be ashamed to ask questions or say, "I do not know the answer, but maybe you could help me." No person sinks faster within a system when he or she comes in claiming to know all of the answers. Secondly, education nurtures those most who have persistence and determination- a knowledgeable rider when paired with a superstar horse will always have the advantage to an unknowledgeable rider with an equally talented horse. Seek education from those at a level where you want to be. The greatest rut a rider can fall into is when one closes his or her mind to all of the data that surrounds him or her. Furthermore, a rider can learn that whenever he or she is in such a rut that it must be time to look to alternative sources. Every professional has years of experience and knowledge to offer. Some may conflict in views, but it is ultimately up to the individual to figure out which knowledge is unfounded. Not everyone in the industry is persistent, talented, well-educated, or a genius, but maybe if one can learn from his or her mistakes one can avoid wasting the time of making them.

Thirdly and lastly, talent and genius play the smallest of roles in the generation of a world-class rider. Talent and genius are often synonymous with people who are cocky or arrogant. No rider is truly a "natural." Sure, there are riders who have advanced "feel" on a horse, but for the most part, that sensitivity and feel does not come without unlimited persistence in training and education. For some, attaining feel may take a little longer than others, but for those to whom it comes so quickly, they lose a sense of devotion to detail and routine seen in those riders at the highest levels. They lack the enlightenment from making and understanding mistakes.

Bright Idea
Michelle Huizenga
Oak Ridge Medal 2003
Randolph-Macon Woman's College
Lynchburg, VA

My photo, posted here on the website, is a prime example of the process of learning from mistakes in action. Some may see the photo of a girl who was the year-end champion of the Oak Ridge Medal that year, but every time I see this photo, I see the girl who was laying down a perfect trip in the finals until she turned the wrong way over that exact fence. I am even looking the wrong way! What I learned that day? Humility. Attention to detail! Preparation!

All things considered, we have achieved nothing if we have not delighted in the struggles of persistence and determination. Every day, I continue to walk past this proverb on the wall, and I continue. I continue to hold hope that my struggles are not blind, that they will be rewarding, and that I will find a way to that special horse someday. And when we meet, I will be ready for him. Until then, press on.