Two and half years I took the biggest jump of my life and it was not an oxer. I left my corporate career specializing in brand strategy and ultimately e-commerce development/management to follow my passions of both business and the equestrian lifestyle. Residing in the Northwest left no options to stay within my comfort zone of working for a corporation in this sector. I had to toughen up and rely on the skills I had developed, put my head down and build a plan to transfer my expertise to assist businesses achieve success within the equestrian industry.
Was it worth it? Yes, but I had to grow a lot as an individual and drop my ego. As I have learned from other entrepreneurs that left successful careers mid-stride, it is normal to feel like you have to explain to everyone what you are doing and even rent “professional” office space to feel legitimate. As the business model established itself and I hand picked a group to support the activities of K.M. Thornton (hence the & Co.), these insecurities were long forgotten. More importantly, I had to practice one of the biggest lessons I preach in business and life. Don’t worry about what others think. Your primary responsibility is to be transparent and to answer to yourself by working your hardest each day to do the right thing.
Running my own business, I have learned to carefully align with others that share similar core values. It is natural that the people I work with and for are now my trusted friends inside the equestrian community. When I received an email from a respected peer asking when I was coming out to WEF, I knew I had to make an effort and LEAVE THE COMPUTER. And that is how I ended up again this year in Wellington. Upon the advice of client Jennifer Bliss of Harris Hill Farm, I chose the USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week to travel across the country.
Today’s post is a glimpse about the top professionals in the hunter world and the dedication to learning their craft and taking risks in order to make their passions their career. We hope you see the parallels that they face just like any other business, if not more, to a establish a career that is sustainable for the long term.
Salut!
The USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Week
The atmosphere of WCHR week is very different than the rest of the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit. While the jumpers typically take center stage on the beautiful WEF grounds, specifically the Hermes warm up pen and the International Arena, the venue turns into the centerpoint for the pinnacle of the winter season for every professional hunter rider. The expansive Grand Prix arena transitions into an impressive forum for competitors to truly have pace and test their bravery and skills across many divisions.
So what do the professionals participating in the World Champion Hunter Rider program have to do with being an entrepreneur? Everything. After spending two days shadowing Jennifer, I appreciate even more the commitment to the discipline these trainers possess. This level of sport cannot be part time. My general experience assisting the boutique barns I choose to work with is that these trainers are extremely hard working and tough on themselves. They balance riding, showing, analyzing their rounds with the assistance of other trainers, schedules, clients, managing support staff and also buying or selling horses, among other duties.
Education and Experience
These riders and trainers have arrived to their level through YEARS of hard work. My favorite riders to study developed their riding through the pressure of the equitation ranks and include, but are not limited to, Peter Wylde (1982 Maclay Champion), Kelley Farmer (1993 Maclay Champion) and of course, Jennifer Bliss (Top 10 Medal Finals). They ride extremely correct and represent the American Style of Forward Riding. Even though a junior rider, I would place 2014 Maclay winner Victoria Colvin in this category. As I studied her preparing a couple of her mounts in the schooling area, she knew exactly what each horse required for their warm up and it is obvious that she has worked incredibly hard to improve her equitation, particularly in the last year.
As with other entrepreneurs, the day of a hunter trainer is extremely long. While I was relaxing at my first polo match with my friend and respected peer Erin Gilmore, following what seemed like an incredibly tiring show schedule, Jennifer was back at her permanent barn schooling a four year old prospect. The professionals that aspire to do the right thing within the sport are relentless in putting the needs of their horses first and adhering to policies of transparency. To build my reputation, I chose to follow a path of education by earning a business degree (thank you to the financial support of my parents), an MBA (many tears of exhaustion while working full time) and finally starting at the bottom both in the field and the office. Similarly, many of these professionals have spent their time becoming educated through the equitation division and/or catch riding as juniors, interning for other trainers as "working students" and ultimately setting out on their own.
To be successful, their business model must evolve and change with the economy, trends, clientele and competition. They have had to adapt their businesses to financially succeed and/or be fulfilled within the profession they have chosen as a career. Much has been written about Peter Wylde moving back to the U.S. from Europe where he was known as a famous show jumper and now we are fortunate to have him back in the States and also crossing over to the top echelons of the hunter division. He is also giving back to his roots as a driving force behind the Emerging Athletes Program. Jennifer has recently adapted from working exclusively for a private client to changing her business model to include owning a boutique hunter barn, along with her fiancé Deywi Rodriguez. In tandem they specialize in developing extremely high quality hunters and riders that receive the pinnacle of attention and training. Additionally, the competition both in the ring and for market share is becoming more intense as a strong group of young professionals have completed their working student "internships" and are now striking out on their own.
Did I expect to leave a successful career and form K.M. Thornton & Co.? Did I envision that my own business would evolve from consulting to also including a successful blog? Not even close….but it has become the most rewarding business I have ever been involved in. Years of work in the classroom and in the field have finally evolved to include both my passion and lifestyle.
Have Perspective
The USHJA has done a tremendous job in a few short years in elevating the importance of hunters through programs including the WCHR, Pre Green Incentive and the International Hunter Derby. This has created many opportunities for the professional hunter riders and has protected what could have become an obsolete career path. Hunter aficionados watching the professional classes at WEF during the USHJA World Champion Hunter Rider week should liken the experience to watching an NFL game. You are observing the best in the country. The professionals have dedicated years of sweat, frustrations and growing a tough skin to establish their position.
I despise when I hear the words “only those with money can afford this sport at WEF.” Keep it in perspective. This week is the pinnacle of the winter season for this division. Instead, take the time to study the professionals in the warm ups, evaluate the quality of the movement and minds of the top horses across each division and take this information back home to give you a leg up on your competition. If you truly love the hunter discipline, it is a luxury just to be a spectator at WCHR week.
Ultimately the professional hunter riders have dedicated their careers to this sport just have you dedicated your life to raising a family, building a career or maybe preparing to strike out on your own in the equestrian industry. Remember that you are unique in different ways and we all have our own strengths to share with each other.
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