Clermont Equestrian at Cypress Hill

What it takes

December 05, 2009

Parents sometimes ask me what it takes to be really good. The simplest answer is to look around at other sports, such as swimming or gymnastics, and get a benchmark for the amount of daily practice a child (or adult) needs to do most days. For example, a good swimmer or gymnast will do one hour. A really good one, such as someone who is competitive at the state level, will do two, while someone who wants to be amoungst the best in the country, will do three hours. They do time before and after school. It is the exact same with horses. If a child shows that dedication, then I (as most coaches) will want to help them succeed because it is so exciting to produce a champion and see that person grow in character and fortitude and skill over the years during that extremely challenging journey they commit to. If I have a rider like that, I will find horses or ponies for them to ride, as long as they prove they are serious in the first place.