I thought about this post, as I've recently re-connected with Elaine Banfield. She is just about the biggest name Dressage coach/trainer in my province, and luckily for me, she also happens to be an old family friend. Old as in she grew up learning how to ride with my mom and aunt from my grandpa, haha.
I got the amazing chance to work with Elaine back in 2004 when I joined her crew as a working student. As time progressed, it turned into more of me being an all around go-to person and general manager of the place while she was gone. I didn't have big show dreams, and I convinced myself I didn't like my lessons because Zierra didn't like them. So I stopped taking them and just comforted myself in working from dawn til dusk at her stable (which I loved just as much).
But I've always regretted it - especially now that I'm working with Jynx. My narrow minded young adult brain was fresh off the farm and threw away an enormous chance to learn a ton because I focused on "not wanting to show Dressage". I never stopped to realized how useful and absolutely necessary that sort of free advice and training was in my future even if all I ever did was train green horses.
Anyway, we've re-connected and me and Shay-la are going out on Mondays now to exercise horses for her. I am jumping at the chance this time - I am not going to let this unbelieveable opportunity pass me by again. Elaine is so humble, she actually mentioned that she wasn't able to pay us! I feel like laughing, I should be paying HER for this chance!
So what about you? Are there any big opportunities you've had that changed your life? Any that you passed by and regretted? Any that are possibly in your future that you haven't thought about yet? What things do you take for granted?
And a shameless plug, here is Elaine's website:
Elaine Banfield Equine Services
I got the amazing chance to work with Elaine back in 2004 when I joined her crew as a working student. As time progressed, it turned into more of me being an all around go-to person and general manager of the place while she was gone. I didn't have big show dreams, and I convinced myself I didn't like my lessons because Zierra didn't like them. So I stopped taking them and just comforted myself in working from dawn til dusk at her stable (which I loved just as much).
But I've always regretted it - especially now that I'm working with Jynx. My narrow minded young adult brain was fresh off the farm and threw away an enormous chance to learn a ton because I focused on "not wanting to show Dressage". I never stopped to realized how useful and absolutely necessary that sort of free advice and training was in my future even if all I ever did was train green horses.
Anyway, we've re-connected and me and Shay-la are going out on Mondays now to exercise horses for her. I am jumping at the chance this time - I am not going to let this unbelieveable opportunity pass me by again. Elaine is so humble, she actually mentioned that she wasn't able to pay us! I feel like laughing, I should be paying HER for this chance!
So what about you? Are there any big opportunities you've had that changed your life? Any that you passed by and regretted? Any that are possibly in your future that you haven't thought about yet? What things do you take for granted?
And a shameless plug, here is Elaine's website:
Elaine Banfield Equine Services