Crafting the who in "Who are you?"
How to transition from rider to trainer by developing your brand...
Recently, I was auditing an Anne Gribbons clinic at the beautiful Next Level Farm in Ocala owned by Michelle and Steven Mayer. As an FEI 5* and USEF “S” judge, Anne’s resume is a testament to true dedication to our sport. She has developed horses, riders and Olympic teams with marked success. In addition, Anne has been a member of the ground jury for the most prestigious international dressage shows including World Cups, the Olympics and the PanAm Games. She works with our trainer, Anna Marek, on a regular basis and welcomes dressage learners of all levels.
On this beautiful day, the work ethic of our trainer was on full display. Numerous horses were beautifully presented, some by Anna and some by her students. Anna is a 2020 Nations Cup Gold Medalist with the type of talent that just makes it look easy. Not only is her work ethic striking but she does an amazing job balancing the high wire act of students, owners, and equine professionals around her. We will more fully introduce you to Anna in upcoming blogs AND we are proud to announce that she will be producing content for The Home and Stable.
As the clinic unfolded, the subject of “How to transition from rider to trainer?” came up within the group. As I took stock of the exceptional athletes around me, there were half a dozen riders with that very question being currently or previously explored including Karson. In considering this question, I thought that talent to ride is a given, talent to train people AND horses is a must, and strong interpersonal skills are mandatory but often elusive. Our favorite trainers are themselves continuously learning, growing and evolving to hone each of these prerequisites over time.
Hover over the images above to view these trainer and horse combinations...
I think that a good place to start thinking about the transition from rider to trainer or instructor is with an honest personal assessment. Where are you with developing the fundamental skills above? Are you able to access opportunities to strengthen them? Are you tough enough mentally as well as physically? Do you have a fairly clear view of your end game goals?
Young trainer wannabes need a vision to get started although that vision may take a while to really come to fruition. It will also certainly change as they navigate their path. As owners, riders and fellow trainers, we join them in their journey as they mature, make mistakes and reset goals as needed.
When thinking about trainers who show longevity, there are some similarities among them such as the ability to produce quality horses and/or riders, strong show results and a commitment to the sport. With the addition of vision, purpose and tenacity, these athletes have the foundation for truly making their mark on our sport.
With that in mind, I pulled on my background in developing talent in a business setting. Over time, I will share with our readers, tidbits for personal and professional development. Karson keeps me grounded but feel free to shoot me a note if you have any feedback!
As a young professional starting out, a good place to begin with your vision is in the area of Personal Branding. Your brand will define who you are, what you stand for, the values you will consistently embrace and the manner in which you convey those values. By defining your unique brand, you are better able to communicate your value. Easier said, “How do you want people to describe you?” “What are your core values when no one is watching you?”
Generally, corporate or personal branding tells a story and influences how people think about you. Apple challenged the world to “Think Different”. Dunkin’ Donuts reminded us that “America Runs on Dunkin’. For me, I have always used “I Believe in You” as my personal mantra. I try every day to impart that emotion to the people around me. It’s even engraved inside my wedding ring. Someday I will share with you the story about The Perfect Cow and that very same wedding ring!
It may help to come up with your own rallying cry that lifts you every day whether or not you share it with the world. If you live it daily, you won’t need to tell the world.
Fortified by your own personal inspiration, here are some further tips to think about as you craft your own personal brand.
Figure out who you are… this is where you dig deep, are honest with yourself and ask for feedback from your family and friends.
- In what areas of the horse world do you excel?
- Which of your personal attributes do you receive positive feedback?
- What motivates you every day?
- What brings you joy?
- What do you find is draining or you have to ask others to repeatedly help you?
Determine what you want to be known for…people often struggle when starting out because they don’t want to limit themselves. You will find more success if you work towards a particular niche. Just recognize that this too will evolve over time. Most experts agree that evaluating your strengths and weaknesses honestly is the key here. Envision where you want to be in the horse industry in the next five to ten years leveraging your strengths and building up your weaknesses where possible.
Define your audience…do you want to train young horses, adult amateurs, grand prix horses, elite riders? Who do you want to reach? How will you do it? Travel, social media, word of mouth??? Until you define the who, the next steps are at a stalemate.
Follow the industry experts... Outstanding trainers have a thirst for knowledge and develop more quickly. Why try to invent the wheel when The Masters are at your fingertips with the click of a keystroke.
Curiosity actually didn’t kill the cat... So be brave, reach out to experts with questions and ideas. The more you ask…the more you will ask!!! Specifically, stay up with the horse industry. What’s new? What’s out?
Prepare an elevator pitch... You never know when a potential client or opportunity will come your way. Can you, in a single paragraph, define who you are, what you do, and what makes you special? If not, this is a must. Plus, practice saying it out loud BEFORE you actually have to do it. You will thank me.
Embrace networking... Many times I’ve seen people try to advance without much help from others. I think it’s a gambit to show that they can do it all on their own. Avoid that pitfall at all costs. Embrace meeting others, offer to make introductions where possible, and work hard to develop contacts for all aspects of your job.
Ask for recommendations... Even though you may know the best ointment to prevent scurf or have a favorite brand of saddle, ask anyway. At a minimum, you will strengthen the relationship with the person you ask. They will be flattered! At best, you will learn something!!
So, that’s my two cents worth today. You can do this! I Believe In You!!!
