PrintSparks of possibility. Chinks of opportunity. Inch by inch.
Such small talents, such small moments and such small steps are the essence of making something meaningful of our lives. Can we find those “sparks of possibility” in our lives? Can we seize those chinks of opportunity? Can we take those small steps today and tomorrow? Our lives rush by, and for many, lives are cut cruelly short. So every day is important, even if it is a wonderful day of sheer pleasure that a day off can become.
The Payoff
We can’t all be Olympic champions, but we can all get involved in doing things, and doing different things and stretching ourselves in tiny ways. We can all become more active participants and, as a result, probably achieve to an exceptional level in small areas. We can then feed off these achievements, helping all areas of our lives, and possibly creating the feeling that our time on this earth has been a little more worthwhile.
Equine Sports Provide A Huge Opportunity
The truly wonderful thing about equine sports is that they can genuinely be a sport for life, giving us an extended number of sporting days. A sport for life that also allows a longer than normal career for elite performers, and for all levels of performers allows a high level of performance and enjoyment despite a few ailing body parts.
Riding gives new legs for old which is a great “value for money,” life-enhancing deal for most of us and especially for those of us who need greater physical mobility for our mental health.
The value of equestrian sports for mental health is probably the biggest “good news story” that we need to sell far more vigorously.
An Inspiring Example
Irish businessman Chris Bryne, owner of the Coilog Horse Park in County Kildare, is an inspiring example of a performer who is currently benefiting from the extraordinary possibilities of equestrian sports. To be more precise: horse racing!
Chris is 52 and until 12 months ago hadn’t race ridden for more than 20 years. Even then he had only dipped his toe in the water with half a dozen “slow rides.” He was over 200 pounds, and his time was being consumed by his business. However, with the help of a sports dietician and riding out three horses each morning he is now 145 pounds and riding as a licensed amateur jockey in National Hunt racing.
“My life is transformed,” says Bryne. “I am fitter than I was 20 years ago; I am energized and motivated in a way that is having an obvious positive effect on my business life and my life as a whole. The stresses of business have increased hugely, but I am now coping 10 times better and am so much sharper mentally.”
Next year he has the goal of riding in the Punchestown festival, our biggest steeplechasing meeting of the year, in all three types of races, the bumper (flat) race, a hurdle and a steeplechase, with the additional aim of breeding, owning and riding a winner at the Festival. What a magnificent goal and what a great example of the benefits of horse riding.
Golden Oldies
