My entire life I have believed myself to be a good student, but I just discovered that the consistency I have shown as a student doesn't necessarily translate into being a consistently good learner. This is something that I have never really examined, but a comment from a friend set me on a path to finding out just what the difference was between a good student and a good learner.

One morning not too long ago, while getting dressed to go the barn, I was lamenting the fact that I had to layer up because it was only going to be in the upper 50s that day. While gathering my scarf, hat and gloves because I despise being cold, I was watching the news brimming with stories on the Eastern “snowpocalypse.”

Down time always seems to be most complexing mind game for eventers. In a world that literally revolves around “going forward,” taking time off to let the horses down can feel incredibly backwards and can have us wondering “Who Am I?” in a truly worrisome way.

Personally, I never agonize about what the meaning of my life is when I have back-to-back lessons scheduled and a string of horses to work, with a conference call in between and a dinner to plan and cook later that night. I can handle extremist multi-tasking without breaking a sweat and nary a second thought.

The sport of eventing demands perseverance from its participants. Of all of the equestrian endeavors you could choose from, eventing could easily be considered the most difficult, requiring fortitude and pluck for when the riding gets rough, mixed with a sense of humor for the unexpected.