NEDA A Tip of the Hat January 2021

SELF LIMITING- cont’d
even though showing is your dream, you
might also think you are not good enough
to train with this or that trainer, and perhaps
miss opportunities to have fun, thrive and
reach bigger objectives. But I can assure
you that each and every rider in the top 10
FEI ranking cracked a bunch of scores in
the 50%’s at dressage shows at some point
in their journey. Maybe even 40’s!
About 4 years ago, I remember a fellow
rider from the barn where I used to board at
kept saying “well let’s be realistic, none of us
will ever get our Gold Medal”, and I thought
to myself, well that’s not right. If your objective
is to go to Grand Prix, then turn the
limiting belief “oh well I am not talented
enough to go to this level”, and turn it upside
down; ask yourself the question: what is it
that I need to get closer to this objective:
maybe a different horse, or trainer, work out,
etc. Lay out a plan and don’t limit it by any
subjective thoughts. If I may share about my
own experience, my biggest limiting belief
was that I would never have enough money
to pursue my dream – at the time going to
Grand Prix. This is when I decided to
become a trainer in addition to my day job
as an engineer, in order to finance lessons
from good coaches, the best care for my
horse, be able to go to shows, CDI’s etc. I
also laid out a plan to train and resell a
couple of horses in order to import some
better quality young ones I could train up the
levels. Less than 3 years later I earned my
Gold Medal. This has cost me a lot compromises,
involved very long days, no free time,
for many years – no vacation time, and in
fact it has even cost me relationships.
Dressage is not an easy sport because it
requires to simultaneously manage the
horse as an athlete, yourself as an athlete,
find the right trainer or help, find or provide
the adequate care for the horse, and find
the right amenities to train at, and of course
– find a horse suitable for you to start with.
If on top of all these challenges you are constraining
yourself with beliefs that you aren’t
capable to manage one or several aspects
of the equation – without even trying – then,
sure enough, it is not going to happen. One
piece of advice I can give is to write down
on a piece of paper all the limiting beliefs
that you have, what you think limit you to
reach a dream in the sport and look at how
you could empower yourself to move
forward beyond each of these beliefs.
Best wishes for an inspired 2021!
Andris J. Kaneps
DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR
978-273-5479 cell
978-927-6404 office and fax
68 Grover Street
Beverly, MA 01915
www.kanepsequine.com
ajkaneps@kanepsequine.com
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January 2021 NEDA.ORG TIP OF THE HAT 7