"Don't Stray Too Far From the Pitchfork"

For those that don't know, this past spring I started riding with Sean Cunningham, owner and trainer at STC Dressage. I have found him to be highly knowledgeable, insightful, talented, patient, and compassionate to both horse and rider. He's never in a hurry. To the contrary; he truly embraces the idea that it takes the time that it takes.

I saw this message pop up on social media earlier this week, and it spoke to me instantly and profoundly. I asked him if I could share it here because I thought you too, might appreciate his message, "don't stray too far from the pitchfork."

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It wasn't that many years ago that I lost my way a bit. I was involved with a partner whose goals weren’t aligned with mine & as a result ran my business & my life into the ground. I have been spending a significant amount of my day holding a pitchfork ever since.

Sean Cunningham, owner and trainer at STC Dressage

The benefit from this reality check - which for me embodies everything this quote is about - is that I've been able to get closer to my horses than ever before. Wearing multiple hats in the barn, mucking out, feeding, grooming, riding, etc. allows me to see the horses from every angle day in and day out.

Knowing my horses' habits in an even more intimate way has helped the details in my riding evolve as well. Time in the barn cannot help but carry over to time in the saddle.

With business expanding, I'm starting to hire help again. While I'm not going to be spending as much time holding a pitchfork anymore, I'll never stray too far from it.

Being a real horseman/woman is about so much more than just chasing the next championship. After all, those championships wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t take hands on care of our horses and know every detail about them. That will always start in the barn, with a pitchfork.

​- Sean Cunningham, owner and trainer at STC Dressage