A Day in the Life of a Competitive Equestrian Student
Story appeared in the 2015 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.
BY LEANNE SCHULTZ, OPERATIONS & HR MANAGER
ALUMNI JUSTINE CHA
With Canada’s only on-campus English riding program, QMS attracts elite student riders from all over the world.
These students are not only accountable to the rigorous demands of a challenging academic program geared towards university preparation, they are also responsible for the care and exercise of their horses. (Some of the school’s top-level riders lease or own more than one horse.) As high-level performance athletes, these students must diligently train with their equestrian partners so both they and their equine partners stay at top competitive levels. All the while, they must turn in their home work assignments on time, complete their service hours and participate in extra-curricular activities. If they are off at a competition, they are responsible for completing assignments in their spare time and communicating with their teachers for support via email. Justine Cha is a Grade 10 whose family moved from Alberta so she could study and train at QMS. A highly successful competitive rider, she has won events in Canada and the United States this year. Here are her thoughts on being a competitive rider:
So what does it take to become the best of the best? There is not one thing that makes a good rider great; there are many qualities that are unique to each person, but we all share the same passionate dedication to our 1,200 pound teammates.
On competition days, I get up at 5:00 a.m. to show and don’t see my bed until 11:30 p.m. This is not exactly what most people call an ideal day, but we do this in spite of all the challenges, because quite frankly we can’t imagine anything we would rather do. The thrill of one amazing round is quite worth the strenuous hours of stirrupless rides and backbreaking work we put into it.
Organization and time management in this kind of environment is key. It keeps the stress level down and success level up. Dressing and grooming for success is what keeps us looking and feeling great. After our merciless hours of practicing the perfect and most effective equitation, we might as well get a good picture in! Being able to not only feel, but also communicate to your horse to give them the confidence and reassurance they need. This is your job as a rider as well as their caregiver to keep them feeling there best.
As competitive rider on the circuit you have to learn to deal with setbacks—it’s part of the lifestyle. You have to develop the mindset that the mistakes you made today are not failures, but in fact lessons. Taking away something from each ride, no matter how good or bad, keeps you moving forward and in a positive mindset. Being resilient and open to learning is what keeps you and your horse in the groove.
The reality of being competitive in any sport is that it requires hard work, commitment, dedication and passion. Equestrians spend dawn ‘til dusk with their horses, making sure their every need is met before their own. This is a sport born out of the undying love for these majestic animals. This is not a hobby or lifestyle for everyone, it takes a special type of person to crave 5 a.m. mornings, messy hair and 6 hours of sleep, all for a 99 cent ribbon! Being an equestrian may be hard but that’s what makes it a sport and I wouldn’t have is any other way, because when I’m on the back of a horse, I feel like I can take on the world.
RIGHT: Justine with Equestrian Coach Brittany Brown at the annual QMS Athletic Banquet