Every employer is looking for a well-rounded candidate with a variety of interests and hobbies. Recently I have seen a few blog posts being published as to why runners/swimmers/tennis players/etc. make good employees, and it only seemed fair to speak on behalf of equestrians.
1. Responsibility
A horse rider must care for their equine in all weathers, in any temperature and under any conditions. They must be self-disciplined enough to recognise that the animal’s needs must come before their own, as the horse allows them to fulfil their whims. Furthermore, a rider must be able to budget their income sensibly to allow them to keep their horse, which leads to the respect of property, possessions and necessity of responsibility.
2. Teamwork
A horse and its rider cannot communicate with words, and yet can complete courses of jumps, perform dressage movements and hack out despite scary obstacles. A good rider will not blame the horse for a mistake and will endeavour to correct unwanted behaviour through precise movements or vocal control. A good employee, similarly, will not blame their team for a mistake but will recognise their own downfalls and attempt to prevent such a mistake again.
3. Empathy
A good horse rider will be able to differentiate between cheeky behaviour and frightened behaviour. They will encourage a frightened horse and push a cheeky horse towards the desired outcome. To push a frightened horse can lead to explosive consequences, whereas to encourage a horse playing with the boundaries can lead to dangerous habits. A good employee will respect their colleagues’ personal lives and will be able to relate to a variety of emotions within the team.
4. Respect
A horse rider will be in control of an animal weighing 500kg or more, with a mind of its own and a tendency to act on instinct rather than reason. Whilst the rider appreciates that they must give respect to the horse, they also demand respect from the horse. It is poor horsemanship to intimidate the horse through force or violence; a good rider will fully know that the horse could do a lot more damage to them than they can to the horse! This is transferable to the office. The horse rider will respect their colleagues but will not be a pushover themselves, being capable of making decisions independently.
5. Patience
It takes a long time to perfect horse riding. No matter how professional or experienced the rider, they always require more knowledge or training. The horse rider will know that good things can take a long time to develop fully, and will not rush their tasks in order to leave the stable (or office) early.
6. Perfection
A horse rider will never quite be happy with their dressage score or the speeds of their jumping round; there is always room for improvement. Similarly, a horse rider will aim for the best possible work they can produce.
7. Sense of humour
And lastly, a sense of humour is required in a great employee. Every horse rider knows that if they’re rushing, the horse will 99% of the time wipe green slime on their clothes, or drop hay into their hair. And there is nothing that they can do but laugh. A great employee will be able to tackle any challenges they face with good humour and a readiness to move on!
Natalie