From a superficial level it is easy to mistake ability with desire, or to group them together as synonymous terms. To believe that if a rider has the ability they will also have the desire to ride, train or show to that ability. Why not? We're told all the time that if we want something badly enough that we will get it, we will be able to work towards success and ability. Doesn't that also mean that if we have the ability we will automatically have the desire to use that ability?
Not necessarily.
It is an argument that many use when their beliefs are challenged. For example, those who support Elite Dressage Competitors who use Rollkur in the training of their horses often state that anyone in disagreement with Rollkur are merely jealous; that they lack the ability to ride to the upper levels.
But is it valid as an argument?
I argue against the idea. My vote is that ability and desire are not synonymous for equestrians. I argue that one can exist without the other on both sides of the coin. Ability without desire and desire without ability.
For myself this shows up in my strong desire to work towards the improvement of communication with my horses over competing for a judge's opinion and ranking. My desire is with promoting education to riders, myself included, over retraining problem horses. Do I have the ability to compete? Yes. Do I have the ability to retrain problem horses? Yes. But I would be miserable if I pursued these, I was miserable when I pursued them! I had success, I achieved the goals I set, but the joy I found in the end was limited.
On the other hand, even if my abilities are not picture perfect in what I do enjoy, where my desire lies, it doesn't much matter to me because even as I continue reaching for the success of my goals I find extraordinary joy and happiness.
Where do your abilities and desires sit in regard to riding and training? Are you pursuing your abilities, your desires, or both?
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Erica,
I have never forgotten what the O’Connors said about their now retired Olympic horses. They said they they were not the most talented of horses that they had ever ridden but they had the most heart and it was that heart that had them be such amazing competitors.
Same for people as you have illustrated. I once had a young boy as a student that had so much talent as a rider but he just did not have the desire. He has some special needs and his father thought that being good at some sport would help him. Poor kid. Try as he might he just was not happy. In the end I convinced the parents to let him quit riding.
When I was growing up I studied the violin. I was good but it was a struggle. At one point my teacher was with the Buffalo Philharmonic. It was a honor to work with her. My father would talk of me going to Julliard and becoming a concert violinist. Yet the desire was not there. I could have struggled on and auditioned but in the end I knew enough that it just was not were my heart was.
Sue
Sue,
Thank you for sharing about the O’Connors – and I think that is important to note as well that horses likewise may have skill in an area but lack desire!
Great post, and I think this goes for horses as well. The father and mother of my horse are both (or was, since Master died last year) dressage horses, and it was expected that my horse would be a great dressage horse too. He definitely has the ability, but not the desire. I’m just now finding a new way to train him, making him think dressagetraining is fun. But still, he would not like training dressage almost every day in the indoor arena, just to make him perform to the best of his ability. Even though I wanted to train all the time, it’s not fair to him. We tried for a while, but he ended up being just a shell of himself, if you understand what I mean… It fortunately worked itself out, because my desires changed. Now we are just having fun togheter, with a little bit of dressage, a little bit of jumping, hacks and just playing, which he thinks is perfect 🙂
Oh, I didn’t see your respond to Susan’s comment. Looks like we are on the same page on this as well, not surprised!