Lessons From the Ring to the Boardroom

How Competitive Riding Taught Me Everything I Know About Business

For as long as I can remember, horses have been at the center of my world. I’ve competed at some of the top equestrian events in the country, trained under world-class coaches, and managed the day-to-day operations of a family-run equestrian facility. But what might surprise people is how seamlessly the lessons I’ve learned in the ring translate into the world of business and entrepreneurship.

Riding and running a business might seem like two very different lanes, but in truth, they require the same skill set: discipline, adaptability, patience, risk management, and above all, a relentless pursuit of growth. Whether I’m navigating a jump-off course or launching a new product, the mindset is the same: stay focused, trust your training, and be ready to pivot.

Discipline Isn’t Glamorous, But It’s Everything In equestrian sport, results don’t come from one flashy round. They come from showing up early to the barn every morning, rain or shine, to put in the hours when no one’s watching. It’s early mornings, late nights, and constant repetition. That same discipline is the foundation of any successful business.

Entrepreneurship can look exciting on the surface: product launches, branding shoots, investor meetings, but the real work happens behind the scenes. It’s consistency that builds trust in your audience, your team, and your process. I’ve learned that when you treat your goals like your training schedule, results follow. It’s not always glamorous, but it works.

Learn to Fall and Get Up Fast

Every rider knows the feeling of falling. It’s humbling, sometimes painful, and always unexpected. But falling is part of the sport. You don’t quit after a bad round, you analyze what went wrong, regroup, and get back on. In business, failure looks different, but the lesson is the same. A campaign might flop, a pitch might fall flat, or your timeline might unravel, but you keep moving.

I’ve learned to see failure as feedback, not as a final judgment. When something doesn’t work, it’s not the end of the road, it’s data. You adjust, improve, and try again. The ability to recover quickly, both mentally and strategically, is what keeps you in the game long-term.

Read the Room (Or the Horse)

One of the most underrated skills in riding is feel, the ability to read your horse in real time, pick up on subtle cues, and adjust accordingly. Horses can’t talk, so you learn to listen in different ways: through movement, energy, and intuition. That same awareness applies when working with teams, clients, and collaborators.

Being able to understand when to push forward, when to pull back, and when to change course is a huge advantage in business. Good leadership often means tuning into what’s unspoken and creating space for feedback, flexibility, and growth. Just like with horses, it’s not about control, it’s about connection.

Trust Takes Time

You can’t fake trust with a horse, and you can’t fake it with a customer base or business partner either. Trust is built over time, through consistency, communication, and showing up for the relationship every day. Whether I’m building a product or building a brand, trust is always the long game.

One of the most valuable things I’ve learned is that great results often come from quiet confidence, not loud promises. The best partnerships, whether with your horse or your team, are built on mutual respect, shared goals, and honest accountability.

Preparation Is Your Secret Weapon

A seamless round in the show ring doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of weeks (or months) of preparation, flatwork, mental rehearsal, understanding the course, and fine-tuning every detail. Business works the same way. Success in a pitch meeting or product launch often comes down to how prepared you were beforehand.

I’ve learned to approach every new opportunity like a course walk: study the terrain, anticipate the challenges, and visualize success. Preparation doesn’t just reduce nerves, it creates confidence. And that confidence, whether in the ring or in the boardroom, is often the difference between “almost” and “nailed it.”

Final Thoughts

My journey as an equestrian has shaped the way I think, lead, and work. It’s given me a mindset rooted in resilience, precision, and emotional intelligence. Whether I’m riding into a jump-off or stepping into a client meeting, I bring the same focus and drive to the table.

So yes, I may be an equestrian first. But make no mistake: I’m also here for the business world, bringing with me a toolkit forged in the arena and refined through every entrepreneurial venture I’ve pursued.

Let’s ride.