Lessons from Boyd Martin and the Reality of Reaching the Top

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 We're back with another episode of the Parbery Podcast, and this time we've got something special for you - a "stolen Parberyism" that comes straight from the heart of American eventing. After Brett's recent coaching stint in the US working alongside eventing legend Boyd Martin, we couldn't help but share this pearl of wisdom that perfectly captures what it takes to make it in equestrian sport.

The Borrowed Wisdom: "Every Champion Started as a Beginner Who Refused to Quit"

This isn't one of Brett's usual Parberyisms - it's a "Boydism" from Boyd Martin himself. But when Brett heard it, he knew it captured something fundamental about success in our sport. It's not just about talent, breeding, or having the right connections. It's about that dogged determination to keep showing up, day after day, even when everything seems to be going wrong.

Inside Boyd Martin's World: The Systematic Approach to Excellence

This isn't just about riding - it's about creating a complete system for success.

Every morning, Boyd watches his horses trot up. Every single one of his high-level horses is presented to him, and he runs his hands down their legs, checking for any signs of trouble. If there's even an inkling of an issue, he's immediately onto it, connecting with the best professionals he can find. There's no mucking around, no hoping it'll sort itself out.

"Boyd has a really regimented program when it comes to keeping his horses sound," Brett explains. "He just does not muck around with anything like that."

This systematic approach extends to everything Boyd does. There's no searching for shortcuts, no fast-forwarding through the basics, no jumping steps in the training process. It's methodical, patient, and relentlessly positive.

The Power of Mindset: Everything is "Can Do"

What struck Brett most about Boyd's approach was his attitude. "Everything's can do. There's no such thing as a can't do attitude with him," Brett observed. This isn't just positive thinking for the sake of it - it's a mindset that opens you up to problem-solving, resilience, and persistence.

When you approach challenges with an open, positive mindset, you naturally become better at all the facets that matter: problem-solving, perseverance, patience, and resilience. You're approaching everything from the right place, which makes all the difference when the inevitable setbacks come.

The Reality Check: What "Top of the Sport" Really Means

For Brett, the top of the sport means competing at Grand Prix level, regularly performing above your normal standard, and doing it consistently over time - ideally on multiple horses. "I don't think you get the full spectrum of emotions until you've done it on a few different horses," he explains. "The longer you're in the game, and the more times you put your neck out on the line, the more things go wrong."

This isn't meant to diminish anyone's achievements, but rather to highlight that reaching the true pinnacle of our sport requires a level of resilience that can only be built through experience.

The School of Hard Knocks: Brett's Personal Journey

Brett didn't hold back when sharing his own low points, and we're grateful for his honesty. Losing Victory Salute in 2011, just before the 2012 London Olympics, was devastating. Here was a horse that had been one of the best in the world in 2010, and suddenly Brett's Olympic dreams were shattered.

"That really took the steam out of my sails," Brett admits. "I probably took a long time to recover from losing him that way."

After London 2012, Brett was seriously considering walking away from dressage entirely. He was even looking at eventing, drawn to the attitude and horsemanship of the eventing community. It was only when an opportunity arose to take on a stable of nice horses that he was able to resurrect his dressage career.

But here's the crucial point - those disappointments shaped him more than any highlight ever could. "You always come back better from those things. You always come back stronger. You always come back with a different view."

The 30-Second Highlight Reel vs. 30 Years of Work

This is perhaps the most important message from our conversation: the highlight reel is deceiving. Those 30 seconds of glory that make it onto social media represent 20-30 years of daily work, disappointments, and character-building moments that nobody sees.

"It's so many more days of not highlights," Brett reflects. "The grind, the disappointments... you do probably think way more about the disappointments. They're the ones that really upset you and probably shaped your career, shaped your character more than the highlights."

What Separates the Champions from the Rest

So what does separate riders who eventually reach the top from those who plateau or walk away? Based on Brett's observations, it comes down to several key attributes:

- Resilience and dogged determination - the hunger to keep going when things get tough
- The willingness to make their own horses - putting in the blood, sweat, and tears rather than just riding someone else's work
- Humility and wisdom gained through experience - qualities that can't be shortcut
- Love for the process, not just the results - enjoying the development of horses, the training, the connection, the problem-solving

The Message for Every Rider

Whether you're just starting out or you're facing a tough patch in your riding journey, remember Boyd's wisdom: every champion started as a beginner who refused to quit. The riders who make it to the top aren't necessarily the most talented - they're the ones who kept showing up.

If you let competitions determine your enjoyment, you're setting yourself up for failure. But if you can learn to love the lifestyle, the development of horses, the training, the connection, and yes, even the mistake-making and problem-solving, then you're building the foundation for long-term success and satisfaction.

The path to the top isn't glamorous. It's daily horse care, systematic training, countless disappointments, and the choice to get back in the saddle tomorrow. But for those who refuse to quit, it's also the most rewarding journey you could possibly choose.

Keep grinding, keep learning, and remember - every champion started exactly where you are now.