It can be very easy to see the worst of people, especially if you turn the news on for five minutes to hear about the truly awful things people are doing to each other both in this country and abroad.
However, in the last couple of weeks, I have witnessed the positive power of people and connection and it is an amazing thing.
Equiteam’s confidence camps are usually filled with riders who have been to camp before with one or two new people who are lucky enough to get a space. This isn’t because we favour people we know (although many of them have become true friends and we love spending time with them), it’s because the people who have been before, don’t have to think about whether they want to book, they know how quickly the spaces go, so they book and worry about the logistics of work and family later.
Our last two camps of the year however had a larger percentage than usual of ‘newbies’ which was so nice. It also meant there were more people than usual in the bothy at the morning briefing looking like frightened rabbits in the headlights.
Doing new things with your horse, especially if you are suffering from a lack of confidence is a huge deal, it takes courage, preparation and a lot of digging deep. We often say, just getting to camp is the hardest part. In fact, one lady confessed that she had booked spaces several times before, but always cancelled as she couldn’t quite find the courage to come.
One of the things we always say at our morning welcome chat is to remember that everyone is here for the same reasons, and although they might be jumping bigger than you can currently dream of, or look as though they have it all together, they know exactly how you feel too. Everyone is pushing out of their comfort zone.
The thing that really made me smile in September was the way the riders who have been to camp many times before, just scooped the new people up into their supportive bubble and made them feel safe and part of the team. They did this without thinking, and not for praise but just because they wanted those people to be able to take a breath, relax, enjoy their time at camp and get the most out of it. It’s hard to put into words what a special thing this is:
“Helping someone might not change the world, but it might change someone’s world”
The reason we created the EquiTeam online membership was because we couldn’t meet the demand of riders wanting a piece of the camp magic. This safe and supportive place where it is ok to be vulnerable and admit that you need help, a space to learn and grow and when you are able, to inspire others too.
We often talk about the fact that Equiteam Camps and EquiTeam Connected are safe spaces where there is zero negativity and you can always find a helpful answer and 100% support, but I think I had perhaps started to take It for granted a little. Seeing first-hand the huge impact people can make, by showing a little kindness, compassion and support to others renewed my faith in humanity. It really is quite something.
One of our lovely new members recently shared this from a LinkedIn post, saying it reminded her of the EquiTeam Community. It does sum up our incredible team very well.
“Most people think sequoias survive because they’re massive.
But that’s not even close to the real reason.
If you’ve ever had the privilege standing beside one of these giants, you’ll find it hard NOT to think of resilience.
These trees can live through droughts, fires, storms, and climate shifts that would kill almost anything else.
But as an engineer this is what I’m fixated on:
The tallest tree in the world has roots that only go 6-12 feet deep.
That should be impossible. A 300-foot tree with shallow roots makes no sense from an engineering perspective.
But… Sequoias don’t survive alone.
Their root systems spread 50-80 feet wide and interweave with every other sequoia around them.
They share nutrients, water, and structural support. When storms come in, they support each other.
The forest is the system: Not the individual trees.
I couldn’t stop thinking about this.
Most people try to build resilience by making themselves bigger, stronger, more independent. They stockpile resources, they build higher walls, they go it alone.
But the most resilient systems in nature are interconnected.
Maybe the question isn’t “how do I become more self-sufficient?” but “how do I become more meaningfully connected to the right systems?”” – Rob Avis
The magic of EquiTeam is the people – you are the ones who support each other and make the world and each other’s worlds a better place.
Thank you for all you do.
Lou x
