There are few times in my life that I feel waves of deep emotions, not in a stone hearted way – but in a way where you are unable to put into words the depth of your feelings because they go deeper than the emotions experienced on a daily level. But in the last few weeks I have found myself engulfed with immense pride, and I wanted to say thank you.
Those who know me will know how much I dislike talking about ‘my’ own achievements – whilst I encourage it in others and find huge pleasure listening to other people, I am annoyingly typically ‘British’. The thought of celebrating ‘wins’ that include me on any part doesn’t come naturally, much like praise from others makes me blush, dismiss the conversation and move the topic swiftly along – something with is a skill I have perfected over the years!
But over the last few weeks I have been experiencing things that I just have to share because I am so unbelievably proud of Lou and I, of you guys, and of everything we have created. There I said it – I’m proud of me and LouBird.
And here is why…
In Equiteam we talk a lot of about the power of connections, community and support and when we founded Equiteam Connected we set out to achieve a safe online community, focussed around kindness, support and encouragement, where people could have access to correct learning, share their highs and lows, ask advice, grow and find their equestrian connections/friends. But my god have you guys taken this to the next level and it actually blows my mind!
A couple of weeks ago at an Equiteam Confidence Camp day at Totleywells, I walked into the gallery/dining area on my lunch break to find it filled with warmth, laughter, chat, people meeting for the first time, people catching up, people putting names to faces and honestly – it was magical.
This is not unusual for an Equiteam day/camp – but the thing that made it so different was that so many Equiteamers, who weren’t riding that day, had gone out of the way to pop in for a cuppa, a chat, to support friends, to say Hi and be present. I might have been tired, but a pang of pride hit me hard, I sipped my soup and sat in silence just taking it all in, realising that all these people were in this room, happy, sharing, glowing, because of Equiteam.
Over the course of our existence there have been so many instances of support going above and beyond throughout the existence of Equiteam at some really pivitol points in people’s lives, and each time it makes me so grateful that we have this community around us. But they are not just there when the cards are down, Equiteamers are there to celebrate each others highs with so much genuine passion, pride and shared emotion.
I was reminded again of this deep feeling today when one of our fabulous Equiteam members, Jen Craig, was competing at The London International Horse Show in the BSHA Rising Star Heavyweight Hunter – what an achievement.
But it didn’t stop there. As the messages of support flooded in on in our Equiteam Connected group, other members turned up in London to watch the class in-person, others tuned in online, one made an awesome supporters sign to take to the show, and then watched the class whilst on a video call with me so I could watch as well (thank you Hannah). The excitement was real and buzzing – and what makes it even more special is that half of these people have never met each other in real life – and that is really when it hit me…
We did it. Lou and I always say that it is YOU – the amazing people in our community that makes Equiteam so special and it really is – you are the Sequoia trees, but for one small moment in my typically British self-praising brain, I realised that although our trees now stand taller and more together than we ever dared believe was possible, we planted and nurtured the roots, and for that I am so deeply proud.
Liz x
