🎙️Podcast Alert! Harnessing Success: An Interview with Paul Bennett, Master Horseman and Carriage Driver

LISTEN NOW! You do NOT want to miss this podcast episode! While we are the Resilient Reiner podcast, that does not mean we don’t look to connect with riders and professionals from other disciplines. Paul Bennett has decades of experience in the horse industry and while he started out wanting to to be a 3-day eventer, once he tried driving teams of horses he was hooked! I know you will enjoy hearing his stories about delivering 2 metric tons of beer in Newcastle, to driving coaches across Europe and the Bavarian Alps, and more. And he has the best perspective on how everything is an opportunity for growth and learning. And, I appreciated his refreshing perspective on the importance of keeping fun for horse and rider at the forefront of our training and all our interactions with our horses. I am honored to share our conversation with you today. Enjoy!

A few quotes from Paul:

– “So whatever you are thinking or feeling goes straight down them reins to them.”

– “It’s gotta be fun for everybody- you and your horse or horses.”

– “If you’ve tried your best and failed, I don’t care. But if you haven’t tried and failed, I’m gonna be cross.”

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Timestamps! There were so many wonderful moments, it’s hard to highlight only a few!!

• 2:41 Delivered 2 metric tons of beer 3 miles out from the city center in Newcastle!

• 8:05 Paul remembers being told while driving down a busy 2-lane highway with hot horses to “just relax.” Learning that whatever the horse does you just gotta become more relaxed.

• 9:58 Paul shares how important it is to have acceptance of what is when it comes to your horse. Just meet your horse wherever they are at mentally each day and deal with it. He also shares a story illustrating the impact a different rider/coachman with a different mental state has on a team of horses.

• 15:21 “I've found that an incredible amount of horses rely on the rider or driver for confidence.”

• 18:01 proper preparation and planning makes competition go more smoothly and reduces stress

• 19:21 time working for Andreas Nemitz doing driving/coaching tours throughout Europe. A story illustrating why overconfidence can be as damaging as no confidence.

• 30:29 What contributes to success in driving a combination?

• 34:11 “I learned a lot about mental fatigue.” When should you be ending sessions for beginning drivers?

• 39:49 How does Paul stay calm and composed during all of these high pressure situations while driving?

• 40:04 Is buying a made-horse enough?

• 41:23 Getting in the zone with your horse(s)

• 46:09 horses change/adjust to their riders. “If you can control the energy, your energy, you know, mentally and physically, you can control the energy of your horse.”

• 48:00 working as Director of Coaching Livestock for Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Virginia. We discuss the importance of wanting to learn, to get better, and being coachable as well as how to slowly ramp up the obstacles you and your horse face to level up your skills (technical and mental). Even experienced riders need to take breaks and take a step back when things aren’t working.

• 56:14 Progress happens for horses and humans when we’re relaxed and having fun! Respect each horse as an individual.

• 1:00:19 What is the definition of preparedness: “if you had to sum up what is being prepared, it’s making sure that whatever you’re doing is fun.” It’s gotta be FUN for everybody. Parents and kids! And horses! Helps grow the industry. Touch on resilience- try again tomorrow. Don’t over identify with success. Horses are great levelers.

• Wise advice from his mother: “If you’ve tried your best and failed, I don’t care. But if you haven’t tried and failed, I’m gonna be cross.” always take every experience as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Definitely check out this episode! You will enjoy yourself and be inspired to just try again if you make a mistake, and you’ll find yourself looking for ways to make your next ride more fun!

Happy Trails,

Nicole

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