Adding Value
Recently, there were three of us sitting around the table, trying to work out why a lame horse was lame. And no, we couldn’t call the vet, since the country we were in, isn’t that easy. We were each coming at the problem from a slightly different angle. I was reminded about two other conversations…One is from a friend who works in the corporate world, who is always talking about how, in every situation, you need to somehow add value to the job, situation, meeting or customer interaction. If you are not giving value, or adding input, then why are you there? As they say, it takes two hands to clap – if you as the coach, advisor, expert, skilled worker etc add value, then the customer, client, pupil can receive the best of what is offered. If the coach is not adding value, the pupil cannot make an awesome, positive, constructive lesson all on their own, and equally, if the pupil is off or negative, having a bad day, its hard for the coach to do all of the work. There has to be an interaction – there have to be two hands to clap. Even the pupil with the best intentions of being really attentive and taking things from the lesson, can’t do that if the coach is not mentally there. So, whenever I go into a lesson or problem-solving situation, at the back of my mind is, am I adding value to the mix? And I inputting ideas, thoughts, helping the situation. If you say – “that’s bad” it’s a negative that no one can draw any ideas from, but if you can say “hmmm, maybe the issue is this, but we can try x, y, z to fix it” then, you are adding value.
I was also reminded of a conversation a long time ago, with a horse health care professional. He said, if I own a hammer, then all I see are nails… Let’s say that we have a lame horse standing in front of us, and there are twenty of the world’s greatest authorities on lame horses. The first is a farrier, who says, well, I see a bad nail, and a slight ridge there – the issue is in the horse’s feet. The second is a saddler, who says the saddle is not quite square, and there could be friction just here. That is why he is lame. The third is a bit fitter, who says, the shape of the mouthpiece doesn’t suit this horse, that will cause resistance, tension, unlevelness… The fourth is a chiropractor, who says the horse’s pelvis is unlevel, he’s not moving right behind. The fifth is the riding coach, who says, the rider is crooked… And so it goes on…. What ever my skill (my hammer) I see the issue through those eyes. Do any of us see the whole horse? Not entirely, no, I don’t think so. Is there one clear reason why the horse is lame? Sometimes, and sometimes all of these experts are right and it’s a accumulative effect of all elements…Which leads me back to the horse who we were trying to de-code. Did we get it right? Not entirely, no. I think we needed more tools in the tool kit, but we made a good start at unravelling. How to find the right tool? I don’t know at this point… Is the horse constantly at the back of my mind? Oh yes…
So, what is your hammer? When you approach a horse problem, what can you bring to the table? I think it’s your responsibility, as an owner, as a rider, to be able to bring something to the table. Read, study, watch your horse. Maybe the value you can bring to the table is an awareness – he always trashes his bed and this week it was too tidy for him to have been lying down. He always eats all of his hay overnight, but this week there has been some left. He always stretches before walking out of the stable, but this week he didn’t want too… Notice things, that is often the first big key in sorting something out… Is he drinking less water? Is he grinding his teeth when he didn’t in the past? Is he wearing out the toe of his shoe? What’s different?What do I bring to the table? I know horses. I know what is right and what isn’t. I can see gait patterns. I can see straightness and irregular steps. I believe my gut reaction that says something is off or not. I have a sense of horses and have picked up a fair amount of anatomy and symptoms. I can tell you if a saddle is bad, or a bit is too big, or the shoes are too small. Am I a vet, or a farrier? No. But I can often tell you where you need to be looking, or what expert to bring in.
So, who do you have around your table? If your horse came out of his stable lame or sick tomorrow, who would add value to him and his recovery? How can you surround yourself with people who not only have a hammer, but a screwdriver, pliers and a wrench too? And, what value can you add, to his life, to your conversations with him, and to your lessons? Where do you add value? Can you add value to his surroundings and wellbeing? Sometimes something as simple as a thicker bed, or patch of sand to roll in can add value to his day. If horses could pick their owners, would your horse pick you.Follow