10/17/2025
When a round goes poorly, itās tempting for riders to shrug and say, āIām just not talented enough.ā The idea that natural ability separates the great riders from everyone else has been around forever. But Geoff Teall argues that this belief is not only falseāitās dangerous.
Most riders have fallen back on the excuse of lacking talent at one point or another. Itās an easy way to relieve pressure when things arenāt going well. As Teall puts it, āLack of talent is a great stress reliever. It allows you to say things like, āI didnāt do that right. Itās not because Iām not trying hard, itās because Iām not talented.āā
The problem with this mindset is that it creates a false barrier to improvement. If talent is all that matters, then thereās no point in trying harder or practicing longer. You either have it, or you donāt. Teall dismisses this as a āridiculous excuse.ā
In Teallās philosophy, ātalent is so unimportant when compared to interest, when compared to desire, and when compared to hard work.ā A disciplined rider with modest natural ability will almost always surpass a gifted rider who lacks focus and consistency.
This is because riding, at its core, is about repetition, discipline, and refinement. Correct position, independent hands, balance, and feel arenāt bestowed at birth. They are developed through hours of practice. Riders who commit themselves to mastering the basics methodically are the ones who end up achieving the most.
Discipline, in Teallās view, is the great equalizer. Itās not glamorous, and it doesnāt make for dramatic breakthroughs overnight. But itās what keeps riders drilling the fundamentals, fixing bad habits, and returning to the saddle day after day, even when progress feels slow.
Discipline also shows up in the riderās mindset. A disciplined rider doesnāt let frustration boil over in the schooling ring. They donāt look for shortcuts or gimmicks. They know that equitation isnāt about doing flashy things, but about doing the simple things, like keeping a steady pace or following softly with the hands, better than anyone else.
Teall emphasizes that ādrive and determination are enormously leveling factors.ā This is particularly encouraging for the average rider who may not fit the ideal body type, have limitless financial backing, or possess the innate āfeelā that others seem to show.
A rider who truly wants to improveāis willing to put in the workāwill often outpace a peer who relies only on raw ability. The sport rewards persistence. Every hour spent practicing correct position, every lesson spent refining basics, builds toward the riderās long-term success.
š Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/10/15/talent-vs-hard-work-what-really-creates-great-riders/
šø Ā© Heather N. Photography
