Perfect is the enemy of good

"When I was in my early 20s, one of my favorite clinicians was in the habit of quoting Voltaire: "The perfect is the enemy of the good". At the time, my reaction was to roll my eyes and shrug. To me, this sounded weak, uncommitted, defeatist. I heard it as "Drop your standards, embrace mediocrity." This might suit riders who didn't know or care enough to want their riding to be perfect, but it certainly didn't apply to me! That was then. Now, with 30-plus years of teaching behind me, I often find  myself quoting Voltaire.

Perfection is ideal and flawless. It is beyond excellent and cannot be improved. "Good" is a positive achievement that leaves room for improvement. "Good" does not mean "mediocre". Consider the fact that in dressage competitions, a score of 10 signifies excellent, not perfect. This is an important distinction. Even excellence can, and should be, improved on. There's a serious downside to an obsession with perfection.

Striving to be perfect means to be reaching for the unattainable. For some riders, this thought is inspiring or even comforting: "I can always improve, I can always do better, there's always room to grow, and I will never be bored." For other riders, the concept of "perfect" is overwhelming and demoralizing. Their perfectionism leads first to procrastination and then to inertia. Since they can't be perfect and they don't want to settle for anything less than perfection, they resolve their dilemma by doing nothing. When perfection becomes a prerequisite, it's not just the enemy of good; it's also the enemy of action.

Riders obsessed with perfection lose the ability to evaluate themselves, their horses, and their progress. They define themselves and their horses by faults, flaws and inadequacies. They see only two possibilities: "Perfect" and "not good enough." For them, the conflict between perfect and good has taken the joy from riding.

Riders need to be self-analytical so they can evaluate their progress, but unrealistic goals interfere. Keep a place for "perfect" in the back of your mind - that ideal image does have value - but beware of making it your goal.

 Kathrin Meyer zu Strohen & Rassolini

In my experience, the riders who make the best progress and have the happiest horses are those who define themselves and their horses not by their mistakes and imperfections but by their qualities, efforts and progress. These riders are well aware of their flaws and shortcomings, and they work hard to correct them. But they also recognize and appreciate small, incremental improvements, and their overall attitude is "It's taking time, but I'm becoming a better rider, my horse is becoming a better horse and we're as good as our best ride."

An obsession with perfection can block progress, but hard work, a focus on quality, and a positive attitude will lead directly to progress - steady progress at that. In your daily work, strive for improvement and aim for excellence rather than perfection. "Better" makes an ideal perpetual goal. It's always challenging and it's also always achievable.

Perfect is the enemy of good, but "better" is good's best friend."

By Jessica Jahiel, printed in Dressage Today.        

Isernhagen 2012

Last weekend it was time for the annual show in Isernhagen, just north of Hannover. I went there with my trainers, as they had a foal to be shown, registered and branded. Here she is:

But before we could go to Isernhagen, we had to pick up her and her mum, who are stabled at the same place as Donna. So I went to look for her, found her herd (who came running!) but it took some time before I found her, as she was hiding in another part of the big field. There was not enough time to go to her, so all I have is a picture from afar. 

 I think she looks happy!

 In Isernhagen the first foals were already being showed to the judges. The best foals are usually also accepted to the big foal actions of the breeding associations.

Our little foal without a name (yet) was surprisingly calm and manageable, we had all feared far worse as she hadn't really been trained that much to wear a head collar or being led, and certainly was not used to crowds or a show atmosphere. She spent her time grazing when she could or trying to play with her mother, who on the other hand was far more affected be the whole thing! But the real test was still to come...

Warming up the branding irons...

The Oldenburg breeding association was present to register all Oldenburger foals. Which means microchipping and, at least this time, branding. I was pretty exited to finally witness a foal branding myself, as I had only heard about it until then.

The microchip is obligatory. On the foal in the picture you can see where they shaved the fur off before implanting the tiny chip. The area is also sprayed beforehand, so that the skin is numbed. Most foals were pretty stressed, mostly I think because it takes some time (shaving, spraying, implanting) and there's a lot to react to (sound of the clippers, spray etc). The branding does take less time.

Of course the foals are stressed by this, but it happens so quick that they hardly have a chance to react. I've written about branding before, and what I saw didn't really change my mind. I do understand the breeders who say that the foals are less stressed by the branding - at the moment that it's being done. But I still think this is more because they are surprised, not because it hurts less. Some people talk about the horrendous damages that the microchips can cause. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've never seen a horse or foal (including my own) with damage from microchipping. Or as one breeder said: "Well you never know, the chips can wander in the horses body, and then they end up in a joint and they are lame!" Eh, that's another type of chip. Anyway, the new animal welfare law is being processed this year, so we'll have to way and see how it turns out.

Another big event, was the second ever show for "our" stallion. I've mentioned him before - he's Fonti's half-brother, out of the same Rubinstein-mare but is by Florestan I instead of Fürst Piccolo (who is by Fidermark, also a Florestan I-son).

Fernet as he's called was licensed for Oldenburg and Westfalen earlier this year. At his first show a couple of weeks ago, he placed second after having to go into the ring without a proper warm-up. 






This time, things were even better!





And so he won the class with a 8,7 score with 8,5 in all gaits and twice got a 9.0 for harmony and rideability and "educational status"!!

 

In the more advanced classes, the level was also high. Some prominent riders had found their way to Isernhagen, like Isabell Werth,

and Kathrin Meyer zu Strohen, here with the stallion Rassolini.

Before their round they warmed up outside of the warm-up arena, riding alone on the grass. I was overwhelmed by the harmony and lightness they radiated - not one misunderstanding, not once any unwillingness or resistance. And look at the row of photos below. No matter in what phase of the trot the horse is in, the rider is always (!) sitting with a near perfect position, at least to my eyes, and she always has a light contact with the bridle. I took many photos of this pair, and not one turned out badly.

 

 

Berlin in June

 

Berlin-Mitte in the morning

 

 

 A few weeks back I went, together with a fellow student, to Berlin to attend a colic-seminar over two days. From 9 until 19 we spent our time in the room pictured above, learning about many very interesting cases and conditions. Of course we also spent some time in the city - the weather was fortunately on our side.

 Tiergarten

Relaxing in front of the Charlottenburg castle

 

Saturday evening it was time for the European soccer championships. We watched it outside with some friends at a "beach bar" in the middle of the city, complete with sand and palm trees!

Of course you have to drink the local beer

 Another day, another sport: A friend of mine, also a veterinary student, completed the Berlin bike race, 120 km, in just over 3 hours - impressive! Out of 13 000 competitors she was no. 12 in her age group and no. 72 in the ladies division.

 Our trainstation, "Botanical garden"

 Berlin wall, the part that's called the Eastside gallery

Photoreport Luhmühlen 2011

 This time last year - the European Eventing Championship in Luhmühlen, Germany: