October 7th 2023

Last weekend we went to a draft animal event and I was a bit nervous about it. Even though I’ve been driving horses for four years now I’m still very much a beginner compared to many teamsters. I showed up a little tentative and insecure. Three days later I flew home feeling more confident in myself, proud of our horses, and buzzing with new ideas and inspiration. Seeing people passionate and dedicated to their craft always makes me want to push myself and focus more. There is a culture and community around draft power and it was really rewarding to experience that. The reoccurring theme seemed to be “everyone is different.” Every teamster, every animal and every day was different. I learned lots of things to bring home, there were other aspects and ideas I don’t plan to pursue, and at other times I saw reflections of my own approach and my own ideas. I think part of what made this so impactful was the diversity, the grace and freedom to be exactly who you are. Everyone is holding themselves to their own high standards. No one is competing, no one is the same, no one claims to have all of the answers. This is where we grow. This is where we learn. This is what motivates people. Now I find myself looking around my daily life trying to carry this forward. The idea that we can cultivate space to let people be their truest self and in turn we push ourselves and each other to be better everyday.