My guest for this episode of the podcast is Tik Maynard. If you follow Road to the Horse, known as the world championship of colt starting, you know him as the winner of the last two years. Besides that distinction, he is a 3 day event rider, clinician, and horse trainer.
Yet,Tik shared a very simple bio about himself:
Author of two books. Father of two kids.
Also: three-day event rider, husband, juggler, dad-joke teller, Road To The Horse competitor.
There is a LOT more to Tik than this bio indicates, and I’ll leave it to you to look him up on the internet to find all the things he’s accomplished. However, talking about this simple bio was a great kickoff to a very deep and intentional conversation.
This conversation ranged from the very practical – how did you prepare for Road to the Horse, to the philosophical – how do we balance our training with horses in ways that are acceptable? Underneath all of it was the theme of confidence.
We talked a lot about his latest book, Starting in the Middle: How Horses, Those Who Study Them, and 265 Minutes with One Colt Helped Me Find Myself at Midlife. This is a horse book that’s really more about learning, navigating doubt and cultivating a spark. It’s by far my most highlighted book in the last few years.
As always, please share this with anyone you think would find it useful. And let me know how you are using what you learn! I read every email.
Show Notes
- Introduction and Guest Background (0:02)
- Balancing Work and Life (4:24)
- Pressure and Performance (12:03)
- Learning and Training Techniques (16:24)
- Horse Training Philosophy (22:33)
- Building Trust and Relationships (52:26)
- Handling Pressure and Discomfort (52:46)
- Consistency and Boundaries (57:55)
- Reframing Challenges (1:05:18)
- Final Thoughts and Reflections (1:07:36)
- Liberty Training and Preparation (1:07:51)
- Handling Pressure and Intentionality (1:13:15)
- The Role of Fear and Confidence (1:20:11)
- Expanding Perspectives and Courage (1:28:36)
- Promoting Books and Podcasts (1:30:53)
Contact Information
Email: Tik@Tik.ca