True grit - The unseen miles

Where true breeders, like true runners, find their strength

I have just finished reading an inspiring book called “The Finish Line is Never the Finish” by Sean Lacow.

It is about the journey of a runner, and then his impact as a coach. It inspired me to write this:

Grit in the paddock

Running has its roads. We have our arenas, paddocks, and night watches. The runner faces the wall at mile twenty. We face it when the foal will not stand, when the feed truck is late, or when a year’s worth of breeding plans fall apart.

Just as the runner keeps moving when their lungs are burning, we keep showing up when the plan unravels. Grit is not a medal. It is muck boots at dawn. It is a quiet decision to keep walking toward the stable when every muscle says stop.

Every breeder knows the easy part is dreaming. The hard part is keeping faith when nature reminds you who is really in charge. Grit is not talent. It is not luck. It is the thing that kicks in when both of those have left the paddock.

Just as the runner trains in the dark long before the race, the horse breeder works in silence long before the result. You see grit in the mare who lost her foal but still pricks her ears at the sound of a bucket. You see it in the trainer who works a problem colt until trust replaces tension. You see it in yourself when you put down the disappointment and pick up the lead rope again.

There are no medals for the heartbreaks we survive. No applause for the nights we wait through colic, or the sales that fall through, or the plans that never make it past the gate. But grit lives there, in the unseen hours, holding the line when everything shakes.

Just as the runner finds strength in the rhythm of their breath, we find it in the rhythm of the feed scoop, the soft snort in the stable, the steady sound of hooves on the yard. Those rhythms remind us that progress is built on persistence, not perfection.

The truth? The finish line never comes. It is not the ribbon at the show, not the sale contract, not even the perfect foal. It is merely a checkpoint. A reminder to keep refining, to stay humble, to keep learning.

Because breeding, like running, is not about winning. It is about becoming unbreakable.

So the next time things fall apart, and they will, remember this. Grit is not about pushing harder. It is about staying true, steady, and kind under pressure.

Now take a breath. Walk down to the paddock. Look at your horses. They already know.

Then, start again.

That rhythm keeps us moving.
Running teaches us about horses, and horses teach us about life

The still miles

There is another kind of grit. The kind that does not gallop.

Healing after injury teaches a different rhythm. It asks for stillness when everything in you wants to move.

It teaches the grit to be quiet, to rest, to let time do its work. For a breeder, that might mean stepping back from the arena, allowing a mare to recover, or giving yourself permission to pause without guilt.

Just as the runner learns to heal without ego, we must learn to wait without panic. To trust that growth continues even in the stillness. Horses heal in their own time. So do we.

This is grit of a different color. It is not loud or determined. It is patient. It listens. It forgives. It begins again, on kinder terms with ourselves and the horses we love.

Because even when we are still, we are not stopped. We are gathering strength for the next run.

The long run of horsemanship -
because the finish line is never the finish

If this article got you thinking, you’ll find even more inspiration in my collection of ebooks and guides. They’re written for breeders who want practical, proven advice without the fluff. Some are free, most are priced between $7 and $27—affordable tools that can save you years of frustration.

Here are a few highlights:

• Making the Match – practical strategies for choosing the right stallion for your mare.

• Selective Breeding – how to use genetics and planning to lift the quality of your foals generation by generation.

• Breed Healthy Foals – a clear, step-by-step guide to preparing your mare and giving foals the best possible start.

• The Thinking Horse Breeder – a deeper dive into mindset, patience, and long-term planning for success.

  Check them out here: