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The road to the top of the hunter/jumper world isn’t paved with ribbons. It’s laid with early mornings, sweat equity, and an unwavering work ethic. Few people understand this better than Don Stewart, a renowned trainer known for producing top equitation riders and hunters. While talent certainly plays a role, Stewart is quick to point out that work ethic is what truly separates the good from the great.
“If you want to make it in this sport, you’ve got to show up early and get dirty,” he said. “That’s the bottom line.”
It Starts in the Barn
In an era when specialization is common and grooms handle most of the care, Stewart still believes in riders learning from the ground up. For him, success isn’t just about what happens in the saddle.
“The ones who learn to tack up their horses, sweep the barn aisle, wrap legs, muck stalls… that’s where the real horsemanship starts,” he said. “That’s where the commitment shows.”
Stewart’s top students aren’t just polished in the ring. They’re often the first to arrive and the last to leave. They learn to recognize when a horse isn’t quite right, when the footing needs adjusting, or when a feed chart is off. Those details matter.
“This sport is about a partnership with the animal,” Stewart added. “You can’t have a true partnership if you don’t know your horse inside and out.”
Talent Can Only Take You So Far
While Stewart has coached plenty of naturally talented riders, he’s seen just as many flame out without discipline or grit.
“There are a lot of talented kids out there,” he said. “But if they don’t want to put in the work, if they think it’s just about showing up for the class and then disappearing, they’re not going to last.”
In contrast, Stewart points to riders who might not have had the fanciest horses or biggest budgets, but who made up for it with hustle.
“Some of the best riders I’ve had were scrappy,” he said. “They worked, they asked questions, they paid attention. That’s what gets you somewhere.”
Show Up With Purpose
Stewart’s advice isn’t just about chores. It’s about showing up, physically and mentally, with intention every day.
“Every lesson, every hack, every warm-up is an opportunity,” he said. “You have to treat it like it matters.”
That means riders need to be prepared. They should know the schedule, understand the horse’s program, and be present for the moments between the spotlight rides. It’s about cultivating responsibility, and that’s something Stewart doesn’t compromise on.
“You want to ride at the top? Then show me you care about everything else that leads up to that moment,” he said.
Building Trust with Trainers (and Horses)
Being reliable, Stewart emphasized, isn’t just good for your own development. It’s also good for the people around you.
“When a rider shows me they’re invested, I’m invested too,” he said. “I’ll go out of my way to help that kid get an opportunity.”
The same goes for horses. Stewart believes they can sense when a rider is present and connected—not just during a course, but in the quiet moments of grooming or hand-walking.
“That kind of consistency builds trust,” he said. “And when you have trust, that’s when the magic happens.”
The Bottom Line
If there’s one takeaway from Stewart’s decades in the industry, it’s that showing up matters. Not just on show day, not just for the lessons, but for the whole process.
“People want the shortcut,” he said. “But in this sport, the shortcut is doing the work.”
To hear more from Don Stewart, listen to episode 320 of The Plaidcast. Subscribe and follow The Plaidcast on your favorite podcast platform for more insight from top voices in the equestrian world.
