 |
| Wheee! An Icelandic with great hair! |
We got to the meeting and I was waaaaaaayyyyyy over caffeinated from getting up early and downing 4 cups of coffee while practicing/perfecting my presentation. When I started in to my presentation, I could hear that my voice was a little tense. To illustrate a particular point I shared an anecdote from one of my equestrian experiences, and the key contact from the company we were presenting to stopped me.
"You're an equestrian? What discipline? What breed is your horse?"
Well, I certainly wasn't expecting the conversation to go in that direction! I answered him, and so began a 10 minute discussion of his former boss, who happened to breed Icelandic horses. We chatted about the Icelandic horse, it's origins, how Iceland does not allow horses to be imported into the country and does not allow exported horses to return, and the two extra gaits the breed possesses, the tölt and the flugskeið. (please don't ask me how to pronounce the second one - I haven't a clue!)
My colleagues sat there, completely at a loss as to how the conversation had gotten away from them and without a clue as to how to get it back on track. After a few more minutes of horse talk the client and I returned to the business at hand and the presentation went off without a hitch. I have to admit all the talk about horses calmed my nerves, and I was much more relaxed when I began to present.
Isn't it funny how bizarrely easy it is to make a connection with someone when talking about horses? I mean, how random was that?
Have you ever had an experience like that? Connecting with a total stranger over the subject of horses?
That is sooooo cool! Usually I just get strangers asking me a lot of questions about horses because they think it's interesting, and then that turns into "all Lauren talks/knows about are horses!"
ReplyDeleteLauren - that is soooo true! I hate that!
ReplyDeleteYes, all the time! And even if there isn't a direct horse connection a lot of people usually want to know more. Especially when I tell them my mare is expecting a baby.
ReplyDeleteAwww, your mare is having a baby?? When is she due? Please send pics via the AWIP FB page if you're comfortable with that -- I'd love to see the little one. :)
DeleteI notice that I pick up the word "horse" in conversations that people are having around me. Okay, I guess it's kind of eavesdropping, but very unintentionally. A few months ago I was on a flight and a young woman across the aisle from me was reading George Morris's book on equitation. I kept debating if I should try to talk to her. I opted not to as I thought I would seem really nosey since she was at least two people away from me. The only incident I can think of that is remotely like your presentation one is that our school psychologist that I had known for years, had been part of several meetings together was also a horse person but we had never figured that out about each other. When we did figure this out we went from friendly acquaintances to fellow horse lovers and that led to a trip to the barn to see her horse and later dinner out. In fact she retired a few years ago and I should probably email her now and see how things are going with her and her Arabian. :)
ReplyDeleteSo, so true!
ReplyDeleteI've been fortunate to have several equestrians among my clients over the years. It's like having a secret handshake -- instant connection!
ReplyDeleteI've been fortunate enough to have several equestrians among my clients. In fact, it was one of them who started me riding again after a 7-year hiatus. It's like having a secret handshake and provides and instant connection.
ReplyDelete