08/14/2026
Turning professional can feel overwhelming at first, and having support and guidance available is incredibly valuable, Lindsay Ransom writes. I have been a professional for twenty years. Over that time, I’ve learned that everyone defines success differently.
Personally, I consider myself successful because I try to maintain a reasonable work-life balance, work alongside a respected program and an excellent team, and have achieved results in the ring that I am proud of, including multiple Year-End USHJA Zone Horse of the Year and National Horse of the Year titles, multiple National Hunter Derby wins, championships at major shows, and a Top 12 Tier II finish at the 2025 USHJA International Derby Finals in Lexington, KY.
1. Your junior career does not define your future success
This was something I struggled with early on. I assumed professional success only belonged to riders who had done all the “right” junior things: top equitation finals, junior hunters, winters in Florida, junior jumpers, and so on. While many riders follow that path successfully, it is far from the only route into this profession.
My own trajectory looked very different. While some of my peers were achieving major results in the show ring, I was learning how to develop young horses, ride difficult ponies, and catch-ride anything I could get on. In hindsight, those experiences became incredibly valuable. They taught me adaptability, horse management, preparation, and how to work with a wide range of personalities, both equine and human. Those skills have served me every day of my professional career.
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