Meet Yulia Brat | Equestrian, horse and riders trainer.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yulia Brat and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yulia, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I have started riding horses 6 days a week when I was 6 years old. originally because I had a scoliosis and my dad was adamant about horse riding strengthening the muscles of my back, later because I got totally addicted – both to the horses, AND to living by the rules of that school of Olympic reserve that I was a part of. I wanted to become same good as the Best riders. I wanted to go to Olympics. For the next 28 years there was no work life balance, my life was work. and not just work, but HARD work: 6-7 days a week, long hours, with the horses there is no room for sick days or vacations. They need their care, their attention, their exercise, if you stop training – you won’t win.
I was so busy working and training as an athlete that I didn’t realize how I missed years when my age group was learning how to feel, hear, see – yourself and others. All I had was eyes on the prize. And in 28 years of that race it hadn’t occurred to me to ask myself WHY this prize is so important? is it so important for me, or for someone else who got into my head when I was 6 and is still sitting there, making my choices for me? So as of 2 years ago I started experimenting: I tried to not work at all and just travel and learned that it also is not my thing 🙂 Now, after I have experienced both extremes – it should be pretty easy to find the balance. At lease they say so. I love horses, horses were, are and always will be in my life, it’s the absolute importance of “winning” that I’m questioning.

What should our readers know about your business?
I have 3 professional educations related to horses, I lived in many countries working with horses, and traveled even more. What I love to say is that being able to ride horses well – is like knowing a language – you may come to any place that has horses and even if you don’t speak their language you will find a job and some like-minded friends =) it’s amazing.

So right now I am building what we call “a training program” in Florida fully under my name – YB Equestrian. Mainly my work consists of two parts: one is teaching horses to tolerate people, another one is teaching people how to actually understand horses and perform a non verbal communication to them – in a way that horses would WANT to do things for you. And then you can decide where to go with it – you can jump little obstacles for fun and adrenaline, or you can go all the way to Grand Prix levels; you may learn dressage (dancing routine for the horses and riders): or you can enjoy trail riding in the most beautiful places of this world – whatever rocks your boat 🙂 I train jumpers of the highest levels. But I also work with the first time horse owners, and even with future horse owners. But only with those who wants to understand horses, instead of just sitting on them. Horses always come first.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I mean in my {horse} world – it’s Wellington for sure 🙂 Winter Equestrian Capital of the World. That’s why I moved here from California.
It’s close to Palm Beach, so spending time in Palm Beach is one of the favorite things to do: Worth avenue walks, amazing beach, amazing real estate to drive by.

I got to spend very little time in Miami yet, cause I moved here recently, and my work life balance is not enough life, but I know i like Hollywood beach!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shout out to my father who never stopped being present for me after their divorce when I was 6. This wonderful man reorganized his life in such way that EVERY DAY he came to pick me up from mom’s, take me to my horse riding lessons, then bring me back, and then go to his home (on the other side of a big city). Papa, thank you.

I would like to give a shout out to numerous strangers that appeared on the course of my life at the unexpected moments, showed kindness, humanity and support, and then disappeared same unexpectedly as appeared, but my life was changed just enough for me to thank them here. I think of you all when I do it for other people.

And I would like to give a shout out to my most recent ex boyfriend, we didn’t work out romantically, but he was certainly “sent to me” to raise unheard of questions: what is that that I REALLY feel, why potentially winning in the future deserves more attention than being in the present, and what is the point of being in relationship. Thank you, Alex, the sport school taught me to follow the rules and you reminded me to question things again.

Website: https://YBHorsetraining.com

Instagram: @yulia_brat

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yb-equestrian-southwest-ranches?osq=Horseback+Riding

Other: second IG @ yb_eq

Image Credits
Kate Halteh
Katherine Ozimaja
Andrew Ryback