The Ride Of Your Life

Andre Dignelli: “Life is a Competition” This top trainer puts his best foot forward every day. By Tricia Conahan

- Tricia Conahan

PH Was it hard to be a working-class kid breaking into such an expensive sport?

AD We came from a working-class family. What we were lacking in money we made up for in love and support. I viewed the kids who had more as being a real opportunity, even when I was a kid. They had fancy horses and often extra horses and I got to ride them and help train.

I also think that being around these kids was the start of my American Dream. I would see them drive up to the barn in their BMWs and I would say to myself, “That’s not just for them. That’s for me, too.” I wanted to have it all. Live in the big house on the hill and have a big stable and have top horses.

PH To what do you attribute your success?

AD The real reason is that I found something I love doing. It never really felt like work. Because of that love I was willing to work 24/7 to do it. It’s no secret that I have a real work ethic and a vision and I am very organized. But it started from a love of horses and love of owning a farm and teaching. I never really wasted a day worrying about how I was going to get here or what I was doing. I knew what I was doing with my life.

Also, I have a very even temperament. I am very steady in the best of times and in the worst of times.

PH How do you feel about win-ning? About losing?

AD I realized at an early age that life is a competition. I think my success has been because I really have a burning desire to win. Without the competition part, it would be hard to get out of bed in the morning.