#flyingfeathers with Dani Waldman

Dani Waldman started her journey to the Olympics in the heart of New York city. She came from a sports loving family and always had big dreams, including representing Israel in the Olympics. She started riding at eight and, as they say, the rest is history. On this episode of the podcast, Dani talks us through her journey, her hashtag, her feathers, and where she’s heading next.

Let’s talk about the Olympics

The path to get to the Olympics was far from smooth, filled with ups and downs, sacrifices, and unforeseen challenges. Representing Israel in equestrian sports was more than it seemed, and this move also helped to break stereotypes and show the talent within the sport.

Dani qualified for the Olympics in Moscow shortly before the world came to a screeching halt with the onset of the pandemic. The Olympics got postponed, and the journey became far more involved, including COVID testing, team dynamics, and personal setbacks.

But Dani made it! When she got to the Olympics, the experience was very different to other Olympics due to the COVID restrictions that meant it wasn’t possible to get as immersed in everything as in previous years.

#flyingfeathers was about more than the feathers

The addition of feathers into Dani’s hair started as a rebellion against traditional equestrian fashion, but turned into a symbol of expression and identity. Ditching the conventional hairnets and buns, Dani opted for vibrant feathers that caught the attention of people all over the globe. What started as 250 feathers grew into the 3000 or so feathers seen in more recent times.

More than fashion

The feathers became more than just a fashion (or anti-fashion) statement. It evolved into a movement, symbolising individuality and breaking free from the constraints of tradition. The unexpected journey of becoming Flying Feathers was not only a personal exploration but also a connection to a broader community that resonated with the idea of embracing one’s unique identity. Flying Feathers and the hashtag started the spread with more and more people wanting to be aligned with this movement. It’s now become a global community.

The downsides of #flyingfeathers?

When you stand out, in any arena, the chances of attracting criticism (sadly) increase. Dani has been subjected to this, and provides great insight into how to manage this. She believes that it’s important to try and have the courage to be yourself. When you’re young and you’re trying to fit in, it’s very difficult to try and stand out. But Dani really believes that the sport needs more people that are willing to be different and to be themselves. She also urges people try to be brave and to be themselves, to be true to who they are. This will attract people to you and will open doors for you in ways that you didn’t expect.

What’s next for Dani?

Dani has found enjoyment in learning about and telling the stories of horses and riders, to bring the horse world more into the mainstream. The extra publicity and exposure the feathers created opened up a lot of opportunities for Dani, and this is one aspect she is looking to explore more in the future in different ways. With a jewellery line and more and more commentary opportunities appearing for Dani, she’s really embracing the other side of the horse world and is enjoying being involved in different ways alongside encouraging people to own their true identity.

To hear the full podcast, you can tune in (or why not even subscribe?) through Apple, or anywhere else you listen.

To find out more about Dani, make sure you follow her on Instagram.