All We Can Do is the Best We Can! I have noticed that a lot of people beat themselves up about the ability or lack thereof they have with horses. Then others think they are a lot better than they actually are. But all we can do is the best we can, because we only know so much and there is still so much to learn. None of us have reached perfection.
As I look back over my horsemanship journey I realize there are some things I thought were the best at the time, but later I came to see that maybe they weren't nearly as good as I thought they were. If I beat myself up about those mistakes I won't continue to progress. All I can do is be the best I can be right now, keep learning and trying and it will come. Sometimes I wish I could go back and apologize to some of the horses I have handled. Since that is impossible most of the time, all I can do forgive myself because I know I was doing the best I could at the time with the knowledge and experience I had.
When I peek back I realize how much I have learned and how far my skill level has progressed in the last 10 years. It was very evident to me this past weekend at a clinic when I worked with a horse on some despooking issues. This same horse five years ago may have taken me 4 days or even 4 weeks to get to the point where I got with him in less than an hour. I can't wait for the next five years to see how much deeper my understanding will be and how much better my feel timing, and ability to read horses might be.
One of the most difficult things I have had to learn is that it is not my place to tell folks how to work with their horses unless they ask. There are a lot of things I see which I might not agree with. Even if I feel the horse isn't getting a fair deal, I try to learn something to improve my own communication by watching each situation.
Many times when things go bad the horse is just confused or afraid, even if the person may see him as stubborn or uncooperative. Sometimes I cringe while observing such a scene. But I still don't judge the person, because they must be doing what they are doing for some reason, even if I don't agree or understand it. They are probably doing the best they can at this time with the knowledge and experience they have.
Just because I don't like the way a person handles a horse or the fact that we have philosophical differences doesn't give me the right to tell them how I think they should do things, unless they ask. However, I will admit it breaks my heart because I know the horse could offer so much more if he was given half a chance.
However, if I see someone doing something that will hurt the horse or I see a person in real danger, I will intervene, even if it means I might not win a popularity contest. We can't impose our philosophy or techniques on anyone unless they are curious, but we can help prevent unecessary injuries to either the horse or the human.
There is more than one right way to get things done. In fact there are hundreds of different ways to get things done with a horse, and all of them may work, but maybe only 10 or so of them are the best deal for the horse. I am seeking those 10 effective ways that are a good deal for the horse. Not everything suits every horse. That is why reading the horse, feel and timing are essential to an artisan of horsemanship.
All we can do is offer our horse the best we know and the best we are today. Then learn more so we can offer him even more and better deals. If we get so stuck in our ways we will miss the opportunity for new knowledge and understanding and therefore our best won't really be the best we could offer our horses. Keep an open mind, be ready to experiement, use some common sense. Give the horse a chance to teach you.
If you have a willing heart to listen and help people will notice. Then they'll start to ask questions. When this happens the door is open to share your personal knowledge and experience. Just be the best you can be and then realize you can still be better.
By Sherry Jarvis
