This is a picture of Dolly as a three year old in a horsemanship class at a show in Lander Wy. We've come a long way since then. She is now 8 years old, no she will be nine this spring. How time flies!

Just wanted to share a quick story about riding Dolly yesterday.

We were cantering along a fence line, and on the other side of the fence is a tree line wind break. I was working on cantering with straightness doing point to points. She was doing great head low, nice cadence, relaxed, ears pointing straight forward. All of a sudden I realize that there is a branch lower than it was last summer and it is about to smack me in the face, at a canter. Knowing it was going to hurt, I ducked and shifted my weight. I didn't try to slow her up or turn her in anyway. The reins remained loose. With a fluidity I have never felt before with her, she did a perfect flying lead change. She never missed a beat and stayed in the same cadence, and emotional stability. It was so fabulous because it was so natural.

I only wish that I could reproduce it every time I ask for one. As I arrived at our point to rest, I sat there chewing on what just happened as I allowed her to graze.

The big AAHA is that the reason it was so good is because it was so natural. There was no force, no resistance, no pressure (mental, emotional, or physical). There was only pure harmony of movement between horse and rider. She felt my shift and did in her body exactly what my body did. It was joyous.

I know it was an accident but it doesn't take away from the feeling it gave me. It reminds me of what I have heard some great trainers say, "take what the horse offers you and mold it." Now if I can just figure out how to do this.

The other AAHA is that I know the reason I have trouble reproducing this on command is that I brace and get very demanding . As soon as I start thinking it she feels my body tense up and she thinks "oh no here it comes, she's going to slam me into it. "

I do get flying lead changes with her, but never with the ease and comfort that I just experienced. It was a real lesson on being natural and riding with fluidity and harmony instead of pressure.

If I can train my brain to think, move into the lightness instead of away from the pressure I believe I will begin to get better results. I also have to convince her that I will give her the confidence and feel she needs to do it without resistance.

Another AAHAA, happened when we were again, cantering for straightness going point to point. I like to stop in front of our big poop pile. Behind it is a fence and more trees. It was about our third time to stop in front of this pile. I was confident and relaxed because she has an awesome stop. Just as I asked her to put on the brakes a barn cat jumps out of the trees. Well, you can probably guess that it startled both of us. Dolly did the most beautiful canter sideways to the right, and I stayed right in the middle like we were doing a dressage pattern. It only lasted about 4 strides and then she stopped and relaxed.

I was so proud of her, because she faced the scary cat the whole time. She didn't bolt. She simply stayed in cadence while going to the right, and then she relaxed quickly. This was a perfect controlled catastrophe on her part, all I did was stay in the middle of the saddle and stay off her head. I was the balanced passenger and she took care of me.

The AAHAA is that I have been working on lateral trotting and starting to move into canter with her. But the canter wasn't going well. I now know how it should feel, because again we did it naturally. At least I know we can do it well. It will just be a matter of me being able to approach the request in such a way that she understands and doesn't feel the need to resist it. Right now, I know I am expecting too much too soon. If I will build the steps a little at a time I know we will have better success.

"I've spent most of my life riding horses; the rest I've just wasted." --unknown

Happy Trails,

sherry

Now that is a picture of a mistake. I'm embarrassed to share it with you. But just so you know I'm human and make mistakes. By the way that is Dolly, and I have made plenty of mistakes with her.

The minute you purchase a horse you have opened yourself up for a ride of a lifetime. It can either be a dream come true, or a nightmare awakened. We know this ride will involve risk, ability, and commitment. Horse's deserve better than a half-hearted commitment because they are one of nature's finest creations. They will teach you to learn from your mistakes, accept risks, take responsibility for decisions, endure discomforts, overcome fears, and be a creative thinker. A horse will keep you real. You can try to fake it with people, but your horse knows exactly what's inside you and will require that you own up to it.

The simple fact is, we will all make mistakes with our horses. However we shouldn't let our mistakes prevent us from trying new things, or learning lessons from those mistakes. All of these lessons will cost something. The cost can take shape in several ways; financial, emotional, or physical. Or perhaps all of the above. You can bet that the lessons you learn from horses will require some type of discomfort.

A person is not any "less" of a horseman for having made mistakes with their horse, unless they refuse to embrace the value of the mistake as a lesson to learn from. As a committed horse lover I know my mistakes belong to me and me alone. I claim them, and allow them to move me forward down the road of competence. I endure the sting of the lesson with my head held high and make every effort not to repeat the same mistakes. I remain accountable for my mistakes and learn from them therefore the whole process has deepened my respect for both my horse and myself.

We all pay for savvy with horses. There isn't a free road to becoming a great horseman. You can buy an inexpensive horse, but the road to becoming a great horseman is expensive. The lessons are there for us to learn, if we are willing to pay the price. The price comes in the form of:

Willingness to take risks
100% commitment
Responsibility for decisions
Learning from mistakes
Accountability for the horse's well being
Persistence
Endure discomforts both emotional & physical
Allow for significant character changes
Become a creative thinker with an open mind
Mold an attitude of justice and patience
Overcome fears
Leadership skill development
Physical fitness
Time management
Sacrificing goals to meet the needs of the horse
Listening more carefully
Watching more intently
Discovering effective ways of communication
Preserve the horse's dignity at all cost
Do your foundation homework thoroughly
Dedication to education
Financial sacrifices

To some this price list may seem quite high. The horse world might be of better quality, especially from the horses' view, if these principles were embraced by all horse owners. I know none of us is perfect, including myself. However, if each one of us will commit to learning from our mistakes, we will be able to offer even more to the horses we have the privilege of riding.

Horse ownership is more than a quick fix, a fad, or a hobby. It is a lifestyle to be embraced that will change us into more compassionate and balanced human beings. The rewards will definitely out weigh the costs. So don't be discouraged when you are in the middle of paying the price for your mistakes. Horses are forgiving when you are willing to go the extra mile with them. You will win your horse's heart by learning from your mistakes.

Happy Trails,

sherry

"The key to success is for you to make a habit throughout your life of doing the things you fear." -- Vincent Van Gogh

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